Trouble Installing Ubuntu 5.10 on A Mac G3

Hey everyone one. I wanted to see if I could get some help here. I am attempting to install Ubuntu 5.10 on a Mac G3. The Mac G3 I have appears to be a 400 Mhz system. I don't know too much more than that. It works fine and had Mac Os 9.2 installed. I ran into trouble installing Ubuntu and then decided to attempt to install Fedora4. Fedora4 had its share of problems as well. So I want to work towards getting Ubuntu installed. I am extremely amazed with the quality of support here in the community. I have Ubuntu installed on my Gateway laptop and it works great!

So here goes... I want to walk you thru my installation set up experience. Hopefully with this detail people will be better able to assist me.

Welcome To Ubuntu 5.10 (Breezy Badger)! [[IMG]http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_0994_small.JPG[/IMG]]("http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_0994.JPG")

Ok... don't mind the cc typed next to boot: I accidently typed that... So, my first step was to type:

boot: install

So after typing install the installer immediately begins the installation process. The screen shows a ton of scrolling information for a few minutes. See image below:

Screenshot after typing Install

[[IMG]http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_0997_small.JPG[/IMG]]("http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_0997.JPG")

After this is done I am taken to a screen where I need to Choose Language. After I Choose Language, then I was prompted to Choose Location. After I selected my location in Choose Location window, I was then prompted to the next window, Select a Keyboard Layout.

See images below:

[[IMG]http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_0998_small.JPG[/IMG]]("http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_0998.JPG")

[[IMG]http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1001_small.JPG[/IMG]]("http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1001.JPG")

[[IMG]http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1002_small.JPG[/IMG]]("http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1002.JPG")

After I make these selections, a new windows appears which I would guess continues the installation process. See image below:

[[IMG]http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1003_small.JPG[/IMG]]("http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1003.JPG")

Now it will continue to load or install for a few minutes... everything seems to go fine. Next thing that happens for me is the:

COLOR="Red" Configure the network[/COLOR] [COLOR="Blue"]Network autoconfiguration failed[/COLOR] Your network is probably not using the DHCP protocol. ALternatively, the... See Images below:

[[IMG]http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1004_small.JPG[/IMG]]("http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1004.JPG")

[[IMG]http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1005_small.JPG[/IMG]]("http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1005.JPG")

... Continued on Next Post

[[IMG]http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1006_small.JPG[/IMG]]("http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1006.JPG")

Now I am totally fine with this, because I know that I have not connected the computer to my cable modem or home network... later after I install Ubuntu I can do this later when I am ready. For now... I just want to install the program... No big deal... But again, for the purpose of walking you thru my installation experience, I wanted to go ahead and illustrate this step. I selected Do not configure the network at this time, and left the host name the default name of ubuntu.

Ok after choosing to Configure the network later... the installation continues on to the next step which is Detecting disks and other drives. See Images Below:

[[IMG]http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1007_small.JPG[/IMG]]("http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1007.JPG")

[[IMG]http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1008_small.JPG[/IMG]]("http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1008.JPG")

After it loads for a few minutes a new windows appears, Partition disks. Now in my setup, the Apple G3 I own has Mac Os 9.2 installed. In my situation, I really could care less about having this operating system. I am not interested in dual Os booting... etc.. So I just want to Erase entire disk. You might not want to do this... but again, in my situation I don't need Mac Os 9.2. So for the purpose of walking you thru my installation experience, I did not want to skip documenting this. See images below:

[[IMG]http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1009_small.JPG[/IMG]]("http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1009.JPG")

[[IMG]http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1010_small.JPG[/IMG]]("http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1010.JPG")

... Continued on next post.

After this is done... the installation continues to Installation of the base system. See image below:

[[IMG]http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1011_small.JPG[/IMG]]("http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1011.JPG")

This takes a few minutes to process... eventually I lead to the same problem, and this is where my installation experience suddenly stops:

[COLOR="Red"](!!) Install the base system[/COLOR] [COLOR="Blue"]Unable to install initrd-tools[/COLOR]

See Images Below:

[[IMG]http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1012_small.JPG[/IMG]]("http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1012.JPG")

[[IMG]http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1013_small.JPG[/IMG]]("http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1013.JPG")

[[IMG]http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1014_small.JPG[/IMG]]("http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1014.JPG")

So at this point... this is where I at stuck at with my installation.

Now... I did notice that there is somekind of log that was illustrated. This is what it reads below:

Check /target/var/log/bootstrap.log

Now I am very new to Linux... I have it installed on a few other computers... and each computer had their share of work to do to get the installation successful... so, now complaints... I am used to the fact that you need to work a little bit to get a good stable and FREE!!! :) system working... no big deal.

But, I think that log file might have information related to my problem. After walking you thru my installation experience, my first question is this:

How do I access this log file: /target/var/log/bootstrap.log

Please be specific with your instructions. I will leave my computer turned ON, and remember I am at this screen:

[[IMG]http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1014_small.JPG[/IMG]]("http://gconn77.com/images/ubuntu/100_1014.JPG")

I think that the CD was possibly bad. I checked the CD Integrity and it turned out to be bad... I will add a screen shot later.

Instead of downloading the .iso thru the web, I downloaded the bit torrent version. I am installing right now... so hopefully a bad disc was the problem... we'll see!

I think that the CD was possibly bad. I checked the CD Integrity and it turned out to be bad... I will add a screen shot later.

Instead of downloading the .iso thru the web, I downloaded the bit torrent version. I am installing right now... so hopefully a bad disc was the problem... we'll see! If you still think it is a bad disk, order it thru shipit.ubuntu.com . Also, if you are using a download manager it can cause it not to work (I know that from experience ;)). Though hopefully the bittorrent works, as shipit can take some time :)

Yes... I do know that ordering the CD's can take some time... as I placed an order for the PC install a few months back. It took about a month to get them.... but its worth the wait.

Right now I am at 48% installing the base system... and usually with the other CD that I made my problems would occur around 78%....

So keep fingers crossed! Thanks for the advise.

Ok... looks like I made it past the first half! But now I am faced with a new challenge.

First Stage Ubuntu Bootstrap

Press I for GNU/LINUX, c for CDROM.

Stage 1 boot: loading second stage bootstrap...

Nothing happens here? I was instructed to remove the CD ROM which I did do.... and the computer restarted... and I am stuck on this task.... it just keeps refreshing itself?

Does anyone know what I need to do here?

Bump, please :)

I have not made any progress past this point. For the past few days I have searched the Internet to find any articles, threads, or pages that have this situation. I haven't given up yet... so I am hoping that the community won't give up on me ;)

I have ubuntu installed successfully on my laptop... and I had some challenges with that... but after a few challenges... I have an awsome performing older laptop, and still works great now.

So... again, I have my Apple G3 here... and the second stage of the install keeps looping.... loading second stage bootstrap... then a few moments later it loops.... any help would be so much appreciated.

This thread branches and here are the links to the two threads:

Loading second stage bootstrap...

Partition Apple G3 B&W 9.1 GB Hard Drive For Single OS Ubuntu

I was definately able to get Ubuntu installed on my G3 Apple computer... please follow the links to the other two threads to read on and learn what I did and what the community helped me with.

Hello gconn77,

I just stopped by to congratulate you for successfully installing Ubuntu in your G3 B&W. I would also like to thank you for helping me when I had a related situation. Good to know you did not give up, so you too are now enjoying Ubuntu on your Mac. Since I installed Ubuntu, I still did not have as much time as I wished to explore its features beyond the trivial applications, but I know Ubuntu has a lot to offer!

Best regards,

Andre W.

My son has recently acquired a G3 Blue and wants to attempt to put Ubuntu on it. This post will be most helpful. After skimming over your posts I gather that the main issue was to remove the SCSI HD and replace with an IDE. Is this correct?

Thanks again for this great and informative post. :D