Xubuntu (7.04) for G3 iMac

[Joseph Berk]

I have not posted much in the last 10 years. I hope this is a new thread and not a reply to someone else's question.

Please someone help me figure out what I'm doing:

I understand from reading the article at YellowJug » Xubuntu Linux on iMac G3
that Xubuntu (7.04) is a good alternative for my 400MHz G3 iMac with Firewire.

My general understanding is that I have to find a copy of 7.04 for download, burn it to a CD, place it in the optical drive of the G3 iMac, follow the directions then disable the DRI as described at yellowjub - see link above.

I'm trying to figure out where the trouble is going to come before I try it. Please help with the following:

1. Where can I find version 7.04 for free download?

2. Do I just download version 7.04 to my intel based iMac then take the file that downloaded and then burn it to a CD using my superdrive? Will a CD made that way work or is there some sort of OS I have to set up on the CD at the same time? If I have to set up the CD, then how is it done?

3. Once I create the CD using my new iMac do I just stick the newly made CD into the old iMac, hold down the C button until the it loads the OS on the CD and then follow directions that appear on the screen for installation, or is it more complicated than that.

Can anyone provide me a link or answer that details the steps I have to take?

thx,

Joseph Berk

[arochester]

1) You can get 7.10 for free download here: Xubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) Get the Alternate install disk, not the Desktop install disk - the former uses 64Mb of Ram and the latter 196Mb of Ram. Use the text based install and NOT the oem install.
2) You can burn an iso on your intel mac. Make sure that you are burning an iso and not just making a copy of the iso.
3) Yes you just put it in , hold down the C and start it up...

[Joseph Berk]

My G3 Mac has 384 MB of memory. Does that mean the desktop install disk would work better for me or should I still stick with the alternate install disk?

thanks!

Joe

[arochester]

My G3 only has 128Mb! Stick with the Alternate install it is better. With 384Mb you should be able to run Xubuntu and Compiz ( have a look at Xubuntu + Compiz = Pretty pretty Xubuntu « Xubuntu Blog ) or plain Kubuntu (KDE). 7.10 Ubuntu (Gnome) comes with Compiz built in and the memory requirement has taken a hike

[Joseph Berk]

It's sort of working, but not really - hardware issues. All I can get is a UNIX prompt.

I've got a 128MB, 500MHz G3 iBook that runs without any known issues. How well does version 7.10 run on an iBook? I've also got a 192MB, 350MHz iMac (USB only). Would it run 7.10 alright?

[arochester]

If you have a prompt you could try reconfiguring your xserver - which, with *buntu, is not as hard as it sounds. At the prompt input

sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

This will start a text based wizard. Answer the questions you can. If there are questions you can't answer then go with the given default. If at first you don't succeed than try again (possibly making small changes). If all else fails then specify VESA as the video driver.

[Joseph Berk]

okay. The prompt looked like
"(initramfs)"

so I added the following
"(initramfs) sudo dpkg econfigure xserver-xorg"

the next two output lines came back
"/bin/sh: sudo: not found
(initramfs)"

I know that when I was running the 384MB, 400MHz iMac on Mac OS X, I was constantly breaking out the Norton Tools to keep the iMac running. I think the hard drive may have been slowly dropping bits...maybe it's a hardware issue?

Also, I had the iMac in the closet for a year and my guess is the battery that supports the clock is dead and the clock itself is not accurate.

I guess either of those could cause an issue.

Any other ideas about how I can get the 400MHz iMac running? If not then would you advise the 192MB, 350MHz iMac and/or the 128MB, 500MHz iBook in it's place?

Joe

[arochester]

Have a look at the answer given in Where to download Ubuntu for PowerPC and other frequently asked questions - Page 5 - Ubuntu Forums and at "If it stops at busybox shell" on https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCKnownIssues

[Joseph Berk]

Okay,

I've tried loading 7.10 on my ibook too - same result. I tried experimented with the prompts and played a while until I realized I was going no where fast. I then tried Finnix - even worse. I couldn't even get it onto the hard drive.

I then tried the DT version of Xubuntu 6.06 - Dapper, but Dapper appeared to have memory problems so I added another 128MB to the iBook and I tried the alternate version of Dapper and -viola! it loaded fine. I'm currently attempting to add it to the iMac....

The problem now is that there are not a lot of applications to work with. It looks like I can listen to CDs, but I don't seem to have software to allow the optical drive to play DVD movies. I have a word processor and spreadsheet, but I've seen better ones on other Linux systems. I can use a browser, but I can't view anything on uTube and I can't find an extension that will work, I also have not games for the kids and no educational software to play with....

So I'm please to have tapped into Linux - now I just have to make it work for me....

Tips and suggestions welcome.

[arochester]

I don't seem to have software to allow the optical drive to play DVD movies.

You need libdvdcss2 (Illegal in the US!).

I have a word processor and spreadsheet, but I've seen better ones on other Linux systems

Which do you have? If you don't have it, already, install OpenOffice.

I can use a browser, but I can't view anything on uTube

I think a PPC needs a special version of Flash, but I may be wrong. Google: ubuntu ppc youtube. In the meantime look at How to install shockwave and flash into firefox on Ubuntu PPC ? - Ubuntu Forums

I also have not games for the kids and no educational software to play with....

Do you have Synaptic Package Manager - have a look at it...

Generally have a look at
1) Ubuntu Linux Resources
2) Ubuntu:Gutsy -