Run a Live CD of a Mac

Question

Level 1

83 points

Run a Live CD of a Mac

The I cannot find any possible way to run a Live CD ON a Mac.

My Mac will boot right off of it, and it will run the Live CD as its own OS.

I have Mepis Linux, and it just will not boot. How do I get my Mac to run off of it?

Note that I have to use my USB-A Apple SuperDrive to boot off of and the run it. Connection-wise, I am using a Female USB-A to Male USB-C adapter

Holding down C upon boot is of no success. The Mac goes on and just boots as intended.

Any other Options? Or is booting off a Live CD just not a possibility?

———

BTW: It works like a charm on all of my former PCs.

MacBook Pro w/ Touch Bar (2018 or later)

Posted on Jan 13, 2019 7:33 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Mitteos Author

Level 1

83 points

Jan 15, 2019 8:09 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I have a new post, this time about running the VM, and then pressing [whatever-need-be] to boot up from a Live CD.

Pretty much, it is a workaround to all of this.

If you have any thoughts, please let me know (On whichever post seems the best).

The Post: How do I change the Boot Order a Virtual Machine (VM)?:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250089073?page=1

Thank you again.

—Mitteos

Reply

Answer 2

Mitteos Author

Level 1

83 points

Jan 14, 2019 5:48 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I tried many times. It is a bit confusing.

Having looked more into EFI, I do not understand why I would need to create a partition on my hard drive, external or internal.

As a workaround for troubleshooting, word has it on Wikipedia, that I can create a third partition, and use that empty space for a successful installation/boot through Boot Camp.

But, this is not on an external Hard Drive.

It is on a Compact Disc, which, by the way, is not rewritable.

For note, I do boot from a USB flash drive for certain installations, particularly for troubleshooting Macs.

My First Two Images are examples of what I am running for Live CDs: Ubuntu Linux and Mepis Linux, made from a manufacturer and myself, respectively.

My Third Image is the ISO of Trinity.

Next are two snapshots of Ubuntu’s disk holder, on which “PC” and “Windows” are printed on the Fourth Image and the Fifth Image, respectively.

Lastly, only one items shows up for booting (Pressing “U”).

So, the next question is: Are Compact Discs an option on to Live Boot on a Mac? Or can I only perform installations using Internal and External Discs?

Reply

Answer 3

Jan 13, 2019 7:58 PM in response to Mitteos

Too be bootable, a CD needs to have EFI boot partition to boot normally.

If C-for-CD does not work, you could try holding the Option key. This should draw a blank screen, then put up an Icon as it discovers each potentially-bootable Volume. Failure to put up an icon for the CD by the time it is done discovering means the CD is not bootable in its current condition.

Reply

Answer 4

Jan 14, 2019 6:06 PM in response to Mitteos

Macs are set up to boot MacOS. Booting a different operating system takes some fiddling.

Many users trying to directly boot Linux used to use rEFIt, now not so popular. This site has ten suggestions for alternatives, rapidly converging on GRUB:

https://alternativeto.net/software/refit/?platform=mac

.

Reply

Answer 5

Mitteos Author

Level 1

83 points

Jan 14, 2019 6:59 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I think this is such an important, and intriguing post!

Thank you so much for the reply and following up with me on this post.

———

“takes some fiddling”

I’ll work with this on my own will, for a bit, and see if I can figure this out. It will be fun, as my own research will be performed. I‘m considering posting a recommendation, should I successfully find a way around this.

—————

And thank you so much for that link! It has a lot on there. In opinion, with so much of those having been discontinued, security may be an issue, with no recent fixes.

—————

-bsklant

Reply

Answer 6

Jan 15, 2019 7:29 AM in response to Mitteos

Linux Users like the idea that they are doing something less popular.

I find they are VERY generous and willing to help others do the same, and the forums surrounding Linux installation are full of folks eager to help you get it installed on ANY possible device. (If your toaster could run it, they would take pleasure in helping you install it there as well!)

Look for those forums, and you will find folks happy to post explanations and "recipes" to help get you going.

Reply

Answer 7

Mitteos Author

Level 1

83 points

Jan 13, 2019 7:59 PM in response to Mitteos

Edit: With a Live CD, my Mac WOULD boot right off of it, and it WOULD run the Live CD as its own OS.

Reply

Answer 8

Mitteos Author

Level 1

83 points

Jan 13, 2019 8:03 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I’ll give it a go and will take a picture or two of what’s going on, tomorrow. Look forward to a reply to this post with a picture.

Reply

Answer 9

Jan 15, 2019 8:12 AM in response to Mitteos

Now you see why duplicate posts are removed. It is too difficult to follow duplicate posts about the same thing. I'm out, it is too difficult to follow you.

Reply

Answer 10

Mitteos Author

Level 1

83 points

Jan 15, 2019 8:47 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

Ok. Thanks, as now clearly I know 🙂.

Reply

Run a Live CD of a Mac

Similar questions