So I got a new computer, a MacBook Pro 2016. Since I only had one of those usb-usb-c cable I decided to use another UEFI based computer to install Ubuntu (I originally wanted Debian). I managed to install Ubuntu on an external hardrive with this another computer with this layout:

EFI 200mb
boot 200mb
root 15000mb
home 50000mb

I have 900 gigs left. I also installed the necessary drivers for the mac.
I then installed refind on my macbook pro and plugged the hardrive in. Refind or (option at boot) doesn't detect my drive boot but it detects the live boot usb that I used.

How do I fix this? Do I have to rename some files? Also, why does grub work with Apple's SPI keyboard but ubuntu doesn't? Why does it recognize the live boot EFI but not ubuntu's EFI?

I don't want to use macOS for certain reasons.

You may need to the hard drive. I don't remember the details exactly.

bobbybee wrote:

You may need to

bless

the hard drive. I don't remember the details exactly.

It works when I boot on an HP laptop but not on my macbook

bobbybee wrote:

You may need to

bless

the hard drive. I don't remember the details exactly.

I think Blaze349 already got into GRUB from the OP

Reinstall grub, idk. I messed up with my server and just reinstalled ubuntu server again (in leik 3 minutes start to finish xD)

DatOneLefty wrote:

Reinstall grub, idk. I messed up with my server and just reinstalled ubuntu server again (in leik 3 minutes start to finish xD)

I don't think that's the problem…I want to know why I can use any other non-apple computer to boot into it but it doesn't work with reFIND.

Ok I think this is the problem. Apparently my macbook only recognizes the bootloader if it is formatted as HFS+. I'm going to try this but I'm worried as the other computers I want to use with this hard-drive (at different locations) may not be able to boot HFS+.

Didn't work. Instead I managed to delete my EFI partition (it refused to format it correctly). I'm reinstalling Ubuntu.

Blaze349 wrote:

Ok I think this is the problem. Apparently my macbook only recognizes the bootloader if it is formatted as HFS+. I'm going to try this but I'm worried as the other computers I want to use with this hard-drive (at different locations) may not be able to boot HFS+.

But how did GRUB work with your keyboard if the keyboard if the macbook didn't recognize the bootloader?

Jonathan50 wrote:

Blaze349 wrote:

Ok I think this is the problem. Apparently my macbook only recognizes the bootloader if it is formatted as HFS+. I'm going to try this but I'm worried as the other computers I want to use with this hard-drive (at different locations) may not be able to boot HFS+.

But how did GRUB work with your keyboard if the keyboard if the macbook didn't recognize the bootloader?

Grub on the live usb works with my keyboard

I'm following this guide: http://www.rodsbooks.com/ubuntu-efi/

I've installed Super Grub 2 to a usb however when I boot into it, it just goes to grub-rescue rather than what is shown on EFI.

Ok, I've managed to enter Ubuntu using Super Grub 2. It is now booting (though it is rather slow). I still haven't installed the drivers and haven't got an external keyboard with me at the moment.

Ok, I need to stop prefixing my sentences with ok. But seriously, why does GRUB work with Apple's SPI keyboard but Ubuntu doesn't?

Ask Ubuntu developers.

Blaze349 wrote:

Ok, I need to stop prefixing my sentences with ok. But seriously, why does GRUB work with Apple's SPI keyboard but Ubuntu doesn't?

I imagine GRUB uses the (proprietary) EFI firmware to handle keyboard input, whereas Linux uses native drivers (or lack thereof).

bobbybee wrote:

Blaze349 wrote:

Ok, I need to stop prefixing my sentences with ok. But seriously, why does GRUB work with Apple's SPI keyboard but Ubuntu doesn't?

I imagine GRUB uses the (proprietary) EFI firmware to handle keyboard input, whereas Linux uses native drivers (or lack thereof).

Oh. Is there a way for me to install the drivers from macOS. I have two usb-C slots on this computer. One is for Super Grub and the other is for Ubuntu. I will use Super Grub to fix the Ubuntu installation. So is there a way for me to install this from macOS?

Blaze349 wrote:

Oh. Is there a way for me to install the drivers from macOS. I have two usb-C slots on this computer. One is for Super Grub and the other is for Ubuntu. I will use Super Grub to fix the Ubuntu installation. So is there a way for me to install this from macOS?

Nope, the macOS drivers will be kext files that don't work with Linux. You'll need to find Linux drivers (I misinterpreted your first sentence)

If you have another keyboard then you can build the drivers on the macbook if they aren't in the Ubuntu repositories.

You might be able to cross compile the kernel module on macOS if you install a cross-compiler from macOS to Linux and you install the Linux kernel headers on your macOS.

But if you can get a deb from the Ubuntu website you can extract it (Using 7-Zip?) on macOS and then put the files into your Ubuntu partition.

Jonathan50 wrote:

Blaze349 wrote:

Oh. Is there a way for me to install the drivers from macOS. I have two usb-C slots on this computer. One is for Super Grub and the other is for Ubuntu. I will use Super Grub to fix the Ubuntu installation. So is there a way for me to install this from macOS?

Nope, the macOS drivers will be kext files that don't work with Linux. You'll need to find Linux drivers (I misinterpreted your first sentence)

If you have another keyboard then you can build the drivers on the macbook if they aren't in the Ubuntu repositories.

I'm confused. I'll just use another computer to install the drivers.

Blaze349 wrote:

I'm confused. I'll just use another computer to install the drivers.

I meant get another keyboard, then boot into Ubuntu and install the drivers for your macbook's keyboard from there Also look at my above post