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If I installed LINUX Mint, and later want to return to MacOS, how do I get my Macbook Pro to respond to the key sequences?

I installed LINUX Mint, on an older Macbook Pro 2011, just to see how it would run LINUX. EVERY PC runs LINUX, regardless of how old, and does it well. This one was dog slow, and the screen kept going off, and ... ugggh! It's not worth it! I was going to experiment to see what it would be like running macOS in a virtual session on LINUX. But, according to the license agreement, it HAS TO BE on Mac hardware. Well, this experiment went belly up!


Anyway, now in trying to install from the Network, the key sequences don't respond. So, I created a USB boot drive to install macOS El Capitan ... no response to key sequences again, nor would it book up!


HELP!!!

Posted on Sep 3, 2020 6:29 PM

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Posted on Sep 4, 2020 8:21 PM

Linux should run perfectly fine on that laptop assuming the hard drive is healthy and you have at least 4GB or RAM. I suspect you have a failing hard drive or other hardware issue with the laptop. If you still have Linux Mint installed, then run the GSmartControl app and check the health of the hard drive. Feel free to post the drive's health report here using the "Additional Text" icon which looks like a piece of paper. If GSmartControl is not installed by default, then it should be easy to install from the Linux Mint repositories.


Did you follow the instructions in this Apple article to create a bootable macOS USB installer?

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372


I've seen reports on these forums that other methods don't always work. Plus Macs can be very particular about the USB sticks used for booting since the quality of many USB sticks is quite poor. Try using another brand of USB stick for your installer.


Try a PRAM reset.


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Question marked as Best reply

Sep 4, 2020 8:21 PM in response to Rich Allcorn

Linux should run perfectly fine on that laptop assuming the hard drive is healthy and you have at least 4GB or RAM. I suspect you have a failing hard drive or other hardware issue with the laptop. If you still have Linux Mint installed, then run the GSmartControl app and check the health of the hard drive. Feel free to post the drive's health report here using the "Additional Text" icon which looks like a piece of paper. If GSmartControl is not installed by default, then it should be easy to install from the Linux Mint repositories.


Did you follow the instructions in this Apple article to create a bootable macOS USB installer?

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372


I've seen reports on these forums that other methods don't always work. Plus Macs can be very particular about the USB sticks used for booting since the quality of many USB sticks is quite poor. Try using another brand of USB stick for your installer.


Try a PRAM reset.


If I installed LINUX Mint, and later want to return to MacOS, how do I get my Macbook Pro to respond to the key sequences?

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