Installing Linux on my old Macbook Air

I’ve an old Intel based Macbook Air which, unfortunately Apple no longer support updates for, it’s a great little machine which I want to keep running. So, I do what I always do when the OS outgrows the hardware, I install Linux on it.

I would usually install Ubuntu but thought I’d try something lighter weight, by installing Linux Mint.

  • The first thing we need to do is download the ISO from the Linux Mint site (I went with the Cinnamon Edition).
  • New we need to write the ISO to a USB drive to create a bootable USB, I used Ubuntu and already had the tools for this but Etcher seems to be the go to application for this nowadays, so you could download/install this and create your bootable USB from the ISO.

Once you have the bootable USB, it’s over to your Mac.

  • Boot your Mac up whilst holding the Option key to go to the startup manager
  • Select the EFI drive (coloured orange)
  • Select “Start Cinnamon” option

The above will take you into a LIVE mode, i.e. you’ve not installed Linux but are running from the USB. Let’s check everything works for you before you commit to installing Linux Mint. From the Linux Mint, Cinnamon desktop…

  • Open Drive Manager look for your network adapter
  • Apply/install any required drivers
  • From network icon in desktop select your WiFi network

Play around with the OS and check it’s what you want to install and all works, then if you’re going to commit and overwrite MacOS

  • Double click the Install Linux Mint icon

I had an issue when I installed Mint, in that it no longer installed the drivers for the WiFi when I went to Driver Manager to select them. Instead it wanted to go online to get them – difficult as the WiFi drivers are what I’m trying to install and I had no ethernet attachment and to be honest, I know the drivers are on the USB as it worked in LIVE mode.

To get things working, I found that if I mounted the USB drive and searched for the Broadcom packages (and these are what was installed via testing in LIVE) and now double clicking on the two files/packages within the USB installation directories, then I could install the drivers and everything worked.

Disclaimer: I’ve only just installed Linux Mint on the Macbook Air, so I haven’t down any extensive testing.