Arch Linux

nmiculinic

Member

Registered: 2015-12-25

Posts: 63

Cannot boot arch iso on Mac

I have Mac Pro 2017, 10.14 Mohave. And I want to install arch linux on it, dual boot. I've cleared the space for arch partition, downloaded latest arch iso:

Current Release: 2018.11.01
Included Kernel: 4.18.16
ISO Size: 586.0 MB
SHA1: 2d8f56bda0fbfba0ca6162f35c5950e314a8b8f8

--

I've used etcher to burn it on the usb drive.

Then I restarted mac, pressed alt, saw EFI boot menu, picked Arch iso UEFI boot...and then black screen. That's it, I'm met with black screen and nothing else. Any ideas?

Mr.Elendig

#archlinux@freenode channel op

From: The intertubes

Registered: 2004-11-07

Posts: 4,092

Re: Cannot boot arch iso on Mac

try booting with nomodeset

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Evil #archlinux@libera.chat channel op and general support dude.
. files on github, Screenshots, Random pics and the rest

nmiculinic

Member

Registered: 2015-12-25

Posts: 63

Re: Cannot boot arch iso on Mac

no such luck; I've tried all nomodeset option listed on kernel params wiki (only nomodeset; and together with intel/nvidia params)

benopotamus

Member

Registered: 2015-03-01

Posts: 8

Re: Cannot boot arch iso on Mac

Just adding that I've got the same problem.

    MacBook Pro 2017 13inch (MacBookPro14,1 on https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201300)
    Current Release: 2018.12.01
    Included Kernel: 4.19.4

== Arch Linux ISO's ==

I tried burning the image to USB with Etcher, unetbootin, dd, and to a physical CD. All run enough to bring up the USB boot menu to choose between Arch, MacOS, and 2 UEFI shells - but when choosing Arch it doesn't progress further (blank screen). When using the CD, the computer stops accessing the drive completely after about 10 seconds.

I also tried loading vmlinuz.efi using rEFInd. It displays a message saying:

    rEFInd - booting OS
    Starting vmlinuz.efi
    Using load options ''

That's with the default binary for rEFInd. I also tried replacing the boot_x64.efi binary with the one in the GNU-EFI rEFInd binary package, but it had the same results.

== Antegros ISO ==

I also tried using the Antegros live ISO (via USB).

When booting to USB and choosing "Antegros live system (USB)" from the menu, it displays:

    Error loading \EFI\archiso\vmlinuz
    Failed to execute Antegros Live System (USB) (\EFI\archiso\vmlinuz): Not found
    Error: Not found returned from loader.efi <-- this message is in yellow

When trying to boot vmlinuz using rEFInd it has the same message as the Arch Linux ISO.

    rEFInd - booting OS
    Starting vmlinuz.efi
    Using load options ''

== Hyperlinks to other forum posts with similar problem ==

Seems the issue has been around for a while and isn't restricted to MacBooks. Some people believed it only affects ThinkPads.

https://unix.stackexchange.com/question … stallation [~2 years ago - mid-2011 Macbook air]
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=151599 [~6 years ago - mac air 4, 1 - resolution /seemed/ to be to use BIOS compatibility mode]
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=189148 [~4 years ago - this might be the same, it's for a ThinkPad]
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=164679 [~5.5 years ago - this might be the same, it's for a ThinkPad]
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=158530 [~5 years ago - might be the same - non-Mac]
https://www.reddit.com/r/archlinux/comm … tallation/ [~3 years ago - solution was to boot a Linux Mint (Debian) Live CD and install Arch from there. One of the replies said UEFI booting from USB has been broken on Linux for a long time - and it's not just Arch  ]
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=170532 [~5 years ago]

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=1245897 [~5 years ago. It might be related, solution was to use a GNU-EFI complied rEFInd binary]

Last edited by benopotamus (2018-12-03 23:24:47)

benopotamus

Member

Registered: 2015-03-01

Posts: 8

Re: Cannot boot arch iso on Mac

Just a little update. I tried the Manjaro disk image - specifically the Gnome edition from a USB drive - and it boots and loads Gnome. I haven't progressed any further than that though as it needs a USB mouse and keyboard for input.