FreeBSD install on old 2007 Mac

[Johneh]

Problem: Can’t install FreeBSD
H/W: 24” 2007 Mac desktop (64amd - i386)
OS: Debian Linux

No disk partition over write current OS.
Ref: FreeBSD Handbook Chapter 2 Installing FreeBSD.
Downloaded FreeBSD (current stable) xxx dvd1.iso and burned to dvd.
Paragraph 2.4.1 Booting on i386 and amd64: Tried all keys listed and some suggested by other sources.
It would not boot.
The above is the same procedure I successfully used to install my current OS, Debian Linux.
If I have to enter the BIOS - how do I enter the BIOS?

 

[darmokandjalad]

I ran FreeBSD on a MacMini of that vintage for a little while a few years ago. I remember starting by performing a clean install of MacOSX Lion, and after that booting off of FreeBSD i386 install media. On a Mac of that vintage, I remember having to hold down the "c" key after powering on in order to boot off of optical media. Holding down Apple/Command + Option after powering on should also present you with a menu to select a boot device. Have you tried either of those?

 

[darmokandjalad]

I ran FreeBSD on a MacMini of that vintage for a little while a few years ago. I remember starting by performing a clean install of MacOSX Lion, and after that booting off of FreeBSD i386 install media. On a Mac of that vintage, I remember having to hold down the "c" key after powering on in order to boot off of optical media. Holding down Apple/Command + Option after powering on should also present you with a menu to select a boot device. Have you tried either of those?

Oh, and I remember being tripped up by the fact that the MacMini I had technically had a 64-bit Intel processor, but because Apple disabled 64-bit functionality somewhere in the hardware, it could only run 32-bit software. I wound up using the i386 version of FreeBSD 11. You might want to try the i386 version if you haven't.

 

[SirDice]

If I have to enter the BIOS - how do I enter the BIOS?

Only PCs ( x86 based IBM PC clones) have a BIOS.

I had technically had a 64-bit Intel processor, but because Apple disabled 64-bit functionality somewhere in the hardware

You can't disable (parts of) the instruction set of a CPU. The CPU supports the Intel 64/AMD 64 extensions or it doesn't.

it could only run 32-bit software.

I think you might be confused with a 32 bit (U)EFI not being able boot FreeBSD (loader.efi(8) requires a 64 bit (U)EFI). Which has nothing to do with the CPU.

 

[darmokandjalad]

You can't disable (parts of) the instruction set of a CPU. The CPU supports the Intel 64/AMD 64 extensions or it doesn't.


I think you might be confused with a 32 bit (U)EFI not being able boot FreeBSD (loader.efi(8) requires a 64 bit (U)EFI). Which has nothing to do with the CPU.

Thanks for clarifying, SirDice. I obviously still don't understand the problem I had.

For the record, it was this MacMini2,1, and googling just now, I found a blog post from 2020 describing the installation of a 64-bit Linux distribution on one using PXE:

Macmini 2,1 PXE install

I recently bought 3 GB of used DDR2 SDRAM (for 8 bucks) for my 2009 Macmini 2,1, to use it as a ceph monitor running GNU/Linux. The machine's CPU is a 64 bits core 2 duo, which is more than enough for my use case. Here's a video …

www.florentflament.com

It reports a few other pitfalls in trying to boot this Mac off of modern installers that might give you more insights, Johneh.

 

[Johneh]

I found nothing in the above that enabled a mount and install. The key combs on power up did not work. I appreciate your responses. Thanks!! jeh

 

[Johneh]

I ran FreeBSD on a MacMini of that vintage for a little while a few years ago. I remember starting by performing a clean install of MacOSX Lion, and after that booting off of FreeBSD i386 install media. On a Mac of that vintage, I remember having to hold down the "c" key after powering on in order to boot off of optical media. Holding down Apple/Command + Option after powering on should also present you with a menu to select a boot device. Have you tried either of those?

Tried the key combinations and they did not work. Thanks for your reply Jeh