So I spent all of Saturday trying to get a K2100M flashed with the Linux method, I ran into multiple problems.
1. Grml kernels crashed and I had to add "nomodeset" to the grub linux options.
2. The disk didn't seem to boot, but only with the K2100m, fine with original ATI card.
3. Ethernet port/cables not working, so I had to set up wifi.
4... turns out the card was broken anyway.
The linux boot disk always worked on other computers and even on my imac 11,1 with the original graphics card but the iMac never seemed to connect to the router with the new card and display off.
So here's a way to check if your linux disk is booting and finishes the whole boot without display,
if you have an
additional keyboard with CAPS/NUM/SCROLL-LOCK LEDs lying around => It will flash all the LEDs on for 5 seconds when it's done booting, so you have a visual indicator. Unfortunately I couldn't figure out how to just beep in linux on Macs. So you need a second keyboard with LEDs that linux can read/set, you can test via
setleds -L on any linux box.
You need a simple bash script on the bootable USB disc in a folder called "scripts", just in the root USB-stick folder and edit the grub boot options:
Bash:
#!/bin/bash
# USB-flash disk file: <USB stick root folder>/scripts/grml.sh
setleds -L +num +caps +scroll
sleep 5
setleds -L
Modify the
/boot/grub/grml64full_*_default.cfg config, append
startup=/run/live/medium/scripts/grml.sh to the line starting with
linux ...., e.g. something like this:
Code:
menuentry "grml64-full_sid - release build3038 (default)" {
set gfxpayload=keep
echo 'Loading kernel...'
linux /boot/grml64full_sid/vmlinuz apm=power-off boot=live live-media-path=/live/grml64-full_sid/ "${loopback}" "${kernelopts}" nomce net.ifnames=0 bootid=d5945892-5cb4-46c6-b964-2445694a101b ssh=xxx nomodeset startup=/run/live/medium/scripts/grml.sh
echo 'Loading initrd...'
initrd /boot/grml64full_sid/initrd.img
}
(I tried a couple versions of grml, so the zip may contain diffferent kernel and/or distro, don't remember)
For me, it turned out that 1.) I also had to add
nomodeset to my boot options or the kernel crashed, and 2.) did some more hacks to get wifi working and connect that way (same method as above pretty much, just add wpa-supplicant/dhclient setup to the same grml.sh), 3.) the graphics card is probably broken :/ (no logic board LED which I didn't check earlier).
I'm waiting for a gtx765m, maybe I'll have more luck with that.
