install issue (Grub?) on Intel Mac

[foggytown]

Attempted to install Darnya on a Core 2 Duo Mac Mini. Boot into live disk OK, install would go fine. But on first (and all subsequent) boot it would stall out at "Loading grub stage2..."

Attempted the install with numerous variables with the same results. Got the same results with gpt, mixed, and MBR. Finally ran "dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda "--basically destroyed the partition tables to be sure that gpt was gone. While this did not help me get Mint installed, it did allow me to install Ubuntu Gutsy.

And having spent the preceding few hours customizing an Ubuntu install, I have a new appreciation for the value added that Mint brings to the table;-)

[Husse]

Intel Macs use GPT for partitioning while Windows and Linux (normally) use MBR as you know. Linux is supposed to support GPT but there are several problems.
So you have to find out how to overcome that if you want to mix Mac and Linux. Grub is among the problems....
Now waht stopped you from using Mint?

[foggytown]

Even after I wiped out all of the Mac gpt data--only going for a singly boot system--I still stalled at the same spot on first boot--"Grub loading stage2..." There must be some other issue? As posted, Ubuntu Gutsy worked as expected-so the problem would appear to be with Mint, not something upstream (and probably not user error).
Not complaining here...just didn't know how else to file a bug report.

[Husse]

I did not see a complaint.
But we are using the same installer as Ubuntu, so.....

[Sam-O]

I'm having the same problem on my Macbook Pro C2D. I *think* it is to do with Mint using Grub-GFX instead of regular Grub. Something about the added graphical component seems to cause Refit or Mac's problems with loading Grub.

Is there anyway to change this after installing Mint from the Live CD? Even with internet is working in the from the Live CD the chrooted terminal's apt-get does not seem to see the internet connection and thus I can't download the regular Grub.

[merlwiz79]

I'm having the same problem on my Macbook Pro C2D. I *think* it is to do with Mint using Grub-GFX instead of regular Grub. Something about the added graphical component seems to cause Refit or Mac's problems with loading Grub.

Is there anyway to change this after installing Mint from the Live CD? Even with internet is working in the from the Live CD the chrooted terminal's apt-get does not seem to see the internet connection and thus I can't download the regular Grub.

Just remove gfxmenu /etc/grub/message.mint or # out in your /boot/grub/menu.lst.
Then it will just use normal Grub.

[foggytown]

.[/quote]
Just remove gfxmenu /etc/grub/message.mint or # out in your /boot/grub/menu.lst.
Then it will just use normal Grub.[/quote]

Sam-O,
Could you post back if this works for you? I just got my desktop setup using Ubuntu, but I would gladly start over with Mint if I thought I had a decent chance of making it work.

If that is the only difference between Ubuntu and Mint--then it seems like it should solve the problem...but after installing many many times with the same results, I am somewhat hesitant.

Thanks for the tip, Merlwiz.
--john

[Sam-O]

Thanks for the help Merlwiz79 and hi Foggytown. I am in the exact same boat as you Foggy as I would love to use Mint as (when working) I find it to be a better setup than Ubuntu. Unfortunately this trick did not work. I commented out the gfxmenu part and even the fancy colours part in /boot/grub/menu.lst and still no luck. I also tried using UUID's in the menu.list instead of /dev/sda3 like it does in Ubuntu Gusty but also no luck. I have tried to install Gusty and then Mint on top of that without installing Mint's version of Grub but that didn't work. I may try this again as last time I didn't change the UUID's in the menu.lst which might have been the only problem as it did go to Grub's terminal that time.

Other than that I am out of idea's. It is quite frustrating I must say. Anyway I don't know when I might be able to try my new theory as I am in the middle of Exams. Maybe tomorrow.

Any help would be appreciated and if I do get this working I will start a Wiki page for the other users to follow.

[Sam-O]

Success! I will put the full details up on the Wiki in the next week.
The basic things I did were:
- Copy /boot/grub/ from Gusty installation
- Install Mint without boot loader (Advanced button at the part of the installation)
- if you are using the Gnome version press F6 at the menu (otherwise no change needed for KDE or XFCE)
- delete: "quick splash --"
- replace it with: "noapic nolapic noacpi break=button"
- Keep using the Live CD
- Open a terminal
- Download Grub using aptitude

Code: Select all

sudo aptitude download grub

- This will download grub.deb to the Live CD's home directory (grub.deb is a longer name I don't remember all of it)
- Do the following

Code: Select all

    sudo mkdir /mnt/Mint
    sudo mount /dev/sda3 /mnt/Mint
    sudo cp ~/grub.deb /mnt/Mint/home/USERNAME (where USERNAME is your username you made during installation)
    sudo chroot /mnt/Mint
    cd ~
    sudo aptitude install grub.deb


- Now a copy the /boot/grub file you saved from the Gusty install and replace the /boot/grub file in your mounted partition
- open /etc/fstab in your mounted partition and copy the UUID for /dev/sda3
- open /boot/grub/menu.lst (in sudo so you can edit it)
- near the end of the file you can change the titles from Ubuntu 7.10 to Mint 4.0 if you want
- but more importantly replace the UUID's that are there with the one you just copied from fstab

Now you can reboot finally!

Now after I got through Grub and I logged in for the first time I got the Mint Intro clicked through it pressed the Finnish button and ... nothing.

So "Control + Option + Delete" to restart X and automatically and I tried to log in again.

FINALLY it worked and I have Mint installed.

Now I must say I really like Mint as to me it is like Ubuntu++ and becoming more than that with every new version but this was quite a hassle so I hope this will be fixed in the next release. The best distribution I have found for working "out of the box" with my Macbook Pro was PCLinuxOS (not even MIPIS where the creator is a Macbook Pro user) but I just prefer .debs over .rpms. So for me right now Mint Linux is where it is at but for a Mac laptop I think it still needs a little more polish.

[foggytown]

Congrats Sam-O
I will wait for the wiki to see if it is something within my realm of doing things. I give you a lot of credit for sticking with it and figuring out a work around.

Here I tried again to install Mint on the mini--I got the same "grub loading stage2" stall. I commented out the glrx line in /boot/grub/menu.lst but it didn't change anything.

I reinstalled Ubuntu (same process but it went without a hitch--so there IS a difference between Mint and Ubuntu).

I have not mastered the command line to the extent that you have, I have a feeling that I will be waiting for the next release of Mint...I assume about May of next year?

Anyway, just wanted to congratulate you on a job well done.
--john

[Sam-O]

Thanks John,
When I have the time I will try to make the Wiki version very verbose so it is easy to follow and if possible include the necessary files. Who knows maybe someday I will be good enough to start a Linux Mint Mac community edition, ha ha. I would like to see a Debian based distribution work with the Mac hardware out of the box someday. Like I said the closest I have seen is the Ret Hat based PCLinuxOS.
Sam

[Husse]

I don't understand why there's a difference....
Anyway I'll alert the team

[Sam-O]

The difference is in the version of Grub that the installer is installing. The Mint one is using a graphical Grub that does not work with Mac's firmware or Refit. Commenting out the use of the graphic does not seem to solve the problem ether so it is something in the actual /boot/grub file. I don't know enough about Grub to know which file was causing the problem so I just copied over the whole directory from my previous Gusty installation.

PS. There is also some difference in the Gnome version of Mint the Live CD compared to Gusty as the Mint version requires special parameters to be typed in prior to boot for it to work and this is not the case with Ubuntu 7.10

[hardawayd]

The difference is in the version of Grub that the installer is installing. The Mint one is using a graphical Grub that does not work with Mac's firmware or Refit. Commenting out the use of the graphic does not seem to solve the problem ether so it is something in the actual /boot/grub file. I don't know enough about Grub to know which file was causing the problem so I just copied over the whole directory from my previous Gusty installation.

PS. There is also some difference in the Gnome version of Mint the Live CD compared to Gusty as the Mint version requires special parameters to be typed in prior to boot for it to work and this is not the case with Ubuntu 7.10

I had to use the alternate in Gusty to get Ubuntu installed. Maybe there is a difference between grub in the live-CD and the alternate one. Mint only has the live-CD to my knowledge. I also did not see a 64-bit Mint.

[Sam-O]

Your right! I forgot about that because I ended up downloading the Ubuntu DVD version which installs fine. Having only blank DVD's I forget sometimes that some are meant for CD's. Thanks for the catch Hardawayd.

[phibxr]

I think we all can agree on that there is an issue with grub and (at least some) Intel Macs that has to be fixed before the next release. It would be nice to have an official way around this problem though, as the next release still is a while from here.

[clem]

Hi,

Mint and Ubuntu use different versions of Grub. I'm glad you found a workaround. Although Mint will continue to use the gfx version of grub we will start an Enterprise Edition in Mint 5.0 which will focus on compatibility and use the normal text-mode grub.

Clem

[merlwiz79]

They fixed this in grub-gfxboot_0.97-17 for Debian but that it doesn't work in Ubuntu or Linux Mint.
Some error on line 272 with grub-install redirecting unexpectedly.
Which sucks because thats the part they added to fix a problem.(not sure which)

grub-gfxboot (0.97-17) unstable; urgency=low
.
* add VCS control headers.
* update syntax for Vcs headers in debian/control
* add patch to fix A20 gate issues, especially in Intel Macs, this replaces
intelmac.dpatch.
http://lug01.eecs.wsu.edu/sidux/debian/ ... b-gfxboot/

[Medic77]

Ok I just tryed installing Mint on my Macbook Pro and im at the Grub hanging issue.

i already have Mint installed without the bootloader like sam-O says. i was wondering do i still need this

Copy /boot/grub/ from Gusty installation

and if i do how am i suppose to get this? Is it on the Mint Live CD?

[Husse]

I have not reread the thread - just skimmed through
He means copy from some installed Gutsy
I think the simplest way is to download and burn the supergrub CD (it's not even 4 MB! and has one of the crappiest home pages I've seen) From that you can install a normal grub or change gfx grub to normal