Re: [Mactel-linux-users] Booting GNU/Linux CDs from an external optical drive

[Justin M. <jus...@gm...>]

On Jan 9, 2011, at 2:39 PM, Tino Keitel wrote:

> On Sun, Jan 09, 2011 at 18:33:06 +0000, Sebastian Tennant wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I have an aluminium Macbook Pro (Jan 2008) with a broken internal  
>> optical
>> drive.
>>
>> I can boot from the Snow Leopard install DVD using the external  
>> optical drive
>
> I think you mean a USB drive.
>
>> without any problem whatsoever but it simply will not boot from any  
>> of the
>> GNU/Linux boot CDs I have at my disposal (Debian Squeeze, Debian  
>> Lenny, Ubuntu
>> 9.0, I've even tried a GParted Live CD).
>>
>> The result is always the same - rEFIt identifies the CD as a GNU/ 
>> Linux boot CD,
>> I select it, hit Enter, smile at Tux in the middle of my screen...   
>> but then
>> everything goes black and I'm presented with the depressingly  
>> unhelpful error
>> message "Missing operating system".
>>
>> I've synced the partition tables, the EFI firmware is as up-to-date  
>> as it can
>> be, I've even tried a bootable USB flash drive or two - again rEFIt  
>> identifies
>> the media correctly - but then... nada.
>>
>> Any advice/tips/pointers/suggestions very much appreciated.
>
> AFAIK booting from USB media is not supported in the legacy BIOS
> emulation.  This is used if you try to boot from a DOS bootblock. You
> need an EFI boot media to be able to boot from USB media.
>
> Regards,
> Tino
>

works on the iMac9,1over here(liveusb, or usb install) but the  
macbookpro2,2 wont..

Justin P. Mattock