My 2013 iMac recently malfunctioned and is stuck in a startup loop. I created a boot disk for Cinnamon on a USB stick, but I'm encountering a kernel panic screen with a message that says "kernel panic! Please reboot your computer, fatal exception in interrupt". I've checked the RAM and removed one stick, leaving only the one that passed the test. However, I can only boot in compatibility mode. Is there anything I need to do in compatibility mode first, or should I try a different approach? I'm quite new to this—my last Linux experience was installing Ubuntu on my laptop about 15 years ago before switching back to Windows.
3 Answers
If compatibility mode works for you, it might be worth sticking with that while you figure things out. While you're at it, trying Ubuntu instead of Cinnamon could also be a good idea. Sometimes different flavors of Linux handle hardware compatibility better than others.
Kernel panics can be a bit tricky, but they're usually accompanied by some detailed error messages. Check if there’s a specific error code or a QR code on the screen when it happens. Even if you don't know how to interpret it, sharing that information can be crucial for diagnosing the issue.
I've installed Ubuntu 24.04 on older Intel Macs like the Mac Mini without issue by following standard steps. For your USB boot, make sure to shut down your Mac, then turn it back on while holding the Option key. Sounds like you're doing this right, but using a wired keyboard can help if the wireless one isn’t registering. Once in the Startup Manager, select your USB drive and hit Enter. If you're getting kernel panic only in normal mode, compatibility mode might be your safe way in for now while you troubleshoot.
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