Linux on Macbook without OS X

[jakaj]

Hi,

does anyone know how to install Linux to a Macbook, use rEFIt, and completely delete OS X?

Do I still need a small (say 64mb) HFS+ partition to install rEFIt onto it?

Jaka

 

[Shadow]

Why would you want to?

 

[mkrishnan]

I thought that with the current firmware that allowed for booting of Windows, you could basically just boot into a Linux install disc and reformat the HD without having to mess with this? But I'm so not sure.

 

[jakaj]

ChrisG: Because of exactly the same reasons as I would want to on a PC. But Linux vs. OS X is not the subject of this thread.

mkrishnan: Windows afaik don't support EFI booting, so you need BIOS emulation (bootcamp), which I don't really need for Linux, since linux supports direct EFI booting.

Even with bootcamp, I don't know if BIOS emulation will still work if I delete the entire disk... 😕

 

[balamw]

Even with bootcamp, I don't know if BIOS emulation will still work if I delete the entire disk... 😕

Plenty of XP only installs out there, so I don't see why you think it wouldn't work.

B

 

[kainjow]

Windows afaik don't support EFI booting, so you need BIOS emulation (bootcamp), which I don't really need for Linux, since linux supports direct EFI booting.

Even with bootcamp, I don't know if BIOS emulation will still work if I delete the entire disk... 😕

The BIOS emulation is part of the firmware, which is not on your hard drive. BootCamp doesn't allow you to run Windows. It's only the Windows drivers + a disk partitioning tool.

 

[Shadow]

ChrisG: Because of exactly the same reasons as I would want to on a PC. But Linux vs. OS X is not the subject of this thread.

But then whats the point of getting a Mac? Why just not get a Dell?

 

[x86isslow]

But then whats the point of getting a Mac? Why just not get a Dell?

I'm going to out on a limb and say that Apple hardware is a smidgeon more enticing to look at/carry-without-breaking-your-back than its Dell counterpart. 😉

 

[-::ubermann::-]

i think you only boot from install disks of linux and erase everything, is refit actually useful for anything?

 

[jakaj]

But then whats the point of getting a Mac? Why just not get a Dell?

a) the Macbook is quite cheap compared to other 13.3" and 12" laptops that I could find locally

and

b) as x86isslow said, the Macbook looks much nicer.

Or do you think, that unless you use OS X, you don't have the right to a good-looking computer? 😀

-::ubermann::-:
Well, if you use rEFIt with a kernel that knows that it's running on an EFI machine, you don't need the MBR/GPT syncing etc. It's the "proper" way of booting the OS.

But I read there are other problems that come with it, so it might just not be worth it.

Jaka