t2sde linux installation stuck in grub shell

[Shiunbird]

Hello everyone,

Did anyone have any success installing T2SDE Linux on PowerPC? The installation goes buttersmooth, but I always get stuck at the grub shell, no matter how I get around partitioning (tried /boot in separate ext2 partitition, tried GPT and APM). I don't even get the menu with the menu option defined in grub.cfg during installation.

I am on a late 2005 G5.

 

[saxfun]

Hello everyone,

Did anyone have any success installing T2SDE Linux on PowerPC? The installation goes buttersmooth, but I always get stuck at the grub shell, no matter how I get around partitioning (tried /boot in separate ext2 partitition, tried GPT and APM). I don't even get the menu with the menu option defined in grub.cfg during installation.

I am on a late 2005 G5.

i had the same problems. I tried it many times to install T2 SDE 24.5 only to recognize that you

1. cannot make a hfs filesystem (must do it before installation with OSX install media for instance), make.hfs is missing.
2. T2 SDE cannot mount a hfs filesystem read/write, only ro.
3. T2 SDE cannot write anything to the boot partition (normally /dev/sda2)

Maybe some linux wizard can enlighten us with some help.

it's a pity that in June 2024 almost all ppc linux derives would not install on our beloved ppc machines.

1. debian 12: broken dependencies and broken grub
2. T2 SDE: unable to boot after installation
3. debian 11: cannot finish install
4. debian 10: no mirror anymore, cannot install anything
5. Adelie works on my iBook after endless tries. don't DL the usual PPC iso, just DL the adelie-inst-ppc-1.0-beta5-20240426 with size 488,3MB. but Adelie has a small repository. package manager is fast.
6. void linux: i had it once installed, years ago, it was fast, easy and reliable, but support ended AFAIK in 2023.

last warning. DON'T try to install t2-23.12-ppc-minimal-firefox-gcc-glibc-603 !!!! it bricked one iboob and one powerbook, I suspect the installer to inject some code into OpenFirmware. both devices were unbootable! after hours of research I found the following hint:

So you think you bricked it!

If you corrupt the nvram with the wrong code, it can leave your Mac unbootable and Command+Opt+P+R doesn't work. Here is what you do: For desktops, just hold the power button, and keep holding......You'll hear the programers tone, keep holding, you'll hear a boot chime, then the system will...

forums.macrumors.com

and rescued both ppc machines!

I would love to continue some kind of exchange about the possibilities of linux in June 2024 for us!

 

[Shiunbird]

I spent some time on this yesterday and today, failing miserably.

Even the known media I have for void ppc and adelie I failed to install - perhaps my memory is failing. It was easier to get my C8000 up and running!

I am trying to get Debian 10 up with functional grub, then will try to get t2sde on top of it, by mounting /boot/grub and /boot separately. Let's see.

 

[DearthnVader]

and rescued both ppc machines!

That thread should be pinned.

You have no idea how many key combinations I tried before I figured that out for the iBook.

 

[saxfun]

I spent some time on this yesterday and today, failing miserably.

Even the known media I have for void ppc and adelie I failed to install - perhaps my memory is failing. It was easier to get my C8000 up and running!

I am trying to get Debian 10 up with functional grub, then will try to get t2sde on top of it, by mounting /boot/grub and /boot separately. Let's see.

Try my recommended Adelie image, the you‘ll succeed!

 

[Shiunbird]

Did you try loading t2sde on top of a working bootable environment created by the adelie installer?

 

[saxfun]

No, I tried to install from scratch but did the partitioning and formatting from OSX 10.5 installer disk or diff. Linux install disk cause T2 SDE does not support hfs.