Description of problem: When I try to boot Fedora-18-x86_64-Live-Desktop on a MacBook 4,1 it fails to boot to Fedora. Matthew Garrett thinks the kernel is crashing very early in startup. Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): Release version of the kernel How reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. Create Live USB from the Fedora-18-x86_64-Live-Desktop.iso (dd if=Fedora-18-x86_64-Live-Desktop.iso of=/dev/sdx bs=8M) 2. Insert into Macbook 3. Hold the option key while booting 4. Of the four displayed options, select Fedora 18 5. At the GRUB menu, let it go with the default or select Fedora-18-x86_64-Live-Desktop.is Actual results: Briefly a solid cursor will be shown, and then just a solid black screen. Fails to boot Fedora 18. Expected results: Boot to Fedora 18. Additional info: Original notes here: http://mjg59.dreamwidth.org/22028.html?thread=847628#cmt847628 I have tried adding the kernel argument "nomodeset" and removing quiet to see some output but the system still fails to boot. EFI boot also fails. I do find it curious though that the grub menu and editor show "Fedora-18-x86_64-Live-Desktop.is" instead of .iso. Possibly related?
Kernel version 3.6.10-4.fc18.x86_64 I also tried the Full DVD (x86_64). After entering "configfile cd0,apple3)/EFI/BOOT/grub.cfg" into the grub prompt, and then choosing Fedora-18-x86_64 the same issue occurs - a brief solid cursor, and then a solid black screen. So it doesn't look isolated to the Live USB. Should I edit the title?
Model Name: MacBook Model Identifier: MacBook4,1 Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz Number of Processors: 1 Total Number of Cores: 2 L2 Cache: 3 MB Memory: 2 GB Bus Speed: 800 MHz Boot ROM Version: MB41.00C1.B00 SMC Version (system): 1.31f1 Sudden Motion Sensor: State: Enabled That's the system I'm on now, same issue, different OS. Trying to get x86_64 OSX 10.7 working, which I have my own problem I'll ask about later. In the meantime I think I have an answer for yours. Near as I can tell, as this setup is on UEFI, the EFI boot rom on this particular MacBook is neutered to only load i386 executables. The current workaround seems to be loading a i386 bootloader that then loads the x86_64 kernel. http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1325709 Example with OSX here. It's not elegant, but unless you have some custom firmware for this thing it's all I've got. You could try another X86_64 boot and see if it hangs, then try a i386 install. For me OSX 10.8 hung every time I tried to install and I spent a good hour flipping every flag and console command I coud to try and get this thing to boot into a 64 bit kernel and it wouldn't. Currently typing this on OSX 10.7.5 Also, my dilemma is even if I do get it up and running I'm having an almost impossible time finding 64 bit kernel extensions for the Intel GMA965 x3000 video card that powers this thing, which makes it almost useless. I hope that makes sense... Its been a long day. And it's incredibly frustrating that I'm not sure if I should try for a full 64 bit boot on this or just stay where I'm at. The GPU thing could be a huge headache.
Heh, I'm the furthest thing from a Mac Expert... but I'll help if/where I can. The 4,1 Macbook isn't officially supported for OS X 10.8. I didn't even know there was a work around. You know now that you mention it, if you have 10.6 installed and you want to boot into OS X 64-bit mode (defaults to 32-bit) you have to hold the "6" and "4" keys. I wonder if that works with the boot loader? - http://macperformanceguide.com/SnowLeopard-64bit.html I'll give the "6" "4" key-press thing a try this evening with Fedora. However, when I tried the i686 Live USB on the Macbook it didn't show up at all in the boot loader ("Fedora" or "EFI"). The i686 Live CD lacks the EFI folder, so I'm guessing that's why it didn't show? But the possibility of loading i386 --> x86_64 might be a good work around if we want to fix this in Fedora. Which reminds me, I meant to test this on a MacMini 1,1 as well.
Yeah, the issue I'm running into is the Intel GMA965 X3100 mobile drivers that came with that 64 bit version in 10.6 are really buggy. I'm trying to weigh the speed/compatibility trade off between the following: 10.6 64 bit /w Buggy Drivers 10.7.5 32 bit 10.8.2 /w possibly porting drivers over from the X11 project. To continue the x86_64 on Old Hardware thing, I found another workaround writeup. http://www.jabbawok.net/?p=47 I think I'm going to try and throw a 64 bit distro on here just as proof of concept and to see what drivers it uses and how it preforms.
If you had 32bit EFI, you wouldn't even get to the GRUB menu. In OS X Terminal, report the result from: ioreg -l -p IODeviceTree | grep firmware-abi (that is not the number one, it is a lower case L)
$ ioreg -l -p IODeviceTree | grep firmware-abi | | "firmware-abi" = <"EFI64">
>EFI64 You have a 64-bit EFI. I suggest in the meantime, regress to Fedora 17 x86_64 which uses GRUB legacy EFI. It also uses a different kernel. But a further test would be putting F17 and F18 on different media that can be in the computer at the same time, and use the F17 GRUB to boot the F18 kernel. Easier for you would be to install F17, if you can boot that installer successfully, and then use fedup to upgrade to F18 (which keeps the F17 GRUB). But if you want to test F17 GRUB and F18 kernel and don't know how to do that, find me on Fedora Forum rather than cluttering up this bug report.
Fedora 17 x86_64 live media does the same thing. After booting and selecting "Fedora", GRUB appears. After choosing to boot Fedora after awhile it just goes to a solid black screen. I'll try the install media next.
Does this still happen with the F19 media? We can't fix F17/F18 media, and we've had success booting Macs with F19 so hopefully this is fixed. If not, please let us know.
I can check a couple today with F19. Is there any recommended method for creating the USB media? dd, licd gui vs licd-cmd ?
*liveusb-creator
It seemed to me that I was getting the same problem with F19 live image. But after waiting long enough, it actually boots. I am sitting here looking at the Welcome to Fedora screen with a choice of Try Fedora or Install to Hard Drive, so I have certainly got further than with F17 or F18. But I see at the bottom: A Problem has Occurred. A problem in the kernel package has been detected. I chose the report option (rather than ignore) and it says it has been reported. Try Fedora works. I shall try installing to hard disk tomorrow. Anyway, if I encounter problems after that, they will certainly be a different bug to this one.
Yes, I can confirm with the Fedora 19 Live Desktop x64 burned to USB disk using dd, it boots fully on the MacBook 4,1 (Using the "Fedora Media" selection anyway... didn't try the EFI ones). I have another Mac to test but not sure when I'll be able to lay my hands on it, so let's call this closed and fixed :)