Hi there,
I'm new to Linux, and I've spent most of the day trying to install to install Ubuntu on my 2010 (low-end) MacBook alongside OSX 10.6.8, but just when I thought I had it I can't seem to access Ubuntu anymore. I'm trying to be cautious now and thought I'd ask here before I end up breaking anything.
I followed the steps here:
-I installed rEFIt, however, I don't see the refit menu when I startup my computer. I think I confused it with the option-key startup manager earlier..
-I used the disk utility to create a 20GB "free space" partition. I thought it was a little odd that I didn't see the partition listed afterwards, but the "Macintosh HD" partition had shrunk by 20GB, so I assumed everything was okay.
-I then booted Ubuntu from a LiveCD and chose to install Ubuntu. I clicked on the option that said something like "Install Ubuntu alongside Mac OSX" and followed the instructions. Eventually the install completed and I was told the computer would restart - During that process the disk was ejected. I was asked to remove the disk, close the tray (which I don't have), and press enter. When I pressed enter nothing happened and the dots were not moving, but I googled around and thought it should be okay to manually power off the computer at this point.
-When I turned the computer on again it booted straight into Mac OSX. The option key did not work and the rEFIt menu did not appear.
-I checked the disk utility - there's a 230GB "Macintosh HD" volume as well as three others I haven't seen before: a 1.00 MB volume called "disk0s3" in the format "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)", an 18.00 GB volume called "DISK0S4" in the "MS-DOS (FAT)" format, and a 1.85GB "Linux Swap" volume also in the "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" format.
-When I checked System Preferences > Startup Disk, only "Mac OSX, 10.6.8 on Macintosh HD" and "Network Startup" are displayed.
Now I have no idea what to do next, and I am only reminded of this XKCD comic.
Any help on how to proceed and be able to dual-boot OSX and Ubuntu is greatly appreciated. At the very least, how would I go about undoing whatever it is I've done so I can start over again? Is it safe to simply uninstall rEFIT and delete the partitions from the Disk Utility?
I also read somewhere that resetting the PRAM and NVRAM may help - should I try this?
Oh, and one last question - after I figure this out I plan to add a Windows 7 partition later in the summer. That won't be too much of a problem will it? Or should I be doing something now to prepare for that?
I'm new to Linux, and I've spent most of the day trying to install to install Ubuntu on my 2010 (low-end) MacBook alongside OSX 10.6.8, but just when I thought I had it I can't seem to access Ubuntu anymore. I'm trying to be cautious now and thought I'd ask here before I end up breaking anything.
I followed the steps here:
-I installed rEFIt, however, I don't see the refit menu when I startup my computer. I think I confused it with the option-key startup manager earlier..
-I used the disk utility to create a 20GB "free space" partition. I thought it was a little odd that I didn't see the partition listed afterwards, but the "Macintosh HD" partition had shrunk by 20GB, so I assumed everything was okay.
-I then booted Ubuntu from a LiveCD and chose to install Ubuntu. I clicked on the option that said something like "Install Ubuntu alongside Mac OSX" and followed the instructions. Eventually the install completed and I was told the computer would restart - During that process the disk was ejected. I was asked to remove the disk, close the tray (which I don't have), and press enter. When I pressed enter nothing happened and the dots were not moving, but I googled around and thought it should be okay to manually power off the computer at this point.
-When I turned the computer on again it booted straight into Mac OSX. The option key did not work and the rEFIt menu did not appear.
-I checked the disk utility - there's a 230GB "Macintosh HD" volume as well as three others I haven't seen before: a 1.00 MB volume called "disk0s3" in the format "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)", an 18.00 GB volume called "DISK0S4" in the "MS-DOS (FAT)" format, and a 1.85GB "Linux Swap" volume also in the "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" format.
-When I checked System Preferences > Startup Disk, only "Mac OSX, 10.6.8 on Macintosh HD" and "Network Startup" are displayed.
Now I have no idea what to do next, and I am only reminded of this XKCD comic.
Any help on how to proceed and be able to dual-boot OSX and Ubuntu is greatly appreciated. At the very least, how would I go about undoing whatever it is I've done so I can start over again? Is it safe to simply uninstall rEFIT and delete the partitions from the Disk Utility?
I also read somewhere that resetting the PRAM and NVRAM may help - should I try this?
Oh, and one last question - after I figure this out I plan to add a Windows 7 partition later in the summer. That won't be too much of a problem will it? Or should I be doing something now to prepare for that?