Notes:
This guide assumes that you're fed up with OS X and will be installing Linux as a replacement. Following these steps will wipe your drive, so be sure to back up any data before proceeding. I am not responsible for any data loss as a result of following this guide.
Requirements:
- 4GB USB Drive
- About 2 hours of time for troubleshooting (if needed)
- A working Internet connection (drivers should work out of box, just need to autoinstall and enable them)
- A working computer with dd or equivalent software.
- Antergos Live ISO
Procedure:
- Burn your Antergos Live iso to a USB flash drive or DVD.
- Boot up your Mini while holding down option to load the boot menu.
- Boot to the EFI USB or DVD (depending on your choice)
- Load a root terminal up and run the following:
dkms autoinstall
modprobe wl
- Launch Cnchi
- Wipe your drive and set up the following partitions: sda1: /boot (2048mb), sda2: / (rest of space).
- Install Antergos with the options of your choice.
- At the bootloader installation screen, choose systemd-boot (we're still going to be fixing something later).
- Once the installation is complete, open up a terminal and drop to a root shell (sudo su -)
- Run the following commands:
mount /dev/sda2 /mnt
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot
arch-chroot /mnt /bin/bash
pacman -S broadcom-wl #Installs the only good wifi driver for the mini.
echo wl >> /etc/modules-load.d/broadcom-wl.conf #Makes sure the module loads at boot.
bootctl --path=/boot install
blkid -s PARTUUID -o value /dev/sda1 #keep track of the PARTUUID it spits out, you'll need it shortly.
- Once finished with the above commands, nano /boot/loader/entries/arch.conf.
- Add the following lines to the new arch.conf file:
title Arch Linux
linux /vmlinuz-linux
initrd /initramfs-linux.img
options root=PARTUUID=[insert your partuuid from earlier here, minus the brackets] rw
- Save the file and reboot. With any luck, your Mac Mini will boot just fine. For additional drivers (bluetooth, etc, see the Arch Linux wiki's Bluetooth page).