Linux for 68k Mac

Do you need the Powerbook software that comes with System 7.5 installed to boot using battery? I used Apple's Intelligent Battery Reconditioning Software to recondition the battery but I can't get it to boot. I followed the instructions here.
Also, does anyone know of good games and apps for System 7?

Thanks,
#1 Rhapsody
 
I've pretty much given up on the laptops. I only other thing I could think of would be is to make a RAM disk to uncompress the kernel on then boot into the kernel while getting the file system of another floppy.

What about learning Unix in Mac OS X? I have an iBook that isn't used much so it would be perfect. Is there a kind of program that will let you learn commands without the possibility of messing Mac OS X up?

Thanks
 
On an intel Mac you could use virtualisation to run some linux distro in a sandbox. On an up and running OS X, you definitely _can_ hose the system by working in the Terminal. But if you're careful, you won't. You don't _have_ to run "sudo rm -rf /". You can imagine what it does after you've used "sudo rm -rf" on a simple directory that you won't miss. A good O'Reilly book might help as well.

But if you don't really use the iBook much, there's no real harm. Just reinstall OS X if you ever mess up...
 
If you're going to try on your iBook, then there are a lot more options:

GNU/Linux
  1. Ubuntu (pick the Alternate Install): http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ports/releases/intrepid/release/
  2. Fedora: http://fedoraproject.org/en/get-fedora-ppc
  3. Debian (I linked to the netinstall which is smaller, but it requires an active internet connection. Just scroll down for the "stable" image and click on "powerpc"): http://www.debian.org/CD/netinst/
  4. openSUSE: http://software.opensuse.org/

BSD:
  1. FreeBSD: ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/releases/powerpc/ISO-IMAGES/7.1/
  2. OpenBSD: http://openbsd.com/macppc.html
  3. NetBSD:http://www.netbsd.org/ports/macppc/
 
I installed some updates on my iBook then rebooted and now it won't boot, it just sits at the Apple icon screen with no spinning wheel. What do I do? It does this sometimes then when I check later it will boot.

Edit: I let it sit and it finally booted. Why would it do this?
 
Last edited:
#1 Rhapsody said:
I installed some updates on my iBook then rebooted and now it won't boot, it just sits at the Apple icon screen with no spinning wheel. What do I do? It does this sometimes then when I check later it will boot.

Edit: I let it sit and it finally booted. Why would it do this?
Click to expand...

Is this under OS X, GNU/Linux, or the BSDs? :confused:
 
#1 Rhapsody said:
I installed some updates on my iBook then rebooted and now it won't boot, it just sits at the Apple icon screen with no spinning wheel. What do I do? It does this sometimes then when I check later it will boot.

Edit: I let it sit and it finally booted. Why would it do this?
Click to expand...

Since around 10.4, OS updates have required two restarts. After the first restart it just sits there giving you no visual feedback for a long time, then restarts again and loads normally. It's alarming, but normal.

I wouldn't be surprised to see it take 5-10 minutes on an older system.
 
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