This guide will help you set up Ubuntu 7.10 on your PS3 there is no risk of leaving the PS3 dead you if you cant get it set up and you cant get back to the PS3 system you just turn off the PS3 and then hold the power button for a about 5 seconds untill it beeps a couple of times then it will reset and boot the standard PS3 system

Requirements:  USB Keyboard & Mouse, Either a copy of Ubuntu 8.10 for the PS3 ready burnt onto a CD or you will need a PC and a blank CD to burn the ununtu download onto.

If you are installing Ubuntu I recommend you try the new Ubuntu 8.10 which is much better for wireless networking and setting up bluetooth devices, you will find our guide on the right menu

This 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.

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 most people can just click the file and their burning program will open up to start burning otherwise look for instructions in Google, Nero will burn by clicking the file .

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.

Install Kboot

1. Insert the CD you burned the Ubuntu image into the PlayStation 3.

2. In the XMB, go to [Settings] > [System Settings] > [Install Other OS].

3. The “otheros.bld” file will be detected on the CD by the PlayStation 3. Press “X” on the controller to select “OK” which is automatically highlighted at this prompt. After selecting “OK”, the kboot boot loader will be installed.

1. In the XMB, go to [Settings] > [System Settings] > [Default System].

2. Choose “Other OS” as the default.
3. At the following prompt you will be asked if you want to boot into the Other OS now. Choose “Yes.”

4. The PlayStation 3 will restart and boot into a command line prompt. The prompt will look like this.

kboot:

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: PS3-Ubuntu (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 other posts

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  OR   ps3-boot-game-os (which seams to be what it is now)