How to Boot a MacBookPro with Ubuntu v10.10 on USB drive??

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Level 1

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How to Boot a MacBookPro with Ubuntu v10.10 on USB drive??

With Unbuntu v10.10 on my USB jump drive plugged into my MacBook Pro (OS X v10.6.6) & holding down the "alt" key during power-up, only the MacBook internal hard drive is available for selection.

Also tried holding down "command" + "option" + "F" + "0" during power up to access EFI but system boots as normal with no Bios or EFI settings available to change boot device. Plus using Statup Disk under System Preference shows only the MacBook Internal Hard Drive or Network as options, no USB.

Am I doing something wrong or is there another way to boot Ubuntu v10.10 from a USB jump drive on my MacBook Pro?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Feb 9, 2011 7:30 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Feb 9, 2011 7:59 PM in response to GESNetMan

Sorry, but you cannot boot directly from a USB stick. Go to the Ubuntu site to learn what to do. This is an Apple help site, not an Ubuntu support site. Ubuntu has step by step directions if you look for them.

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Answer 2

Feb 10, 2011 8:47 AM in response to Kappy

One CAN boot directly from a USB stick. After the CD drive in my mini failed, I restored my copy of OS X to a USB drive for testing purposes, also installed OS X to a USB drive for fun once upon a time. Worked fine.

Whether or not that works with a Linux Live USB, I'm not sure. If I recall correctly, I had tried that once myself and had no luck.

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Feb 10, 2011 8:54 AM in response to Side_Step_Society

I think you misunderstood. I didn't say you cannot boot from a USB drive. In context the remark referred to booting Ubuntu from a USB drive.

Ubuntu outlines what is required to prepare a USB flash drive for use on a Mac. Which is what I told the OP.

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Answer 4

Feb 10, 2011 8:58 AM in response to Kappy

I suppose I had misinterpreted "Sorry, but you cannot boot directly from a USB stick." 😉 My apologies.

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Answer 5

Kappy

Level 10

361,741 points

Feb 10, 2011 9:01 AM in response to Side_Step_Society

Must be my American English.

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Answer 6

Dracks

Level 1

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Feb 12, 2011 5:15 AM in response to Kappy

the easy step is boot linux with usb in a mac, the hard step is this run well configured, and you can run all features of you computer booting from a usb.

You cannot boot a MBR disc from USB, but you can boot an efi disc. You nees install grub-efi, and run it. If your mac is old, is possible that you cannot boot grub-efi from the efi boot particion (the first, that it is fomat in FAT32), and in this case, you need an HFS+ for boot grub-efi.

You can read this topic of ubuntu forums:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=995704

and in the grub web, has a wiki that you can learn how to configure the grub-efi and how to boot it in mac.

Good luck!

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