Need guidance on installing Linux on a 2011 Mac Mini?
Need guidance on installing Linux on a 2011 Mac Mini?
Hey there, let's tackle this step by step. You're using a 2011 Mac Mini and want to install Linux. The issue is that pressing and holding the ALT key on your Windows keyboard doesn't work for booting from USB, even after changing the port. Since you need Linux for your RTL-SDR scanner setup, here are some options:
- Try using a different USB port or cable to rule out hardware issues.
- Check if your Mac Mini supports USB booting with Linux—some older models have limitations.
- Use a Linux USB drive that supports direct boot (like Tiny Linux or Lubuntu) and ensure it's properly seated.
- If you're using a Live USB, make sure the installation media is correctly formatted and not corrupted.
Let me know what you try, and we can figure this out together!
I've attempted all options already. I'm ready to suggest an RPi as a solution.
Are you able to source a cheap Mac keyboard? What if you boot into macOS and set the USB drive as your startup disk? Note: this runs the risk of not being able to boot back into macOS should you ever need to.