Can't boot into Ubuntu 13.10 disk from Mac OS X Mavericks
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I've been trying to dual-boot Ubuntu with refind using this guide: http://www.rodsbooks.com/ubuntu-efi/. Unfortunately, I never get the refind stage because the Ubuntu 13.10 disk I create is not recognizable by Mac OS X. You can see it when you hold down the option key at boot time (labelled as "Windows" as the documentation suggests), but when you try to boot from it you just get a blinking cursor. This is on a new Macbook Pro. I think I managed to get an Ubuntu 12.10 disk booted previously (have to check that). I wonder if anyone had any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
Are you trying to install a 32-bit or a 64-bit version of Ubuntu? If you're trying to install a 32-bit version, switch to a 64-bit version; the 32-bit version has severe limitations on any but the first generation or two of Intel-based Macs.
Actually, that wasn't the problem, but I found out what was. I was using the Mac version of the Ubuntu (64-bit) live CD. Paradoxically, this doesn't work, but the non-Mac (generic) version does. With the generic version you get two boot options: "Windows" (which gives you a blinking cursor) and "Boot EFI" (which gives you an error message, but then sends you to a GRUB screen from which you can boot Ubuntu). This is on a Macbook with Intel graphics only. I tried it on an older Macbook with Nvidia graphics, and although you get to the GRUB screen, you can't boot (you just get a black screen), which may be due to missing/defective Nvidia drivers. Thanks anyway, and I hope this information will be useful.