Arch Linux

saw2th

Member

Registered: 2013-05-30

Posts: 8

Booting installation medium on MacBook(1,1) via rEFInd

I'm trying to do a fresh install on my MacBook(1,1), and I can't boot from USB (or CD for that matter because I no longer have access to Linux, so I can't rebuild the ISO per the wiki's instructions). I followed the wiki's guide on creating UEFI bootable USB from the current ISO (ARCH_201305), and rebuilt the

refind.conf

file as shown below:

timeout 5
textonly

showtools about,reboot,shutdown,exit
# scan_driver_dirs EFI/tools/drivers_ia32
scanfor manual,internal,external,optical

scan_delay 1
dont_scan_dirs EFI/boot

max_tags 0
default_selection "Arch Linux Archiso x86_64 UEFI USB"

menuentry "Arch Linux Archiso x86_64 UEFI USB" {
  loader /arch/boot/i686/vmlinuz
  initrd /arch/boot/i686/archiso.img
  ostype Linux
  graphics off
  options "archisobasedir=arch archisolabel=ARCH_201305 add_efi_memmap"
}

menuentry "UEFI x86_64 Shell v2" {
  loader /EFI/shellx64_v2.efi
  graphics off
}

menuentry "UEFI x86_64 Shell v1" {
  loader /EFI/shellx64_v1.efi
  graphics off
}

Note that I've replaced x86_64 instances with ia32 or i686 as my system is 32-bit only. My problem occurs when rEFInd goes to boot via the USB: it begins loading vmlinuz, but then says

Failed to open initrd file: arch\boot\i686\archiso.img

and stops.

I used Arch for over a year before I stupidly reformatted my HDD, and I really liked it. Any help or suggestions would really be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Last edited by saw2th (2013-05-31 04:31:21)

WonderWoofy

Member

From: Los Gatos, CA

Registered: 2012-05-19

Posts: 8,414

Re: Booting installation medium on MacBook(1,1) via rEFInd

I think that the easier solution to your issue would be to remove the UEFI stuff from the archiso, then using the bios compatibility mode.  This does not necessarily mean that you have to continue to use the bios compatibility after you install.  But getting the OS onto the system is probably ideal.

Can you try using the instructions below the ones you linked to that allow for removal of the UEFI?

Edit: I say it is probably the easier solution because I personally had all kinds of trouble not too long ago trying to use the 32-bit UEFI with archiso on my MacBook 2,1.  And only after going the route suggested above was I able to get the thing booting off the USB.

Last edited by WonderWoofy (2013-05-31 05:11:32)

saw2th

Member

Registered: 2013-05-30

Posts: 8

Re: Booting installation medium on MacBook(1,1) via rEFInd

I can't remove the UEFI stuff off the archiso because I don't have access to a Linux OS (only a Mac). Do you still have the ISO that you used, and could you send me a link on Dropbox or something?