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What have you done with an early Intel recently?

DCBassman said:
In terms of proving the machine, if you have any kind of installer and the main drive is blank, just plug it in and fire up the machine. It should chime and look for the installer. If it finds it, there's most of your questions answered.
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Hi:

I think I can pinpoint where the problem is. It is the track pad and keyboard. I managed to borrow a 2012 MacBook Air that I can use OS X Lion USB installer to install OS X Lion on a Sata Hard disk via USB to Sata adaptor. I put this hard disk into the 15" 2011 MacBook Pro, it can boot all the way to the login screen, but both the track pad and keyboard are not responding, so I was stuck. The track pad and keyboard hardware seems OK, connectors are also in good shape. Don't know why they are not working. SMC and PRAM reset did not help.
 
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ToniCH said:
I would not consider the Blackbook (MacBook 4,1) very big and powerful. Very little cpu power difference to MBP 3,1 (~2.6% at same MHz). It seems to run just fine in light work (surfing the net, youtube etc). Yes, it takes more RAM than the lighter ones but with 4GB I think its quite all right. Didn't you have 6GB?

Mac-Book-2008-Blackbook-Pop-OS.jpg
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Theoretically, 6GB, but the Macbook 5,1 has one dead RAM slot, so only running 2GB. The expensive 4GB sodimm is in the 17" Al Pro.
One thing that catches my eye is your layout. I've been using similar in macOS for a few weeks, and rather like it. So Pop!_OS might just get another spin.
 
ckwang said:
Hi:

I think I can pinpoint where the problem is. It is the track pad and keyboard. I managed to borrow a 2012 MacBook Air that I can use OS X Lion USB installer to install OS X Lion on a Sata Hard disk via USB to Sata adaptor. I put this hard disk into the 15" 2011 MacBook Pro, it can boot all the way to the login screen, but both the track pad and keyboard are not responding, so I was stuck. The track pad and keyboard hardware seems OK, connectors are also in good shape. Don't know why they are not working. SMC and PRAM reset did not help.
Click to expand...
Ah, that's a problem. Sounds like there's a cable disconnected.
 
DCBassman said:
Theoretically, 6GB, but the Macbook 5,1 has one dead RAM slot, so only running 2GB. The expensive 4GB sodimm is in the 17" Al Pro.
One thing that catches my eye is your layout. I've been using similar in macOS for a few weeks, and rather like it. So Pop!_OS might just get another spin.
Click to expand...
Ok, I got confused what MB or MBP you were trying to get Linuxed this time.

With 2GB you really need a very light distro.

I always put the dock on the left in my Macs. There it IMO wastes least space.
 
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DCBassman said:
Ah, that's a problem. Sounds like there's a cable disconnected.
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Definitely a hardware issue. If it turn out to be just cable issue, it will be easy fix by the hardware guy. It is also not sending power to USB port. Is this consistent with just some cable issue? Or it hint at more seizes issue with some I/O chips? I can find a very trust-worthy hardware guy.
 
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ckwang said:
Definitely a hardware issue. If it turn out to be just cable issue, it will be easy fix by the hardware guy. It is also not sending power to USB port. Is this consistent with just some cable issue? Or it hint at more seizes issue with some I/O chips? I can find a very trust-worthy hardware guy.
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If USB not working, sounds more serious. Beyond this, I honestly don't know.
 
DCBassman said:
Theoretically, 6GB, but the Macbook 5,1 has one dead RAM slot, so only running 2GB. The expensive 4GB sodimm is in the 17" Al Pro.
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...and the 17" will not even try to boot POP!_OS. So the expensive 4GB sodimm is now in the whitebook, and all is installing. Slowly, but installing.
 
I am currently using my Late 2008 13" aluminum unibody to share internet connection with my Mid 2012 13" MBP as it is running macOS Monterey natively without OCLP(with graphic acceleration but without WIFI and Bluetooth).
 
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besides checking which web browser my macbook air 2010 snow leopard osx uses the best-est,
im surfing the web with nice results as the macbook is still snappy and fast!
wow what a great early-intel laptop.....even today!

i have less software issues than sequoia.....
 
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What did I do? I ordered a replacement CD/DVD drive for my kiddos early 2009 24" imac and disassembled the imac to get to the drive. Low and behold in my haste, I accidenally ordered a drive from a 2008 imac which has a different connector LOL. Sigh ... so, now I have my kids imac stowed away in pieces on the guest bed downstairs while I wait a week or two for the correct one to come. At first I thought the seller was off on their description, but no, I was off on what I thought I was buying LOL. No returns of course. Anyone need a DVD drive for an 08 imac? LOL

On a less stupid note, I did get Lubuntu installed on my 09 mbp. Runs like a dream on that mac.

Oh stuff happens eh :D
 
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SOON™

2x8GB PC3-8500 memory kit on the way to max out the little guy.

Shuffling things around on the winbox to yank the 480GB SATA SSD (as the previously budgeted MBP upgrade money was spent on the RAM and a 54 by 20 inch desk)

That said, SecondDesk is also on the way and will be home to the $38 2010 13" C2D MBP as well as another Mac to be determined. Still budgeting for it, as I'm also trying to buy a car which MUST take priority if I'm to save enough to fund the New and Improved Mac Addiction I have acquired. 14mpg in the old Explorer doing 500 miles a week is expensive. Going to try and double that (or triple if any of the hybrids I see come home with me)

After the upgrades go in and the MBP finds a cozy spot to lay in on its new home, I'll be shopping for a USB MIDI keyboard, lugging the Logitech X540 out of storage and repairing the one LR speaker wire that got used by the dog as a tooth flosser, then probably consider adding that second Mac, and based on eBay pricing at the moment, it'll probably be a 2018 Space Gray Mini or a 2017 27 inch iMac.

Then once that's in place, it's time to collect older than C2D Macs and bring them back to life. Not sure what I'll find in Oklahoma, the armpit of America, but I can't find anything by NOT looking, so we will see!
 
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I reinstalled Lubuntu a few days ago on my 2009 mbp and life got busy ... This morning I realized the gui package manager Discovery (kinda like Ubuntu Snapz) was not working (have come to understand that this is a known issue with some older gpus) , so I updated the Ubuntu repositories via Qterm and then installed Plank & conky via apt. Backing up this installation as to avoid another fresh install scenario if my ssd dies lol. Anyhow, I have been ordered by the 5y/o to go get "spring decorations" lol, so letting this back up while middle kiddo sits out all the ...what is essentially egg-rabbit-Easter type decor stuff.

screen1.jpg

My replacement, replacement DVD drive has come in too, so I will be doing the re-paste/thermal padding and DVD replacement of my kiddos 09 imac as well.
 
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Certificate of Excellence said:
I reinstalled Lubuntu a few days ago on my 2009 mbp and life got busy ... This morning I realized the gui package manager Discovery (kinda like Ubuntu Snapz) was not working (have come to understand that this is a known issue with some older gpus) , so I updated the Ubuntu repositories via Qterm and then installed Plank & conky via apt. Backing up this installation as to avoid another fresh install scenario if my ssd dies lol. Anyhow, I have been ordered by the 5y/o to go get "spring decorations" lol, so letting this back up while middle kiddo sits out all the ...what is essentially egg-rabbit-Easter type decor stuff.

View attachment 2494880
My replacement, replacement DVD drive has come in too, so I will be doing the re-paste/thermal padding and DVD replacement of my kiddos 09 imac as well.
Click to expand...
Finally got to finishing the dvd swap. I figured since I had it open, I’d show my oldest son (he’s 7) what the cpu and gpu looked like on the inside of his iMac with a cpu/gpu repaste/thermal pad replacement alongside the burnt out dvd. It took longer than I thought it would lol but we got it done.
F4EC56C6-B8B3-4515-A239-9227AB494889.jpeg

IMG_1523.jpeg

The white gunk was better than I thought it would be from a 16 year old Mac but fresh paste for the gpu & cpu and pads for the gpu memory and ics.
Took a minute to get everything back together but it chimed right up.
IMG_1530.jpeg

The initial intent was to swap the dvd and with all this other maintenance, I forgot to take a pic of the new dvd drive lol. On that note I was pretty happy to score a NOS Apple dvd drive still in its shrink wrap for $20 shipped, so am hoping this one will last another 16 years with all of the sponge bob and home alone reruns it will be subjected to over the years lol.
 
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I forgot to mention, it was not a perfect ride. There was one casualty.
IMG_1529.jpeg

This hdd sensor connector plastic broke when I was spudgering it out, so I stuck the gold lead back in as far as it would go and dropped a tiny bit of superglue to hold it in place. Luckily by the time I got back to puting it back in, it held together just fine and there was no issue to functionality/weird fan behavior post re-boot. I also cut my finger on the edge of the machined aluminum case puting the lcd back together lol.
IMG_1532.jpeg

Smarts a little this morning.
 
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Very happy to report back MUCH improved temperatures in the 2009 imac. I was averaging 125-130F during DVD and 130-160+ for YT playback. With the new paste, pads and dvd player, I let HomeAlone play through and the average temp was 108F. Certainly goes to show the efficiency of new Thermal compound vs 16 year old factory compound.

Yeah, obviously the new drive worked too lol. The machine is much more quiet. Eerily so lol.
 
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MBAir2010 said:

Certificate of Excellence, good for you...​

wow I can't even install a wifi thingee "software, built or patch"on my MacBook Pro 2012
using unbuntu....... or bibuntu...... or timbuckbuntu?....... I forgot!
so I just stayed with Mountain lion and enjoyed what I had.
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The move to Linux distros has really been about updated apps and running a little lighter on the systems. I like Ubuntu but have moved to Lubuntu as it’s a bit easier on sys resources I’m running it on but still looks/feels nice. Kind of a pain to have to use terminal as I got used to the snapz/discovery App Store variants but whatevs qterm/apt gets the job done. I’m pretty happy overall aside from the WiFi quirks that need to be worked through on a fresh install.

On my kiddos iMac, I left it at El Cap as to limit how available addictive screen time munching games like Roblox and mincecraft are. Neither will run on ElCap, so pushes them to make healthier choices off screen or education games they play at school like Boddle for example.
 
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iMac 2011 as second display for 2015 over ethernet (both 21.5 inch).

IMG_10541.jpg


Latency is ok for usage (not gaming but these aren't gaming machines), animations not so smooth, clearly not the claimed 60hz. Unfortunately not possible with MacOS so I had to install Windows 11 on both machines.

On this image the 2015 is the host, I would prefer 2011 as host as it runs much faster (progress???) but the colours came out inverted on the display of 2011. There are also some annoying rendering issues with text in the settings app, probably due to the old Nvidia GPU drivers.

Specs:
2011: Quad core i5 2.5ghz, 16gb RAM + Nvidia K2100m + MX500 SSD, usually running Sequoia 15.3.2 + OCLP 2.2.0. Windows is booted from external SSD over USB 2
2015: Dual core i5 1.6ghz, 8gb RAM, stock 1TB HDD
 
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Have decided to get the 2009 A1181 Whitebook going properly. To that end, incoming is an incomplete case with logic board from a unit with a broken display backlight. This should give me two working RAM slots if all is well, and possibly also fix the weird power button sequence that it currently takes to get it fired up. Then I'll put in 6GB RAM and an SSD and put MX Linux on it. It will run well, it does OK on 2GB!
 
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Marketplace laughed at me and threw my budget out the window. Was expecting to spend $200 and get some sort of 16GB/512GB SSD i7 27 inch iMac maybe 2013 or so. FB marketplace was like, "you ain't gotta worry about spending big money on another computer, check this out!" Saw a 21.5 inch A1418 "2013" for $85. I thought, well it isn't the big guy but it's less than half the price and no worries about shipping something from eBay or wherever. So I met with the guy, it looked like the anti-glare might be etching, but it ran. Gave $80, brought it home, took a Huggies baby wipe to it and then followed with lens wipes for glasses. It was NOT the antiglare coating but a thin film of cigarette smoke/nicotene and tar residue. This thing once wiped down, is absolutely *MINT*. And as it turns out it is a 4K Retina 2015 model with the i5-5575R, Iris Pro graphics not dual or dedicated, 8GB RAM but sadly only a 1TB spin HDD. I might have to open this thing up and hope I can put it back together neatly so I can get an SSD in it.

So now my $38 MBP has an $80 cousin and will now be a mobile machine (basically out in the workshop/garage/lounge/laboratory) so I got one of those shell cases for it and C2D will be plenty of power to bring up some web browsing tethered to my iPhone or watch some videos/listen to music downloaded to an SD card or USB drive.

Currently updating from El Capitan to Monterey. Plan to throw Sequoia on it with OCLP as soon as it finishes and feels ready. I've already hooked up the Logitech S220 speakers, a small USB hub, and tucked my lamp behind it. Honestly it feels fresh and new even though it's a decade old. Should be even better real soon with a current OS.

21 point 5.jpg
 
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