Ubuntu Mate 18.04.3 on MacBook4,1

Hello everyone,

i would like to write how i've installed Ubuntu Mate 18.04.3 on MacBook4,1

Firstable, specs with inxi -F

System: Host: ubuntu-mate Kernel: 5.0.0-23-generic x86_64 bits: 64
Desktop: MATE 1.20.1 Distro: Ubuntu 18.04.3 LTS
Machine: Device: unknown System: Apple product: MacBook4 1 v: 1.0 serial: W88141ZK0P1
Mobo: Apple model: Mac-F22788A9 v: PVT serial: 1
UEFI: Apple v: MB41.88Z.00C1.B00.0802091535 date: 02/09/08
Battery BAT0: charge: 50.6 Wh 99.1% condition: 51.1/54.7 Wh (93%)
CPU: Dual core Intel Core2 Duo T8300 (-MCP-) cache: 3072 KB
clock speeds: max: 2400 MHz 1: 1180 MHz 2: 1139 MHz
Graphics: Card: Intel Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller (primary)
Display Server: X.Org 1.20.4
drivers: modesetting (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
Resolution: [email protected]
OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel 965GM version: 2.1 Mesa 19.0.2
Audio: Card Intel 82801H (ICH8 Family) HD Audio Controller
driver: snd_hda_intel
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k5.0.0-23-generic
Network: Card-1: Broadcom and subsidiaries BCM4321 802.11a/b/g/n
driver: b43-pci-bridge
IF: N/A state: N/A mac: N/A
Card-2: Marvell 88E8058 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller
driver: sky2
IF: ens5 state: down mac: 00:1f:5b:f5:72:1c
Drives: HDD Total Size: 162.2GB (4.5% used)
ID-1: /dev/sda model: WDC_WD1600BEVT size: 160.0GB
ID-2: USB /dev/sdb model: Flash_Disk size: 2.1GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 2.0G used: 448M (23%) fs: overlay dev: N/A
RAID: No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 45.0C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 184 Uptime: 1:25 Memory: 703.1/3923.1MB
Client: Shell (sudo) inxi: 2.3.56

First step:

I wrote with this command the ubuntu mate iso on a pc running linux

$ sudo dd if=ubuntu-mate-18.04.3-desktop-amd64.iso of=/dev/sdputyourdevicehere bs=16M oflag=direct status=progress

After writing has finished, i plugged the usb key on the mac

turned it on whilst pressing option

choosed the efi entry on the left

keep pressing an arrow till the grub menu

reach the first entry, press e, and add

video=SVIDEO-1:d

before quiet splash

press F10 to boot (else it will take something like 10 minutes to boot)

in order to install using a new disk (note for the isight webcam it's better to copy the firmware before deleting macos x, but i have problems with this), i choosed a 300mb efi partition at the beginning, after a root a home and a swap partition.

install is like on every intel platform. Choose to install proprietary drivers for the Broadcom wireless

When finished, remove the usb key when asked, then reboot. It will take something like 10 minutes to boot.

After,

$ nano /etc/default/grub

add video=SVIDEO-1:d

before quiet splash

save (ctrl-o)

$ sudo update grub

and should be almost perfectly working save for the webcam

There is a package called isight-firmware-tools but i haven't been able to use the webcam (firmware not found even pointing it to the right directory, i don't know, if someone has the firmware i would be pleased to put it in /lib/firmware - thank you!)

with some tweaking it takes about 67 s to boot with a 160gb 2,5" hdd, of which 20-24s before reaching grub (if someone has suggestions about making this phase faster...).

Hope this could help.

Webcam:

found out that i need os X 10.5 or 10.4 file, not 10.6 . Found it on webarchive...

after that, there is an isight-firmware-tools package, it's enought to point it to the file and everything works.

As for boot time still i don't know if it is possible to improve.