[SOLVED] TC on MacBook Air 11" - possible?

[Zendrael]

Hi!

Is possible to have TC running on the new MacBook Air 11" (3,2)?

There is some tutorial or how to out there about this? Anyone has tried to do that?

I am just thinking about a "light hardware" with a "light software"...

Thanks.

[curaga]

If Windows can be installed on it (boot camp), TC will work too. After following the wizard in OS X and booting TC, the normal TC install procedure should work.

However the lack of a cd drive does pose an issue, and macs require specially formatted usb sticks to boot from usb.

[Zendrael]

@curaga

Do you saw TC running on it?

I don't know much about Macs (I just have old PC hardware here) but I am thinking in the Air because of its size and weight - just don't want to loose my TC (yeah, I do not like MacOSX... used it as a hackintosh for a while).

Specially formatted USB sticks will be a problem with TC? (I will not buy "superdrive" or other USB CD/DVD drive -  no money for that)

Thanks for the quick answer!

[SvOlli]

Things I've done on my MacMini (now broken) and MacBook:
- booting TinyCore from a CD.
- a dual-boot configuration using an USB stick can be accomplished using rEFIt.
- a replacement installation is possible even without using bootcamp, which I wouldn't suggest so.

I didn't try it on a MacBook air though, but from what I've learned so far about Macs, I'd say, you'll get it to work, one way or the other. The question is: which way will be the "best" to go?
Boy, answering Mac questions... this will lower my charma...

I am just thinking about a "light hardware" with a "light software"...

Wouldn't it be better to go for a Sony Vaio P? The first generation is quite affordable now as refurbished hardware containing:
- 1.3 GHz Atom Z520
- 2GB RAM
- 60GB 1.8" HD
- 8" 1600x768 Display

I ordered mine yesterday, mainly for running Ubuntu, but if anyone wants to know if and how TinyCore works on the Vaio P, please send me a PM, and I'll give it a try on my X-mas vacation.

[curaga]

No, I haven't seen an Air specifically, but my Macbook Pro does run TC

I've used the "official" usb boot method, without having refit installed. It involved much pain, uncertainty and false information, certainly didn't enjoy getting that done.
To save everyone the same, here goes:

- format usb stick with GPT and fat32
- get an efi build of grub2
- put grub2 efi file specially named into a specially named folder (/EFI/BOOT/BOOTX64.EFI)

After that, it was just a matter of "set grub 2 config file to boot TC", and booting the mac with the alt key held.

[Zendrael]

@SvOlli
The VaioP 8" screen is too small for me (Ok, i was using a 10.1" screen here but it make some difference to me) and here in Brazil I can't find a way to purchase a refurbished one.

@Curaga
The alt key (to boot via usb) is a default way on all macbooks?

[curaga]

Yes, all EFI Macs go to the boot manager by pressing alt on boot. You can choose any Mac-bootable HD, CD, or USB there.

[Zendrael]

Thanks!

[chabiru]

No, I haven't seen an Air specifically, but my Macbook Pro does run TC

I've used the "official" usb boot method, without having refit installed. It involved much pain, uncertainty and false information, certainly didn't enjoy getting that done.
To save everyone the same, here goes:

- format usb stick with GPT and fat32
- get an efi build of grub2
- put grub2 efi file specially named into a specially named folder (/EFI/BOOT/BOOTX64.EFI)

After that, it was just a matter of "set grub 2 config file to boot TC", and booting the mac with the alt key held.

can you please explain to me clearly how to make bootable tiny core linux from usb on mac?

i don't know where to find 'grub2'. 

i've tried distro.ibiblio.org/tinycorelinux/install.html#2_ in 'ext3' not 'ext4' and i've installed rEFIt.

when i restart my macbook and hold down 'alt' key,
choose linux option, penguin pop out and it keeps boot form my bootcamp which is windows was installed in it.


can you help me, please? i barely need it
thanks

fyi, i use os lion 10.7.4

[Juanito]

can you please explain to me clearly how to make bootable tiny core linux from usb on mac?

If you didn't already do so, have a look here:

http://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php/topic,11323.msg59361.html#msg59361
http://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php/topic,13445.0.html

i don't know where to find 'grub2'. 

ftp://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/grub/grub-2.00.tar.xz

Note that, depending on your mac, you might need to compile/obtain the 64bit version of grub-efi

i've tried distro.ibiblio.org/tinycorelinux/install.html#2_ in 'ext3' not 'ext4' and i've installed rEFIt.
when i restart my macbook and hold down 'alt' key,
choose linux option, penguin pop out and it keeps boot form my bootcamp which is windows was installed in it.

Note that, if rEFIt is installed properly, you don't need to hold down the <alt> key, the rEFIt menu should appear on boot anyway.

If you've installed grub-efi properly (without rEFIt) then you do need to hold down the <alt> key on boot

can you help me, please? i barely need it

The first thread above (howto install tc on a mac mini) explains how to get things going with rEFIt