Hey there! I am having issues with loading ubuntu studio onto a new ssd i (Fanxiang s101 1T). I have tried putting it into my macbook pro 2012 (removing the previous HDD) then tried booting ubuntu studio installer with the ssd blank in the laptop and it installed successfully but upon the 3rd time i found that all times there was no means to boot the SSD so it was simply prompting me to download mac over it. I tried putting the orginal HDD back then loading the installer to install to the SSD through and external case and that simply didnt work at all. It would stop loading near a configuration prompt. I have also looked into firmware updates though they seem to be nearly impossible to do from a mac device though its been suggested i might be able to load the driver on an external usb then try and update by that means as if they are talking about an iso file though the only file ive found regarding Fanxiang Firmware updates is the .exe file that seems to be more of an application than an update file. Im kind of stumped here.
Thank you for your time I hope i was concise enough!
Starting point for me is what release you’re trying to use. eg. you mention Ubuntu Studio installer but without release details that could be three different installers (specific to unstated release), let alone the Ubuntu Studio Installer if you’re using the name literally does not install a system from scratch, but modifies an existing Ubuntu Desktop or Ubuntu flavor install into a Ubuntu Studio system adds an Ubuntu Studio system to an existing Ubuntu Desktop or Ubuntu flavor install (though this isn’t likely what you meant).
Being specific as to what you downloaded, how it was written to your install media (most of use thumb-drives; you used a SSD blank??) and what exactly you did, allows us to better help you. If the ISO writing step isn’t done as documented; the install may not boot (on any system, not just macbook).
Hey! Ubuntu Studio 24.04.2 LTS (https://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntustudio/releases/noble/release/ubuntustudio-24.04.2-dvd-amd64.iso) was the download i used to create disk image with balena etcher. The installer did load and i was able to get into ubuntu studio from the live disk and install ubuntu studio to the blank ssd that was in my macbook but upon restarting it would not be found. There would be information on the disk but it seems to me nothing can be read from the disk despite the being a functional storage medium.
Would you recommend downloading ubuntu onto it first then trying to install ubuntu studio onto that?
I am unsure of the distinction between installing in legacy mode and uefi mode! To install my actions involved writing ubuntu studio 24.04.2 LTS to a usb then taking that usb and booting into ubtuntu studio with the option key and with the blank fanxiang s101 installed internally (internal connection was secure) of the macbook and following install instructions from the live boot usb.
It sounds as though the SSD S101 is struggling with reading as when i tried cloning my old Catalina OS to the SSD to try and boot from that to see if it works but when using Carbon Copy Cloner it stops the cloning abruptly due to 7 read errors but no write errors. This feels strange to me because i can use the SSD as a regular storage medium i can load files onto it then open the files i loaded onto so im unsure where the read error is coming from.
Point of clarification: it does not modify a system into an Ubuntu Studio system, but installs Ubuntu Studio’s tools and benefits onto an existing system.
Before one assumes the .iso image is the problem, considering the literally thousands of times people have been able to install that .iso image, the .iso image being a problem is an incorrect assumption.
My suspicion is the hardware involved doesn’t want to use the install, especially considering Apple does everything they can to block other OS’s (including Windows now) from being booted. The best workaround is to use a UEFI-dedicated bootloader such as rEFInd, which is in the repositories and, therefore, supported.
Hey the only confirmation that was made was in balena etcher when it was checking if the disk wrote correctly! I didnt notice those download instructions so ill try and install ubuntu and then install ubuntu studio from there and cross my fingers it works! Thank you for the response ill let everyone know if i can figure out the solution!
Well, don’t let those instructions confuse you. The process for Ubuntu Studio is the same, just apply what you’d do with the Ubuntu .iso image to the Ubuntu Studio one.
Ok i suspect the rEFInd might be a better route then! I genuinely suspect its the new SSD (Fanxiang S101 1T SSD) as i havent really had this issue until trying to load new OS onto this new SSD. I have dual booted this mac before (on the current HDD) to test out normal ubuntu and buying the new SSD was commiting to the new OS though its proving to be a pain in my ass. I have caught wind that firmware might not be recognizing the SSD due to incompatibility. Is that a strong possibility? or should any 2.5 SATA work for my Macbook pro 2012? The SSD does function as a normal storage device but i cant boot an OS from it which is what is so confusing to me.
If you are happy that the system was installed correctly in UEFI mode, then you can install rEFInd on a thumb drive to see if you can successfully boot Ubuntu Studio USB Flash Dive Image File
Alternatively, run the boot-repair report (second option) from here and pop the pastebin link in this thread
I believe this will be a good OS for me to learn! Just spent a lot of time trying different things already and i’ve been struggling with thinking of other solutions! Crossing my fingers rEFInd will be the answer! It was my understanding id be able to just buy a new SSD and plug it in and install so i guess this has only added to my confusion :P. I genuinely appreciate the help from everyone!
16GB is the highest usb i have on hand currently. I have some larger SD cards (64 and >) for use with my cameras. Though ive had bad experiences with installing OS from SD cards.
Just to clarify my next route i intend on installing Ubuntu Studio on the new SSD externally and from there im gonna test to see if it opens up normally on the macbook from there. If there is no boot i intend on installing the SSD with ubuntu (Removing HDD with Mac Catalina on it) into my MAcbook pro. After the SSD with Ubuntu studio is installed into the hardware i will use a rEFInd iso image to boot with rEFInd and hopefully i will be able to boot into the os and install rEFInd into my ubuntu OS.
After trying to install Ubuntu to SSD externally i kept getting errors that werent defined. When trying to open the terminal to read where the prompt got stuck it was empty. I then removed the old HDD to install the new SSD with and installed ubuntu studio successfuly while the SSD was seated internally. With that being said its the same issue as last time where nothing appears in the boot menu when restarting the laptop. Upon making a live boot usb of rEFInd i successfully entered rEFInd boot menu though the SSD still isnt visible in the in this menu.
I am at a loss at this point and probably just gonna return this trash for my money back and probably just gonna order a samung EVO 1T ssd next. I suspect that will be a smoother transition than this hopefully.
Update: The Samsung EVO installed Ubuntu Studio without any issue! I have opted to just keep the Fanxiang SSD because it does still function as a storage device that i can read and write to. Thanks for everyones attention to this! It’s appreciated!
