How to install Debian on MacMini (2009)

MacgyverPT

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Hi guys.

I've a old MacMini (late 2009 => Core 2 Duo CPU (P8700) @ 2.53GHz, 8GB PC3-8500 DDR3 RAM @ 1066MHz, Nvidia Geforce 9400M, 80GB HDD) and I was sick of OSx, so I want install a fresh new flavour on this machine. The choice was obvious and we called Debian :D

The process is very simple:

1) Create a bootable USB with Etcher. Download the .iso (I downloaded netInstall 64bits) and on Etcher, select the .iso, select the usd disk and... wait few minutes

2) Insert the usb disk on Mac, and when press power button, press also command key (on "common" keyboard was "ALT" (left) key)

3) The installation was the same on PC. Next... Select partitions, select timezone, create passwords and users and... Reboot


When you reboot, the wireless didn't work propertly, so, plug the ethernet (rj45) cable, and install the follow packages:
1) Open sources.list
Code:
sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

2) Add this two lines:
Code:
deb http://http.us.debian.org/debian stable main contrib non-free
deb-src http://http.us.debian.org/debian stable main contrib non-free

3) Install the packages:
Code:
sudo apt-get install firmware-b43-installer b43-fwcutter

When finish, reboot and... voilá!


Enjoy the new fresh and updated system! I only try with Debian, so I belive that other distribution also work
 
Last edited:


Add these two lines?
Not everyone lives in the US.
If you don't need the source code you don't need the line beginning deb-src
 
I dont live in the US and add that two lines and worked perfectly. But we are always learning, so we only need the first one, right?
 
Most people don't need the source code so they don't need the second line.

You can get Debian to choose the fastest server by using
Code:
deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ stable main contrib non-free
deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ stable-updates main contrib non-free
deb http://deb.debian.org/debian-security stable/updates main
deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian stretch-backports main

That will also give you updates, security and backports.

Have you seen e.g. https://debgen.simplylinux.ch/
 
Thank you.
 
Actually, there is a method built-in with Debian, called netselect-apt, which can trawl 350 or so mirrors worldwide, and select eg the fastest 10 for you, which you can then save as your sources.list. It will also save previous version in case of need to revert. I have been using it for a couple of years, and in Australia, it is very useful.

I have to go for now, after visiting a Jeffrey Lapinski Thread, but I can outline it tomorrow if you think you could use it.

Cheers

Wizard
 
One "problem" with netselect is that what might be the fastest server one day might not be the fastest server another day.

It needs to be used regularly to get the best results.
 
Hi guys.

News from this Machine. Remove Debian and Install Ubuntu 18.10 and surprise?? All works perfect! Like my laptop (Macbook Pro), all my machines have GNU/Linux installed!
 

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