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black screen when trying to boot load linux from flashdrive

2008 macbook, trying to install linux mint from USB flashdrive

can boot load from same flashdrive on newer macbook air, but not on the 2008 macbook.

Flashdrive shows up in bootload menu, but when selecting it, screen goes black.

updated from previous OS to yosemite, but same issue persists

Answer this question I have this problem too

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It's hard to tell exactly what's gone wrong here, so it might be worth starting over and making the installer again from scratch. You could try burning the installer onto a CD instead of a flash drive to see if that helps. I would also recommend checking out this article as it provides some instructions on setting up Linux on your specific model. Good luck!

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Ok thanks heaps for your reply, I'll have a look at the article. I'm very new to any of this.

I wondered if it could be the flash drive, but it works on my macbook air, so thought that must mean the flashdrive is ok?

I'm happy to completely wipe the macbook (had until now partitioned it, but don't really need to keep the mac OS). Would it make sense to do a factory reset as a next step? And then if that doesn't work follow the rest of your steps?

Would a factory reset also ensure that it is free of any malware before installing the new OS?

Thanks

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Oh ok sorry, I should have read the article first! Looks like I'm on the right track with the partition. And will try burning a disc, also.

Thanks for finding that article! It sounds complicated, but I'll try to work my way through it.

Would it still be useful to do a factory reset just to clear it from any issues? there is nothing specific that I'm aware of, but just wondered if this would be good practice to give it a fresh start. thanks

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Not sure if a factory reset would be helpful for the Linux install, but it would probably be a good idea if you want to make sure there's no malware on the system. Good luck!

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When encountering a black screen while attempting to boot Linux from a flash drive, there are several potential causes and solutions you can try:

Check the BIOS/UEFI settings: Ensure that your computer's BIOS/UEFI settings are configured to boot from USB or removable media. Enter the BIOS/UEFI settings by pressing the appropriate key during startup (usually displayed on the screen) and look for the boot order or boot priority settings. Make sure the flash drive is listed as a bootable device and set as a higher priority than other boot options.

Verify flash drive integrity: Ensure that the Linux installation files on the flash drive are not corrupted. You can verify the integrity of the flash drive by checking the MD5 checksum or by re-creating the bootable USB drive using a reliable method, such as using a known-good ISO file and a reputable USB imaging tool.

Regards,

Will

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