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Description:
Use Mac OS X on an ordinary PC without Apple hardware! Use this comprehensive step by step guide to install and boot a fully functional Mac OS X installation from an external USB/thumb drive or FireWire drive.
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ISO Copyright Notes
Various hackers have released hacked ISO torrents that can be installed on PCs. However, this violates the Apple EULA agreement and there are legal issues with using the ISOs. The legal ways to obtain a copy would be:
1) Become an Apple Developer ($500 membership)
2) Buy a real mac, deactivate the copy of OS X and install it on a PC (this way would be pointless because the whole point is to run OS X without getting a mac). This way also somewhat violates the EULA because the agreement says that you can't run OS X on non-Apple hardware.
Its best to get a legal copy of the ISO because then you can install the software without worry about malicious software or about the software phoning home.
With that said, lets begin.
Note about FireWire Drives: This same guide can be used to install to a FireWire drive as long as your BIOS supports booting from FireWire devices.
This guide will walk you through step-by-step on how to install and boot Mac OSx86 on an external USB drive connected to an ordinary PC.
Note: For the demonstration with screenshots, we will be using VMware and the Uphuck 1.4iR3 ISO.
What you need:
- Processor that supports SSE2 and/or SSE3 instruction sets (check using CPU-Z for Windows)
- One working unused USB port
- BIOS that supports booting from USB devices
- A DVD burner to burn the ISO
- An external USB drive/Thumb drive with a storage capacity of at least 6GB that is formatted as FAT32
- USB Keyboard and Mouse OR PS2 Keyboard and Mouse (both have to be same type)
- A pre-patched Mac OS X ISO image (see above statement regarding copyright)
Recommended ISOs:
- Mac OS X 10.4.8 [JaS AMD Intel SSE2 SSE3 PPF1 + PPF2] - For Intel and AMD/SSE2 or SSE3
- Uphuck 10.4.9 v1.3 Universal DVD - For Intel and AMD/SSE2 or SSE3
- Uphuck 1.4a and 1.4i series - Intel Only/SSE2 or SSE3
- Kalyway 10.4.10 V1.0 - Intel SSE3 only
- Kalyway 10.4.10 V.1.1 PPF1 - For Intel and AMD/SSE2 or SSE3
- XxX 10.4.10/10.4.11 - Intel SSE2/SSE3
- Tubgirl 10.4.10 - AMD SSE3 only
- Kalyway 10.5.2 - Intel AMD SSE2 SSE3
- Leo4Allv3 - Intel AMD SSE2 SSE3
Check hardware compatibility:
Before installing OS X you have to check if your hardware (other than processor) is compatible. To check this, go to the OSx86 Project Wiki and view the HCLs (Hardware Compatibility Lists). If your hardware is supported, then you're OK. If any of your hardware is on the Incompatible List, then you know that the component or in some cases the entire system will not work with OS X.
Note: If you encounter problems or errors anywhere throughout the procedure, please skip straight to the troubleshooting section.
Step 1: Burn the ISO
Use burning software such as Nero to burn your Mac OSx86 pre patched ISO onto a DVD-R disc.
Step 2: Boot from DVD
Insert your burned DVD into your drive. Turn on your USB External drive (make sure its formatted as FAT32!). Make sure that your BIOS is set to boot from CD/DVD first and reboot the computer to boot into the OS X DVD.
Step 3: Formatting the drive
If the OS X DVD successfully boots, you should get to a language screen like the one below:
(click to enlarge)
Choose your language and click the blue arrow button to proceed to the next step.
(click to enlarge)
Here, click the Utilities menu and select Disk Utility. Wait for it to gather the hard disk information.
(click to enlarge)
As shown by the screenshot above, follow these steps:
- Select your USB external drive device from the left menu (Make sure you select the right device!)
- Click the Partition tab
- Set the Volume Scheme to 1 Partition
- Give the partition a name
- Set the format to Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
- Make sure the size is correct and that it matches your drives capacity
Now click the Options button to bring up the menu below:
Note: Some DVDs may not have the options button. If you can't see an Options button, then skip the step with the options button and continue to partition. However, if your computer (that you are sure supports booting from USB) does not detect the bootloader and you need the DVD to boot the install, then get a DVD with the Options button, follow the necessary steps to format and partition with that DVD and install using the DVD you were planning to use.
(click to enlarge)
As shown, select the Master Boot Record option and click OK. Click the Partition button and then click Partition again in the box that comes up. Wait for your drive to be partitioned (it shouldn't take long) and proceed to the next step.
(click to enlarge)
Once partitioning is done, follow these steps:
- Click you new volume from the left (e.g. OS X USB in this case)
- Click the Erase tab
- Click the Erase button and click Erase again in the dialog that pops up
Wait for the Erase process to finish (it should only take a few seconds). Then. click the Disk Utility menu and choose Quit Disk Utility to return back to the Welcome screen.
Step 4: Installation
You should be back in the Welcome screen in screenshot 2. Click the Continue button to proceed to the following screen:
(click to enlarge)
Depending on your DVD, this page may or may not have important information to read. If there is info, its recommended that you read it. Once you're done. click Continue. On some DVDs, a dialog pops up asking whether you agree or disagree to the EULA. Click Agree if it pops up to continue to the next step.
(click to enlarge)
Choose the volume that you formatted earlier and click Continue.
(click to enlarge)
This part is extremely tricky. It is recommended just to choose the Main System/Essential System Software and the patch for your CPU (if it exists) and then install drivers later. But its your choice. You could go for the recommended approach and just do as stated above or you could go all out and install the drivers for your hardware devices as well. If you need help, see the Troubleshooting Section at the bottom.
Make your selection and click Install.
(click to enlarge)
A box will pop up saying "Checking your Installation DVD". Click Skip to save time. Wait for installation to complete and a Restart button will appear. Click Restart to shut down the installer to boot OS X (but before OS X boots, you need to follow the below step)
Step 5: Booting from USB Drive
When installation is done, after clicking the Restart button, don't wait for it to boot into OS X. Instead boot straight into your BIOS.
Note: To get into BIOS, usually the key to press will be displayed on the logo screen (e.g. Press Esc to enter setup). If not, check your motherboard/computer manual on how to do this
Now you will have to set the computer to boot from USB. Every BIOS is different so you may have to check the manual. On the test machines Phoenix Award BIOS, we had to:
- Go into the Boot tab
- Go into the Hard Disk Priority option
- Set the USB drive as the first boot device by pressing PgUp
- Press F10 to save changes and reboot
Make sure you've set it right and save changes and boot into OS X.
Enjoy OS X!
If you encounter problems booting, then go to the Troubleshooting section below:
Troubleshooting
Due to the vast variety of errors you may encounter, we cannot list all the solutions here. Here's how you can get help:
First of all, you need to know the error messages you are getting. To do so, boot OS X in verbose mode. Heres how:
Restart the computer to boot OS X, and before OS X starts to load, keep tapping F8 on your keyboard. If you did it right you will
eventually get to a prompt that says:
boot:
Type in:
-v
And press enter. Post up the error screen and/or record down any errors you get. Send the errors along with your support request. Once you know the error you are getting, here are 3 methods to get support:
1) Post a topic at the InsanelyMac Forums asking for help
3) Send a support request to PCWiz through this form so we can help you
4) Try and solve the problem yourself by looking for info in the OSx86 Project Wiki
Thanks for using this guide and enjoy OSx86!
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