Introduction
Anaconda, the new installer technology used by Yellow Dog Linux 3.0, contains a bug that may prevent Mac OS X from booting. This bug only occurs on systems containing more than one hard drive. The bug toggles a 'boot flag' on the first partition of any drive(s) on which an Apple_Bootstrap partition was not created during installation. Apple_Bootstrap partitions are used by Yellow Dog Linux for the yaboot bootloader software. On Apple systems, the first partition represents the drive's partition map itself. Thus, the bug prevents OS X from booting because of a sanity check performed on the partition map.
Is my OS X installation and data lost!?
Absolutely not. This bug does not harm the data on your hard drives. The procedure outlined below will get Mac OS X operational in short order.
Linux-based fix
Fixing this problem is easiest from Linux. If Yellow Dog Linux 3.0 did not correctly install for whatever reason, please skip to the Mac OS X-based fix section.
The Linux fix requires an updated version of the 'pdisk' partition utility. Instructions for downloading the updated 'pdisk' as well as using it to fix your partition map, please click here.
Mac OS X-based fix
The Mac OS X-based fix may be necessary if you did not successfully install Yellow Dog Linux 3.0. However, since the bug prevents OS X booting, this method will only work if you have another means to get into OS X.
One method to access OS X would be to use a rescue CD, such as BootCD. Another method is to install a second OS X setup on the drive you intended to run Linux on. Once you have access an OS X installation on your system, a version of 'pdisk' compiled for OS X will need to be downloaded. Steps for doing this as well as using it to fix your partition map are available here
Still require assistance?
If you are unable to fix the problem via Linux or Mac OS X, you may email Dan Burcaw at dburcaw at terrasoftsolutions.com and he will be pleased to assist you.
This HOWTO was written by Dan Burcaw, Terra Soft Solutions
