The CVS kernel source is constantly changing as features are added, bugs squashed, versions updated, etc. As a result, you'll want to always keep up with the latest kernel. Instructions for getting the kernel source can be found in the FAQ . Penguin Booter You need this to boot Linux. You can download the latest version of Penguin at the File Release page .
Older versions are available here .
You may want to try version 17 or 18 if version 19 gives you trouble, although version 19 has fixed compatibility with many machines. Give one of these a shot. They're old, but should still work with the latest kernels. You can also try the Debian installer image . The FAQ has a list of MacOS utilities that will help you set up your machine for Linux.