There is a distrubution of ubuntu linux for the powerpc, it is pretty current. This week i pulled my powerbook g4 off the shelf and loaded up lubuntu. Lubuntu is a flavor of ubuntu based on the lightweight x11 desktop environment lxde, as its default gui. The alternate install image allows you to perform certain. Today im going to explain how to set up wireless networking on g4 powerbook running ubuntu.
I have already tested virtualization on g4 with kvm installing lubuntu. The alternate install image allows you to perform certain specialist installations of lubuntu. How to set up wireless networking with ubuntu on a g4 powerbook. This boot command works for me on my powerbook g4 15. Apr 02, 2020 i have an old lubkntu, a powerbook, having a g4 processor. I have an old lubkntu, a powerbook, having a g4 processor. There has been many fixes, improvements and new drivers to linux regarding the powerbook5,6 since the first version of this document was published. I have it as a secondary boot option on my powermac g4, and it runs fine. This text describes the adventures i encountered while installing linux on an apple powerbook g4 15. For running linux on an older pc in 2019, ill recommend you to go with ubuntu mate. Or just stick with os x, grab coreplayer and download your 720p vid with powerpc media center. May 30, 2017 yes, especially with a lightweight desktop like lxde, xfce or mate.
If you have questions or additional hints, feel free to contact me the page was originally written in spring 2005, when the. Heres what ive been able to accomplish so far, since i revived my powerbook g4 and brought it uptodate with a lubuntu installation. Both installations succeed and run pretty well, but after a couple of minutes the machine just freezes. Which linux version works perfectly with my powerbook g4. Dec 17, 2019 for running linux on an older pc in 2019, ill recommend you to go with ubuntu mate. I want to use modern software on it, and being a ubuntulinux fanboy, i decided to install lubuntu on it.
I have a 17 mac powerbook g4 and i tried installations of ubuntu mate ppc 14. I only have one machine that can run osx and that is my powerbook g4, which currently has a broken hdd and broken optical drive. Networking is very simple through the graphical network administration program included. In both cases, wireless worked great connecting to unprotected and wepenabled base stations. In spite of being quite the nice machine for 2004, the poor powerbook g4 had been long abandoned by apple due to its ppc nature and this made me. The size is not a true indication of what this pc can do. Sep 21, 2016 for example, as of lubuntu and ubuntu mate 16. The original tiger install disc doesnt have drivers for the latest ibook or powerbook g4. Revive a powerpc mac running linux the mac observer. I think it could be the iso i am using, or the fact that i didnt use disk utility to copy the image to the usb thumb drive.
Please let me know if you have solved this problem. This macintosh ibook g4 came out in 2005 and has a single core powerpc processor running at 1. Can anyone tell me what i need to do to boot to lubuntu and restore the grub menu. The goal is to provide a very lightweight distribution, with all the advantages of the ubuntu world repositories, support, etc. For details and our forum data attribution, retention and privacy policy, see here. Installing lubuntu linux on an ibook g4 in 2018 youtube. If you have a powerbookibook then you may need a patch similar to that found in this debian thread. Accoding to your post stating model a1010 or a1104, you will have no problem wiht any 10. Which linux version works perfectly with my powerbook g4 15. I assume that is what lubuntu uses, i use ubuntu for my main computer so i am unfamiliar with other ubuntu distros. Okay, i should have just started with the lubuntu 16. Debian is pretty much the sole remaining operating system you can boot on those machines which is maintained ie, wont have major security. Getting the live dvd to boot properly seems to be the number one hurdle of ubuntulubuntu for ppc. Lubuntu powerpc free download the best answers are voted up and rise to the top.
Dec 20, 2014 the powerbook g4 uses a powerpc chip, which limits your choices a lot in addition to the limited system memory. The macbook pro now happily runs osx, when we turn it on mostly mj uses it for photo processing. Using the list of official cd mirrors and a bit of ingenuity traversing the mirror directory structures for example, click on the parent directory or link you can probably find more mirrors that contain powerpc releases. Sep 23, 2018 this macintosh ibook g4 came out in 2005 and has a single core powerpc processor running at 1. Feb 12, 20 today im going to explain how to set up wireless networking on g4 powerbook running ubuntu. An installation guide and much more useful information about lubuntu is available in the lubuntu manual 20. I quickly learned that its one of the more finicky powerbooks when it comes to sound, and my initial cleverness during install led me to have some graphical pain. Now with a g4 powerpc you could test with virtualization in your linux powerpc distro. All apple power macintosh systems up to and including the g4 use processors supported by this kernel. Its better to use the magnet link first autoverified downloads.
Yes, especially with a lightweight desktop like lxde, xfce or mate. Alternate install image the alternate install image allows you to perform certain specialist installations of lubuntu. The laptop works fine with the osx thats installed on it, but its a little slow and no one is using is so i though why not. It seems that with apples numbering scheme the machine is a powerbook5,6. If youre just experimenting, you might want to use lubuntu 17. For me, lubuntu seemed to work better, but the same tips applied equally for the two distros. Oct 11, 2015 if you have a powerbook ibook then you may need a patch similar to that found in this debian thread. The powerpc version of mint hasnt been updated in years, but heres a link to the communitymaintained ubuntu powerpc port. Lubuntu is finally moving to lxqt by default with the lubuntu 18. For powerpc, it is known to run on a g4 running at 867mhz with 640mb ram. I have spent about two weeks researching which has been very educational and have tried many things non of which have worked. Once i identified my chipset i was able to download the proper driver.
The powerbook g4 uses a powerpc chip, which limits your choices a lot in addition to the limited system memory. Lubuntu linux on an ibook g4 in 2018 heres the link to the config files and text document with written instructions of this project. For intel based macs, lubuntu should run on all models. Dec 05, 2018 have a powerbook g4 that came with ubuntu 12. To check if a framebuffer is built in look at the config files in the boot directory. It now works reasonably well on the desktop, as long as i only do one thing, but all web browsers i tried are unusable. Getting ubuntu linux up and running on a powerpc mac low. Read the ubuntu powerpc faq, note the section regarding radeon gpus. Instructions on how to use the old nv driver can be found here. I love my powerbook g4 because its almost the ideal form factor for a laptop. First up, when i loaded up the lubuntu livecd the graphics were a mess. If you want to try linux on a powerpc mac, choose the 16.
I mean, its impressive as hell that we still can do that, ten years post intelization. As you can see, there are a few problems when running ubuntu linux on a powerbook. It seems that its not mate related, since the same happens with several other desktop environments unity, xubuntu, lubuntu. Lubuntu is targeted at normal pc and laptop users running. Hold down the c button while booting to boot from the cd. For apple macintosh g3, g4, and g5 computers, including ibooks and powerbooks as well as older ibm openpower 7xx machines. I managed to snag an old powerbook g4 from the scrap heap. This boot command works for me on my powerbook g4 15 radeon 9700 64mb and 17 radeon 9700 128mb. I would love to change it to ubuntu but the last time i tried it wouldnt register the disc. Most powerpc isos are in a ports directory, but for others e. I bought three and all of them ended up being the original release.
The powerbook i am using, powerbook g4 2004 15 aluminum. So if you have an ibook, powerbook, and especially a powermac g4 or g5 give ubuntumate a try. I wanted to see if the newest version of ubuntu 16. This little machine was long disabled, as the latest official release from its vendor was looong time end of life. Thank you for helping us maintain cnet s great community.
Its a wellunderstood platform, so hardware support is good1. I recently got my hands on a top of the line powerbook g4 1. We reported how to run upcoming lubuntu desktop lxqt in xenial xerus on a raspberry pi 2 and now, thanks to tester herminio hernandez, jr. Sep 29, 2017 getting the live dvd to boot properly seems to be the number one hurdle of ubuntu lubuntu for ppc. Dec 16, 2015 i have a 17 mac powerbook g4 and i tried installations of ubuntu mate ppc 14. About a year ago i adopted a macbook pro and a powerbook g4. Hi guys, im trying to install lubuntu onto an old powerbook we have lying around. Dont download the iso image directly to the usb stick. Created a dvd with the iso and ive been getting to the 3rd stage of installing where it blinks and freezes making it virtually impossible to install does anyone have any suggestions. Is debian or ubuntu best for an old powerbook 17 g4. Apr 24, 2014 now with a g4 powerpc you could test with virtualization in your linux powerpc distro.
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