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Description:
The Newbies FAQ to Mac OSx86 to help newbies with the most frequently asked questions
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This is a guide to help newbies with the most common questions regarding OSx86.
Last Updated: May 1, 2008
What is OSx86?
OSx86
is the "art" of installing and running Mac OS X on a normal ordinary PC
rather than a mac. It has evolved a lot over the many years and now we
are very close to perfection.
What is the difference between a native install and a virtual (VMware) install?
A
native install is actually installing Mac OS X as a separate operating
system and booting it independently like you would boot any other
normal OS. A virtual VMware install runs within another operating
system (Windows, Linux, etc.) within the VMware application. Native
installs are much easier and faster than a virtual machine install and
probably the only reason you would want a VMware install nowadays is if
you just want to try it out lightly, or if you don't have a place where
you can install it.
How hard is it to get OSx86 running?
This
really depends. If you have well supported hardware, then it should be
easy as installing Windows or any other operating system. If you have
tricky hardware that hasn't been tested, then you may experience
problems and you may need to take matters into your own hands. One
thing is for sure though, if you are uncomfortable with command line
operations or troubleshooting, Mac OSx86 won't be nice for you.
What version of OS X should I install?
Right
now, you can choose to install Mac OS X Tiger 10.4 or Mac OS X Leopard
10.5. Tiger is more smoothed out, so if you are a beginner it may be
best to start out with Tiger, get some experience on the way it works
and then gradually move towards Leopard. If you have some previous
experience, you can try and make the jump to Leopard. Also, you may
have some hardware that only works with one version or the other, so in
that case the decision will already be made for you.
Will my hardware work with Mac OSx86?
The
first and most important requirement your system MUST have is a
processor that supports SSE2 and/or SSE3 instruction sets. You can
check this by using CPU-Z for Windows. SSE3 is preferred for running
Mac OS X, and SSE2 is getting harder and harder to get to work as the
new versions come.
The next step is to find out if your other
hardware works. This you can find out pretty easily. There is 2 ways to
do this. One is by using the wiki and the other way is to use a search
engine. The wiki is generally easier so that's where you should start.
Go to the wiki homepage
and in the middle of the page, there is a list of HCLs (Hardware
Compatibility Lists). Choose the right version of OS X that you are
planning to install and choose the right sub category (Desktop
computers, Laptops, or Components). Check the lists out and see if your
hardware is listed. If your hardware is listed, check the information
and see whether it works or not, and what patches or drivers were
required to make it work. If your hardware is not listed anywhere, you
will have to either just go for it and try it out yourself, or try and
find info on it using the second method: using a search engine
If
you use a search engine to search for your hardware compatibility with
OSx86, then it will cover a much wider range and it will be much more
likely that you find info. There are 2 ways to search. One way is to
use Google with modifiers:
<Query> site:forum.insanelymac.com
Replace
Query with your hardware and check the forum results for any
information on your specific hardware. The second way is easier, and it
uses my Mac OSx86 Search Engine. Type your hardware query into the "InsanelyMac & OSx86 Project Wiki" search box and go.
What is the best hardware for OSx86?
You
can find the best hardware by looking at other people's experiences, or
looking in the wiki for hardware thats listed as fully compatible. But
in a nutshell, this would be generally: A motherboard with a Intel P35
or 975 based chipset (e.g. Gigabyte GA-P35 series, Intel Bad Axe 2,
ASUS P5W DH), a GeForce 6600 card or above or an ATI X1300 or higher,
and an Intel Core 2 based CPU. There are tons of components that work
so its ultimately your decision and your needs that decide what you get.
There are so many distributions available. Which one do I choose?
This will be divided into OS X Tiger and OS X Leopard:
OS X Tiger
For
OS X Tiger, there are a ton of distributions you can go with. Eliminate
the really old ones (10.4.1-10.4.7) and go for one that is at least
10.4.8. Here is a table of the most popular distributions and their
requirements (use this table to choose one that matches your needs):
JaS 10.4.8 AMD Intel SSE2 SSE3 - Compatible with anything
Uphuck 10.4.9 1.3 Series - Yet another universal DVD that is compatible with just about anything
Uphuck 10.4.9 1.4i Series - Intel only installation DVD, and it comes at a tiny file size as well
Uphuck 10.4.9 1.4a - The AMD version of the 1.4i DVD
Kalyway 10.4.10 Intel SSE3 only - Intel SSE3 only 10.4.10 installation DVD
XxX 10.4.10 - Another Intel only DVD but this one supports SSE2 as well
Tubgirl 10.4.10 - An AMD installation DVD for 10.4.10
XxX 10.4.11 - The only 10.4.11 DVD, SSE2 support is untested and some issues with it were reported
OS X Leopard
Leopard doesn't have as many distributions as Tiger but it still has quite a few choices:
Leopard Flat Image - Preinstalled image of Leopard that you write on a hard drive ; outdated
ToH 10.5.0 RC2 - The first OS X installer DVD ; compatible with SSE2/SSE3 but Intel only
BrazilMac
- This is the only DVD that uses an original Leopard DVD and patches it
to be hackintosh compatible ; Intel only, SSE2 compatible with a
patched kernel
iATKOS 10.5.1 v1.0ir2
- Intel only SSE2/SSE3 installation DVD 10.5.1. Many bootloader issues
have been reported with this latest creation from the osx86.turk team
Zephyroth 10.5.1 AMD DVD - AMD only DVD for 10.5.1 installs
Kalyway 10.5.1 - Intel only SSE2/SSE3 DVD, many success stories with this DVD
Zephyroth 10.5.2 Rev. 1 - The first 10.5.2 DVD and its AMD only
Leo4All 10.5.2 Universal - Leo4All is a rather new distro of Leopard OSx86 that works on any Intel/AMD SSE2/SSE3 system
Kalyway 10.5.2 AMD/Intel/SSE2/SSE3 Universal DVD - Newest version of Kalyway that includes the 10.5.2 update. Plus, its AMD compatible
So, it may seem like a hard choice but just choose one and try
Where do I download these DVDs?
We DO NOT EVER support pirating so no links will be posted, but you can
find most of these easily by searching for the DVD name + torrent.
Anyway, most of these are available at the usual torrent places, the
bay of pirates, a small nova, a place where rocks are broken, and some
others. They will come in ISO files, ZIP files, or RAR files ranging
anywhere from 1GB to 4.7GB. Before getting anything please BUY a Leopard license and support Apple!
How do I partition and format my drive for OSx86
You
can partition and format your hard drive for OSx86 by using Disk
Utility, which you can access by booting from your OSx86 DVD and going
to the Utilities >> Disk Utility option. You have to format your
partitions as either Mac OS Extended or Mac OS Extended (Journaled) to
be able to boot OS X. You have a couple bootloader options too, GUID or
MBR. MBR is recommended if you are installing on a separate hard drive
or if you are installing Tiger, and GUID is good for Leopard dual boot
installs.
How do I install OS X?
This
is not general at all, in the case of most DVDs you just pop it in,
boot from it in install. Others like BrazilMac you have to go through a
patching, with Leopard flat, you have wriite it to a hard drive.
Anyway, some require post install steps, and depending on your hardware
you may need specific drivers and patches. This is way too broad of an
area so the key word to this is research. Google is your friend.
Some of my hardware is not working. What do I do to get it working?
The
first place you should look for solutions to your hardware problems is
Rammjet's excellent series of how to's for various hardware. He has
tutorials for Video, Keyboards/Trackpads/Mice, Wireless, Ethernet, Audio, and Micellaneous
solutions. You will likely find solutions for your hardware in there.
If you don't find solutions, the other way to get info is to use the
research tips I outlined in "What hardware will work with OSx86" (using
Google with modifiers, the OSx86 Search Engine, or the wiki).
You can also manually search for drivers in the X Labs.
Where can I get a general installation guide?
You can find general installation guides in several places. Once place would be the Installation Guides section of the wiki. Another place would be the InsanelyMac Genius Bar. And the other place is the OSx86 10.4 and OSx86 10.5 forums. You can also find guides that are on external sites other than InsanelyMac and the OSx86 Project by using Google.
Where can I get a specific installation guide for my hardware?
The first place to look would be the Genius Bar
in InsanelyMac. There are tons of tutorials for various video cards,
motherboards, audio, and just about everything else. Search through a
few pages and see if you can find anything. If you can't find a
tutorial manually, once again, research using...once again:
Google with search modifiers, the OSx86 Search Engine, or the wiki. You
can also find guides that are on external sites other than InsanelyMac
and the OSx86 Project by using Google.
Can I update my software using Apple Software Update?
This
depends. First of all, any OSx86 machine will probably take any update
except for the system updates that update your system to a new version
(e.g. 10.4.9 --> 10.4.10). If you have PC EFI installed (covered
next), then you can install any update without worry. If you are using
patched kernels and extensions, then you can't install system updates
without using a specialized OSx86 updater package or without restoring
the patched kernel and extensions. If you install an Apple system
update while using patched kernels and extensions you will break your
installation. NOTE: The new 10.5.2 update needs a specialized install process.
What is PC EFI?
EFI
stands for Extensible Firmware Interface which is the "BIOS" used in
Intel Macs. This is what allows the mac to work like a mac and be
recognized like a mac. Up until now, we had to used patched kernels and
patched extensions to make it work. But now, hacker netkas has
developed an PC EFI system where the EFI code is injected into the
bootloader, making OS X think that you are using a real mac. This
allows for the installation of default Apple extensions and kernels
(AKA vanilal kernels). This also means that you can update your
software directly from Apple software update without damaging it.
What are the system requirements for PC EFI?
The
system requirements for PC EFI are quite simple. For just plain old PC
EFI with no vanilla kernel all you need is a working Leopard or Tiger
install and that's it. But if you want to use a vanilla kernel (Apple's
kernel), then you also need a Core 2 series or a Pentium Dual Core (NOT
Pentium D) processor.
How do I install PC EFI?
If
you are installing Leopard, you have 2 options: either installing it
from your OSx86 DVD (if your OSx86 DVD has an option to install PC EFI)
or if you want more control, you can install it manually. If you have
Tiger, your only option is to install it manually. If your install DVD
contains an option for installing PC EFI, select it and install and PC
EFI will automatically be installed. If you are installing manually,
then your best option is to use i am...me's EFI v8 installation guide here.
How do I dual boot OSx86 and another OS?
This
can get extremely tricky, with all the bootloaders and the mess. If you
are dual booting linux and OSx86, your best option is to use the GRUB
bootloader or Acronis OS Selector. If you are dual booting OSx86 and
Windows XP there is an easy option, chain0.
If you are dual booting Vista and OSx86 you can use the existing Vista
bootloader with some edits using the EasyBCD tool. There are many dual
booting guides available, once again check the places I outlined
earlier, the Installation Guides section of the wiki, the InsanelyMac Genius Bar, and use Google to search for tutorials on external sites.
Can I install OS X from a retail Leopard DVD?
Yes, this is possible. Please go here
for a very detailed 10.5.2 Retail Leopard install guide. Basically the
procedure is you put in the DVD, and using Terminal you start
installing OS X from OSInstall.mpkg onto your internal or external HD.
Then you would install PC_EFI and install the dsmos.kext decrypter.
Then last, you would install some modified kexts.
I have a error or problem while installing. What should I do?
Again,
the first thing you should do is research with the research tips I
repeated at least 3 times (Google, Mac OSx86 Search Engine, wiki).
Thoroughly research any errors you are getting in those three resources
and 90% of the time you will find a solution, because chances are that
you are not the first one to experience these problems. If you
absolutely cannot find anything, then that's your cue to make a nice
polite, non-demanding topic on the forums (and I might say, in the
CORRECT forum) asking for help. You will need to list your system
specifications, what install DVD/method you are using, and any errors
you are getting. You will need to post your problem in one of the
subforums of the Homebrew Macs (Home of OSx86) section. Make sure you post in the right subforum, use your common sense.
How do I find out device IDs for my hardware?
Device
IDs are commonly used to add to kexts to get certain hardware working,
or to identify specific versions or revisions or hardware like video
cards. The easiest way to find out device IDs is by using a free
utility called DPCI Manager. Download and run the utility and it will list your hardware devices and their corresponding device IDs.
Where can I download the latest kernels
The latest kernels can be downloaded from the IRC channel irc.osx86.hu. You have to use an IRC client like Colloquy if you are on OS X or Xchat
if you are on Windows to connect to the server. Once connected, if you
want kernels for your version of OS X you have to connect to a room.
For example, if you want kernels for Leopard you would connect to room #10.5 If you wanted kernels for Tiger you would connect to #10.4. Once you are connected to a room the kernel download links will be listed at the top.
How do I install kernels?
One way to install kernels would be through a helper application like PCWiz OS X Kernel Installer,
which automatically installs kernels for you through a guided wizard.
There is also a manual way to install the kernel. Here's how: Place the
kernel file on your desktop and rename it to mach_kernel. Then, open up
the Terminal program from Applications >> Utilities and run the
following commands:
sudo -s
[enter password]
cp -R /mach_kernel /mach_kernel.backup
cp -R ~/Desktop/mach_kernel /mach_kernel
It
is always a good idea to repair permissions after the kernel install
using Disk Utility (Applications >> Utilities, select your volume
from left pane and click Repair Permissions). Restart the computer for
the kernel changes to take effect. If your new kernel is causing mess
ups and instability, you can boot using the old kernel by going to the
F8 boot prompt (press F8 when OS X is loading) and typing in mach_kernel.toh and pressing Enter (assuming that you used the exact commands above)
How do I install kexts (Kernel Extensions)?
The easiest way to install kexts (Kernel Extensions, usually some sort of driver) is to use a helper application like Kext Helper
that automatically installs the kexts for you. The other way is a
manual method: Put the kext you want to install on the Desktop. Next,
if you are planning to replace a kext that is already installed with a
different version, run the following commands from Terminal
(Applications >> Utilities) to back it up:
sudo -s
[enter password]
mkdir /KextBackup/
cp -R /System/Library/Extensions/name_of_kext.kext /KextBackup/
Once
you are done backing up (or if you are installing a completely new
kext), after making sure the kext is on the Desktop, run these commands
with Terminal:
sudo -s
[enter password]
cp -R ~/Desktop/name_of_kext.kext /System/Library/Extensions/
chown -R root:wheel /System/Library/Extensions/name_of_kext.kext
chmod -R 755 /System/Library/Extensions/name_of_kext.kext
rm -rf /System/Library/Extensions.mkext
Replace
"name_of_kext" in these commands with the actual file name of the kext
you are installing. Reboot for the changes to take effect.
Why is there a time difference in Mac OS X and Windows dual boots?
As
you may have already noticed, there is always a time change when dual
booting Mac OS X and Windows, whether it be with Boot Camp or a
hackint0sh. After booting into OS X and going into Windows (or vice
versa) the time always gets messed up. Various solutions have been
posted, and this page sums up all the solutions so you can try all the various solutions for this problem and see if one works for you.
How can I get 5.1 surround sound on my hackintosh?
Even
if your audio is working, to get 5.1 channel audio requires the
creation of an aggregate audio device. This will work with any
codec/driver. Please go here for a detailed guide on how to do this.
*END* If you have any general newbie questions that you would like answered, please post them as comments on this thread and I will answer them and maybe put them in the FAQ if they are good enough :)
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