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#1 2010-12-20 08:07:22

sveinemann
Member
Registered: 2007-09-30
Posts: 108

Archlinux on the new MBA 11.6; what issues to expect? (Dual boot)

Hi

I've read the wiki and I just a practical question. If you're not suppose to install grub on /sda, what startup screen will you get that actually allows you to choose between arch and mac os?

One more question, just to test it. I used unetbootin to get arch on a memory stick, but it wouldn't boot up from that.

Oh, and what is bootcamp? Is that a way to install Arch?

Super thanks! Christmas this year will be spent getting Arch running properly on my new MBA.

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#2 2010-12-20 08:43:56

litemotiv
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Registered: 2008-08-01
Posts: 5,026

Re: Archlinux on the new MBA 11.6; what issues to expect? (Dual boot)

The easy way to install is:

- Install refit on osx
- Install Arch using archboot
- Install grub2 on partition 3

Bootcamp is a separate bootloader from Apple you can install, it is generally used to dualboot with Windows. I have no experience with it installing Arch/linux, so i can't tell you how that would work.


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#3 2010-12-20 10:36:49

sveinemann
Member
Registered: 2007-09-30
Posts: 108

Re: Archlinux on the new MBA 11.6; what issues to expect? (Dual boot)

Nice! Thank you.

One question about archboot; the wiki doesn't make it clear. Is it just an install media? Why use that instead official image? It says on the wiki how to install it. Now I don't have a working system of arch anywhere.

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#4 2010-12-20 10:49:29

litemotiv
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Registered: 2008-08-01
Posts: 5,026

Re: Archlinux on the new MBA 11.6; what issues to expect? (Dual boot)

Archboot is an experimental installer, with features that might be incorporated in the standard installer in the future. The current Archboot sports compatibility with EFI and GPT, which means you can install it directly on your Macbook. The standard installer will probably boot too, but it might not detect your harddisk afterwards.


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#5 2010-12-20 11:41:36

sveinemann
Member
Registered: 2007-09-30
Posts: 108

Re: Archlinux on the new MBA 11.6; what issues to expect? (Dual boot)

Okay! Can I use unetbootin to get it onto a usb stick? I don't have linux available.
Never mind, think mac os has it. By it i mean the dd terminal command. tongue

Last edited by sveinemann (2010-12-20 11:46:13)

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#6 2010-12-20 14:27:29

sveinemann
Member
Registered: 2007-09-30
Posts: 108

Re: Archlinux on the new MBA 11.6; what issues to expect? (Dual boot)

Everything you said worked, except for installing grub2. That just fails. What now?

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#7 2010-12-20 15:24:48

litemotiv
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Registered: 2008-08-01
Posts: 5,026

Re: Archlinux on the new MBA 11.6; what issues to expect? (Dual boot)

It it fails to install automatically, you can install it manually from the command line after you finished the Arch installation. See the grub2 page in the wiki for details and commands.


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#8 2010-12-20 17:13:23

sveinemann
Member
Registered: 2007-09-30
Posts: 108

Re: Archlinux on the new MBA 11.6; what issues to expect? (Dual boot)

I tried that as well. The exact message after I choose linux in refit:

No bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key

Is this printed by grub or by refit? grub should be installed, even tough you have to use the force thing because it doesnt want to be installed to a partition.

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#9 2010-12-20 17:35:56

skodabenz
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From: Tamilnadu, India
Registered: 2010-04-11
Posts: 382

Re: Archlinux on the new MBA 11.6; what issues to expect? (Dual boot)

Do you have bios boot partition setup for grub2 (in gpt)? http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GUI … tion_Table and http://grub.enbug.org/BIOS_Boot_Partition .


My new forum user/nick name is "the.ridikulus.rat" .

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#10 2010-12-20 17:45:04

sveinemann
Member
Registered: 2007-09-30
Posts: 108

Re: Archlinux on the new MBA 11.6; what issues to expect? (Dual boot)

Spank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll report back!

Last edited by sveinemann (2010-12-20 17:45:17)

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#11 2010-12-20 18:25:40

sveinemann
Member
Registered: 2007-09-30
Posts: 108

Re: Archlinux on the new MBA 11.6; what issues to expect? (Dual boot)

Even If i make that partition and mark it like its suppose to be. The grub2 installer seems to ignore it, and just spit out embedding is impossible. Humf.

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#12 2010-12-20 18:35:11

litemotiv
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Registered: 2008-08-01
Posts: 5,026

Re: Archlinux on the new MBA 11.6; what issues to expect? (Dual boot)

Did you install grub to the partition where your /boot resides?

Last edited by litemotiv (2010-12-20 18:37:48)


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#13 2010-12-20 18:36:56

sveinemann
Member
Registered: 2007-09-30
Posts: 108

Re: Archlinux on the new MBA 11.6; what issues to expect? (Dual boot)

I only have one partition for the whole system. So yes.

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#14 2010-12-20 18:38:14

litemotiv
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Registered: 2008-08-01
Posts: 5,026

Re: Archlinux on the new MBA 11.6; what issues to expect? (Dual boot)

I forgot, you also need to update the list of bootdevices in refit. I believe you can do this on startup, by going to the settings/configuration page (icon).


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#15 2010-12-20 18:50:04

sveinemann
Member
Registered: 2007-09-30
Posts: 108

Re: Archlinux on the new MBA 11.6; what issues to expect? (Dual boot)

We are getting there indeed. Thanks. Two problems remains; my arch install is botched. It dropped to shell complaining about a lot. I'll try reinstall. And the use of the extra partition for grub is not successful. Grub just seems to ignore it. Could be because its a few megs in size?

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#16 2010-12-20 18:55:05

litemotiv
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Registered: 2008-08-01
Posts: 5,026

Re: Archlinux on the new MBA 11.6; what issues to expect? (Dual boot)

Try booting the fallback kernel, there is a problem with the AHCI driver concerning new Macbooks. When you've booted, add ata_generic to the modules in /etc/mkinitcpio.conf and rebuild the initrd with mkinitcpio -p kernel26.


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#17 2010-12-20 18:59:38

skodabenz
Banned
From: Tamilnadu, India
Registered: 2010-04-11
Posts: 382

Re: Archlinux on the new MBA 11.6; what issues to expect? (Dual boot)

@sveinemann: Can you try

grub-install --debug <your_device>

and post the output here.


My new forum user/nick name is "the.ridikulus.rat" .

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#18 2010-12-20 19:18:11

sveinemann
Member
Registered: 2007-09-30
Posts: 108

Re: Archlinux on the new MBA 11.6; what issues to expect? (Dual boot)

I messed usb pen, need to fix. I'll upate later. Thank you all for all the help. I need arch on this lovely piece of machinery.

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#19 2010-12-20 21:37:13

sveinemann
Member
Registered: 2007-09-30
Posts: 108

Re: Archlinux on the new MBA 11.6; what issues to expect? (Dual boot)

It's not possible.

No it won't even boot arch on the stick. It just says no OS. Problem is that refit adds some called legacy boot crap at once I update the table there. Every other boot it goes no where or says no OS. Piece crap.

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#20 2010-12-21 08:46:49

skodabenz
Banned
From: Tamilnadu, India
Registered: 2010-04-11
Posts: 382

Re: Archlinux on the new MBA 11.6; what issues to expect? (Dual boot)


My new forum user/nick name is "the.ridikulus.rat" .

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#21 2010-12-22 14:30:35

sveinemann
Member
Registered: 2007-09-30
Posts: 108

Re: Archlinux on the new MBA 11.6; what issues to expect? (Dual boot)

It just seems like a little to much work for now. I'll get back at it some times later. I read that the wifi card is not even supported by the kernel.. best is to wait.

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