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PeterOz said:
maybe Transmac will work
Do you have access to windows
Recovery should work but if you want to be sure
Let me look at Transmac ang I will test
Click to expand...
I really appreciate any help you can give. Not in any major hurry so whenever you have time to hold my hand through this process
I have a windows laptop and my current desktop that is new that I converted from windows to Ubuntu
 
PeterOz said:
I have another idea, and I have found some instructions.
You install High Sierra on an external drive and boot from that.
Read this.

Install macOS on an external storage device and use it as a startup disk – Apple Support (AU)

If you have an external storage device, you can set it up as a Mac startup disk.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
Any doubts ask first.
Click to expand...
Okay, I can investigate this first. Would this be similar to how I had to make an Ubuntu thumb drive to put this Ubuntu on my new computer?

So can I use a USB thumb drive to do this and any idea how large the drive needs to be? Or maybe that's all in the link you gave me.

Anyway, please don't abandon this thread. I will look into this in the next days
thanks very much for your time!
 
I think you need a usb stick of 128gb
Do you have any external drives?
You can get hold of a USB flash stick pretty cheaply, such as this San Disk USB Type-C drive with 128GB
Click to expand...
What size thumb drive do you have?
I have found another article that says 15gb.
I need to test.
I will come back.
mx_599 said:
Anyway, please don't abandon this thread
Click to expand...
That won't happen


 
PeterOz said:
I think you need a usb stick of 128gb
Do you have any external drives?

What size thumb drive do you have?
I have found another article that says 15gb.
I need to test.
I will come back.

That won't happen
Click to expand...
Oh gosh, that's okay. Let me try to stumble through that link you sent. I think I have usb drives that size or I will order a new one. Give me a few days to try this stuff

When this is all said and done, can I convert the Mac to Ubuntu? I still really like the computer you are helping me with. I basically just use the internet so that is probably why old computer was still good enough.
Or do some people just leave the thumb drive in and always boot from that?
 
mx_599 said:
I will order a new one
Click to expand...
If you can afford it you would be better off with an external drive.
You can then use it for time machine after we get you up and going.
mx_599 said:
can I convert the Mac to Ubuntu
Click to expand...
Yes
But we need to get your files first.
mx_599 said:
Or do some people just leave the thumb drive in and always boot from that?
Click to expand...
Yes but it runs better from drive.
Are you getting emails that tell you we have posted a reply?
 
PeterOz said:
Don't buy anything yet.
Let me test first.
Click to expand...
Okay, thanks PeterOz
No rush, let me know when you have a chance
Yes, hopefully after we are successful with this you guys can tell me what regimen/external drive I should have so this won't be an issue again

Yes, I think I am getting the email notification now for the threads
:D
 
Try this
Stick your current ubuntu usb into the usb port on the mac - you will also need another usb to copy files to.
hold down the option key and power on
you should get 2 drives showing.
use tab button to pick the usb - should be labelled as efi with a usb logo
press return key
it will then start to load.
It might stop - just wait a couple of mins and see if it loads

Now it might be a problem to access the mac drive.
Click on the Ubuntu home icon
click on other locations
can you access the drive. - If not what is the error - take a pic
You will need another drive to copy your data to.
DO NOT copy to the ubuntu drive.

I booted off a ubuntu that I use on pc's and it booted my mac
 
Last edited:
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if your file system is APFS Linux will not read it.
This could be the easy way
Under some circumstances, you may need to re-install macOS. You can re-install macOS while keeping your files and user settings intact.

Use macOS Recovery on an Intel-based Mac

Learn how to use macOS Recovery on an Intel-based Mac.
support.apple.com
Scroll down the page to

Re-install macOS​

 
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PeterOz said:
Try this
Stick your current ubuntu usb into the usb port on the mac - you will also need another usb to copy files to.
hold down the option key and power on
you should get 2 drives showing.
use tab button to pick the usb - should be labelled as efi with a usb logo
press return key
it will then start to load.
It might stop - just wait a couple of mins and see if it loads

Now it might be a problem to access the mac drive.
Click on the Ubuntu home icon
click on other locations
can you access the drive. - If not what is the error - take a pic
You will need another drive to copy your data to.
DO NOT copy to the ubuntu drive.

I booted off a ubuntu that I use on pc's and it booted my mac
Click to expand...
Okay, I was going to say my recent Ubuntu thing was going from a windows but it looks like you said at the end you were able to do this
I will investigate this

I have a bunch of 16g usb drives by the way. but anyway let me try this Ubuntu
 
PeterOz said:
if your file system is APFS Linux will not read it.
This could be the easy way
Under some circumstances, you may need to re-install macOS. You can re-install macOS while keeping your files and user settings intact.

Use macOS Recovery on an Intel-based Mac

Learn how to use macOS Recovery on an Intel-based Mac.
support.apple.com
Scroll down the page to

Re-install macOS​

Click to expand...
APFS? you mean on my bootable Ubuntu? You mean before I do the above stuff I need to see if there are APFS files first?
 
Apfs is a mac file system that came in with High Sierra.
Because your mac is 2011 the file system should be the older os extended/HFS
We will not know for sure until you boot with linux and then try to access the mac drive.

I would try the linux method first.

Yes I used the ubuntu that I use on windows computers.
 
PeterOz said:
Apfs is a mac file system that came in with High Sierra.
Because your mac is 2011 the file system should be the older os extended/HFS
We will not know for sure until you boot with linux and then try to access the mac drive.

I would try the linux method first.

Yes I used the ubuntu that I use on windows computers.
Click to expand...
Okay. 2 quick questions:
1. Honestly, not sure how much file space I need to get my files. I think we'll under 100gig but who knows, maybe 500. Is this a one shot deal where I need to be prepared to get all my old files? Or can I basically do the Ubuntu boot and see how much data and then if needs be I can shut things down and get the size I need and come back another day?

2. A few months ago I made 2 Ubuntu jump drives and not sure why. I must have been unsure if I did it correct. I have no idea which one I used to load this new computer. They look identical EXCEPT one opens up this "2nd drive" that comes and goes with the USB drive. See photo. Which of these 2 Ubuntu USB should I use? The normal one or the one that opens up the 2nd imaginary drive?
 

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mx_599 said:
Or can I basically do the Ubuntu boot and see how much data and then if needs be I can shut things down and get the size I need and come back another day?
Click to expand...
Yes
Or you can network to another computer and copy files across.
Ubuntu should not be a 1 shot method.

If both sticks boot, then either one should be fine.
 
PeterOz said:
Yes
Or you can network to another computer and copy files across.
Ubuntu should not be a 1 shot method.

If both sticks boot, then either one should be fine.
Click to expand...
Sorry to drag this out! lol

Hey, I am thinking of getting a 500gig usb jump drive on amazon before I do this because I think that is plenty storage for all my devices and on this Mac you are helping me with. I am not the type that needs terabytes I do not think

Anyway, is it okay to use 500gig jump drive as a back up device or is this frowned upon? should I be getting a solid state external drive? or older style external hard drive?
 
My personal opinion would be an SSD external drive.
If the price is within your budget I would be looking at a 1TB drive.
I would also be looking for a brand name.
E.G Seagate, WD, Crucial etc.
 
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PeterOz said:
My personal opinion would be an SSD external drive.
If the price is within your budget I would be looking at a 1TB drive.
I would also be looking for a brand name.
E.G Seagate, WD, Crucial etc.
Click to expand...
Okay let me look at these online. Maybe some are at amazon
standby...
 
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