Dear People,

what approach would you take / should i take,
considering installing Linux on old macbookpro4(2009).

I don't need it at the moment, but that probably would be good choice to save current OSx.

Anything i should be aware of? Or just create an image on a stick and go? How would you divide partitions?

thank you

Before you install Linux you will have to shrink your Mac OSX os to make room for the installation.

You can use the partition manager that comes with the flavor of Linux that you will be installing or you can use g-parted live.

During your install you will most likely be presented with g-parted. Once the partitions load click on the free space that you have after shrinking your Mac OSX and create one ext 4 / partition (make it bootable) for your Linux install and than create a linux-swap partition about 1 or 2 GB.

Make sure that you install Grub to the MBR of the HDD.

What distro are you thinking of installing?

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+...hrome&ie=UTF-8

1 members found this post helpful.

This depends on if you want to dual-boot or not. If you want the option of reinstalling OSX later, then download the latest version from the app store BEFORE you load Linux. Save it to a thumb drive, or (better) create a new bootable OSX install thumb drive, and store it somewhere. Then load Linux however you'd like, and erase partitions as you see fit.

Dual booting? A little more complicated: https://www.lifewire.com/dual-boot-l...mac-os-4125733

1 members found this post helpful.

Well, that is nice
both options are good, but I would go for the second

Quickly answering your question Ztcoracat, about distro, I feel very comfortable with MX, if i would step out from my comfort zone, where should i go?

I don't want or need dual booting, but having backup for the future would be nice.

I will need to learn some new things like :
1. Download latest version of OSX from the app store
2. save it to a thumb drive (i need to research : what is thumb drive?)
or
2. create a new bootable OSX install thumb drive

I will make a research || actually get this laptop (that can be over a week), and be back to you,
You gave me proper ground to start,
thanks

That's a built-in application on Mac OSX. You just run it, and log in
Seriously??? A standard USB flash drive...been around for many years. Simple USB storage, and you can probably pick one up for $20.
Try putting "create a bootable osx thumbdrive" into Google.

If you decide to go out of your comfort zone (MX Linux) give Debian a try.
It's very stable and runs great! If you decide to install Debian be certain to read the Documentation so you can be clear on how to run it and understand the Package Management System.

https://www.debian.org/

If you are not going to be dual booting your Mac than just allow MX to take over the entire drive during the installation.

Create a bootable osx usb:

https://www.google.com/search?ei=Mzn...j0.2FQno40GfGs

Great, I appreciate it, thanks
I will do Debian on this machine,

The machine is
https://everymac.com/systems/apple/m...ryn-specs.html

with processor
https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us...0-mhz-fsb.html

which of the Debians version seems to fit it, (and how is that?)
https://www.debian.org/CD/jigdo-cd/
amd64 arm64 armel armhf i386 mips mips64el mipsel ppc64el s390x source

You posted specs to the machine. Those specs tell you it's a 64 bit processor...and one of the choices you posted was amd64. Wouldn't it make sense to use a 64 bit image on a 64 bit machine???? You know it's not an ARM processor, 386, mips, PPC, or a mainframe....kind of narrows it down.

And why get CD's, when you can click the "Getting Debian" button on the top of their web page, and click the 64 bit network installation image...which is a small download, and tells you it's for use on USB/thumbdrives, and will do the installation over the Internet by downloading the latest versions of everything. And Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, or openSUSE will ALL run well on that hardware. Mint would be far easier for a new user.

Since that is a 64-bit processor you would want to download the amd64 image.

It would make more sense to download the 64-bit pc torrent (DVD) image from the 'Getting Debian' page. Unless you want a net install accompanied by a usb device.
https://www.debian.org/distrib/

-:::-If you are new to Linux starting with Linux Mint will be a lot easier on you.-:::-

If you install Debian I strongly recommend that you read the Documentation to learn how to run it and get to know the Package Management System well.
https://www.debian.org/doc/

hehe that is quite strong recommendation, which is saying :
install it, only if you are ready to invest even MORE TIME, into learning deeps of Linux System
(if i wouldnt have enough fun with this thing that im doing so far!)

here is installation manual
https://www.debian.org/releases/stab...install.pdf.en
and that is probably just the beginning of next journey

Whole Debian Documentation is more than just one 110 page file
starting from books like Debian 7: System Administration Best Practices
or Debian Administrator Handbook https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/debian-handbook/

Installing Debian seems attractive, but yes, i should leave it for other time, when I'm done with things I'm learning now (mass-effect),
reading through this documentation is definitely possible, but there are different books that suppose to be finished first,

you see - iterations of thinking

thanks for your extensive opinions on which i can always base ground for growing my own

1 members found this post helpful.

You're welcome.

Pretty much yes but will get easier as time passes by. (gotta start somewhere)
I'm sure you will do fine and have success upon applying yourself when you have the time.

When I was new to Linux I was as nervous as a roaster in a pair of boots.
I thought for sure I'd wreck my Windows os during installation but didn't with a little help along the way.

Just as sure as I was able to get help here at LQ to perform my first installation I'm sure the members here will assist you just as well.
I've been coming here for 8 years and only have good things to say about this LQ Forum.

The member that wrote this article suggests that you need your osx in order for the firmware on the MacBook to be updated. But what do I know; I don't have a Mac. It's an old article however; it may have some use or at the very least give you knowledge of what you could do. If you have an interest.

https://regebro.wordpress.com/2008/1...-without-os-x/

Which ever flavor of Linux you decide to install; I wish you all the best.


https://wiki.debian.org/MacBookPro
https://wiki.debian.org/InstallingDebianOn/Apple

I put my hands on this computer

Version of osx is 10.5.4 or smth :anyways - Leopard

It is pain in the ass, to get clean install, (to put it on a 'thumb drive'), I didn't manage to get it from the apple store, there where only some tutorials (for everything you are charged there, what a crazy universe! And people are using it).

So far as I didn't got to have a clean install on drive, I didn't delete everything,

How to getnto boot menu anyways?

Find it *VERY* hard to believe you couldn't find it. Putting "OSX" into the Apple Store pulls up OSX as one of the first choices. And not looking at it now, but downloading it isn't difficult. And putting "download snow leopard" into Google pulls up Apple's own website:
https://support.apple.com/downloads/10.6.8

And putting "reinstall snow leopard from usb" into Google also pulls up many tutorials:
https://business.tutsplus.com/tutori...ard--cms-21491

..among MANY others.
Again, easily found with a brief search; read the "Question Guidelines", because doing basic research should be done before posting.
https://www.techradar.com/how-to/com...ur-mac-1305645
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201255

2 members found this post helpful.

Dear TBOne,
thank you for the critical input,

support apple downloads 10.6.8 give us possibility of downloading OSX for 20 dollars, only updates are free,
there are many OSX on internet via search engines,
but is any of those be thrustworthy, if i want to download it without paying?