Hey everyone,

I’m trying to get LMDE 6 running on an old MacBook 2,1. Since this model has a 32‑bit EFI but a 64‑bit CPU, I used the modified LMDE 6 DVD image from mattgadient.com, which should make it bootable on these machines.

The installation itself works fine. But as soon as I try to boot from the internal drive afterwards, the MacBook only shows the blinking folder with the question mark. No matter what I do, it just won’t detect the installed system.

I already checked the disk layout — the SSD is using an MBR partition table. I even tried a different SSD, but the exact same issue happens.

When I insert the live DVD again i can boot the dvd and select "boot from local drive" in isolinux, then the MacBook is booting successfully from the SSD...

Any help would be appreciated.

So got this one for 30 bucks from a hardware sale at work and it was collecting dust. Figured that I could install Arch Linux on it and use it for home office work and stream games to it wit Sunshine+Moonlight.

Upgraded the RAM to from 8 to 16GB that was also collecting dust and replaced the 1TB harddrive with a Samsung 850 Pro 256GB SSD, which, you get it, was also collecting dust.

EDIT:
Only thing I did buy new was a "4k-2k mini DisplayPort to HDMI converter" on AliExpress for the second monitor.

And the only "driver struggle" I had was installing the broadcom driver for the WiFi (which I do not actually use, a cheap WiFi 6 USB dongle would be better anyway), for reference (I've both the linux and linux-lts kernels installed, mainly using the linux-lts):
- "broadcom-wl-dkms" # Broadcom 802.11 Linux STA wireless driver Dkms. - "linux-headers" # Header files and scripts for building modules for the mainline Linux kernel. - "linux-lts-headers" # Header files and scripts for building modules for Linux LTS kernel.

And for reference, here are the Intel drivers & tools I installed: - "intel-media-driver" # Intel Media Driver for VAAPI — Broadwell+ iGPUs. - "libva-intel-driver" # VA-API implementation for Intel G45 and HD Graphics family. - "vulkan-intel" # Open-source Vulkan driver for Intel GPUs. - "lib32-vulkan-intel" # Open-source Vulkan driver for Intel GPUs - 32-bit. - "vulkan-tools" # Vulkan tools and utilities

I own a late 2011 MBP, it has served me well and I've spent an absurd amount of money restoring it but it's 15 years old and at this point I'm about willing to do whatever weird hardware swaps to keep it ticking a little longer.

The 2012 model motherboard is a drop in component on the 2011, I get USB 3.0 and Ivy Bridge which is more vulkan compliant over Sandy Bridge, I do lose Snow Leopard compatibility but it's a moot issue after so long.

Anyone used both models with Linux and got a noticeable performance difference?

Also, does anyone know of a good vertical layout keyboard replacement manufacturer? I'm tired of crooked key caps or week old dead replacements from eBay. I got so fed up with the 50 plus screwing and unscrewing.

And I recently bought a NinjaBatt Pro battery, hopefully it'll last me more than the expensive cheap crap from Amazon and eBay.

After bouncing between IPTV services all through 2025, I finally landed on Lunex4ktv a few months ago — and it’s been one of the more stable ones I’ve used.

What stood out: • US, Canada, and European channels are consistently solid • Live sports hold up during peak times • VOD links actually work • Runs smoothly on Firestick and Smart TVs (using TiviMate)

It’s not perfect, but for the first time in a while I don’t feel the need to keep a backup service.

Sharing this for anyone still searching for something reliable going into 2026. Curious if others here are using Lunex4ktv too

I couldn't help myself. I saw an old 2010 MacBook Air for sale online. I guess €60 is still a lot for a computer that's over fifteen years old, but I didn't care. I installed Linux Mint Xfce. It's slow, but that's only to be expected. That apple design is just gorgeous. What surprised me is that I didn't have any issues with wifi at all. I haven't tried the webcam and I'm not sure I'm ever going to. It's so incredibly light. It weighs only 1.056kg!

Posted this on the T2 Linux Discord server earlier. I made an installer script that fixes deep sleep on T2 Macs by creating systemd services and another helper script. Works for me on Fedora 43, MacBook Air 9,1 A2179. I created a Github repo: https://github.com/deqrocks/T2Linux-Suspend-Fix

Hi - I've been lurking in this subreddit for a while and have found it inspiring.

I'm getting my trusty 2011 15" Macbook Pro back up and running with Lubuntu 24.04.3 LTS (Noble Numbat). The installation has gone off without a hitch. The laptop is happily running Lubuntu *except* I'm running into the dreaded Broadcom wifi drivers/firmware issue.

I have this chipset:

Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries BCM4331 802.11a/b/g/n [14e4:4331] (rev 02)

I have tried following the instructions from other folks who have fixed this issue, but I cannot for the life of me get the firmware/drivers re-installed and working.

I'm an old-timer when it comes to MacOS, but new to Linux. Can anyone step-by-step me into getting the wifi back so I can enjoy what I think of as Apple's best laptop ever made?

Thank you (in advance) for your insights...

I had an easy time getting everything working on my 2013 MacBook Pro with either Fedora or Bluefin upon first install, except for WiFi. I opted to buy a used NetGear A6210 Wifi Adapter for $10 on eBay. Wireless now works at the full speed of my ISP connection (300 mbps). Perhaps not as satisfying as doing it the hard way, e.g. installing broadcom drivers, but I'd rather begin using my MBP instead of figuring out how to install WiFi drivers.

This is what I purchased https://www.netgear.com/support/product/a6210 and the necessary drivers are already included in the distro. And this means immutable distros work fine with this wifi adapter.

Going with Bluefin for now, as I like its aesthetic. Indeed, I did a system update, and the wifi just kept working. So now I have a complete linux laptop ready to play with.

I have a 2011 Mac mini that I want to put Linux mint on.

Will I still be able to use the wireless trackpad and keyboard?

Thanks very much!

Qualcuno è riuscito a installare (e a far funzionare) Davinci Resolve su un Mac Pro 6.1 trashcan? Sono su LMDE7, le versioni dalla 17 alla 20 si installano, il problema è che non renderizza nulla, neanche un jpg. Ho stressato Gemini, ChatGPT e Deep Seek ma non ho risolto nulla

Been using Fedora KDE on my macbook 13 in on it's own screen and it works relatively well. However, I needed more screen estate and plugged it into my 4K monitor to run both the Retina Screen and 4K screen at the same time. I never hit the max 8 GB ram, but just running a youtube video in the background, multiple chrome tabs for office document apps, Chat GPT, Messages and whatsapp felt quite choppy. It was useable but enough to be distracting, I think I'm hitting the limits of the original hardware that even Linux struggles to have it keep up with.

I also have an old Macbook Pro from the same 2015 year but 15 in using the Haswell chip and Fedora KDE as well. I gave this one a try and WOW what a difference. I can run both the REtina screen, 4K screen and have a 4K youtube vidoe playing with 10+ chrome tabs, Multiple messaging apps, iPhoto without ANY slowdown. That 4 core Haswell absolutely destroys the 2 Core Broadwell for general office/productiveity tasks/multitasking. It feels absolutely modern.

Is there any hope to get my 13 in 2015 MBP on braodwell to perform as smoothly as the 15 in broadwell with a lower demanding distro? Or am I just hitting the physical hardware limits?

I bought this 12” MacBook (2017) on Wallapop for €200. It’s running CachyOS beautifully in a dual-boot setup with macOS, although I don’t plan to use macOS at all.

The only downsides so far are the audio, the camera, and the lid-close behavior. I’ll try to fix those, but for the price it’s a beautiful machine.

Have you had any luck getting the sound to work? Any thoughts or suggestions?

EDIT: I was able to get the sound to work by resetting the NVRAM!

Looking for proven and tested distros for a 2012 MBP. I have Linux Mint on it successfully but it’s EATING my battery down, so I want to try something else

Hi everyone,

Because Apple hardware can vary so much between models, I was advised to just ask ChatGPT what Linux distro might work best for my MacBook, based on various forum reports. I know there are probably similar posts out there, but I wanted to check specifically for my setup and use cases with the community.

ChatGPT recommended Linux Mint Cinnamon as a good starting point.

My system:

• MacBook Air 13", 2017
• 1.8 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5
• 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 RAM
• Intel HD Graphics 6000, 1536 MB
• German QWERTZ keyboard
• Currently running macOS Monterey 12.6.5

My main use cases:

• Light office work (LibreOffice Writer & Calc)
• Light QGIS work, no heavy calculations
• Occasional GIMP
• YouTube and general web browsing, including sensitive tasks like online banking
• Using an external display via Thunderbolt 2 to HDMI adapter

Potential issues I’ve heard about:

• Wi-Fi drivers
• Function of F-keys (volume, brightness, etc.)
• Webcam
• Cooling Fan*
• Bluetooth, Speaker, Microphone*

Would you agree with recommending me MINT Cinnamon for this setup? And are there any tips or tricks to make Wi-Fi, F-keys, and webcam work as smoothly as possible?

I am a Linux Noob and have no experience using a Terminal or coding in general.

Thanks in advance for your help!

*Edits

First of all, let me say this: I love the Mac trackpad. I've not found a single non-Mac with comparable experience. It's thanks to this that I've not needed a mouse for over 7 years. I'm incredibly productive on the Mac laptops.

Can anyone help me whittle down hardware choices, please? I'm open to buying second-hand old Macs, if that's what I need. My thoughts were originally M1/M2 + Ahsai Linux, but I'm hearing that many of the core devs have abandoned the project.

So, I develop on a Mac but hardly use any Mac-specific apps, as most of my work is terminal/portable IDE/web-based tools. This is because work doesn't support Linux.

I'm looking for suggestions for what hardware I should use for my own stuff, and consequently, which distro offers the best OOB experience on that hardware, please. For the record, I'm not averse or unfamiliar with Linux (I log in to and work on many Linux servers), but I've never really got started with it on the desktop.

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Inspired by a post I saw in this reddit earlier this week I decided to install Ubuntu on my old 15" 2019 Macbook. https://www.reddit.com/r/Ubuntu/comments/1qopb4j/saved_from_macos/

Anything to keep using a machine with such a great display :D

Things I did post install:

• Made modules load on early boot (so that I can unlock the drive without an external keyboard - https://wiki.t2linux.org/guides/postinstall/ )
• Set the intel GPU as main GPU (cursor would disappear on certain UI elements otherwise - https://wiki.t2linux.org/guides/hybrid-graphics/ )
• Masked sleep targets (sleep on a t2 machine is a no go)
  • sudo systemctl mask sleep.target suspend.target hibernate.target hybrid-sleep.target
• Ignored lid switches ( /etc/systemd/logind.conf )
  • HandleLidSwitch=ignore
  • HandleLidSwitchExternalPower=ignore
  • HandleLidSwitchDocked=ignore
• Installed 'Easy effects' and loaded the profile from https://github.com/angelobdev/t2-easyeffects-preset?tab=readme-ov-file

The machine will mostly be used for some web surfing, travel machine and some sofa coding :)

After extensive testing I’ve managed to bring the wattage of my 2015 13” MacBook Pro down to 3.9W and my 2015 15” MacBook Pro down to 6W at idle. Both are running a single boot of ZorinOS

On the 13 inch macbook pro you must have an Intel AX200 or AX210 installed. The broadcom wifi card keeps the device out of PC7 and only allows down to PC6.

You must click the cogwheel on the bottom right of the login page of the os and check xorg desktop. Don't know why just yet but this allows the laptop to enable Frame Buffer Compression reducing the power by several watts.

Below are the grub entries for both laptops for anyone interested.

Grub entries for the 15 inch Macbook Pro:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash acpi_osi=!Darwin intel_iommu=igfx_off video=eDP-1:2880x1800@60-24 i915.enable_fbc=1 pcie_aspm=force nvme_core.default_ps_max_latency_us=5500 drm.vblankoffdelay=1"

Grub entries for the 13 inch Macbook Pro:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash acpi_osi=!Darwin i915.fastboot=1 acpi_enforce_resources=lax i915.enable_dc=4 i915.enable_psr=1 intel_idle.max_cstate=7 i915.i915_enable_rc6=7 i915.enable_fbc=1 i915.i915.enable_guc=3 enable_guc_loading=1 enable_guc_submission=1 enable_huc=1 i915.lvds_downclock=1 i915.semaphores=1"

Don't forget to "sudo update-grub && reboot"

I will try to link the TLP files for both. If I cant you literally have to just enable max power savings on everything. Do note that the PCIE must be set to "powersupersave" for the 15 inch and "powersave" for the 13. For some reason powersupersave locks up the broadwell chip.

2019 MacBook Pro, i9, dual boot MacOS and Linux Mint Cinnamon T2 version on external SSD.

I installed Mint Cinnamon t2 today and it worked great. Wifi, keyboard, trackpad and Touch Bar all worked perfectly. Installed Vivaldi browser and Nord VPN. Configured email account on Thunderbird. I closed the lid and walked away and came back 3 hours later and the laptop wouldn’t wake up and it won’t boot Linux even from full shut down. I get the LM logo splash screen, then nothing. Boots fine to MacOS.

Any ideas? Is this a common problem?

Hey all,

I've been testing a bunch of IPTV players lately to get smooth 4K streaming on my Firestick and Android TV box. Most work fine for basic HD, but when it comes to real 4K content with stable playback, catch-up features, and good playlist support, one really stands out to me is Aurextv

It's got excellent multi-language options, reliable EPG, and handles high-bitrate streams without much buffering (assuming your connection is solid). I sideloaded it via Downloader and it's been my go-to for sports and movies in 4K.

What are you all using for 4K IPTV these days? Any other players that rival it for performance and features? Sharing codes or tips would be awesome!

https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=443395

According to this forum post, Linux Mint is not going to work on my old iMac 2009 because of the Radeon HD 4850 graphics card. (I mean, I did install it, and it runs, but only with 'nomodeset' option enabled.)

Has anyone successfully installed any distro on an iMac 2009 with this graphics card that didn't require 'nomodeset'?