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Hi Mike, Being 32bit EFI is not a show stopper, but i would suggest you use a 32bit build to avoid issues. I'l pretty sure the stock iso here will work out of the box. https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current/i386/iso-cd/debian-9.3.0-i386-netinst.iso Also to boot the media (assuming you know about holding the alt key to select the boot image after the chime) if you do have problems start here http://refit.sourceforge.net FYI the reason you cant install the 1.4EFI update is you smc/efi is already at better version as needed for the 6,1 hardware configuration. > On 7 Feb 2018, at 12:35, Mike Paddison <mike.paddison@xxxxxx> wrote: > > Thank you for your prompt and comprehensive reply. The way forward has put me on a > steep learning curve which was not helped by an episode of vertigo brought about > by some underfloor diy! > > So far: > > 1. My iMac is definitely a vanilla iMac 6.1. Although believed to have been > bought early 2007, I think my models is the last of the late 2006 white plastic > ones. > 2. My current version of OS X is 10.6.8 with no option for further upgrades so > I will attempt to convert the iMac to a single boot Linux m/c. > 3. I have repurposed a firewire/usb 1 TB drive and used Carbon Copy Cloner to > produce a bootable backup. I have tested the backup. > 4. I have tried to flash the 1.4 EFI, but the installer repeatedly tells me I > don't need the update and gives me no option to proceed. > 5. Pursing this problem further, I have learned that the Mac 6.1 has a 32bit > EFI and that it is possibly the reason why EFI 1.4 cannot be updated onto my Mac. > 6. I found a website > https://mattgadient.com/2016/07/11/linux-dvd-images-and-how-to-for-32-bit-efi-macs-late-2006-models/#comments > which addresses this problem, but as yet I do not fully understand the proposed > solution. > 7. > https://askubuntu.com/questions/37999/what-is-different-about-the-mac-iso-image#answers > also looks at the problem. > > Is the 32 bit EFI issue a real how stopper ( I presume its a hardware issue) to > building a linux m/c, or this track worth pursing? > > Regards Mike > >> On 31 Jan 2018, at 17:56, mr meowski <mr.meowski@xxxxxxxx> wrote: >> >> On 31/01/18 16:05, Mike Paddison wrote: >>> Hi >>> >>> I have never written to a User Group for help before, so please excuse any bad >>> manners or breaches of protocol on my part - any advice on how to do things >>> properly will be gratefully received. >>> In summary, I have a 2007 24â iMac (2.16GHz IntelCore 2 Duo, 2GB SDRAM, 250GB >>> Serial ATA Drive, NVIDIA GEFORCE) in good working condition that my >>> grandchildren do no want because it is old and so I would like if possible to >>> repurpose it into a Linux m/c. >>> Iâve read articles on the web that claim it is possible, but the articles all >>> seem to be followed by succession of comments/reviews from people who have >>> failed. >>> Can anyone please advise me on the feasibility/practicality of doing this and >>> point me in the direction of a suitably authoritative article/tutorial etc on >>> the way forward? >>> From my previous attempts to run Windows on this computer, I don't think >>> Bootcamp or VM s/w is going to be an effective way forward. >>> >>> Regards, Mike >>> >> >> Welcome aboard chief, you're off to a good start - that's a fun >> question. Personally I'm a huge fan of old (free) computers and making >> them do stuff they weren't originally supposed to: Macs are really nice >> for this sort of project. Ignore all the naysayers on the internet, >> they're just technically incompetent - a 2007 (it's an iMac7,1 isn't >> it?) 24" iMac is a perfectly nice machine and absolutely capable of >> running Linux, BSD or whatever other crazy non-mainstream system you >> fancy hacking on to it (Plan9 anyone?). >> >> First job: find out exactly what kind of machine you have: >> >> https://everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/ >> >> That will also tell you what versions of OSX its (officially) compatible >> with and the feasibility of upgrading the hardware. It looks like one of >> these: >> >> https://everymac.com/systems/apple/imac/specs/imac-core-2-duo-2.4-24-inch-aluminum-specs.html >> >> Next check out just how hard it might be to actually perform upgrades: >> >> https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Intel+24-Inch+EMC+2134+and+2211+RAM+Replacement/8966 >> >> https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Intel+24-Inch+EMC+2267+Hard+Drive+Replacement/9028 >> >> RAM is a two minute job - anything else like the HDD is a nightmare job >> requiring total disassembly. Thanks Apple! >> >> The good news is that it's a 64 bit system, the bad is that Apple have >> done their usual early sunsetting of the system and capped it at El >> Capitan 10.11 if you want to stick with or keep OSX as a boot option. >> That can be worked around, but you'd have to upgrade the CPU - a very, >> very hairy option. Retired Macs can be made to run the latest MacOS >> version 10.13 (High Sierra) with a little effort though: >> >> http://dosdude1.com/sierrapatch.html >> >> Of course, the easiest option is to forget all that, abandon OSX/MacOS >> completely and just reach for a Linux installer (this is what I'd do in >> your position initially at least) and have at it. There are a lot of >> sources on the internet for this, some of which are bound to be useless, >> out-of-date and contradictory. Don't worry about that, it's just part of >> the fun. >> >> https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/IMac_Aluminum >> https://linuxnewbieguide.org/how-to-install-linux-on-a-macintosh-computer/ >> >> You'll inevitably end up having to mix and match information from all >> over the place to fit your individual situation - don't worry too much >> about individual Mac-specific help though. Luckily for you Apple are >> relatively consistent in the way they build their systems so once you've >> dealt with one EFI based 64 bit Mac you've kind of dealt with them all >> (ok, the really new ones are a bit different but don't worry about >> that). One thing I can tell you: whatever you do don't lose or kill the >> working OSX install if you have one. If you don't have one, make one >> first and then clone it to an external bootable firewire/USB drive so >> you can always fall back to booting a working vanilla OSX. You will >> categorically need it for things like firmware flashing (you MUST flash >> the 1.2 EFI update if you ever want to boot anything non-OSX) and >> disaster recovery. >> >> Ask away with any questions - I'm really, really used to Macs and >> especially upgrading/rescuing/hacking older ones. By coincidence I have >> a client 2009 Mini3,1 arriving Friday for a full refresh+upgrade to High >> Sierra so I'll even have a similar era Mac in pieces on my desk shortly. >> I'll test installing Linux on it whilst I'm at it I guess - I probably >> would have anyway just for fun - and I'm always happy to share hints and >> tips. >> >> Cheers >> >> -- >> The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG >> https://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list >> FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/listfaq > > -- > The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG > https://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list > FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/listfaq -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG https://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/listfaq