View source for Install Ubuntu 20.4 on a 2010 MacBook

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|Status=Resolved
|PubDate=2021-05-18
|Categories=Operating Systems
|The problem=A few years ago my old MacBook failed, turned out to be an issue with the hard drive so replaced it, I had to re-heat sync the CPU as well. When it initially started working again I had already purchased a new laptop, a MacBook Air, so thought I would stick a Linux OS on the old one. Initially, I did Fedora, but over the years I got fed up of that with issues upgrading. So this year I decided to stick Ubuntu onto it. This is how I did it:
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{{How to guide
|Device=MacBook
|Operating system=Ubuntu
|Guidance=The first thing I needed to do was to download a copy of the operating system, I did that on the Fedora operating system. I then used a USB stick that I had not doing anything and restored the stick using the image I had downloaded.

Next was to get any files off Fedora that I wanted to keep. I copied these files onto a external hard drive, no need to do a full back up, there weren’t that many.

A shut Fedora down for one final time. I inserted the USB stick into the MacBook. I booted up the machine holding down the Alt/Command key, I let go and got this:
[[File:MacBook Boot options.png|alt=The MacBook boot options, this has Fedora and to EFI drives|none|thumb|800x800px|The MacBook boot options, this has Fedora and to EFI drives]]
I selected the first EFI Boot. This will take you to a screen asking what you want to boot into. I couldn’t get a photo of this, it was quick. When you see the screen I chose Ubuntu and pressed the letter “e”. This took me to:
[[File:Ubuntu Grub Edit screen.png|alt=The Ubuntue grub edit screen |none|thumb|800x800px|The Ubuntue grub edit screen ]]
Where you quiet splash, take your curser down and add nomodeset
[[File:Edited nomodeset on grub screen.png|alt=Edited nomodeset on grub screen|none|thumb|800x800px|Edited nomodeset on grub screen]]
This reads:
 <code>linux  /casper/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/pressed/ubuntu.seed maybe-ubiquity quiet splash nomodeset ---</code>
Press F10 to proceed. Eventually you will get a screen like this:
[[File:Ubuntu check disk on MacBook.png|alt=The Ubuntu disk check screen|none|thumb|800x800px|The Ubuntu disk check screen]]
Once Ubuntu has done its thing you will be asked if you want a demo or install:
[[File:Initial Ubuntu try and install screen.png|alt=The initial Ubuntu screen where you are given the option to try or install|none|thumb|800x800px|The initial Ubuntu screen where you are given the option to try or install]]
This time am going to install Ubuntu. Now you will be taken through the install process.

The first thing to do is select your keyboard. My MacBook is a English UK Macintosh keyboard:<div>[[File:Ubuntu keyboard selection.png|alt=The Ubuntu keyboard selection, English, UK Macintosh selected|none|thumb|800x800px|The Ubuntu keyboard selection, English, UK Macintosh selected]]</div>In theory you should be able connect to your network on the next screen. But I had issues with that so I selected the WiFi network at the top right hand corner, select the network and stick your password in.

Click on continue, you will now be asked what type of install:
[[File:The Ubuntu installation options.png|alt=The screen that asks what to install. I have ticked normal installation, another option is minimal installation. I have also selected to install updates. You can also select other third party software such as drivers|none|thumb|800x800px|The screen that asks what to install. I have ticked normal installation, another option is minimal installation. I have also selected to install updates. You can also select other third party software such as drivers]]
I want a normal installation, download updates during install, I also checked the install third-party software. Click continue:
[[File:Where do you want to install Ubuntu.png|alt=Shows the screen on where you want to install Ubuntu, I have opted to erase the disk|none|thumb|800x800px|Shows the screen on where you want to install Ubuntu, I have opted to erase the disk]]
You may see something different, in this case I am going to erase the disk and instal Ubuntu, click continue, you will get a prompt:
[[File:Commit to make changes when erasing disk.png|alt=A warning will pop up to notify you that everything will be lost, click on continue.|none|thumb|800x800px|A warning will pop up to notify you that everything will be lost, click on continue.]]
Click continue. Select where you want the timezone, for me, I’ll stick that as Melbourne Australia.
[[File:Ubuntu time zone selection.png|alt=The Ubuntu time zone selection, I have selected Melbourne Australia.|none|thumb|800x800px|The Ubuntu time zone selection]]
Click on continue once done.

Nearly done, enter your name, what you want to call the machine, your username and password, continue. Ubuntu will install.
[[File:Ubuntu installation.png|alt=A screen showing Ubuntu is being installed|none|thumb|800x800px|A screen showing Ubuntu is being installed]]
When the install is complete, you will be asked to restart your machine:
[[File:Ubuntu installation complete - restart the machine.png|alt=The Ubuntune installation is complete, a prompt comes up asking you to reboot your machine.|none|thumb|800x800px|The Ubuntune installation is complete, a prompt comes up asking you to reboot your machine.]]
Click restart now. The machine will spin down and you will be asked to remove the install media.

So now is the moment of truth, remove the media and hit enter.

When booting, I got the error:
[[File:Failed to set MokListRT.png|alt=Failed to set MokListRT : Invalid Parameter, Could not create MokListRT: Invalid Parameter. Importing MOK states has failed: import_mok_state() failed: Invalid Parameter. Continue boot since secure mode is disabled|none|thumb|800x800px|Failed to set MokListRT]]
After digging around online, I read that this is a common issue when installing Linux on older machines. But the good news, there is a work around.

Stick the install media back into your machine and repeat the process to get into the install screen:
[[File:Initial Ubuntu try and install screen.png|alt=The initial Ubuntu screen where you are given the option to try or install|none|thumb|800x800px|Install Ubuntue inital screen]]
This time select “Try Ubuntu”.

Open the documents file structure and navigate to “Your_Hard_Drive/boot/efi
[[File:Ubuntu EFI directory.png|alt=The Ubuntu EFI directory when trying Ubuntu|none|thumb|800x800px|The Ubuntu EFI directory when trying Ubuntu]]
As you can see, nothing is there. We need get a shim64.efi file in it.

Navigate to /boot/grub/x86_64-efi, find the grub.efi
[[File:Ubuntu EFI directory on MacBook.png|alt=Shows the /boot/grub/x86_64-efi directory with grub.efi selected.|none|thumb|800x800px|Shows the /boot/grub/x86_64-efi directory with grub.efi selected.]]
What we need to do is move this as root, right click in this directory and open it in terminal.
Run the command:
 <code>sudo cp grub.efi ../../efi/shim64.efi</code>
What we need to do is move this as root, right click in this directory and open it in terminal.

Run the command:
 <code>sudo cp grub.efi ../../efi/shim64.efi</code>
[[File:Image showing the shim64.efi in the boot efi directory.png|alt=Image showing the shim64.efi in the /boot/efi directory|none|thumb|800x800px|Image showing the shim64.efi in the /boot/efi directory]]
Job done. Now reboot the machine. I got the same error when rebooting, but after a few seconds, maybe 10 seconds or so and it will start to boot up.

Good luck!
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