Looking at #Ubuntu or #NixOS install on my Mac Mini
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balena etcher is the recommended tool for flashing USB drives
I downloaded the NixOS image and flashed it onto a USB key
Various attempts to create partitions on my main drive isn’t working, which is what happened before when I was trying this; my disk or partition or something is damaged
I’m using the KVM switch, but plugged the USB key directly into the mini, which I wasn’t sure was going to work
I haven’t been able to boot from that USB key or to have the boot selector come up, but recovery mode does work through the KVM switch
Booting into MacOS/Recovery Mode you need to fully power down, and then hold Command-R or one of the other options while powering on
For me, after Command-Option-R, it asked to select a WiFi network and enter password, and then starts “Internet Recovery”
There was a 5-6 minute period and then rebooted into recovery with an option to install MacOS/Ventura, which I guess is what it downloaded
I decided to go into Disk Utility and choose Erase, so a fresh install of MacOS/Ventura — I’m writing some install notes there