MacBook Pro Triple Boot - Snow Leopard, Windows 7, Ubuntu

[lyshaboy4]

i have a macbook pro, and reFIT really screwed up my drive had to format and reinstall my os

[AppleandCow]

Please could you put a tuturial of how to use Refit

[TheModernReaper]

is there no way at all to do the same thing starting off on a amd windows computer. being able to boot different operating systems with a hard drive partition?

[cowtipper239]

How did you set up the boot screen with OS choices? I have installed Windows 7 on my macbook air and want a boot screen like yours.

[phytra]

@cowtipper239 He pretty much said that in the video.

[AspireFly]

5:37 Those are the Mac volume indicators. Windows doesn't have anything like that. How did you get those?

[proksialireza83]

Could you please explain how you install Windows and Ubuntu beside Mac OS?

[gumballtech]

@proksialireza83 Just make your partitions with DIsk Utility and install the OSes.

[proksialireza83]

@gumballtech OK. After installing these three OS, Hibernate works fine in MAC, Windows and Ubuntu?

Thanks for your reply,

[gumballtech]

@proksialireza83 Yes.

[cloudlove93]

what should I click if I want to change from os x to windows?

if it's from windows, usually boot camp in control panel is used to change to os x mode. But how to change from os x mode to windows mode?

[gumballtech]

@cloudlove93 Hold option after pushing the power button.

[Chintendoeddman]

hehe

You installed Ubuntu 9.10 and this video is 9:10 !

[kakaroto1986]

pls do a how to video for all 3 if you can

[nortexoid]

Did you manage to install the proprietary nvidia drivers in Ubuntu? Also, I wonder why you didn't use a file system for linux that's recognized natively by OS X and Windows.

[gumballtech]

@nortexoid Yes, the drivers installed just fine. Why would I do that? I'm running Linux. With that being said, I'll be using a Linux-optimized filesystem, which in this case is ext4.

[nortexoid]

Did you manage to install nvidia's proprietary drivers in Ubuntu?

[noornancy]

plz do how to install windows 7 the right way!

Thankssssssssss

[thecoleseven]

Can i do this using my dell, cost lots of money don't want to have to buy macbook,

I know that I can put mac on it but how about refit I kind of like that the software on boot doesn't resemble something more than a decade old you know simple click and it starts if anybody could help I would REALLY appreciate it.

[gumballtech]

@thecoleseven rEFIt doesn't work on PCs. Chameleon is what you'll want.

[CatDogFishHorse]

can you do this on a PC

[thecoleseven]

@CatDogFishHorse

I need help on that also

[CatDogFishHorse]

no sir that's a cylinder not a cube just saying

[mihaigalos]

were you using an SSD? You got really fast booting there :)

[java575]

What is your battery life with Ubuntu?

[iAppletechreviews]

AWESOME! Great videos! Thanks!

[carloscane]

Nice video. I already have Windows 7 installed on my MacBook Pro using Boot Camp but I also want to install Ubuntu. Which way do you recommend me to install it? Do you know where I can find a kind of tutorial? Thanks for your help!

[gumballtech]

@carloscane Since you already have Windows 7, you're going to need to backup everything, delete your W7 partition, and then use Disk Utility to create 2 new ones. You can't (as far as I know) add any extra partitions once you've setup Windows 7. It's complicated.

You might want to use Ubuntu in VMware instead.

[carloscane]

@gumballtech Thanks for the reply. I created the Windows 7 partition recently so I really don't care if I need to erase it completely, I've just installed very few programs. So let's say I delete it, next thing would be creating 2 different partitions using Disk Utility, install Windows 7 in one of them, and after that intalling Ubuntu on the left partition, I'm I correct?

One extra question. Does it exist any possibility of damaging the hardware if I install Ubuntu?

Thanks a lot for your help

[gumballtech]

@carloscane Nope, no hardware's going to be damaged. Just make sure you don't format the wrong partition when you're installing Windows 7 or Ubuntu.

[artacxy]

Nice vid, in which order did you install the OS systems?Windows 7 did write the MasterBootRrecord? i suppose you didn't create a swap for ubuntu did you?

thank's for the video

[gumballtech]

@artacxy Snow Leopard>Windows 7>Ubuntu... I think. It shouldn't matter. No, I didn't use a swap partition.

[artacxy]

@gumballtech thanks man for answered men.

[AspireToDoItAll]

@gumballtech I wouldn't really suggest doing this, unless I'm missing something here (please correct me if I am) but the swap partition acts like your page file on Windows. It acts as virtual memory (virtual RAM actually) in case you run out of memory or something goes wrong with it during use. At a minimum I would suggest having a swap partition the size of your RAM installed. --Jake

[marvindingdong]

hey, please write me how you do this. if i install refit and reboot 2 times. then i cant see an menu and my snow leopard dont boot anymore. Please help me, and forgive my bad english but im german.

[owners4life51]

yep...in my wildest dreams. i.m 14 and can.t afford a macbook :(

so i.m stuck with xp and ubuntu

[marvindingdong]

@owners4life51 why that ? I´m 13 and have a lot stuff from apple ?

[owners4life51]

@marvindingdong well, i.m a complete computer enthusiast. i just can.t afford to buy a macbook pro right now.

[bkye3]

Thanks for the video. How long have you been using computer like this? Is it stable? Have you ever encountered any errors while using? I am planning to buy a macbook pro and running ubuntu is very important for me...

[gumballtech]

@bkye3 Since I first got it a little over a year ago. It's a computer, which are all made to run any operating system humans can think of. Ubuntu runs great.

[Sari5719]

This is still for free on:

downloadblinks . C _ O _ M

[rajashraful]

tor bal

[mrmayor92]

thanks for the tuts man, i got it all 3 oses running now

[GICTechTV]

i would love to do this on my macbook pro just got the i5 but it just has 320 gb -_- maybe ill upgrade my 13 macbookpro to a 500 GB and do a triple boot

[arun1985siddharthan]

can u do me a video how to install different operating system on macbook pro please...........?????

[arun1985siddharthan]

can u do me a video how to install different operating system on macbook pro please...........?????

[gauf289]

I followed your tutorial very well and I've got exactly the same thing as you for everything except one thing : when I choose from refit to boot Win7, it goes trough GRUB and I need to choose it again. After it boots correctly. (In other words, it does the same thing for me with Win7 than it does for you in this video for Ubuntu). I would like to know if it's possible to boot Windows directly from refit without passing trough GRUB. Thanks a lot and your tutorial is really well made!

[gumballtech]

@gauf289 Where did you install the Ubuntu bootloader to? It's the last step before you start installing Ubuntu.

[gauf289]

@gumballtech I installed the bootloader to the Ubuntu partition.On Ubuntu,I can see the BootcampHD, the MacintoshHD, and filesystem(the HD for Ubuntu). So the path for the bootloader is : filesystem/Boot/Grub.I remember that it was the last step of your "How-to PT.3" video.It was saying : specify to install the bootloader into the Ubuntu partition and choose /. Grub loads when I choose Ubuntu and Windows 7.That is ok for Ubuntu but not for Win7. Both OS work very well. Thanks for answering me!

[RobinScott93]

What size hard drive is in your MacBook Pro?

[gumballtech]

@RobinScott93 500GB.

[IpodsHelpingHand]

Can you give me a link for keyboard windows 7 driver pleeeeeease : (

[spdarkjoe]

How can u delete an operating system? And are te same music and movie files share within all operating system? Plese Reply

[gumballtech]

@spdarkjoe Just remove the partition.

[hongyi444]

So, if there are 8G of RAM on macbook pro, how much RAM would be on windows 7 64 bit?

[gumballtech]

@hongyi444 Any 64-bit operating system (including Mac OS X) supports 4GB+, literally.

[chumsyalibumsy09]

Whats bad about using Virtual Machines? Im not very smart at computers lol, but i got Windows 7 ultimate through parallels, and i think its great :D

[SucksTheJoke]

how did you get the audio to work? it says it's enabled on mine but no sound is coming, i got graphics card to work,

i'm also using it on a macbook pro but in a 3.1 edition. can you help?

[scapegoatpigeon]

Macbook Pro only comes with a small 320gb hd.

How difficult has Steve Jobs made it to upgrade the hd on our own to something like a 640gb hd?

[gumballtech]

@scapegoatpigeon Easy. We have a HDD swapping video. It's as simple as every other computer out there...

[Kuaijin]

it saddens me that PC Users do not get a Boot Manager like mac users. Sure we have a grub but not as sweet as this set up.

[gumballtech]

@Kuaijin PC users have it better... There's dozens and dozens of cool boot loaders (Chameleon is probably the best).

[Kuaijin]

@gumballtech

I thought Chameleon was for MAC? I could be wrong. never used a boot loader before besides using the Grub. Right now I have a dual boot of Windows 7 and Ubuntu 10.04. So far no hiccups but Ubuntu refuses to like my sound card.

[gumballtech]

@Kuaijin Chameleon is for PCs only (as is GRUB). The bootloader on Mac's is basically EFI. You can have a "mini" boot loader (like rEFIt) to boot something else, but EFI is technically it.

As for the sound, the sound (on 10.04 x64) was working OOTB. The audio was just muted. Alsamixer fixed it.

[DarkDay19088]

could i do this with boot camp to put win7 and xp

[gumballtech]

@DarkDay19088 Yes.

[XGameMaster]

I totally agree with u on the Windows 7 boot screen.

The BEST!!!!!

[DeathToTheseWalls]

Awesome video. It's sweet how it can run each OS perfectly. And all the Mac shortcuts--screen brightness, keyboard brightness, volume--work in each OS as wel, yes? Amazing.

Please post a how-to video. I'm sure countless people would wholly appreciate it.

[darkdog4440]

cool

[mgkravik]

Hi,

Could you please repost a screenshot of you partitions?

A short how to of the main order of the install process would also be useful.

Cheers

[gumballtech]

We have a playlist for the entire process.

[RKSS17]

wat bootloader r u using at the start??

[gumballtech]

Go watch our MBP triple-boot playlist.

[SoniGary]

hi man, i have MBP 13" and do u think win 7 x64 will run smooth on it, or should i install just a 32-bit version

[gumballtech]

If you have 4GB of RAM or more, install the 64-bit version. If you have less than that, install the 32-bit version. If you have less than 4GB and plan on upgrading in the future, then install the 64-bit version now.

[HansJuergenSegefeld]

Does vertical & horizontal two-finger scrolling work in Ubuntu?

[gumballtech]

Yup, works great.

[vaysage]

wow itz the best man ... U have any blog or something like tat where i can expect an how to guide

[XRyderMan]

Wow you are fast :). I will look into that and find out. Good luck with the videos. Thanks again,

XRM

[gumballtech]

All my emails are pushed to my iPhone immediately :).

Good luck!

[XRyderMan]

Hi

Me again. Thx so much for all your pointers & advice. I got my MBP w/ triple boots now. 1 nagging question. How do I make the Windows & Legacy icon to boot respectively and not getting rid of those refits icon on top and at the buttom? You indicate to...

"Download this .zip: multiupload (.) com (/) LC7OGUG711. But, I wud like to keep the refit icons both on the top & at the buttom but wud like the OSX icon to boot OSX & so on. Is there anyway to achieve that? Thanks so much,

XRM

[gumballtech]

I suggest playing around with the refit.conf file, located in /efi/refit. There's a lot of interesting options there. Customize them to suit your needs :).

I'm going to start my multi-part video series on this tomorrow. Won't be 100% detailed, but hopefully people won't hard a hard time doing this. IMO, the hardest part is getting the disk partitioned the way you want it.

[TheOmicron]

I'm trying to do the same thing on my own Macbook Pro, but I ran into some problems. I'm pretty certain that I did all the partitioning and installations right for OS X and Win 7, but when it comes time to install ubuntu, I run into some problems. I boot from the disc, and after I select "Install Ubuntu", it just hangs there a blinking cursor and black screen.

Did you experience anything like this?

[gumballtech]

Nope. How long have you waited? It takes between 3 and 4 minutes to get into the installer. Which version of Ubuntu are you trying?

Also, go in Terminal in OS X and run this, and tell me what it spits out:

sudo dmidecode -s system-product-name

[TheOmicron]

Thanks a lot for getting back to me. I actually solved the problem by rather than using the direct "Install" option from the bootloader, I used the option to "test it out first without modifying my system"; once I got into the OS, I was able to install it that way to the proper partition. Works perfectly now!

How were you able to customize your rEFIt log in page? Mine still shows Ubuntu as the "Legacy OS", along with the rEFIt options - not just the three icons like your boot screen shows.

[gumballtech]

Download this .zip: multiupload (.) com (/) LC7OGUG711

Extract the .conf and images folder to /efi/refit in OS X, overwriting anything that's already there. It'll make yours look just like mine.

[newtonslaw777]

What did you install in Ubuntu to get your keyboard brightness and screen brightness?

THanks tons...been looking for a while for this...

[gumballtech]

Go to Google and search for: Ubuntu MacBook. Click on the one for either MacBook or MacBook Pro. Choose your model from the right side, and follow the instructions.

[XRyderMan]

Hello again,

I was able to install all three systems on my MPB but after installing ubuntu, the windows on the refit menu booted ubuntu instead of Windows 7. How do I get all three system to be visible on the refit menu? Please help

[gumballtech]

Please read through some of the other comments here. They'll answer your question :).

[DREWizC00L]

With refit, can you utilize all 4 primary partitions so Linux can use Swap?

I'm seriously thinking about working my job for a few months and save up or a MBP 15 or 13 and doing a Triple-Boot.

I really liked how the boot icons showed up, it looks really sweet. Oh yeah, and the photoshop spoof of B*** S*** was hilarious. Bs. Haha.

Really cool though, to say the least. Nice vid, and not annoying like some of the others. 5 stars!

[gumballtech]

I'm not sure about the whole swap partition thing. I didn't make a swap partition.

[XRyderMan]

I could not install windows 7 cuz de partition was in FAT32 I did not know how to convert it to NTFS. I am stuck at this point for now.

[XRyderMan]

Ok, Thanks for your fast reply...

And here's to it....I am gonna take the plunge after work today and try triple booting already. Hope this works,

[gumballtech]

Good luck :).

[XRyderMan]

I have finally gotten my macbook pro but yet unable to find any definitive guide online anywhere on how to triple boot. Was hoping gumballtech would have a guide up by now. I have just found out too that Apple just updated their boot camp to accommodate win7 currently. One question. If I make any mistake trying to triple boot, will there be any dire consequences for my macbook pro?

XRM

[gumballtech]

Nope! As long as you follow the golden rule or owning a computer (backing up), you'll be fine. As long as your data is in another spot, you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

[kiwikat]

I'd also reeeeeeally like it if you made that how-to video. :-)

I'm considering getting the new macbook or possibly the new MBP that's coming soon depending on its price. It'll probably be the macbook though as I can get it for around 1000 through school (with some upgrades).

[ipodtouchmaster06]

For me refit works fine and icon for snow leopard shows up and boots fine, and when i install either windows or ubuntu, it shows up as legacy and boots fine. But when i install the 3rd OS, it always takes the place of the second, and shows up as legacy. The second operating system is then never to be found until i format and start over......

[gumballtech]

That happened to me when I first started my triple-boot, but I noticed that I had to install the bootloader from the Ubuntu installer to the Ubuntu partition. If I didn't install that, or if I installed it to the root, only 2 partitions would show up in rEFIt. Hope this helps.

[ipodtouchmaster06]

oh ok cool. How do i install the bootloader without installing ubuntu? and Do i install it before or after i install ubuntu on that partition? Thank you very much for your help!

[gumballtech]

Why would you need to install the bootloader if you're not installing Ubuntu? GRUB2, which is the bootloader I've been talking about, is only needed if you're installing Ubuntu and need the third OS to show up in rEFIt.

[ipodtouchmaster06]

no what i mean is, if i install ubuntu to a partition and it all goes well, it automatically installs the boot loader with it. So how do i fix the problem by installing the boot loader with out RE-Installing ubuntu.(since i already have it installed) Or do i need to re-format the linux partition so i can choose where to install the boot loader??? im rlly confused....

[gumballtech]

When you're in the installer, there's an "Advanced" button near the end of the prompts before it starts the installation that lets you install GRUB2 to a different partition...

The best thing to do at this point is to format your ext4 partition and reinstall Ubuntu to it (and telling the installer to install GRUB2 to that partition).

Is Windows installed?

[ipodtouchmaster06]

AAAAH i see what you are saying. So i should have mac os x on one partition, then i should run boot camp and install windows 7, then i should go back in to osx and make a linux partition, Then i should install refit, THEN lastly, i should install linux making sure i install the boot loader to the same partition?

[gumballtech]

Nooo :).

Make your other 2 partitions in OS X with Disk Utility at once (make your Ubuntu one in the middle of the three, and Windows at the bottom), then install rEFIt, then install Windows, then install Ubuntu.

[ipodtouchmaster06]

OOHHH!! Great it finally worked just fine for me!!! Thanks for all your help and putting up with all my questions!!! But the last thing is where dd you get that awesome "theme" i guess from. Where did you get the icons and how did you keep the thing from showing that ugly refit icon at the top and those 3 icons at the bottom

[gumballtech]

Congrats :D.

Download this .zip: multiupload (.) com (/) LC7OGUG711

Extract the .conf and images folder to /efi/refit in OS X, overwriting anything that's already there. It'll make yours look just like mine.

[gumballtech]

I believe you have to make your Windows NTFS partition active.

Where did you install GRUB2 to?

[Ahridium777]

mac hardware is not supported perfectly, the audio is missing, and the wireless isn't working!

[gumballtech]

Yes it is... You have to install the drivers for those things. You can't just expect it to work OOTB. Same goes for Mac OS X.

[Ahridium777]

even when i install the drivers, there is no loud and wireless can find many other but not my netopia router!

[gumballtech]

Then you didn't do something right. The Ubuntu wiki has complete articles on getting Ubuntu to work on dozens of different MacBook models.

[gumballtech]

rEFIt 0.6? As far as I know, 0.13 is the latest (only one too I believe) version.

As for the icons, go here:

tinyurl (.) com (slash) yclwn2v

Since Ubuntu shows up as 'Legacy', I replaced that one instead of the actual Linux icon.

[gumballtech]

Why not partition the drive now in Leopard, install the other two OSs, then update to Snow Leopard?

[gumballtech]

It's not hard... Just partition the HDD with Disk Utility, and install the OSs.

[mopherad123]

how is the ubunto driver support for mac hardware

[gumballtech]

Perfect. Mac hardware is no different than a regular PC. It just boots differently.

[XRyderMan]

Please do a step by step how tos... I would like to learn and know how to triple boot a macbook pro. Thanks so much in advance,

XRM

[gumballtech]

Will do. Won't be up for a long time, though.

It's not too hard to do. Just partition your drive, and install the operating systems to these partitions, then use rEFIt in OS X to choose what you want to boot.

[elnegrobembon]

i'm so jealous you got everything working perfecty in ubuntu...i've been having problems with KK since the start.. especially with the infamous sound problems..

btw, i'm just curious if constantly rebooting and restarting a machine might damage it??

and i'd definitely like to see a how-to vid for how to trip-boot on a macbook, and a pc too while you're at it..

thanx//

[gumballtech]

Constantly rebooting any computer won't help it at all. It's probably a good thing to do every now and then.

[gumballtech]

Nope, there's nothing wrong with booting a lot. Probably a good thing to do every now and then.

[Setarkos91]

...and could you also post the exact configuration and generation of your MBP? Thanks.

[gumballtech]

15" Mid-2009 MBP

2.66GHz Core 2 Duo

4GB DDR3 1066 RAM

320GB HDD

9400M 256MB (shared)

9600M GT 256MB (dedicated)

[Setarkos91]

Hi! Great Video! 5 Stars!

And even greater the triple boot itself. I would really be interested in the How-To you offered. I've already read some stuff about this but most of the articles were not up to date and your choice of operating systems is exactly the same I was going to install on my MBP. So I would really appreciate a How-To, especially with the order and stuff like backing up grub and getting Windows work after installing Ubuntu and getting the audio, wireless etc. work.

Thanks

[Atom30]

Hey I've tried this before and had problems getting it to work correctly... which order did you install (windows then ubuntu)? Anything special you did to get it to run correctly?

[gumballtech]

Make your partitions like mine. The middle one is Ubuntu. You can adjust the size of yours to your liking. Here's the screenshot:

bit - ly = 5E9M18

The - is a dot and the = is a slash.

Install Windows, then Ubuntu. Use the Windows installer to format to NTFS, then use Ubuntu to format to ext4 and install GRUB2 to that partition.

[Atom30]

Alright! I got this working without any command-line craziness! Thanks!

[samusaran190]

Can you make a how-to? I tried to do install Jolicloud (Ubuntu thing) and it worked, but drivers... So I removed Windows and trying to find out... Just boot off of the Linux CD and then boot off of the Windows 7 CD? There is an old how-to with 10.4...

[gumballtech]

Well, in short, just partition your drive with Disk Utility, and install the OS to the appropriate partition using boot camp (hold option when booting to select the CD/DVD).

[Squirrel247]

i use transmission too i love it tho

[singletontv]

Great job Brian. Thanks for being so informative.

[tonybalony123]

Nice man!

[gumballtech]

Of course! Best torrent client for Windows. Although it sucks for OS X. I use Transmission in OS X and in Ubuntu.

[tabbiepsu]

sorry to bother you but...

do the drivers work 100% and stuff?

and since i have windows 7 in my bootcamp partition..do i have to delete and and re-do all the windowes stuff?