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I have a Mac Mini with Ubuntu Fiesty on it - but need to re-Mac it. My problem is that I can get it to recognise the install DVD. I've tried using the memdisk.bin / sbootmgr.dsk combo but can't seem to get it to work. Any ideas?

Edit: if it helps, running grep cdrom /etc/fstab I have identified the internal DVD-ROM drive as '/dev/scd0 /media/dcrom0 udf,iso9660, user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0'

Can anyone translate this into into a GRUB (hdn,n) type designation?

Edit No 2: I have no downloaded a a working Live CD of Ubuntu 9.0.4, but with little success. I've tried using gparted to reformat the internal drive. I've tried 'mac' 'msdos' and 'ntfs' - with msdos I get no apparent partitions, but my assumption that this erases the boot block seems wrong.

I get a suspiciously unix-like error message on restart, it fails to recognise the OS X 10.6 dvd, won't respond to option-key to bring up Apple startup disk chooser, or the C-key to boot from the internal drive. As far as re-instating OS X, looks like I have a bricked mac-mini...

So, how to I NUKE the internal drive to ensure that there's no unix boot nonsense? or has the original Apple firmware somehow been destroyed?

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  • Updated the solution in the below comments - i got a strong feeling this will get your EFI back.
    – caliban
    Sep 7, 2009 at 19:34

2 Answers 2

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Have you tried holding down the "Option" key or the "C" key while turning on the Mac?? There's no need to even get into GRUB.

EDIT : User had a bigger problem - his EFI is for some reason corrupted/non-existent. Suggested steps to restore EFI, or at least install rEFIt.

You would need to refer to this page for instructions on how to use rEFIt.

Once rEFIt is installed, you will gain back the option to boot using the OS X install DVD. Give it a whirl and let us know.

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  • you mean you wiped out EFI from your Mac Mini? or for some reason your DVD is not recognized at the start?
    – caliban
    Sep 7, 2009 at 18:30
  • I have no idea. This is an inherited Mac Mini. DVD certainly recognised within Ubuntu... but since option doesn't bring up standard OS X boot menu, and this is a new OS X 10.6 Install DVD that has worked on other Macs... I guess yes to both. Hence the grub query...
    – Richard Dyce
    Sep 7, 2009 at 18:32
  • Dear me, that's messed up. Your question should be how to restore EFI actually (otherwise I highly suspect your OS X won't install too.) Edited my answer.
    – caliban
    Sep 7, 2009 at 18:47
  • If I could erase all partitions from the drive, surely I should be able to boot from the install CD? Almost tempted to stick a virgin drive in there and see what happens...
    – Richard Dyce
    Sep 7, 2009 at 18:49
  • At this juncture, I have no idea what will happen. This is the first time I encountered an erased/corrupted EFI. Stick a virgin drive in, for all you know it might just work. You might want to reset the PRAM too (hold down Option+P+R when turning on the Mac Mini)
    – caliban
    Sep 7, 2009 at 18:56
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"Okay I have new developments on your issue - it would appear that your HFS+ partition is marked as "hidden" and "lvm" - that is your EFI partition, and it is now just a logical volume" ... Hmm, that's quite a leap! Actually there are just two logical partitions - one of which is swap... so formatting the drive is probably the easiest option.

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