If you have ever tried installing Ubuntu Server on a Mac Mini it’s likely that after installation you encountered a flashing folder icon with a question mark on the screen. Below are the steps to fix it.
- Boot into your installation USB by holding ALT key when the Mac Mini is starting.
- Press C when the GRUB menu appears to start a console.
- Now you have to find the partition that contains a boot directory.
12345grub> ls(memdisk) (hd0) (hd0,msdos) (hd1) (hd2) (hd2,gpt3) (hd2,gpt2) (hd2,gpt1)grub> ls (hd2,gpt2)/boot/grubunicode.pf2 [...] grub.cfg - Set this as your root for further commands.
1grub> set root=(hd2,gpt2) - The only way to boot properly is to use the UUID of the drive. Get it like this:
1grub> ls -l (hd2,gpt2) - Note down the UUID. You’ll have to type it manually in the next step.
1grub> linux /boot/vmlinuz(press tab here).efi.signed root=UUID=(the UUID from above) - Set initial RAM disk and start booting.
12grub> initrd /boot/initrd(press tab here)grub> boot - Your system should start normally now so log in and run the following commands:
12sudo apt-get install efibootmgrsudo efibootmgr - This will list something like the output below:
123456BootCurrent: 0000Timeout: 5 secondsBootOrder: 0080Boot0000* ubuntuBoot0080* Mac OS XBootFFFF* - Change the boot order to start Ubuntu first and reboot.
12sudo efibootmgr -o 00, 80reboot - Your Mac Mini should be able to start Ubuntu Server now.