07.07
I finally got around to installing Ubuntu on my Macbook today. I’ve decided to hold off with a complete installation and I’ve used Parallels instead for now. It wasn’t without hiccups though, so here’s how I did it…
- You must have Parallels installed on your Intel Mac
- Go to Ubuntu’s website and download the x86 desktop CD iso
- Create a new VM in Parallels based on Linux Kernel 2.6 (no official Ubuntu option yet)
- When the iso has finished downloading either burn it to CD or mount the iso as a drive in Parallels
- Start your new VM
- Your new VM should now boot from the CD and initialise an instance of Ubuntu
- Right on the new Ubuntu desktop, you’ll see an ‘install’ icon – double click that
- Follow the ensuing instructions to install Ubuntu (very painless)
- Remove the mounted iso file and reboot the VM
Now, a quick pause at this point to highlight where I made some mistakes the first few times round. So, it would make sense to download the Ubuntu Server edition and start a new install on your VM considering how this is going to be a permanent install right? Well, if you do, you’ll find that Ubuntu installs perfectly, but on the first run it will fail at uncompressing the kernel. The way round this, I found, was to run the Live CD option (which doesn’t install anything – it just runs from the CD) in a new VM. Anyway, onward:
That’s it. Job done. Ubuntu should now run straight from the VM with no problems.
Parallel’s will cost you $50-ish and Ubuntu is a free download. The Intel Mac is a little bit more…