Linux on Macbook without OS X

[jakaj]

Hi,

does anyone know how to install Linux to a Macbook, use rEFIt, and completely delete OS X?

Do I still need a small (say 64mb) HFS+ partition to install rEFIt onto it?

Jaka

 

[Shadow]

Why would you want to?

 

[mkrishnan]

I thought that with the current firmware that allowed for booting of Windows, you could basically just boot into a Linux install disc and reformat the HD without having to mess with this? But I'm so not sure.

 

[jakaj]

ChrisG: Because of exactly the same reasons as I would want to on a PC. But Linux vs. OS X is not the subject of this thread.

mkrishnan: Windows afaik don't support EFI booting, so you need BIOS emulation (bootcamp), which I don't really need for Linux, since linux supports direct EFI booting.

Even with bootcamp, I don't know if BIOS emulation will still work if I delete the entire disk...

 

[balamw]

Even with bootcamp, I don't know if BIOS emulation will still work if I delete the entire disk...

Plenty of XP only installs out there, so I don't see why you think it wouldn't work.

B

 

[kainjow]

Windows afaik don't support EFI booting, so you need BIOS emulation (bootcamp), which I don't really need for Linux, since linux supports direct EFI booting.

Even with bootcamp, I don't know if BIOS emulation will still work if I delete the entire disk...

The BIOS emulation is part of the firmware, which is not on your hard drive. BootCamp doesn't allow you to run Windows. It's only the Windows drivers + a disk partitioning tool.

 

[Shadow]

ChrisG: Because of exactly the same reasons as I would want to on a PC. But Linux vs. OS X is not the subject of this thread.

But then whats the point of getting a Mac? Why just not get a Dell?

 

[x86isslow]

But then whats the point of getting a Mac? Why just not get a Dell?

I'm going to out on a limb and say that Apple hardware is a smidgeon more enticing to look at/carry-without-breaking-your-back than its Dell counterpart.

 

[-::ubermann::-]

i think you only boot from install disks of linux and erase everything, is refit actually useful for anything?

 

[jakaj]

But then whats the point of getting a Mac? Why just not get a Dell?

a) the Macbook is quite cheap compared to other 13.3" and 12" laptops that I could find locally

and

b) as x86isslow said, the Macbook looks much nicer.

Or do you think, that unless you use OS X, you don't have the right to a good-looking computer?

-::ubermann::-:
Well, if you use rEFIt with a kernel that knows that it's running on an EFI machine, you don't need the MBR/GPT syncing etc. It's the "proper" way of booting the OS.

But I read there are other problems that come with it, so it might just not be worth it.

Jaka