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Specifically (Order No. / Model No. / CPU) for the MacBook1,1:

  • MA255LL/A / A1181 (EMC 2092) / Core Duo T2500 (tested - working)
  • MA254LL/A / A1181 (EMC 2092) / Core Duo T2400 (tested - working)
  • MA472LL/A / A1181 (EMC 2092) / Core Duo T2500 (untested)

For the MacBook2,1:

  • MA699LL/A / A1181 (EMC 2121) / Intel Core 2 Duo T5600 (tested - working)
  • MA701LL/A / A1181 (EMC 2121) / Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 (tested - working)
  • MB061LL/A / A1181 (EMC 2139) / Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 *(tested -
  • MA700LL/A / A1181 (EMC 2121) / Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 (tested - working)
  • MB063LL/A / A1181 (EMC 2139) / Intel Core 2 Duo T7400 (tested - working)
  • MB062LL/A / A1181 (EMC 2139) / Intel Core 2 Duo T7400 (tested - working)

It's believed that all MacBook2,1 and MacBook1,1 models work fine with Libreboot. If there's a model not in the list or not confirmed working here and you happen to have that model and that model works with Libreboot then don't forget to send a patch, confirming that it actually works!

Internal flashing

MacBook2,1 can always be flashed internally, even if running Apple firmware:

sudo flashprog -p internal:laptop=force_I_want_a_brick,boardmismatch=force -w your.rom

NOTE: Libreboot standardises on flashprog now, as of 27 January 2024, which is a fork of flashrom.

The MacBook1,1 can't be flashed internally if running the Apple EFI firmware. You must flash externally.

External flashing

MacBook1,1 requires external flashing, if running the default Apple firmware. MacBook2,1 can be flashed internally, regardless. If running coreboot or libreboot you can already internally re-flash.

This page shows disassembly guides

Locate the flash. It'll be a SOIC8, which looks like this:

The chip is located under the motherboard. How to remove the motherboard.

Refer to the following guide:
Externally rewrite 25xx NOR flash via SPI protocol

OSes using Linux on Apple EFI firmware

You have 2 choices for booting up OSes using Linux as their kernel on the MacBook:

  • Boot via USB ;

  • Boot via a CD or DVD.

Boot via a CD or DVD

The Apple EFI firmware contains a PC BIOS emulation layer for booting Microsoft Windows on CDs and DVDs. That emulation layer only works if booting from a CD/DVD or from the hard drive. The MacBook will not boot MBR bootloaders from USB, which is why booting from a CD or DVD is easier than booting from a USB.

  • First, burn your ISO to a CD or DVD ;

  • Reboot and while rebooting, hold down the Alt/Control key, a boot menu should pop up, requesting you to choose which device to boot from ;

  • Select the CD/DVD icon with 'Windows' as the label (the Apple EFI firmware elways recognises CDs/DVDs using MBR as 'Windows', because the emulation layer was made specifically for booting Microsoft Windows as part of BootCamp, a tool which allowed dual-booting Windows and OS X) ;

  • Install it like you normally would (If there's an OS X installation then it's highly recommended to save all your data and wipe it. Libreboot isn't able and will never be able to boot OS X) ;

  • While rebooting, hold Alt/Control once again, and select the hard disk icon with the 'Windows' label, after each subsequent boot, the Apple EFI should boot up properly automatically.

If you installed your OS alongside OS X then you won't be able to boot to it using GRUB, despite the fact that it does sometimes show up. You also won't be able to boot it up when using Libreboot.

Boot via USB

This method is harder than booting from a CD/DVD and may soft-brick your MacBook but it's the only way to boot up successfully from a USB.

The PC BIOS emulation layer found in the Apple EFI firmware doesn't work when booting up from a USB stick. Despite the fact that the MacBook2,1 does use a 64-Bit processor, the firmware only supports booting 32-Bit EFI devices, meaning you're stuck with 32-Bit OSes and rare 64-Bit OSes which have ISOs that still support booting from 32-Bit EFI. Meanwhile, GRUB fully supports booting up 64-Bit OSes on 32-Bit EFI.

  • First, search for an ISO that supports 32-Bit EFI while being 64-Bit or a normal 32-Bit ISO and put it in your USB stick ;

  • Reboot and while rebooting, hold down the Alt/Control key, a boot menu should pop up, requesting you to choose which device to boot from ;

  • Select the USB icon ;

  • Install it like you normally would (If there's an OS X installation then it's highly recommended to save all your data and wipe it. Libreboot isn't able and will never be able to boot OS X) ;

  • Reboot. It should boot up to your newly-installed system if you wiped OS X, else, hold Alt/Control and select the correct boot device ;

  • Flash Libreboot. DO NOT REBOOT AGAIN BEFORE FLASHING. Sometimes the firmware can get confused, because Apple never intended to boot other EFI OSes other than OS X, as such there's a chance that your MacBook can become soft-bricked. If that is the case then dissassemble it and remove the CMOS/PRAM battery, wait a few minutes, and put it back in.

If you want to install Libreboot with the SeaBIOS payload then be sure to reconfigure GRUB2 correctly, else your system won't boot.

Coreboot wiki page

The following page has some information:

Issues and solutions/workarounds

There is one mouse button only, however multiple finger tapping works. The Apple logo on the back is a hole, exposing the backlight, which means that it glows. You should cover it up.

The MacBook2,1 comes with a webcam which does not work with free software. Webcams are a privacy and security risk; cover it up! Or remove it.

Make it overheat less

NOTE: on newer libreboot revisions, this section is less relevant, because C3 states are supported now. However, this section may still be useful, so it will be retained.

The MacBook2,1 overheats a lot with libreboot, we still don't know why but a simple workaround is to install macfanctld.

Macfanctld is available on the default repos of many distributions.

For example, to install macfanctld on an Arch-based distro, you would run as root

pacman -S macfanctld

and don't forget to enable it by using systemctl or by a script that will run macfanctld if using runit.

Then, you want to install powertop and tlp. And then, run the following on battery

sudo tlp start && sudo powertop --calibrate

Then, after quitting powertop, run :

sudo powertop --auto-tune

Now, configure tlp, edit the /etc/tlp.conf and uncomment/add/modify the following:

CPU_BOOST_ON_AC=1
CPU_BOOST_ON_BAT=0

SCHED_POWERSAVE_ON_AC=0
SCHED_POWERSAVE_ON_BAT=1

PLATFORM_PROFILE_ON_AC=performance
PLATFORM_PROFILE_ON_BAT=low-power

The MacBook will still overheat, just less.

Enable AltGr

The keyboard has a keypad enter instead of an AltGr. The first key on the right side of the spacebar is the Apple "command" key. On its right is the keypad enter. We can make it act as an AltGr.

If your operating system is Debian or other dpkg-based distribution, there is an easy solution. Under root (or sudo) run

dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration

and select the option "apple laptop", leave other settings as their defaults until you are given the option "Use Keypad Enter as AltGr". Select this. The keypad enter key will then act as an AltGr everywhere.

For Arch-based distributions you can enable AltGr manually. Simply add the line:

KEYMAP_TOGGLE=lv3:enter_switch

to the file /etc/vconsole.conf and then restart the computer.

Make touchpad more responsive

Linux kernels of version 3.15 or lower might make the touchpad extremely sluggish. A user reported that they could get better response from the touchpad with the following in their xorg.conf:

	Section "InputClass"
		Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad"
		Driver "synaptics"
		MatchIsTouchpad "on"
		MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
		Driver "synaptics"
	The next two values determine how much pressure one needs
	for tapping, moving the cursor and other events.
		Option "FingerLow" "10"
		Option "FingerHigh" "15"
	Do not emulate mouse buttons in the touchpad corners.
 		Option "RTCornerButton" "0"
 		Option "RBCornerButton" "0"
 		Option "LTCornerButton" "0"
		Option "LBCornerButton" "0"
	One finger tap = left-click
		Option "TapButton1" "1"
	Two fingers tap = right-click
		Option "TapButton2" "3"
	Three fingers tap = middle-mouse
		Option "TapButton3" "2"
	Try to not count the palm of the hand landing on the touchpad
	as a tap. Not sure if helps.
		Option "PalmDetect" "1"
	The following modifies how long and how fast scrolling continues
	after lifting the finger when scrolling
		Option "CoastingSpeed" "20"
		Option "CoastingFriction" "200"
	Smaller number means that the finger has to travel less distance
	for it to count as cursor movement. Larger number prevents cursor
	shaking.
		Option "HorizHysteresis" "10"
		Option "VertHysteresis" "10"
	Prevent two-finger scrolling. Very jerky movement
		Option "HorizTwoFingerScroll" "0"
		Option "VertTwoFingerScroll" "0"
	Use edge scrolling
		Option "HorizEdgeScroll" "1"
		Option "VertEdgeScroll" "1"
	EndSection