Bringing an Unsupported 11 Year Old MacBook Back to Life with Ubuntu Linux - 2012 MacBook Pro Guide
Ғылым және технология
Thank you for checking out our video on revitalizing an old MacBook Pro with the Linux Ubuntu OS. If you learned something from this content, please consider giving us feedback and subscribing to our channel for more videos like this one!
Fixing the WiFi Without Internet Guide
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Sometimes ethernet or WiFi adapters are not an option. If you need another way to fix the WiFi issue, read the article below and follow the steps to get the right driver working.
sudo apt update
sudo apt purge bcmwl-kernel-source
sudo apt install firmware-b43-installer
Fixing the WiFi on the MacBook Without an Internet Connection: www.amirootyet.com/post/how-t...
Article by Pranshu Bajpai
Chapters
0:00 Intro and Necessary Equipment
1:58 Creating a Bootable Ubuntu Linux USB Stick
4:04 Quick Cleaning Montage
4:28 Booting to Ubuntu Linux USB Stick on the MacBook
5:26 Installing Ubuntu Linux
8:31 Fixing WiFi Icon Missing Issue on MacBook
11:19 Updating Ubuntu Linux for a Smoother Experience
12:11 Updating Applications
13:13 Conclusion
Пікірлер: 362
More people need to learn that "unsupported" doesn't automatically mean "junk." Thanks for the vid!
@terror403
2 ай бұрын
Exactly!
@pangeaproxima3681
2 ай бұрын
ok, ok...now we know.
@stubaccount
Ай бұрын
more people need to learn that apple isn't "green"
I love the business-like, no-nonsense, no-rambling approach you have here. I wish a few other KZread tech presenters could take a clue from your technique. Five stars from me!
@compumatterllc
3 ай бұрын
Thank you, I appreciate the thoughtful review!
I have xubuntu running on a 2013 MacBook Air. Not bad at all for 4GB of memory. I love to see videos giving old hardware a new lease on life.
@conhecimentoetecnologia2845
5 ай бұрын
For me don´t work so good on my MacBook white (mid 2009). Now, itś's running Manjaro XFCE!
@luigigarella5756
7 күн бұрын
Hi, I’m about to convert my MacBook Air 2013 to Ubuntu. Before I commence, I would like to know how you installed the WiFi module since there’s no Ethernet port?
@robertroberts1905
7 күн бұрын
@@luigigarella5756 I had an old USB 802.11N dongle. Just enough to hop on apt and get the right drivers
Just wanted to say thank you. This video helped me breathe new life into a 13 year old Mac mini that is going to now be in my daughter’s room.
Installed Debian 12 on my 2011 Macbook Pro. The machine now is so smooth, powers up very fast and can do everything. Thanks for your video
I use linux mint on a 2012 imac. Same procedure for that model's wireless drivers, but It's always good to see a well made video with clear instructions.
@daomingjin
8 ай бұрын
I use Gentoo.... on my 2005 PowerBook G4. LOL. it's kinda funny how useful this computer still is.
@BENDER_TECH
8 ай бұрын
@@daomingjin I heard Gentoo was too complicated to install. I understand you get a bit of performance boost b/c of software being compiled for your machine specifically, is that something you've noticed?
I have been wanting to do this for at least five years on my 2009 MackBook Pro. Prior attempts didn't work, but your tutorial did. Thanks so much! My MBP is a nice piece of hardware and it would be a shame to scrap it - now it will have (hopefully) several more years of life!
@brandonstumpf2931
2 ай бұрын
Same here, 2009 MBP. I had installed an ssd and replaced the cd drive with an additional hd, and updgraded ram to max. Let’s see how old faithful runs now with Linux :)
This was great! Nice! All of the info in one place! I've found that the locking error on apt after a fresh install is usually due to the auto-update that fires in the background. It settles down in a few minutes, but that restart is a nice trick!
Thank you so much! You couldn't have done a better job at explaining this! Very helpful, especially for making the wifi work!
That 11 year old Mac runs quicker/snappier than almost new Win11 systems..; so equipped, it likely has 10 more years of life in it!
@compumatterllc
8 ай бұрын
Definitely depends on the hardware, but some of the super low end Windows 11 laptops out there definitely cannot compare!
Amazing video! Wish all other tech/tutorials were like this one
Excellent video with useful, clear instructions on how to breathe new life into an old Mac. Thanks Auren!
Thank you for making this video. I now have Ubuntu running on a 2012 Macbook Air and it works great!
@compumatterllc
3 ай бұрын
Great to hear!
Stock Ubuntu 22.04 on a MacBook Pro from 2013 with only 4GB of memory and it works really well! Thanks for showing people what you can do and turning people on to Linux in this video.
Very interesting and informative video. Thanks for keeping it straightforward. Maurice from Malvern UK.
This is brilliant. Thank you for sharing. I can use my mackbook for longer now now.
Excellent video, you have help me ressuscitate my old Macbook pro and now i'm looking to learn a bit more about ubuntu. Thanks for that great video.
@compumatterllc
6 ай бұрын
Thank you for the kind comment, I'm glad to hear it! Hope you enjoy Ubuntu.
Great video, you explain everything very well, you help me to bring my old macbook back to life, thanks a lot!!!😀
Great way to start using old laptop/desktop. I did the same with a 7 years old Dell Laptop few days ago. Windows was extremely slow(almost unworkable). Have installed "Ubuntu Lite"(supposed be lighter & faster than Ubuntu LTS which you have used in this video. My laptop has got a new life now.
@compumatterllc
8 ай бұрын
That's great to hear!
I recently installed Zorin in a 2011 MacBook Pro, and the results were amazing: speedy, smooth, no heating issues, perfect driver compatibility, and a beautiful UI to boot. Totally recommended
@petrov8086
13 күн бұрын
How about touchpad functionality? Is it comparable to macOS one?
@guaiqueritech
12 күн бұрын
@@petrov8086 as far as I could ascertain, it worked the same way as in Windows. Full disclosure, I am way more used to Windows than I am to MacOS, so trackpad gestures are truly not that important to me. Linux being Linux, however, I would not be surprised to find out there is a way to mimic MacOS trackpad gestures on Zorin
Thanks for the well-made tutorial. Good luck with yoru channel.
Thank you very much, I have a 2011 MacBook that I wanted to use as a Bitcoin Full Node but I couldn’t because I could not update the Mac OS on it. Your video has solved my problem. I appreciate it.
@compumatterllc
9 ай бұрын
I'm glad it helped give the machine another chance!
Great tutorial. You have such a calming voice 😊
This was incredibly helpful and well done. Thank you!
Found that Ubuntu Mate 22.04 has worked extremely well, all the hardware is supported ootb including the facetime camera! performs great and mate still looks pretty nice and modern.
Great video clear and well explained, you get full marks from me !! Thanks.
i love any video teaching people how to install Linux and keep perfectly good computers operational.
I actually have Macbook Pro 2012 Reitna and your video might have just injected another life into my macbook!!!! Thanks for the video!
I did this with my maxed out 2012 mac mini and it is my daily driver for software development since then
Good and calm video! keep up!
Awesome tutorial, clear and easy to follow instructions. Thank you for the info it helped me out alot.
Excellent how-to tutorial! Better than many other geeky-how-to's. 5 stars!
@compumatterllc
2 ай бұрын
Thank you for the kind review!
@sanfordlung1419
2 ай бұрын
I guess you scripted your tutorial. Good plan and execution. Consider becoming a teacher and then a professor!@@compumatterllc
Thanks great video. Worked, bcmwl-kernal-source has not found on my MacBookPro so I just skipped it and continued with the install firmware-b43-installer. It installed and I reboot after remove the USB wifi dongle and the Mac wifi worked. Woo-Hoo!
Thank you so much Mam ❤❤. For Putting life in old MacBook, brings back to world, From MacBook pro 2012. Ubuntu.
Excellent video I really appreciate your professionalism
Linux can be very powerful and as simple or complex as it needs to be. I am sure this will help many people who don't want to spend money they don't have to. I would install Arch on it personally but that's not exactly the most user friendly experience.
@compumatterllc
9 ай бұрын
Yes, the main goal of this video was for people to give their MacBook a second breath of life instead of eWasting. A lot of people only need a simple laptop solution, which Ubuntu provides perfectly. Arch is a very nice choice as well, the graphical user interface looks great.
@mendodsoregonbackroads6632
6 ай бұрын
I did basically this same thing last week except it was Mint and I used Etcher.
Very. nice walk through covering all the likely situations a newby might encounter. I have several older Mac systems and am in process of migrating completely to Linux now that there is commercial and/or mature FLOSS support for my critical music making and video production application arenas. With this vidi as inspiration, I will be attempting to migrate a couple of my laptops to Linux ASAP (though I'll be attempting MINT or Debian as the distro of choice). Will be trying the dual boot option as well!
@compumatterllc
5 ай бұрын
I hope it went well, I love the dual boot functionality!
Thank you. It worked on my bricked macbook. Regards from Menorca.
@compumatterllc
3 ай бұрын
I'm glad to hear it! Best regards.
Great Video as it takes you from start to finish with an Ubuntu install on Apple hardware.
I have done this with a dozen different older macbooks, several imacs and a mac mini, but with Linux Mint Cinnamon. Works great! Thanks for giving this good machines this chance for a second life. 😊
@compumatterllc
2 ай бұрын
Great to hear! I have heard good things about Cinnamon.
That made spared a lot of money, thank you so much !
Great video. Just one more thing to fix wifi: after the steps you mentioned I had to go to Additional Drives, choose to use the applicable device, apply changes and reboot. After that, all good.
great video. I just put linux mint on my old 2014 MBP and my 2010 white poly carb macbook. Definitely gave them a new lease on life
@compumatterllc
9 ай бұрын
That's great to hear!
Great! I've installed ZorinOS on a macbook 2014 this weekend. Nvidia eas a mess but now it works very well. Im using it for work in order to test its performances before recommend this setup (react, node js and android apps development) Im glad that people around the world work ao hard to bring a second life to old but good devices
@LocalGhost_8080
8 ай бұрын
Btw. I've subscribed right now and I noticed the subscribers counter has changed to 666. Im super happy for that 😅😈
@compumatterllc
8 ай бұрын
I hope it continues to work well for you! Reuse and repurpose. :)
best video ever..... clear and easy to follow instructions, thnx🥂
@compumatterllc
5 ай бұрын
I'm glad it was helpful!
nice tut. keep it up!
Thanks for the video. Will install now
@compumatterllc
9 ай бұрын
I hope the process goes well!
Thank you for this tutorial👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 very informative and detailed 😊👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😊
@compumatterllc
2 ай бұрын
I'm glad it helped!
Thank you so much. This video helped me :)
I've found that the speed of loading a live USB depends on the version of USB the machine runs. If you're trying something ancient enough to have only USB 2.0, it can be real slow. Maybe it's worth pointing out that updates in Linux are not normally a trouble. They are much less of an interruption than on Windows, and needing a reboot is uncommon. Can't remember what it's like on modern Macs. Old Macbooks are surprisingly cheap. You make me fancy getting another one and installing Linux.
@compumatterllc
8 ай бұрын
That is a good point about the USB hardware differences. Modern Macs are slightly less invasive about updates than Windows I would say, but all of the big ones require reboots from what I can tell. Recently, Apple has put out two whole MacOS upgrades within the same year.
@thelordoftheprimes7767
6 ай бұрын
This device has USB 3.0.
@CFWhitman
4 ай бұрын
Either with USB 2 or 3, USB speeds are much slower than SSD speeds, and generally slower than hard drive speeds as well (at least 7200 RPM ones), so that is the limiting factor.
Hello. I managed to connect the Internet through my phone via cable and ended up installing the drivers. thanks to your instructions. Thank you! I’m not sure that I want to deal with this further, but I must admit that the problem with Wi-Fi has been solved. I got a little mad about all this and I apologize if it showed. Good luck!
@compumatterllc
8 ай бұрын
I am glad to hear you found another way around it, wonderful!
Nice. I'll try Ubuntu after I play with Linux Mint. Getting temporary Wifi via USB tethering was handiest for me.
Great video! I am watching this on an almost identical Mac Pro My son was going to throw it away since it won't run current MacOS. I very much like debian/ubuntu but driver issues with that broadcom wireless adapter are annoying. I switched to Garuda Arch Linux, they are more up to date on drivers and kernels, the wireless worked during install. Another reason I prefer the Arch releases are support for btrfs Much better performance and data journaling. Thanks for this video. Great to re-use old PCs Especially with Windows 11+ forcing people to buy newer PCs to remain supported. I almost thought you were going to install deepin or cutefish to give a more MacOS look. haha
Just thought I would make you aware (in case someone else hasn't commented) Rufus is windows only. Balena Etcher is a better cross platform solution for making bootable USB drives. That's what I use in macOS and Windows, and for Linux, I use the built in USB creator because with newer versions of Ubuntu (especially) Etcher is harder to get running due to dependency and other system changes made. Have a great day. :)
You are so cute
Thanks simply and clearly explained
Very useful, many thanks ;)
Excellent! I'm about to be given a similar machine and will use this guide! Thank you! Post Script, I will be using Xubuntu 24.02 LTS as I really love the XFCE desktop!
@compumatterllc
Ай бұрын
That's great! I hope that process goes well for you! :)
great video! I'm going to install linux mint on an old imac as soon as i get a keyboard.
Canonical and opensource & free software community are really awesome
And she said Ubuntu correctly very cool video!!
Excellent tutorial.
This is perfect! I've got a 2012 Mac Mini just sitting on a shelf and was wondering what to do with it. It's a really nice one too, with an i7 quad-core eight thread processor (16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) so it seems like a shame to not be using it. I think I'll turn it into a home automation server running Ubuntu. Thanks for this video.
Great video. Thank you.
I run Ventura on my MacBookPro (late 2008) using the Opencore Legacy Patcher. I setup dual boot with Linux Mint XFCE 21.2. By pressing Option at boot i can select between the two OSes. Both work fine!
@compumatterllc
7 ай бұрын
That's great!
Omg finally! I've tried looking for how to get my wifi going when it doesn't show up. I hate distro hopping, and sometimes doesn't work out of the box on my distros of choice. I've had a hard time finding the installation process. Everyone makes you jump through hoops. Wish I would have known i can just apt-get it, would have saved frustration
Thanks for your help 💖
I installed Ubuntu 20.04 on my 2011 Macbook. It is running perfectly. Thanks and btw you look alot like Billie Eillish
@compumatterllc
8 ай бұрын
Thanks for the feedback, I'm very glad it's working well on your Macbook!
Thanks So Much... Excellent
Amazing video, although i don't have a macbook nor i use ubuntu (i prefer pacman over apt), it's great to see that LTS version running old machines, specially from mac sides.
@compumatterllc
8 ай бұрын
Thank you! :)
that's so cool thanks!
I have a 2011 iMac laptop, and would benefit from a switch from iOS to a Linux-based operating system. Thanks for this!
I run Ubuntu Mate on my MacBook Pro 2012, MacBook Air 2015 and my maxed out iMac 27in 2012. I find Linux so much more usable and flexible than Mac OS for my use case. Coding, light gaming using Steam/Proton and general internet usage.
@compumatterllc
8 ай бұрын
That's great to hear! Proton is a very powerful tool for gaming compatibility.
I have used OpenCore Legacy Patcher to update unsupported Macs to current(well at least Mac OS Ventura) with great results. I recently bought a 2104 Macbook Pro with 2.8Ghz i7 Quad Core, 16GB RAM and 500GB SSD for about $400. I also have an 2007 20" iMac with Intel Dual Core, 6GB RAM and 500GB SSD with Linux Mint Cinnamon installed. I would say that both machines perform better using Linux natively (I recently replaced Mac OS Ventura with Debian 12 Bullseye with KDE Plasma). They are very secure but truthfull so is Mac OS. Maybe most important is to me is that Linux makes the best use of the SSD and needs very little maintenance. Macs (Intel) with Linux are great.
@compumatterllc
8 ай бұрын
I have heard about OpenCore! Both MacOS and Linux are typically more secure than Windows, which is certainly a plus. Solid state drives are also a game changer for these older machines.
Do you come from the future? 😂The only thing missing was black sunglasses. No hating - loving the content!
Thank you!
Your teachings are so clear. Thank you. In addition to my first question, I'll also like to know how much gigabytes of data will be required to complete this whole process on my macbook pro?
@compumatterllc
5 ай бұрын
Ubuntu requires a minimum of 2.5GB, but I would recommend giving it a little more wiggle room. Also, make sure to be careful when installing if you have any important data on the drive you are installing it to, it could wipe it out. I hope it goes well!
Well done.
Thank you for the video. In fact, Ubuntu (like many other Linux distributions) is famous for the fact that it can be installed on any device from a PC/laptop to your slippers. :) As for me, it's much more interesting to install macOS Sonoma (with OCLP) and/or Windows 11 on the MacBook Pro 13 Mid 2012. Actually, that's what I did. In addition, this last Unibody MBP can be upgraded to 16 GB DDR3-1600 MHz RAM; you can install two SATA-III SSD drives (1-st - instead of the stock hard drive, the second through an adapter (caddy/optibay), instead of an optical drive. So it's still good work machine for today. :)
@compumatterllc
Ай бұрын
It's great to get Windows 11 and Sonoma on these older devices too! No need to go out and buy another laptop every 10 years. SSDs make sure a difference in speed and reliability - sounds like you have a great build there.
Would suggest using simple screen recorder instead of recording the screen with a camera. Where did you find the info on upgrading the Wi-Fi adapter? Might be another video there? I have a 2015 MacBook Air base model I just installed Ubuntu on. Seems to work fine except for Wi-Fi. Even has the keys lit. Other Linux distributions worked too, but non had the keys lit.
@compumatterllc
9 ай бұрын
Yes, I linked the resource in the description of this video about the WiFi solution. I did not upgrade the adapter itself, but used commands to get the WiFi driver properly working again on Linux so that it shows WiFi on the machine. The extra detail in his article may help you resolve that problem. Thanks for the suggestions!
Nice video tutorial. Other than ssd/hdd speed. Also it might depend on the the type and speed of usb drive and usb port that could influence the speed of installation.
@compumatterllc
3 ай бұрын
There are certainly many variables when it comes to speed on a machine, I agree! Thank you for the kind review.
Great tutorial. I did the same install on my MBP 2011. I am struggling with trackpad. The basic scrolling and clicking works. 2 finger tap to right click also works. But I find it very difficult to drag the windows to snap them in split screen mode. I also find it very tedious to select text with trackpad for copy and paste function or while reading pdfs to highlight the text
@compumatterllc
3 ай бұрын
Do you have an external wired USB mouse? There are also some mouse settings for sensitivity that may help your situation in the Ubuntu settings gear.
Great video, thanks. What I am missink is the actual specs of the laptop so I'd know what performance I should be expecting if I go down this route. I am not a Mac guy so have no idea what was in these. I am a big fan of linux though although I moved on from Ubuntu now.
@compumatterllc
9 ай бұрын
If it still boots into MacOS, you should be able to view your specs by clicking the Apple logo at the top left once logged in. Then, click on "About this Mac". Let me know if I can help on this, you should be able to do the same thing with other distributions of Linux!
Obrigado! Acabei de ressuscitar o meu velho Mac!
very helpful
easy peasy, mine is working great with a new SSD and 16gb update, I did plug a ethernet cable.
@compumatterllc
8 ай бұрын
Wonderful, the software plus hardware upgrades definitely make a difference. I always recommend the SSDs. :)
On my 4,1 cheese-grater Mac , I've used manjaro, mint, Bodhi , Siduction, but have hopped it to MX23.2 Libretto curently - which I highly recommend
I just traded one of these machines running Linux Mint for an 8TB external HDD. Currently everyday driving a 2015 MacBook Pro dual booting Zorin and Ubuntu 23.10.
Thanks!
to your point about wifi not working out of the box, the solution I found worked best for me was teathering my Samsung phone and turning on usb teathering. it passes my wifi single over usb so I'm not eating data or anything, cheers hope that helps :D
@compumatterllc
8 ай бұрын
That's a great workaround as well!
Nice!
Great tutorial. Thanks. I have question... Is possible with MBP 2012 with Linux Mint use airplay on appleTV?
@compumatterllc
2 ай бұрын
It is not possible without third party software like UxPlay, but I have not personally tested any of them.
I like how old macbooks can be custmized easily. Imagine doing this on an M1 pro, a couple of years down the line. Is it possible? I believe so. Is it plausible? Not for most people.
I’m running Zorin OS on an apple MacBook Air 2015 with corei7, 8gb ram, and 1tb SSD m.2. It runs pretty smoothly. Expect while steaming content to my tv for long periods of time my Firefox browser crashes. I’m usually watching sports on ESPN plus or Amazon prime.
For the WiFi, at 5:50 when doing "Updates and other software," notice down at the bottom the "third party software for ... WiFi" check box? Check it. That's usually all it takes. If you do get to the point where you need to fix the WiFi after install and you aren't online, I've heard that people have had success tethering their phone with bluetooth or with a usb cable.
@compumatterllc
Ай бұрын
Thanks for the tip! Tethering is a great solution as well for that.
excelente !!
This seem cool, would Linux on a mid 2012 i7 Macbook Pro handle a modern Video Editor like DaVinci Resolve better then iMovie ? When working with full HD 1080p videos in iMovie it seem like the computer struggles quite alot, maybe Linux would be more smooth and work better even for video editing ?
@compumatterllc
6 ай бұрын
Honestly, I am not sure, haven't tested it out myself. I would recommend giving it a go, Linux is a lightweight OS and depending on your hardware, it might surprise you. Good luck!
I’ve noticed that in several videos, Windows operating systems are used to prepare USB sticks. On the Ubuntu website, they provide steps for Mac users to create a USB stick. I tried these steps on my mid-2011 iMac, but encountered issues when booting from the USB stick. Although it initiated booting, there were loader problems and errors when the Linux OS began to load. I later found another Ubuntu article explaining the use of HDIUtil in the terminal to set up the USB stick, but I haven’t attempted this method yet. It would be helpful if there were instructions specifically for macOS users to create a bootable USB stick, as not everyone has access to a Windows computer for this process. I hope this feedback helps!
@compumatterllc
6 ай бұрын
I made a video specific to creating a bootable USB for Ubuntu in Windows, MacOS, and Linux! The video is called "Installing Ubuntu Linux Tutorial - HP, Dell, ASUS, Acer, Lenovo, Toshiba, and More!" Hope this helps. :)
Great video !! I'm from Brazil. I have macbook pro 2010 dual core 2.4ghz. I was going to put Sonoma, but after your video I'm going to put Linux. Have you tested another distribution other than Ubuntu? like xubuntu or linux mint. Will the Wi-Fi drive be easy to resolve in these other distributions;
@patetasheipadonadisney8920
2 ай бұрын
@@kadupse vlw Kadu vou tentar mas preciso antes ter um tempo de abrir meu macbook pro inteiro para fazer uma limpeza e troca de pasta termica , e minha bateria esta inchada , vou deixar sem bateria e depois que fizer issso vou ver se coloco o mint ou tentar o pop os 76 curte demais essa distro muito estavel . vc é do Brasil tbm que estado? grande abraço e obrigado !!
Recently did this with a 17" 2010 MBP. The install went without a hitch. It used some generic network driver at first; later it sniffed-out a specific driver. Runs fine, everything works, only problem is video stutters when using fractional screen scaling, so just don't. The machine got much faster after I put an old SSD in it. I switched back to Windows several years ago when it became usable again. I like that Mint is more Window-y than Mac-ish. I'll never buy another Mac, or Apple anything. OpenOffice is better than Microsoft. Someday I'll probably do the same conversion on this PC. Glad to be off the computer treadmill.
@compumatterllc
8 ай бұрын
Solid state drives make a huge impact on performance, I am glad it made a difference for you. Linux Mint and other distros make it simple, which is nice.
@utoob7361
8 ай бұрын
@@compumatterllc Yes, I was shocked at what a speed-up an old SSD gave, and the machine already had a hybrid drive in it. Also runs cooler and quieter. All for the price of an $8 adapter. This 13-year-old Macbook with its billboard-sized 17" display now makes a great internet terminal, music and video player, and ebook reader. Still hunting-down the best apps. Everything in Mint is smooth and simple, the GUI experience is equal to Windows and OSX in utility and polish. OpenOffice completes the deal. Microsoft and Apple should be very worried.