Charge Kid (eldskald, Castu) Mac OS

Learning has never been so easy!

Downloads for macOS 10.14 thru 10.15. OS X El Capitan (el-KAP-i-TAN) (version 10.11) is the upcoming twelfth major release of OS X, Apple Inc.' S desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers.It is the successor of OS X Yosemite and focuses mainly on performance, stability and security.

With so much older Mac hardware becoming obsolete from Apple's perspective, reusing this hardware can be a huge help to cash strapped individuals and companies who want to keep systems current without breaking the bank.

Enter elementary OS, a Linux variant with the look and feel of MacOS blended with Windows-esque features with an easy to navigate GUI that's inexpensive and extremely functional.

Mac hardware has proven over the years to be robust and reliable, almost to a fault. Apple builds a quality system without a doubt and breathing new life into those systems can extend their usable lifetimes by 3-5 years. Alas, there are some caveats to the task at hand with this older hardware. We'll look at that in Step One.

18 Steps total

Step 1: Identify your hardware's capability

The operating system we're installing is 64-bit and will only run on 64-bit capable machines. Apple locked several models by using 32-bit firmware that can not easily be replaced or modified. An easy way to identify 64-bit capable Macs is to look for the DisplayPort connectors. These appeared on older Mac Minis and Mac Books. (See photo.) This is still no guarantee your Mac is 64-bit capable. Check your hardware specs with Apple to be certain.

Step 2: Prepare your OS install DVD

The ISO file downloaded from elementary OS's website will be bootable as Rock Ridge and El Torito. Macs do not boot well with the Rock Ridge extension in place; therefore, the Rock Ridge extension must be removed prior to burning the ISO to disc. Newer Macs do not need to have the boot disc converted and will boot without any problems. Older Macs tend to hang during the boot process with multi-catalog discs.

For Linux systems, a script is available from https://askubuntu.com/questions/787761/how-to-convert-multi-catalog-ubuntu-iso-image-to-boot-it-on-macbook-2-1 to convert the image to a single El Torito catalog. Follow the instructions included in the script.

For Windows systems, ISOBuster and Nero have the capabilities. Please research this on your own.

For Mac systems, I could not find a good discussion on the subject of fixing El Torito boot catalogs. Again, please research this on your own.

Step 3: Get to the Web

Make sure your Mac is connected to the Internet. If you only have wireless, the option will be presented to connect during installation. Have your WiFi password handy and follow the prompts.

Step 4: Booting into the live session

Now that we have our boot media converted and burned to disc, let's power on, pop the disc into the drive and begin the install process by holding down the 'Option' key to get our Mac to look at the disc in the drive. The disc usually shows up with a CD image labelled 'Windows'. Click the arrow below the disc. When you see the screen in the image, tap the spacebar.

Step 5: Pick your language

Once you tap the spacebar, the screen will change offering a list of possible languages. Select your preference with the arrow keys and press 'Enter'

Step 6: Moving forward...

The 'Try elementary OS without installing' option should already be selected. Press 'Enter.'

Step 7: Landing screen

You're in! Now, we want to create a new partition table on the hard drive. A new MSDOS type partition table will fool the Mac firmware into thinking MacOS isn't installed and change it's boot method from 'Apple' to 'Legacy' mode. This will then allow your Mac to boot as though it has a regular BIOS.

Step 8: Fix that drive

Let's open GParted to fix the partition table to MSDOS.

Step 9: Get to the device

Once GParted is open, click 'Device' and select 'New partition table.'

Step 10: MSDOS?

Set table type to MSDOS and click 'Apply.'

Step 11: Begin installation

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Now we open 'Install elementary OS.' Select your preferred language and click 'Continue.'

Step 12: Install options

Here you'll have the option to download updates and third party apps / libraries during install. Make your selections and click 'Continue.'

Step 13: Which install type?

We're presented with the options 'Erase disk and install elementary' with sub-options of 'Encrypt the new elementary installation for security' and 'Use LVM with the new elementary installation.' Below that is 'Something else.'

Let's pick 'Erase disk and install elementary.' Click 'Install now.'

Step 14: Are you sure you wanna do this?

elementary checks the disk, creates necessary partitions and then asks if you're ready to commit these changes to disk. Since MacOS has already been wiped out, go ahead and click 'Continue.'

Mac

Step 15: What time is it?

Computers usually try to set their own clocks so we don't have to. Choose your time zone and nearest city. Click 'Continue.'

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Step 16: QWERTY or Dvorak?

Let's set our keyboard layout based on where we are and our preferred layout. Select your language, then select the keyboard layout you currently use. If you don't know which to choose, there is an option to automatically detect your keyboard.

Step 17: Credentials, please!!!!

Now we'll create the primary user. Enter your full name and name of this computer. Although elementary will try to create a username for you, you may still choose your own username. Enter and confirm your password and whether you want to log in automatically or have your home folder encrypted. Then click 'Continue.'

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Step 18: Success at last!

After some more whirring and clicking, you'll be greeted with a successful installation window. From here you can either play with it a bit more of reboot into your new system.

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You can follow on by installing GIMP, LibreOffice, Scribus, Steam or whatever apps suit your needs. It's sometimes a touch tricky to get everything working, right out of the box, but usually all your hardware will work properly.

Charge kid (eldskald castu) mac os download

Now that you've breathed new life into that old Mac, dive in and explore elementary OS and see what other treasures are in store!

5 Comments

  • Datil
    BMoore Mar 5, 2018 at 09:55pm

    Great info. I fully support removing of MACOS and installing of Linux.
    I owned my Mac Mini for less than 1 hour before I wiped it for MINT.

  • Poblano
    michaelbeal Mar 5, 2018 at 10:30pm

    Thank you! I appreciate your feedback and welcome any suggestions to improve this how-to.

  • Pimiento
    daves not here Mar 16, 2018 at 04:46pm

    Linux works great on Mac's. Here's a great article on how to install a 64 bit Linux on an older 32 bit Mac. I've tried it on an old Mac mini and some of the versions work, some not so good. He's done all the heavy lifting for you by already writing the iso's and providing links to be able to create your own, no need for rEFit which is a pain-in-the-***. https://mattgadient.com/2016/07/11/linux-dvd-images-and-how-to-for-32-bit-efi-macs-late-2006-models/

  • Thai Pepper
    JPadillar Apr 3, 2018 at 03:13pm

    Great Article, and thank you for the information. I have an old MacBook that could use a refresh.

  • Sonora
    ItsJmao Dec 11, 2018 at 03:33pm

    I'm going to have to download this and give it a shot, thanks.