Problems trying to dual-boot Mac OS X and Xubuntu using rEFInd

JoM


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I have a MacBook Pro with a 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo processor and 2GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM running Mac OS X 10.6.8. Yesterday I installed rEFInd, partitioned the HD using Disk Utility, and then tried to load Xubuntu from a Minimal CD download on the second partition. This seemed to be working--rEFInd let me choose whether to boot Mac OS X or the CD.

During the installation process I was told that I didn't have a Reserve BIOS boot area and this could cause problems. I tried creating a third partition called "Reserve BIOS boot area" but that didn't help--I got the same error message again. I left 10 GB of free space and continued with two partitions. Xubuntu apparently installed without trouble. I rebooted the computer in OS X, ejected the CD and rebooted again--and Mac OS X was the only boot option offered.

Plainly I should have done something differently about the Reserve BIOS boot area. Can this problem be corrected at this time, wither from Mac OS X or from the minimal install CD? How should I go about creating a boot area?

Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 

chscag

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You probably should go on over to the Ubuntu | Xubuntu forums and find out how to install it via a dual boot using rEFInd. Keep in mind that OS X boots via EFI not BIOS. So a reserve BIOS area is not needed nor can you create one for Xubuntu. Anyway, go on over to their forums and talk to the experts there. (Note: Macs do not have or use a BIOS.)
 
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JoM


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Thank you very much. I'm seeking advice on the Ubuntu forums now.
 

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