SteamOS installation on a MacBook Pro

[bioglaze]

Has anyone had success installing SteamOS on a MacBook Pro? I tried both methods, but only get a generic GRUB prompt when booting from a USB stick. I'm using MBP 2010 with NVidia 320M.

[R3450N]

I don't think SteamOS was optimised for use under a Mac, or could it just be something we overlook?

[Dusk of Oolacile]

As far as I know SteamOS requires UEFI, macs have a different type of EFI.

[Florigamer91]

Try this: http://directhex.github.io/steamos-installer/

[thetargos]

Mac EFI does not support boot off USB, not for our Mac models (mine is also MBP13" mid2010, AKA, MBP7.1). If you boot off optical media you should be able to attempt an install... Bear in mind that Apple's EFI on these machines (I ignore if newer are still the same story) has many limitations and is poorly supported at best requiring circumventing in most cases.

[bioglaze]

Thanks for the replies, I'll try Linux.Florian's link. Running any Linux on this machine is a drag because Nvidia proprietary driver doesn't work in EFI mode and only shows a black screen.

[bioglaze]

I managed to install by making a bootable USB from this link:
http://directhex.github.io/steamos-installer/
However, the trackpad didn't work so I had to use external mouse and after installing my screen is black. It's caused by using EFI instead of BIOS emulation, the Nvidia Linux driver does not work for this chip (320 M) in EFI mode. Now I need to get BIOS emulation working.

[thetargos]

I had forgotten about that nasty detail. Indeed you have to use BIOS emulation for the proprietary driver to properly (i.e no modset conflicts, as far as I can remember). I never managed to get BIOS meulation working when I attempted installing Fedora a few years back. EFI installation and boot worked flawless, except for nouveau, which prompted me to install the proprietary drivers, only find out they wouldn't work in EFI modeset boot.

If you manage to get BIOS emulation working, please make sure you post back what you did to get it working!

[bioglaze]

I got it working, Nvidia driver and all!

Actually, I used Linux Mint, but the same procedure could work for SteamOS or Ubuntu. First I tried installing Linux Mint from a USB stick and it installed in EFI mode, but when I made a bootable DVD from the installation media, my MacBook booted it in BIOS emulation mode and everything worked with default installation options (let installer do the partitioning).

Now I'm going to install Steam client and some games and have fun debugging OpenGL (ApiTrace etc.) and playing.

[ProBero]

are the games which are steam os work on mac?

[NorahAura]

What about running Steam OS via VirtualBox (VirtualBox available for Linux and Mac)?

[daniel.mantione]

Virtualbox 3D acceleration is not good enough. You have better chances with VMWare Player, but that is not available for MacOS.

[JamieLinux]

I will drop this here.


http://www.rodsbooks.com/refind/

[-=;Dark Rain;=-]

I have a Quad-Boot MacBook Pro and will try installing SteamOS in the partition I have setup for Mint. And yes, you do have to use reFind in order to have a proper bootloader that will allow you to select the operating system you wish you be irritated by at the time. LOL