Arch Linux

Acente

Member

Registered: 2015-06-30

Posts: 5

[SOLVED] Cropped Installation Menu

[SOLVED]

Hello, while not "per se" a solution to the issue found, I found a workaround in order to be able to install the 32-bit components despite not being able to select i686 on the install screen. Go to https://github.com/EvoLutionLinux/archi … nd-32-ISOs and follow the instructions.

Thank you!

[/SOLVED]

Hello, forum.

*Disclaimer*: I spent some time looking for this issue but couldn't find it in the forums; maybe I didn't search good enough, so if this is already posted, please don't get mad at me.

TL;DR: MacBook 2,1 (mid 2007) with Libreboot and GRUB2 payload fails to install with LiveCD (CD works fine in other machines, and MacBook works fine with Lubuntu LiveCD) and doesn't let me select 32-bit installation when installing from LiveUSB (works fine in other machines); it doesn't show a menu and takes me directly to a 64-bit installation process after showing a cropped and disorted Installation "Menu" (it only shows the arch logo, but no real menu). Any suggestions?

Short story long:

I had an old Apple MacBook 2,1 (Mid 2007) and wanted to wipe out OSX and install Arch. After reading a lot of different posts, I decided to install a different distro (I had a Lubuntu 14.04 CD around so I just used that) and flash the firmware from there (I installed Libreboot with GRUB2 payload, which supports this laptop) in order to be able to boot from an Arch Linux installation USB (everything else I tried just didn't work).

The USB works just fine in my other 2 machines (Dell XPS15 L501x (64-bit) and LG ??? ~2007 (32-bit)). I have installed Arch in VMs and in these machines a couple times in order to practice and make sure I understand the whole process. I've succeeded.

When I boot the MacBook from the USB I get a very ugly, cropped installation screen displaying only the "(A) arch linux, a simple, lightweight linux distribution".

No menu. No options.

It automatically starts loading everything after a few seconds, but if I follow the installation process from here, it starts installing 64-bit components. The MacBook is 32-bit.

If I try pressing the arrow down key before this happens, and then press enter, nothing happens and, after a few seconds, it starts again, as 64-bit installation.

I tried using a LiveCD as well, but it shows me the same screen (only much slower) and then fails to start the installation process (I think it doesn't find the CD's "ARCH_201508" label, but this doesn't happen in the Dell or the LG either).

Could you please help me, maybe point me at some documentation related with this issue or show me a work-around? (maybe I can somehow tell Arch to install 32-bit OS once it takes me to the prompt?)

I'd really appreciate some help from you guys, I trust we'll find a solution, since I've found one for every other arch-issue I've encountered before.

Last edited by Acente (2015-08-19 00:28:52)