USB Macbook Pro Support?

[M]

I am trying to boot to a USB thumb drive on MACs.
I created boot cd from blpbt.iso and it boots to the the boot manager menu on my imac great! I used the USB option and my OS started right up. Perfect!
However, I am having trouble with my new intel i5 macbook pro.  I can boot from cd to the boot manager, however when i choose USB it does not detect my USB drive.
Any advice?
Thanks!

[Elmar]

hi,
are you able to start a linux on your macbook? can you post the output of "lspci"?

regards
elmar

[M]

I am not sure how to run lspci however I was able to get the following information from "about this mac | more info" Please let me know if this answers your question.  If it does not, I know I can hold down command+s as the mac boots to get to a linix root prompt.  I am just not sure if lspci is available, but i can look into it.  Thank you very much for you help with this.

USB High-Speed Bus:

  Host Controller Location:   Built-in USB
  Host Controller Driver:   AppleUSBEHCI
  PCI Device ID:   0x3b34
  PCI Revision ID:   0x0006
  PCI Vendor ID:   0x8086
  Bus Number:   0xfd

Hub:

  Product ID:   0x2514
  Vendor ID:   0x0424  (SMSC)
  Version:    0.03
  Speed:   Up to 480 Mb/sec
  Location ID:   0xfd100000
  Current Available (mA):   500
  Current Required (mA):   2

[M]

I booted to Ubuntu and rand lspci,
Here are the results.
Does this help? Thanks Again!

To run a command as administrator (user "root"), use "sudo <command>".
See "man sudo_root" for details.

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor DRAM Controller (rev 12)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor PCI Express x16 Root Port (rev 12)
00:1a.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset USB Universal Host Controller (rev 06)
00:1a.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset USB2 Enhanced Host Controller (rev 06)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset High Definition Audio (rev 06)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 1 (rev 06)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 2 (rev 06)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 3 (rev 06)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset PCI Express Root Port 4 (rev 06)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset USB Universal Host Controller (rev 06)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset USB2 Enhanced Host Controller (rev 06)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev a6)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 5 Series Chipset LPC Interface Controller (rev 06)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset 4 port SATA IDE Controller (rev 06)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset SMBus Controller (rev 06)
00:1f.6 Signal processing controller: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset Thermal Subsystem (rev 06)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation Device 0a29 (rev a2)
01:00.1 Audio device: nVidia Corporation High Definition Audio Controller (rev a1)
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM5764M Gigabit Ethernet PCIe (rev 10)
03:00.0 Network controller: Broadcom Corporation Device 4353 (rev 01)
04:00.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Agere Systems FW643 PCI Express1394b Controller (PHY/Link) (rev 08)
ff:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QuickPath Architecture Generic Non-core Registers (rev 02)
ff:00.1 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QuickPath Architecture System Address Decoder (rev 02)
ff:02.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QPI Link 0 (rev 02)
ff:02.1 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor QPI Physical 0 (rev 02)
ff:02.2 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor Reserved (rev 02)
ff:02.3 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Core Processor Reserved (rev 02)
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

[Elmar]

ok, and now the command "lsusb -v" when the usb drive is connected

[M]

        bEndpointAddress     0x04  EP 4 OUT
        bmAttributes            2
          Transfer Type            Bulk
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0020  1x 32 bytes
        bInterval               1
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        3
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           0
      bInterfaceClass       254 Application Specific Interface
      bInterfaceSubClass      1 Device Firmware Update
      bInterfaceProtocol      1
      iInterface              0
      Device Firmware Upgrade Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                             7
        bDescriptorType                    33
        bmAttributes                        7
          Will Not Detach
          Manifestation Tolerant
          Upload Supported
          Download Supported
        wDetachTimeout                   5000 milliseconds
        wTransferSize                      64 bytes
can't get device qualifier: Operation not permitted
can't get debug descriptor: Operation not permitted
cannot read device status, Operation not permitted (1)

Bus 001 Device 007: ID 05ac:820b Apple, Inc.
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               2.00
  bDeviceClass            0 (Defined at Interface level)
  bDeviceSubClass         0
  bDeviceProtocol         0
  bMaxPacketSize0         8
  idVendor           0x05ac Apple, Inc.
  idProduct          0x820b
  bcdDevice            1.00
  iManufacturer           0
  iProduct                0
  iSerial                 0
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength           34
    bNumInterfaces          1
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0
    bmAttributes         0xe0
      Self Powered
      Remote Wakeup
    MaxPower                0mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         3 Human Interface Device
      bInterfaceSubClass      1 Boot Interface Subclass
      bInterfaceProtocol      2 Mouse
      iInterface              0
        HID Device Descriptor:
          bLength                 9
          bDescriptorType        33
          bcdHID               1.11
          bCountryCode            0 Not supported
          bNumDescriptors         1
          bDescriptorType        34 Report
          wDescriptorLength      52
         Report Descriptors:
           ** UNAVAILABLE **
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0004  1x 4 bytes
        bInterval              10
can't get device qualifier: Operation not permitted
can't get debug descriptor: Operation not permitted
cannot read device status, Operation not permitted (1)

Bus 001 Device 006: ID 05ac:820a Apple, Inc.
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               2.00
  bDeviceClass            0 (Defined at Interface level)
  bDeviceSubClass         0
  bDeviceProtocol         0
  bMaxPacketSize0         8
  idVendor           0x05ac Apple, Inc.
  idProduct          0x820a
  bcdDevice            1.00
  iManufacturer           0
  iProduct                0
  iSerial                 0
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength           34
    bNumInterfaces          1
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0
    bmAttributes         0xe0
      Self Powered
      Remote Wakeup
    MaxPower                0mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         3 Human Interface Device
      bInterfaceSubClass      1 Boot Interface Subclass
      bInterfaceProtocol      1 Keyboard
      iInterface              0
        HID Device Descriptor:
          bLength                 9
          bDescriptorType        33
          bcdHID               1.11
          bCountryCode            0 Not supported
          bNumDescriptors         1
          bDescriptorType        34 Report
          wDescriptorLength      56
         Report Descriptors:
           ** UNAVAILABLE **
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0008  1x 8 bytes
        bInterval              10
can't get device qualifier: Operation not permitted
can't get debug descriptor: Operation not permitted
cannot read device status, Operation not permitted (1)

Bus 001 Device 005: ID 05ac:8403 Apple, Inc.
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               2.00
  bDeviceClass            0 (Defined at Interface level)
  bDeviceSubClass         0
  bDeviceProtocol         0
  bMaxPacketSize0        64
  idVendor           0x05ac Apple, Inc.
  idProduct          0x8403
  bcdDevice           98.33
  iManufacturer           3
  iProduct                4
  iSerial                 2
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength           32
    bNumInterfaces          1
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0
    bmAttributes         0xa0
      (Bus Powered)
      Remote Wakeup
    MaxPower              500mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           2
      bInterfaceClass         8 Mass Storage
      bInterfaceSubClass      6 SCSI
      bInterfaceProtocol     80 Bulk (Zip)
      iInterface              0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            2
          Transfer Type            Bulk
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0200  1x 512 bytes
        bInterval               0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x02  EP 2 OUT
        bmAttributes            2
          Transfer Type            Bulk
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0200  1x 512 bytes
        bInterval               0
can't get device qualifier: Operation not permitted
can't get debug descriptor: Operation not permitted
cannot read device status, Operation not permitted (1)

Bus 001 Device 004: ID 05ac:0236 Apple, Inc.
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               2.00
  bDeviceClass            0 (Defined at Interface level)
  bDeviceSubClass         0
  bDeviceProtocol         0
  bMaxPacketSize0         8
  idVendor           0x05ac Apple, Inc.
  idProduct          0x0236
  bcdDevice            0.90
  iManufacturer           1
  iProduct                2
  iSerial                 0
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength           84
    bNumInterfaces          3
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0
    bmAttributes         0xa0
      (Bus Powered)
      Remote Wakeup
    MaxPower               40mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         3 Human Interface Device
      bInterfaceSubClass      1 Boot Interface Subclass
      bInterfaceProtocol      1 Keyboard
      iInterface              3
        HID Device Descriptor:
          bLength                 9
          bDescriptorType        33
          bcdHID               1.11
          bCountryCode           33 US
          bNumDescriptors         1
          bDescriptorType        34 Report
          wDescriptorLength     156
         Report Descriptors:
           ** UNAVAILABLE **
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x83  EP 3 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x000a  1x 10 bytes
        bInterval               8
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        1
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         3 Human Interface Device
      bInterfaceSubClass      0 No Subclass
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 None
      iInterface              4
        HID Device Descriptor:
          bLength                 9
          bDescriptorType        33
          bcdHID               1.11
          bCountryCode            0 Not supported
          bNumDescriptors         1
          bDescriptorType        34 Report
          wDescriptorLength      27
         Report Descriptors:
           ** UNAVAILABLE **
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0040  1x 64 bytes
        bInterval               2
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        2
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         3 Human Interface Device
      bInterfaceSubClass      1 Boot Interface Subclass
      bInterfaceProtocol      2 Mouse
      iInterface              4
        HID Device Descriptor:
          bLength                 9
          bDescriptorType        33
          bcdHID               1.11
          bCountryCode            0 Not supported
          bNumDescriptors         1
          bDescriptorType        34 Report
          wDescriptorLength      52
         Report Descriptors:
           ** UNAVAILABLE **
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x84  EP 4 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0008  1x 8 bytes
        bInterval               8
can't get device qualifier: Operation not permitted
can't get debug descriptor: Operation not permitted
cannot read device status, Operation not permitted (1)

Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0a5c:4500 Broadcom Corp. BCM2046B1 USB 2.0 Hub (part of BCM2046 Bluetooth)
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               2.00
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceSubClass         0 Unused
  bDeviceProtocol         0 Full speed (or root) hub
  bMaxPacketSize0         8
  idVendor           0x0a5c Broadcom Corp.
  idProduct          0x4500 BCM2046B1 USB 2.0 Hub (part of BCM2046 Bluetooth)
  bcdDevice            1.00
  iManufacturer           1
  iProduct                2
  iSerial                 0
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength           25
    bNumInterfaces          1
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0
    bmAttributes         0xe0
      Self Powered
      Remote Wakeup
    MaxPower               94mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         9 Hub
      bInterfaceSubClass      0 Unused
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 Full speed (or root) hub
      iInterface              0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0001  1x 1 bytes
        bInterval             255
can't get hub descriptor: Operation not permitted
can't get device qualifier: Operation not permitted
can't get debug descriptor: Operation not permitted
cannot read device status, Operation not permitted (1)

Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0424:2514 Standard Microsystems Corp.
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               2.00
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceSubClass         0 Unused
  bDeviceProtocol         2 TT per port
  bMaxPacketSize0        64
  idVendor           0x0424 Standard Microsystems Corp.
  idProduct          0x2514
  bcdDevice            0.03
  iManufacturer           0
  iProduct                0
  iSerial                 0
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength           41
    bNumInterfaces          1
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0
    bmAttributes         0xe0
      Self Powered
      Remote Wakeup
    MaxPower                2mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         9 Hub
      bInterfaceSubClass      0 Unused
      bInterfaceProtocol      1 Single TT
      iInterface              0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0001  1x 1 bytes
        bInterval              12
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       1
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         9 Hub
      bInterfaceSubClass      0 Unused
      bInterfaceProtocol      2 TT per port
      iInterface              0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0001  1x 1 bytes
        bInterval              12
can't get hub descriptor: Operation not permitted
can't get device qualifier: Operation not permitted
can't get debug descriptor: Operation not permitted
cannot read device status, Operation not permitted (1)

Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               2.00
  bDeviceClass            9 Hub
  bDeviceSubClass         0 Unused
  bDeviceProtocol         0 Full speed (or root) hub
  bMaxPacketSize0        64
  idVendor           0x1d6b Linux Foundation
  idProduct          0x0002 2.0 root hub
  bcdDevice            2.06
  iManufacturer           3
  iProduct                2
  iSerial                 1
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength           25
    bNumInterfaces          1
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0
    bmAttributes         0xe0
      Self Powered
      Remote Wakeup
    MaxPower                0mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         9 Hub
      bInterfaceSubClass      0 Unused
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 Full speed (or root) hub
      iInterface              0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0004  1x 4 bytes
        bInterval              12
can't get hub descriptor: Operation not permitted
can't get device qualifier: Operation not permitted
can't get debug descriptor: Operation not permitted
cannot read device status, Operation not permitted (1)
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

[Elmar]

and now with the same devices "lsusb -t"

[M]

To run a command as administrator (user "root"), use "sudo <command>".
See "man sudo_root" for details.

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ lsusb -t
2-1.1:1.2: No such file or directory
1-1.1.3:1.0: No such file or directory
1-1.1.3:1.1: No such file or directory
1-1.1.3:1.2: No such file or directory
1-1.1.3:1.3: No such file or directory
/:  Bus 02.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=ehci_hcd/8p, 480M
    |__ Port 1: Dev 2, If 0, Class=hub, Driver=hub/3p, 480M
        |__ Port 1: Dev 3, If 0, Class='bInterfaceClass 0x0e not yet handled', Driver=uvcvideo, 480M
        |__ Port 1: Dev 3, If 1, Class='bInterfaceClass 0x0e not yet handled', Driver=uvcvideo, 480M
        |__ Port 1: Dev 3, If 2, Class=vend., Driver=, 480M
        |__ Port 2: Dev 4, If 0, Class=HID, Driver=usbhid, 1.5M
/:  Bus 01.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=ehci_hcd/6p, 480M
    |__ Port 1: Dev 2, If 0, Class=hub, Driver=hub/4p, 480M
        |__ Port 1: Dev 3, If 0, Class=hub, Driver=hub/3p, 12M
            |__ Port 1: Dev 7, If 0, Class=HID, Driver=usbhid, 12M
            |__ Port 2: Dev 8, If 0, Class=HID, Driver=usbhid, 12M
            |__ Port 3: Dev 9, If 0, Class=vend., Driver=, 12M
            |__ Port 3: Dev 9, If 1, Class='bInterfaceClass 0xe0 not yet handled', Driver=, 12M
            |__ Port 3: Dev 9, If 2, Class=vend., Driver=, 12M
            |__ Port 3: Dev 9, If 3, Class=app., Driver=, 12M
        |__ Port 2: Dev 4, If 0, Class=HID, Driver=usbhid, 12M
        |__ Port 2: Dev 4, If 1, Class=HID, Driver=usbhid, 12M
        |__ Port 2: Dev 4, If 2, Class=HID, Driver=bcm5974, 12M
        |__ Port 3: Dev 5, If 0, Class=stor., Driver=usb-storage, 480M
        |__ Port 4: Dev 6, If 0, Class=stor., Driver=usb-storage, 480M
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

[Elmar]

what do you see in the boot manager window when you press ctrl-u

[M]

Control U seems to give me the same results as when I choose USB in the menu.
Here is the output:

Loading EHCI Driver
Searching on hosts
Host 1
Port 1: NO MASS STORAGE DEVICE
Host 2
Port 1: No mass storage device
Driver Removed
Loading UHCI Driver
Searching on hosts
Host 1
Port 1: NO MASS STORAGE DEVICE
Host 2
Host 3
Host 4
Port 1: NO MASS STORAGE DEVICE
Host 5
Host 6
Host 7
*** Boot Error ***
NO BOOT DEVICE FOUND, PLEASE RETRY IT

[Elmar]

it looks like that you macbook has an internal usb hub connected to the usb controller. usb hubs are not supported, thats the reason why the thumb drive isn't detected.

[M]

Thanks ok.  If you ever think of a solution please let me know.
I was hoping it may be possible as the folks that made this boot cd claim it works on macbook.
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/category/usb-boot-cds/
Scroll down and look at SLAX boot CD.
I can boot to the cd and get a linix prompt but I dont know linix enough to tell it to boot to usb after that or verify that it did in fact see my drive.
Also FYI,  The Plop MB does not seem to detect the usb either on the newest imacs.  Only the older first gen intel imac (the white ones)

[Elmar]

hi,
i don't know if it works on your mac book, but please try http://download.plop.at/tmp/plpbt.bin

please try it on the imac too.

regards
elmar

[M]

Thanks for remembering me.    I would still love to see this work on mac and would be happy to test.  Is it possible for you to convert the bin to iso for me?  I don't have the software handy to burn the bin on my mac.  Thanks!

[Obi1]

Elmar,
I'm have the same issue using a new MacBook Pro (i5/i7 chipset). I tried the new plpbt.bin you posted, and it could not find the bootable USB key either. If there's something else you want me to check/test/etc, let me know.

For M, I just posted the ISO I just made here:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/uli4mtjechi/plpbtmycd.iso

[M]

Test Results:
Older 24" Intel core2 duo 2.4 iMac
Plop Boot Manager 5.0.10 successfully detected my bootable usb drive wonderfully, however obi1's iso with your latest bin appears to be Plop Boot Manager 5.0.11-test3 which could not detect the drive and froze the app.

15" Intel i5 MacBook Pro
5.0.10  - Could not detect USB drive | 5.0.11-test3 - Could not detect USB Drive.

New 27" 2010 Intel 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo iMac
5.0.10  - Could not detect USB device over USB2, however USB 1 setting did detect the device but could not successfully boot the OS | 5.0.11-test3 - I did not have time to test
 
I truly appreciate your effort and hard work.  Your Boot manager is a wonderful solution.
Please keep is Mac users on your radar.  If you have anything to test please post and we will be happy to test and post results.
Keep up the excellent work!

-M

[Elmar]

however obi1's iso with your latest bin appears to be Plop Boot Manager 5.0.11-test3 which could not detect the drive and froze the app.

oh noooo, i as afraid that this is happening

only to be sure, try this for a test http://download.plop.at/tmp/plpbt.iso
i think it should hang at startup, but i have to be sure.

now i have a problem. what should i do. the freeze is because of the new pcmcia code. should i create a pc (including pcmcia) and a mac version or should i create pc/mac and pcmcia version.

hmm. i wish to have all in one, but it seems that is not possible with the size limit that i have.

[M]

Please repost link. File Not Found.  I would be happy to test again.

[Elmar]

the link works
but now i attached the file

[Obi1]

FYI,

I downloaded the iso from the link above, and it's still not detecting the usb drive on my i7 MacBook Pro.  If there's anything else to test, let me (us) know.

[Elmar]

FYI,

I downloaded the iso from the link above, and it's still not detecting the usb drive on my i7 MacBook Pro.  If there's anything else to test, let me (us) know.

yes i know. i  don't think that the 5.0.x series will support the macbook pro.

[Elmar]

@M

your post has been deleted because of a bad forum update.

did you mean test3 or pcmcia-test?

[walterav]

now i have a problem. what should i do. the freeze is because of the new pcmcia code. should i create a pc (including pcmcia) and a mac version or should i create pc/mac and pcmcia version.

USB boot on Mac's only boots "Mac OSX" or "REFIT" USB devices:

To boot PC created USB boot devices with some kind of Linux Distro, you have to install "Refit" to the internal Mac OSX harddisk, reboot and the USB devices will popup in the RefiT boot menu "sometimes needs a extra reboot to showup the USB device within Refit".

The other way is to put refit onto the USB device, and press Option key from the apple boot menu. It will boot Refit, and refit will boot grub. But you really need to alter the partition/volume layout of the USB device. This because refit needs a HFS partition with his boot files. Maybe it even needs GPT instead of MBR partition layout but I got it to work but a long time ago. But booting a GPT on a normal PC is impossible, except if you install Chameleon bootloader.

Burn a CD with Refit, boot it and look if it will find your bootable USB device.

[Elmar]

now i have a problem. what should i do. the freeze is because of the new pcmcia code. should i create a pc (including pcmcia) and a mac version or should i create pc/mac and pcmcia version.

i already made my choice, one version for pc (without pcmcia) and mac and a second version for pcmcia

[Elmar]

To boot PC created USB boot devices with some kind of Linux Distro, you have to install "Refit" to the internal Mac OSX harddisk, reboot and the USB devices will popup in the RefiT boot menu "sometimes needs a extra reboot to showup the USB device within Refit".

i know, people booting plop from cd and continue to boot linux from usb. no refit is needed.

[M]

Hi Elmar,

I am happy see you are still supporting your boot manager.

FYI, I continue to offer sad news for Mac Users:
I tested the new 5.0.11-rc1 today on my 15" Intel i5 MacBook Pro and it could not detect my bootable usb drive.
Do you have any plans to test your boot manager on MAC's?
What can we do to help?  Write a letter to Steve to give you a discount on some Macbooks?
Help us Elmar.  You are our only hope.

[Elmar]

hi M,
it does not detect because the i5 macbook is using an internal hub.

regards
elmar

[sircharlo]

Hey! Interesting info... My black MacBook loads Plop from cd just fine, detects my USB Key, but then hangs on "Loading Boot Sector". Any updates to fix this? I am using 5.0.11 RC1, if that helps.

[Elmar]

Hey! Interesting info... My black MacBook loads Plop from cd just fine, detects my USB Key, but then hangs on "Loading Boot Sector". Any updates to fix this? I am using 5.0.11 RC1, if that helps.

can you try 5.0.10 too, only to be sure that it doesn't work with both versions

[sircharlo]

Hey! Interesting info... My black MacBook loads Plop from cd just fine, detects my USB Key, but then hangs on "Loading Boot Sector". Any updates to fix this? I am using 5.0.11 RC1, if that helps.

can you try 5.0.10 too, only to be sure that it doesn't work with both versions

Holy Crap! It worked!
Upon selection of the USB option, it proceeds to show my USB key's Grub2 menu.
YAY!!!

However, my keyboard is now unresponsive. I cannot use the arrow keys to select other boot options in my USB key's Grub 2 menu. After the default 10-second delay, Ubuntu (on the key) loads normally, and my keyboard is okay when I reach the Ubuntu login screen.

I would like to be able to use the keyboard on my Grub 2 menu however! On it I have an entry called "Utilities" that I created, which points to Grub4DOS on another partition (again on my USB key). This partition is filled with ISOs of useful distros and tools, like Parted Magic, Ophcrack, BitDefender AV,HBCD, and so-on.
If I cannot use the keyboard to access this entry and select it, all of my utilities will be useless on my Mac...

Do you have any idea how to re-enable the keyboard after Plop does its thing?

Anyhow, I want to thank you VERY MUCH for this great tool, which makes USB-booting from a Mac, very possible indeed

[Elmar]

Holy Crap! It worked!

so that means 5.0.10 works, but 5.0.11-rc1 not?

However, my keyboard is now unresponsive. I cannot use the arrow keys to select other boot

this is because 5.0.x has no usb keyboard driver and it seems the keyboard is connected to the usb host

when you have time, i would like to get 5.0.11 working too on the mac.

regards
elmar

[sircharlo]

Yeah sure tell me what you need..

[fellow]

I can confirm that v5.0.10 will boot a MacbookPro5,2 USB flash drive into linux with Grub v1.97 (me thinks) on Ubuntu 10.10 amd64 alternate install CD.  I get a trivial msdos failed to write to hd (0,0) (or close), then I get the LUKS/dm-crypt passphrase prompt.  There is no Grub menu, however.  I have booted the machine about 15 times since last night when I tried v5.0.10 after it failed a number of time with v.5.0.11.  If I can be of assistance, please let me know.

It has been complex thinking about to using grub-efi to boot, but I understand the mac only has efi1.1, not uefi2.0, and it looses the nvidia hw accel, since that driver/module needs BIOS inputs.  That's a big part of running native rather than in a VM.

I've also found PLoP helpful booting VMs...

Thanks for everything! 

[advix]

I can confirm following happens on White Intel MacBook:
5.0.11 recognize usb keys but freezes when try to boot from usb
5.0.10 recognize usb key, load grub but keybord is unresponsive. unable to to boot.

Now, is there a working older version of plop (5.0.5?), which i am able to boot with?
I am trying to load Meego and only image I have is USB, so plop is my only hope to do that.
Anyway, thank you for all the hard work and support you afford to us.

[advix]

Update: The 5.0.10 is working. Finally The problem was probably in Meego. After grub loaded I hit the ENTER key only and it started to boot. But figured out, Meego is no way for MacBook. Maybe its driverrs are stripped into Atom platform only.
The Ubuntu USB image works fine. The best thing is, I can try new things easily with PLoP finally.
So I stick with 5.0.10 for now, until new version will works again.
Thank You Elmar for PLoP and keep up the good work.

[stargateland]

Hello There,
I'm looking to start ubuntu or another Linux distro on my MacBook pro 5,5 cos I saw is possible but until now I'm able to boot into plop menu but when try to boot from USB it freeze.

I tryed ubuntu 10.4 and 10.10 with no luck, I created a bootable USB from windows xp, so please if someone can help me and suggest the right way to create the USB key even a link will be helpful.

At this link as you can see this guy managed to boot in
youtube video id E7vCvA8Um7M

Thanks

[stargateland]

Nevermind it works!!

PLOP 5.0.10
UBUNTU 10.4 ISO

On Macbook Pro 5,5 unibody 

The problem was on Plop actually the 5.0.11 boot but get stuck on "loading bootloader.

Hooray! finally I'm online again with my MBP without HD 

Cheers guys! 

[waters]

Hi Mac users  ,

I am new in the forum, have macbook pro 13" 7,1 (named as April 2010 production),
Readily installed Refit, and have 3 op.sys,
sda1 efi
sda2 mac osx 10.6.7 --> refit 0.14
sda3 ntfs win 7 --> bcd 2.0 (active)
sda4 ext4 ubuntu 10.04 --> grub 2
sda5 linux swap

so, I can easily start which op.sys I want,
but up to now, I was not able to boot from usb port  (mostly linux distros)...

Mac can natively boot from guid partn. table even if it is usb, but not from mbr easily.
------------------------------------
I have tried using "plpbt-5.0.11-2" iso cd, no way it hangs whenever i choose usb 

"plpbt-5.0.10" iso cd works like a charm;
with 5.0.10 cd I can boot from usb stick (linux...win7 vhd ... partbe xp...etc...)
whenever I use the sd card port of the mac, (or else boot from usb port via the
usb-sd card converter; 2-4-8-16-32 sd,sdhc,sdxc cards, )  then I have to use
shift key in order to force usb 1.1 for booting... that s ok!

-----------------------------------

My problem is that; I dont want to carry the boot cd with me, the working
5.0.10 cd all the time, so I have
decided to install "plpgenbtldr-0.8" to hdd;  c:\plop,
but it does not work like the cd version 

How can I do it?
tried copying the plpbt.bin from the cd (inside boot.img) and then
run plpgenbtldr, but gives error, I think version mismatch...

[Elmar]

waters,
please try http://download.plop.at/tmp/plpbt.bin with a cd to see if it hangs too

regards
elmar

[waters]

@elmar, thanx for the quick response,

when i boot from cd (to use usb boot support for mac) there s no problem.
ver. 5.0.10  20100420 CD just works fine for macbook pro 

But I dont want to carry the "usb boot cd" with me all the time,
So, I wanted to install it to just like written in the "Plop Boot Manager v5.0"
section 7. Run from the Windows boot menu (2K, XP, VISTA and Win7)...
The downloaded file "plpgenbtldr-0.8.zip"  copy to c:\plop.....etc... OK.

My win 7 bootloader;

Mac Leo 10.6.7
Windows 7(32bit)
Ubuntu 10.04(64 bit)
Plop Boot Manager   -->  the purpose is just to make usb boot enable for mac...

Now, this installed version is V5.0.11-2 20110112     
this installed one or the CD version of 5.0.11-2  do not work in modern macs;
hangs ....

How can I make my installed c:\plop to version 5.0.10 ?
now it is 5.0.11-2

(I not a programmer, but comp. tech. ;  tried smt. like this;
extracted plpbt.bin from working 5.0.10 CD 
Then run plpgenbtldr -->  gave version mismatch error  )

Should I try plpgenbtldr command with your new http://download.plop.at/tmp/plpbt.bin ?

[Elmar]

i want to fix the problem with 5.0.11-2, so please try the test version. when its fixed, i can make a clean release and then you don't need the cd

[waters]

I opened plpbt.iso from 5.0.11-2 version

replaced the plpbt.bin; inside iso
43 k 20110112 ---->  44k 20110410  (http://download.plop.at/tmp/plpbt.bin)
reconstructed iso, burnt cd with nero...

booted with this new cd, v5.0.12-test2
usb support OK...
sdcard port support, OK but with shift key(usb 1.1 force), otherwise hangs.
----------------------------------------------
Then i tried to c:\ploptest
copied http://download.plop.at/tmp/plpbt.bin and plpgenbtldr.exe to this folder,
run plpgenbtldr generates the file plpbtldr.bin
OK.

bcdedit /create /d "Plop Boot Manager Test" /application bootsector
bcdedit /set {id} device partition=C:
bcdedit /set {id} path \ploptest\plpbtldr.bin
bcdedit /displayorder {id} /addlast

so, added a new line to bcd,

.....
.....
.....
Plop Boot Manager           ---> v5.0.11-2 problematic on mac
Plop Boot Manager Test    ---> v5.0.12-test2  OK 

Thank you Elmar 


Now my new aim is to permanently change the lines;
Harddisksda1 -->hide it!
Harddisksda2 -->Mac
Harddisksda3-->Win7
Harddisksda4-->Ubuntu
etc...
without hdd mbr installation...

[Elmar]

ok, please try this http://download.plop.at/tmp/plpbt2.bin
does it still work?

[waters]

Hi,

I didnt prepare a boot cd, but I did like this;

c:\plop                      v5.0.11-2
c:\ploptest                 v5.0.12-test2
c:\ploptest2               v5.0.12-test4

v5.0.12-test2;
boot from usb OK,
boot from sdcard slot, OK with shift key, but kb unresponsive...

v5.0.12-test4
boot from usb. NO; hangs...

boot from sdcard slot with shift key or not; NO; hangs...

even it can not boot from hdd (loop), hangs...
(from win 7 bcd boot I was choosing Plop ---> sda3 (win7) --->Plop... endless loop.


error:
ehci,uhci,ohci... loading...driver.
device...name of the usb brand.
loading boot sector...   hang...   stays this screen forever.

[Elmar]

what char sequence do you see when you use this http://download.plop.at/tmp/plpbt3.bin

[waters]

Hi,

c:\plptest3     --->    http://download.plop.at/tmp/plpbt3.bin

when I choose it, the last option in win7 bcd loader;

aAL_  white letters on the left top side of the black screen...

[Elmar]

what do you see when it hangs
http://download.plop.at/tmp/plpbt4.bin

[waters]

It is (http://download.plop.at/tmp/plpbt4.bin) --> V5.0.12-Test4

2 lines very quick that I can not read when starting,
then comes plop main screen,
T80x50, grid, left top corner writes "ALALALAL"

usb,sdcard,hdd, none of em boots,
hangs after...Loading boot sector.

when I chose usb or hdd from the menu, the first line ALALALAL
becomes full ALALALALALALALALAL..........Loading boot sector.....then hangs.

[Elmar]

and now http://download.plop.at/tmp/plpbt5.bin

[waters]

It is v.5.0.12-Test4
---------------------
hdd boot (cycle to bcd or grub 2) OK.
---------------------
usb boot OK. (2 lines quickly appear that I can not read, then comes the main plop window.)
then I choose usb ---> black screen writes:
"Booting from Local Disk,
Abc0LA  "      "       "
SysLINUX 3.86 ebios 1994-2010
Abc0LA  "      "       "    "

then I think booting process starts;
AbcLA.........full of the same writing 2 pages long...

then comes Abc2LAbc1LAbc0L
Loading \boot\vmlinuz\     ----here the op sys should start , but
there is again Abc......writings nearly 2 pages...
then continuing the known linux process lines...
linux
cpu
bla.bla.....
the system opens OK.

I have tried with different distros,
Knoppix 6.4 , Mint 10, Slax 6.1.2, Centos 5.5, Ubuntu 10.10,
even when the standart option screen comes;
boot:           (u should write here the kernel options, etc...)
but it is; boot:AbcAbcAbc.........
whatever just press enter.
then starts linux
---------------------
sdcard hangs without shift option.
with shift OK just like the normal usb, but kb stops.

[Elmar]

ok, i think i got it now.
what about this http://download.plop.at/tmp/plpbt6.bin
dont care about debug chars

[waters]

v5.0.12-Test4
T80x50

This time no graphical glitches or nonsense characters.
------------------------
hdd boot OK
------------------------
usb book OK, (very quick boot)
------------------------
sd card boot; without shift, NO
"Loading Ehci Drv.
Searching on hosts
Host1
Part6:Dev.connected" ---> hangs..

sd card boot; with shift OK, keyboard stops.
------------------------

additional info: shutdown option in main plop screen do not work in any version that I have tried...

[Elmar]

thanks for the tests

additional info: shutdown option in main plop screen do not work in any version that I have tried...

the apm interrupt function is not supported by every bios.

best regards
elmar

[Elmar]

waters, please try this nearly final version http://download.plop.at/tmp/plpbt-5.0.12.zip

[canadian_eh]

Hi Elmar,

I stumbled onto your site when looking for a way to boot from my USB Ubuntu 10.04 64bit on my new Macbookpro i7.  I downloaded the latest iso 5.0.12 and it doesn't work with this particular notebook.  The disc loads and I see all the choices but when I select USB as the boot option it does not boot the OS.  I tried your latest iso on a macbookpro 15" dual core and it worked so I'm sure both the iso and the usb are fine.  Has anyone else tried a new 15" i7?

Thanks for your work on this, simply amazing.

Cheers,

Simon

[waters]

Hi, sorry being late, was out of town without mac

http://download.plop.at/tmp/plpbt-5.0.12.zip is deleted,

So, i did test final version;
...\plpbt-5.0.12\plpbt.bin

v5.0.12   20110421
starfield on,

hdd boot OK,

usb boot OK,

sdcard boot without shift;    .....device connected ---> hangs!

sdcard boot with shift;  OK, but kb. hangs till OS is loaded.
------------------------------------

very quick boots, ty.

[canadian_eh]

Hi, sorry being late, was out of town without mac

http://download.plop.at/tmp/plpbt-5.0.12.zip is deleted,

So, i did test final version;
...\plpbt-5.0.12\plpbt.bin

v5.0.12   20110421
starfield on,

hdd boot OK,

usb boot OK,

sdcard boot without shift;    .....device connected ---> hangs!

sdcard boot with shift;  OK, but kb. hangs till OS is loaded.
------------------------------------

very quick boots, ty.

Hi Waters,

What macbookpro are you testing with? I just want to see if you're testing with the same notebook.  I'm using a 15" 2ghz i7 macbookpro.

I can tell you that I am unable to boot a USB pendrive with the latest 5.0.12 plpbt iso.  I've tried different usb sticks and both ports and different versions of the live USB (all verified working on other machines) and after selecting USB from the menu, a blank window opens on the stars and nothing happens (even after a long wait.)

I'd love to see this working again.

Thanks

___ edit ___

When I got home from work today I created an ubuntu 10.04 usb boot disc using the directions on pendrivelinux.com and I am able to start the 32-bit version of ubuntu 10.04 lts - it lacks support for the wireless but at least I can boot it now!  I've also tried the 64 bit versions of 10.04 and the latest 11.04 without success (using the ubuntu boot disc) and I'm in in the process of downloading 11.04 32-bit to try it next.

[waters]

Hi, canadian_eh

i m using 13'' 2.66 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4-->8 GB, OSX 10.6.7,
model id; MacBookPro7,1
boot rom; MBP71.0039.B0B
smc ver.; 1.62f6

it is known as; April 2010 production, (not the newest 2011 ones which have
thunderbolt port),
2010 s have chipset nvidia MCP89,
2011 s are intel 6 series chipset. I think...

i have 3 partns,
1---> mac os,          active, refit installed.
2---> win7,             BCD 2.0 installed.
3---> ubuntu linux,  grub 2 installed.

so, i can cycle to all of the bootloaders,
from refit, i chose win7 (because u cant usb boot from the refit)
win7 have BCD menu like;
... MAC OSX 10.6.7 (EFI)
... WIN 7 (32bit)
... Ubuntu
... Plop 5.0.10                                    ok
... Plop 5.0.12  (to boot from usb)        ok

chosing plop and booting from usb.
plop is not installed , just read the docs how to add plop to win7, vista, etc... boot loader.

I also added plops to the ubuntu grub 2 loader, its ok too...

[Elmar]

hi,
can somebody test this on a macbook http://download.plop.at/tmp/plpbt.bin

regards
elmar

[flyingsaucer]

I've tried your latest creature but it hangs, here I'm on a macbook pro. Tried also with ctrl + U it hangs, usb port 1 and port 2 same issue.

Best Regards
And as always thank you so much for your hard work.

Tony

[Elmar]

I've tried your latest creature but it hangs, here I'm on a macbook pro. Tried also with ctrl + U it hangs, usb port 1 and port 2 same issue.

Best Regards
And as always thank you so much for your hard work.

Tony

what macbook pro do you have? maybe its one with internal hubs?

is 5.0.12 working, or does it hang in the same way?

[waters]

Hi,

v5.0.13-Test1

-usb boot; (w/o shift option) hangs...
freeze when "loading boot sector..."

-sd card boot; (w/o shift option) hangs...
freeze when "device connected"

-hdd boot;  hangs...
freeze when "found valid bootsignature"

-cd boot; not tested; i m using a secondary hdd there (for Lion osx), so no more internal cd   

note: v5.0.12 still works fast and good.

[Elmar]

hi waters,
i created now a new test version http://download.plop.at/tmp/plpbt.bin
please try it

[waters]

Hi,

V5.0.13-Test3

hangs...

all freezes; just the same like V5.0.13-Test1

[Elmar]

and now? same link, ignore the version in about

[waters]

same again, all freeze 

[Elmar]

same again, all freeze 

did you receive my email?

[waters]

looking mail now..

[Elmar]

hi,
version 5.0.13-test4 has been released.
http://www.plop.at/en/bootmanagerdl.html

best regards
elmar

[flyingsaucer]

I've tried your latest creature but it hangs, here I'm on a macbook pro. Tried also with ctrl + U it hangs, usb port 1 and port 2 same issue.

Best Regards
And as always thank you so much for your hard work.

Tony

what macbook pro do you have? maybe its one with internal hubs?

is 5.0.12 working, or does it hang in the same way?

Sorry for answering late... MacBookPro5,3...... now trying latest plop revision

Bye
Tony

[waters]

@flyingsaucer,

i ve tried plop 5.10, 5.12 and 5.13 on different versions of
MacBook Pro s : 2009 and 2010   (did not personaly have experienced 2011 s yet!)
and all went well.
i think your machine is a 2009 15 " mid. edition? A1286
it should work.

what is your original mac osx, 10.6.x?
and your windows ; win7, xp ?
do you have refit installed?
how did u install plop to boot loader or else tried other methods? (burn to a cd and try to boot?)
what is your usb os? (linux? mac? mac os wont boot in this method)
did u tried to boot usb from a pc and is it ok?
try to make other usb or sdcard os es and boot em on mac; if u have spare 2-4 gigs sticks.

[flyingsaucer]

@flyingsaucer,

i ve tried plop 5.10, 5.12 and 5.13 on different versions of
MacBook Pro s : 2009 and 2010   (did not personaly have experienced 2011 s yet!)
and all went well.
i think your machine is a 2009 15 " mid. edition? A1286
it should work.

what is your original mac osx, 10.6.x?
and your windows ; win7, xp ?
do you have refit installed?
how did u install plop to boot loader or else tried other methods? (burn to a cd and try to boot?)
what is your usb os? (linux? mac? mac os wont boot in this method)
did u tried to boot usb from a pc and is it ok?
try to make other usb or sdcard os es and boot em on mac; if u have spare 2-4 gigs sticks.

Thanks for your answer, I've tried another usb pen drive and hdd enclosure and now everything is ok.
Best Regards
Tony