Macbook Pro 13" 6,1 can't install Windows or Linux

I seem to be in a bit of a pickle.

I have the 13" Macbook Pro 7,1 and everytime I try to install Linux/Windows they come up with errors which basically say that they can't find my HDD or the Optical Drive during installation.

Any help would be appreciated; I don't like the idea of being stuck with OS-X.

EDIT: Turns out it's a MBP 7,1...not 6,1.

 

Are you using bootcamp assistant? You need to set up a bootcamp partition before just installing.

 

I'm using Bootcamp.

I created a partition using Bootcamp Assistant and followed the instructions to install Windows 7 (and tried with Linux). I can't get very far into the installations (and Linux won't even boot the Live CD) because neither can find (or have drivers for) my HDD or ODD.

 

I'm doing it through bootcamp which came preinstalled, but that's not working...

 

I hope you get your issue solved however would you mind answering my question in regards as to why did you not just buy a standard PC if you don't like the idea of being "STUCK" with OS X? I found it odd that you said it that way.

 

I bought the Macbook for the decent battery, 320M graphics and because there was a 10% discount at Myer...an offer too good to pass up.

 

but you lose the battery life when not using OSX.

 

I'd imagine it to be better than my old laptop which got 120 minutes on a good day.

 

your using the stock internal DVD drive? what version of Windows? ... Linux can be a whole other story.

Usually Windows only has a problem detecting a drive if you are using an external one.... or your using something old like WinXP.

your missing out on the total package without running OSX though. There is almost no reason to run Linux when you have OSX.

 

I just prefer to UI of GNOME over OS-X and Windows because it's nice to know it's there.

Currently I'm trying to install these other OS's with the built-in slot-loading DVD drive in the Macbook Pro.

It may actually be easier to buy the U30Jc from the US rather than dealw tih these problems. I'm hoping that somebody may be able to help.

 

I managed to boot into Ubuntu using rEFIt a USB Drive and UNetBootin, and it appears that Ubuntu doesn't recognise my HDD.

In the /dev/ folder I find /dev/sda1 is the USB Drive, /dev/sda/ is 'busy' and /dev/sdb/ is an unknown device.

They don't appear in GParted or the Disk Utility either. All that appears in Disk Utility is SATA Host Adapter without any partitions appearing beneath it.

Does this help anyone enough to help me?

EDIT: I ran a few commands in the terminal.

fdisk -l returned nothing

sudo blkid returned;
/dev/loop0: TYPE="squashfs"
/dev/sda1: LABEL="M-onM-^[M-]M-]}M-eM-:M-zM-rM-h" UUid='4C06-6B51' TYPE="vfat"

 

I haven't tried installing anything with bootcamp on my 13"er ... and have no plans to. I did however triple boot my old Macbook Pro 15" and never had a problem with Windows or Linux recognizing any part of it... so not sure what to tell you.

As for Gnome... you can actually install and run Gnome through X11.app on top of OSX if you really wanted, or you can make it so your Mac boots up command line and loads X11 instead of Quartz, and use Gnome or KDE or whatever... it wont be linux, it'll still be darwin...

I love OSX... so I only use Windows and Linux through virtual machines any more. Much easier and I can use them all at the same time.

 

Thanks for the tip about GNOME. I'll look into it if I can't find a solution.

Went to an Apple Store today and was offered no advice. This doesn't look good.

 

Shameless bump

 

Maybe your MacBook is trying to tell you it doesn't want you putting inferior OS's on it!

 

Heh. Inferior in your eyes, but there things I like about each of the big 3 Operating Systems. Mac OS-X is good, but at the moment it cannot fully replace the others for me.

 

Then honestly I don't think a Mac is really for you, and ultimately you won't be happy with it.