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Instructions

Updated november 7, 2007. Translate this page via Altavista Babelfish:
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psubuntu imageThis guide shows you how to install the Ubuntu 7.10 “Gutsy Gibbon” operating system on a Playstation 3, using the alternate installation CD from october 25. The process will take about one hour.

UPDATE 18/03/08: We have published an updated installation guide at the PSUbuntu Wiki!

1. Prepare your media

Download the alternate installation CD from this page. The alternate disk has no liveCD-functionality, which makes the installation procedure quicker – but without a GUI.

Burn the iso-file to a CD. How to burn an iso file.

Download this otheros.bld file and put it on a USB stick or burned media using the path

/PS3/OTHEROS/otheros.bld

(make a folder at the root of the media called PS3, then create a folder inside it called OTHEROS. Place the downloaded otheros.bld file inside the OTHEROS folder)

2. Prepare the PS3

We need to format the hard disk to make room for the Other OS on the PS3. Before formatting you might want to backup your saved data.

  • Go to [Settings] > [System Settings] > [Format Utility].
  • Choose [Custom] and [Allot 10GB to the Other OS].
  • Choose [Quick Format] and confirm.When the format is completed, press X to restart the system.

Now insert your USB stick or CD (the one with the otheros.bld file) into the PS3 and go to [Settings] > [System Settings] > [Install Other OS]. When you see the screen with Title and Location of the otheros.bld file, press [Start] (X) to install the kboot loader.When the installation completes there will be an info screen telling you to go to [Settings] > [System Settings] > [Default System] and set it to [Other OS].

Insert the Ubuntu installation disc and boot it up by restarting the PS3 (by pressing [Yes] at the [Default System] > [Other OS] prompt).

3. Loading the installer

After a few lines of text, the terminal will stop and display:

This is an Ubuntu Live CDROM

If in doubt, just press Enter.

kboot: _

Pressing Enter will start the installation with the kernel loading the system.

After detecting your hardware, you need to partition a disk. Select Guided – use entire disk, select /dev/ps3da 10,7 GB, and format #1 as ext3 and #5 as swap. All options should be the defaults if you have followed this guide, so you should be able to just hit Enter through most screens.

4. Installing the base system

Fill in information about yourself and your system by following the configuration screens.You may set up you wireless network now or choose to do this later (in the desktop environment).

Hostname: PSUbuntu (or whatever you want)

Setting up resolution can be done later, so just hit Continue.

When the installation completes the CD will be ejected so you won’t be restarting the installation at the next boot. The screen might hang at a line saying “USB bus deregistered”. Just hold in the I/O button on the front to force a restart of the PS3.

When it reboots, hit Enter at the kboot: prompt. Wait for a while, and you will soon be greeted by the Ubuntu login screen!

To configure your system (including fixing the resolution which is probably set very low), see the PSUbuntu setup page or consult our forums.

Something went wrong!

You can always restart the PS3 by holding down the front I/O sensor. If you hold it down until it beeps two times it will shut down. At the kboot: prompt, set the default OS back to XMB by writing:

kboot: boot-game-os

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