CrunchBang Linux

Jejenhausen

New Member

Registered: 2011-07-02

Posts: 2

Macbook Dual Boot [howto]

hi guys,

newb here but i have just installed crunch on my macbook pro 5,5 (aluminium body mid 2009) in a dual boot set up with Mac OS X 10.5 , trying to be descriptive to help catch google as i couldnt really find any specific steps to get it happening, so im here to share what ive just learnt.

ok so here are the steps ive taken:

1) used bootcamp utility to resize my os x install. this machine is used everyday for my job so i didnt want to do anything destructive and waste time on reinstalling before work the next day . sizing is up to you, i gave 40gb to my crunch install as i hopefully want to ditch os x

2) install refit by downloading the dmg in os x and installing

3) from os x download:

• libc-bin_2.11.2-10_amd64.deb
  gptsync_0.14-2_amd64.deb
  refit_0.14-2_amd64.deb

from http://packages.debian.org/squeeze/ to a USB stick, put the stick aside for the time being

4) burn install disk, im using the 02072011 build of amd64,openbox

5) boot from cd and start install, enter name bla bla up to partitions, i let the installer choose my partitions from my empty space but you can do whatever

6) do whatever comes next (timezone, i cant remember) up until the grub install, say no to install to the MBR, it will ask where to install.

7) hit fn + control + alt + f2 to open a new virtual console

mount the usb stick and run:

• dpkg -i /mnt/usb/libc-bin_2.11.2-10_amd64.deb
  dpkg -i /mnt/usb/gptsync_0.14-2_amd64.deb
  dpkg -i /mnt/usb/refit_0.14-2_amd64.deb

this will get refit installed

9) ..so you can now enter:

• gptsync /dev/sda

to synchronise your new partitions with refit

10) if all is ok, switch back to your install (either  fn + control + alt + f1 or my gui install was  fn + control + alt + f5)

11) in the grub install, enter /dev/sda4 or where ever your crunch install resides, if unsure, switch back to the virtual console and check df

12) it should finish the install and eject your cd

13) next reboot you should have the refit option to boot into linux, it will take you to the grub menu where you choose your #! install

theres still a bit of work to get the boot process a bit faster, more streamlined but i am dual booting crunchbang and os x after about a week of trying.
gurus forgive me for any sloppy behaviour but i couldnt locate any other step by step walkthrough for this process and managed to stumble my way through the above and am very happy of myself! no doubt ill be around often as i get used to this new os.

i found the following very helpful along the way:

http://wiki.debian.org/MacBook#Install_Debian

macbook pro, 5,5, dual boot crunchbang mbp

yugnip

New Member

From: Upstairs

Registered: 2011-06-24

Posts: 9

Website

Re: Macbook Dual Boot [howto]

This is posted in Help, but it doesn't seem like you need it, as you are installed and all set. But I'll let you know how I do it for future reference.

-I install refit via it's installer
-Use Disk Utility to resize my mac partition and make a new partition and swap
-Pop in the install cd (download iso, burn to disk using disk utility)
-In the installer choose manual partitioning
-Split partition made on mac into two parts
-/ partition set with grub
-/home partition
-finish install

Viola!

Jejenhausen

New Member

Registered: 2011-07-02

Posts: 2

Re: Macbook Dual Boot [howto]

-/ partition set with grub

thats where'd id come unstuck, i couldnt install grub properly without syncing the partition changes with refit, and midway through the install process is the only successful path i found