Tutorial: How to install elementary OS on Mac and MacBook
alementary OS is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, which design structure borrows a lot from macOS. For those who have such an old Mac that there are no more security updates, this is an alternative worth trying. Our test was not that successful, but than can be different in your situation.
Download the operating system elementary OS here. And maybe leave some monetary support here, too. After that download etcher, too and prepare an USB stick.
If everything is downloaded onto the hard disk and the USB stick is plugged in, you can open etcher after the installation. Select the downloaded .iso file from elementary and also the stick you want to use as installation medium. Then let etcher write to the USB stick. When the process is finished, macOS will probably give an error message that the media is no longer readable. But we don't care about that and just eject the stick.
Now you're well equipped for Macs that can boot other systems from USB and most can do that when they are made in 2008 or later. However, some Macs may refuse to do so. That's the case with old white MacBooks, for example. It is simply easier to burn a DVD from the .iso. How this works with one mouse click you can read here. Then simply boot from the DVD (hold down the "c" key when starting) and do the installation from there.
Also important: there are some older Macs, mainly 2006 and 2007, which have a 64 bit processor but use a 32 bit EFI. This means you need a 64 bit distribution prepared for 32 bit EFI Macs, otherwise the Mac won't boot (not even from DVD). Fantastically there are exactly such .iso files by Matt Gadient, so you just have to download them. Many thanks at this point for this service! Well, everyone who has to boot from DVD knows now how to, lets continue with a short introduction for USB stick users, after that the installation process is identical for both media.
Then plug the stick into the Mac, which should now be operated with elementary OS. When starting, hold down the alt key immediately. The stick should now appear as an orange drive. Select it and start the installation from the stick. Remember that all data contained on the hard disk will be deleted! So the last possibility for a backup.
First you are greeted by the language selection. Then choose "Install elementary OS" because we want to install it after all. Then choose your language again.
Then select your keyboard layout and Wifi.
In this case, be sure to select the installation of the "third party software". These are not open source drivers, which make your life much easier: they make sure that all hardware elements in your Mac run directly.
Then you can choose if you want to encrypt the hard disk.
Then quickly set the time zone:
and set up the user account
before the installation starts and copies the data.
When everything is ready you can restart. A selection screen appears, which simply disappears after a few seconds.
And afterwards the password request for the hard disk encryption, if this is activated.
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