[Guide] Success! Install 10.8 on old unsupported Mac

[themav]

My MacBook (3,1) doesen't finish the installation.

From the Installer log:

Jul 31 20:15:21 localhost OSInstaller[317]: install:didFailWithError:Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=110 "An error occurred while extracting files from the package “Essentials.pkg”." UserInfo=0x7fbc8082c3a0 {NSUnderlyingError=0x7fbc806f31f0 "The operation couldn’t be completed. cpio read error: bad file format", NSFilePath=/Volumes/Macbook USB/.OSInstallSandbox-tmp/Root, NSURL=Essentials.pkg -- file://localhost/System/Installation/Packages/OSInstall.mpkg, PKInstallPackageIdentifier=com.apple.pkg.Essentials, NSLocalizedDescription=An error occurred while extracting files from the package “Essentials.pkg”.}
Jul 31 20:15:21 localhost OSInstaller[317]: Install failed: The Installer encountered an error that caused the installation to fail. Contact the software manufacturer for assistance.

 

[musicman0725]

Hi Hackerwayne,

I also want to give my appreciation for all the work you guys are doing.

In my testing the 4GB limitation also applies post installation. I did try upping my memory to 8GB and I didn't get a kernel panic but after the first reboot once the installation finished it gets close the the end of the boot process and then stalls on a spinning cog.

I've been able to boot with 8GB (split between both risers) but when I have 10GB I either can't boot and get a kernel panic or the system boots and reports 10GB of memory, but activity monitor only shows 5GB available.

Additionally, although my graphics card is detected (Nvidia Geforce 8800GT for Apple 32bit EFI) I was only able to open aperture once. Every other time I've booted the system I get "your graphics card does not meet the requirement". Graphics performance hasn't been great with my card on ML (although it's fine on Lion).

I am able to log in to iCloud (ran migration assistant during setup) but can't log into iMessage/FaceTime (which is expected). Although ML has been a little unstable on my Mac Pro, everything runs well in Lion. I'd definitely recommend keeping a SL/Lion partition handy.

 

[H2SO4]

Bypassing App Store checks.

Biggest problem for me is not actually being allowed to download from an unsupported Mac, (I don't have a supported one).
Does anybody know or have any idea what AppStore.App looks at when making its checks?
There must be something I can add/modify in there surely?
I'm assuming it's an XML file somewhere. I can copy the orignal somewhere safe, modify/reboot......or does that sound like a hiding to nothing?

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

Biggest problem for me is not actually being allowed to download from an unsupported Mac, (I don't have a supported one).
Does anybody know or have any idea what AppStore.App looks at when making its checks?

I do not know what MAS checks, but Apples "Distribution" installation script (within .pkg update files) checks the OS X version in
/System/Library/CoreServices/SystemVersion.plist

I downloaded ML from a Mac with Snow Leopard 10.6.8 without any modifications.

 

[H2SO4]

I do not know what MAS checks, but Apples "Distribution" installation script (within .pkg update files) checks the OS X version in
/System/Library/CoreServices/SystemVersion.plist

I downloaded ML from a Mac with Snow Leopard 10.6.8 without any modifications.

Aha, but which Mac did you download from?

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

Aha, but which Mac did you download from?

Early-2011 17" MacBook Pro (SL 10.6.8) and Mid-2012 15" MacBook Pro (Lion 10.7.5).

 

[A1varo]

Hi all. Excelent post. Congrats to all. I have a MacBook white mid. 2007 with Intel GMA 950.

I have a studi question, sorry.

I can't find BaseSystem.dmg. Where is it?? Is hidden? I drang InstallESD.dmg to desktop and enable hidden files, but I can't see BaseSystem.dmg.

Thanks!

EDIT: I found it!! I 'll go to take the instructions list, and try to install!

 

[hackerwayne]

I've done the hack on the MacBook 4,1 too (C2D 2.4 GHz, white, 4 GB RAM). I did a clean install.



All of this confirmed.

- Though with FaceTime I got an unexpected quit when I tried to call somebody (it was "cl_kernels" that crashed).
- My problem wasn't that it wouldn't go to sleep when I closed the lid, but that it wouldn't come out of it.
- The Twitter problem looks like this: http://cl.ly/IREJ
- YouTube partially works in Safari 6 (and that's only because I asked for them in HTML 5). If I didn't do that, they simply don't play. Same behaviour in Chrome. [This could be overcome by using an extension to force HTML 5 video on every single video, like Click2Flash].
- Other Flash things work fine though, like the jwplayer plugin and Vimeo.
- Weird image contrast issues in Safari 6: http://cl.ly/IQL8/ - now look at the image opened up in a new tab: http://cl.ly/IQRe Confirm this for yourself here: http://zackeryfretty.com/forwarding-growl-notifications-to-notification-center-on-mountain-lion/ - this seems to happen completely at random on a variety of sites. Does not happen in Chrome.
- Apparently the invisible scroll-bars are supposed to fade-in when you rest two fingers on the trackpad - doesn't happen for me. Could simply be to do with the fact that the trackpad is an old model though, not a "glass" one.

I will report back as and when I find other issues.

I think I'm using the kexts in #22 already... :/ I would be intrigued to get a package of Sveto's drivers if he's able to open LaunchPad instantly.

Nope, the 2007 MBP does not have multitouch trackpad and it still works.

 

[themav]

My MacBook (3,1) doesen't finish the installation.

From the Installer log:

Jul 31 20:15:21 localhost OSInstaller[317]: install:didFailWithError:Error Domain=PKInstallErrorDomain Code=110 "An error occurred while extracting files from the package “Essentials.pkg”." UserInfo=0x7fbc8082c3a0 {NSUnderlyingError=0x7fbc806f31f0 "The operation couldn’t be completed. cpio read error: bad file format", NSFilePath=/Volumes/Macbook USB/.OSInstallSandbox-tmp/Root, NSURL=Essentials.pkg -- file://localhost/System/Installation/Packages/OSInstall.mpkg, PKInstallPackageIdentifier=com.apple.pkg.Essentials, NSLocalizedDescription=An error occurred while extracting files from the package “Essentials.pkg”.}
Jul 31 20:15:21 localhost OSInstaller[317]: Install failed: The Installer encountered an error that caused the installation to fail. Contact the software manufacturer for assistance.

I'm not trying to be anxious, but I want help and don't want my post forgotten.

 

[Owendonk]

I'm not trying to be anxious, but I want help and don't want my post forgotten.

I got error 110 with my early 2008 MacBook pro. I have a bootable USB with 10.8 on it that worked for my Mac mini. I have reset pram, taken the battery out and held power for 5 seconds. Disk utility won't even zero it out all the way but. I've never had a hard drive problem until trying to clean install mountain lion. Any ideas short of trying to reinstall lion first and just upgrading?

 

[themav]

I got error 110 with my early 2008 MacBook pro. I have a bootable USB with 10.8 on it that worked for my Mac mini. I have reset pram, taken the battery out and held power for 5 seconds. Disk utility won't even zero it out all the way but. I've never had a hard drive problem until trying to clean install mountain lion. Any ideas short of trying to reinstall lion first and just upgrading?

Yeah, could someone help us

 

[A1varo]

Hi, first of all, sorry for my english. I had installed 10.8, and I want to make a feedback, to report some troubles that I've found. I have a white MacBook 2007 with the Intel GMA 950, Core2Duo 2.16 GHz, and 2 GB of RAM.

Like too people, GMA950 didn't have acceleration, may be this have a relationship whit the brightness, that is always a full level.

Other problem NOT related with the GMA950, is when I close the screen to set the MacBook on repose, it isn't works. The screen is always shut down and I have to shutdown the Mac from start button.

I would like to help to reporting over some troubles.

By the moment, everything else is ok.

 

[MI-Drum420]

Success!! OS X 10.8 is running beautifully from what I can tell on my Early 2008 Black MacBook4,1 with working audio and full video acceleration xD. Once I finally got it, it was so easy and obvious that I feel slightly stupid hahaha. Here's the programs I used:

VMWare Fusion 4
VMWare Fusion 3.1.3
OSXfuse
Carbon Copy Cloner
OS X 10.7.4 Lion
OS X 10.8

Plus
hacked X3100 drivers
Hacked AppleHDA
Hacked boot.efi

AFAIK the brightness adjustment is the only feature that doesn't work properly.

I had to leave like 10 minutes after I got it all booted into ML so this is all from memory but I'll write up a short guide when I get home cause I don't wanna have to type it out on my iPhone haha. But it's easy as Apple pie xD

 

[yuckz0ne]

No Sir, GMA 950 will not have QE/CI. In other words, no acceleration (no youtube, launchpad, flash etc)

Thanks for the quick answer.
And there actually is (or will be) no way to get QE/CI for GMA 950?

I'm sorry to ask that many questions but the updates in your first posts kinda irritate me.

 

[spookfx]

Thanks for the quick answer.
And there actually is (or will be) no way to get QE/CI for GMA 950?

I'm sorry to ask that many questions but the updates in your first posts kinda irritate me.

If you write a 64 bit Intel GMA 950 driver that supports QE/CI and OpenGL for us then yes... Otherwise unless you know someone at Intel or Apple that can write a driver or release a driver, I'm afraid not...

 

[A1varo]

DAMN! Got it working! Thx, the trick you posted doesnt work, but by forcing the kext to load in Single user mode (Cmd+S) and refresh the cache then continue the boot process works!!!

Pics will be up shortly.. =) anyway, should i post the installation method here?

Update: Pics to prove that graphics accelaration works. Launchpad is finally working xD!
Image

Can comeone explain this method?? (what I set in bold-type)

Cmd+S = save??

Thanks

 

[blackfreccia]

Success!! OS X 10.8 is running beautifully from what I can tell on my Early 2008 Black MacBook4,1 with working audio and full video acceleration xD. Once I finally got it, it was so easy and obvious that I feel slightly stupid hahaha. Here's the programs I used:

VMWare Fusion 4
VMWare Fusion 3.1.3
OSXfuse
Carbon Copy Cloner
OS X 10.7.4 Lion
OS X 10.8

Plus
hacked X3100 drivers
Hacked AppleHDA
Hacked boot.efi

AFAIK the brightness adjustment is the only feature that doesn't work properly.

I had to leave like 10 minutes after I got it all booted into ML so this is all from memory but I'll write up a short guide when I get home cause I don't wanna have to type it out on my iPhone haha. But it's easy as Apple pie xD

Hey, were you able to solve the problems I described in my previous post? Does iWork runs well in your Mac?

Thanks!!!

 

[spookfx]

Can comeone explain this method?? (what I set in bold-type)

Cmd+S = save??

Thanks

ok,
1. Shut down your computer so it is fully off
2. press and hold the Apple key (cmd) and the s key
3. turn on the computer.
4. wait for the computer to start showing a load of text on a black screen
5. release cmd and s keys

enjoy single user mode!

 

[hackerwayne]

I'm not trying to be anxious, but I want help and don't want my post forgotten.

Please make sure you copied everything over. Looks like you have a corrupted Essential.pkg

----------

Can comeone explain this method?? (what I set in bold-type)

Cmd+S = save??

Thanks

This is old method, please read post #22

----------

Biggest problem for me is not actually being allowed to download from an unsupported Mac, (I don't have a supported one).
Does anybody know or have any idea what AppStore.App looks at when making its checks?
There must be something I can add/modify in there surely?
I'm assuming it's an XML file somewhere. I can copy the orignal somewhere safe, modify/reboot......or does that sound like a hiding to nothing?

Download Parallel (trial), install Lion in Parallel (assume you have one), and use the App Store to buy ML ($19.99)

 

[wurstsemmel32]

Kernel Sources have been released

Anybody able in here who can compile a kernel that will eat 32 bit (gma950) kexts?


http://opensource.apple.com/release/mac-os-x-108/

 

[A1varo]

ok,
1. Shut down your computer so it is fully off
2. press and hold the Apple key (cmd) and the s key
3. turn on the computer.
4. wait for the computer to start showing a load of text on a black screen
5. release cmd and s keys

enjoy single user mode!

Thanks for your answer!

Please make sure you copied everything over. Looks like you have a corrupted Essential.pkg

----------



This is old method, please read post #22

----------



Download Parallel (trial), install Lion in Parallel (assume you have one), and use the App Store to buy ML ($19.99)

I installed 10.8 following steps of post #22, but not acceleration, and when I saw with this old method launchpad is running, just I would try.

Thanks!

 

[Yetiritter]

@Hackerwayne

I tried your Guide from #22 on my MacBook (Mid 2007 - 2.16 GHz, 4GB RAM) and have the following problem:

Can you tell me how you merged the "CoreServices" und "i386" folder?

I`m not sure if I made it correct! I remember Lion can also merge folders when you press "Alt" key.

Now when I reboot my Mac from the prepared flashdrive it`s hanging by the following line:

"considerRebuild0fPrelinkedKernel com.apple.nke.webcontentfilter triggered rebuild"

Do you know what`s wrong there?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[A1varo]

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/498235

Here, there is people in a discussion over the intel GMA950 driver source for linux. And it seems that in this link ( http://downloadcenter.intel.com/det...dID=9722&strOss=39&OSFullName=Linux*&lang=eng ) we can download the source code.

I post it because I think this can help (may be there is someone that can compile it for 64 bit??), but I'm not sure, I'm not programer...

 

[abrahamw88]

Mac mini 2,1 success and iWork app problems

I have successfully installed 10.8 Mountain lion on it my 2007 Macmini2,1 with Intel GMA 950 Graphics. Everything works as described except for the problems that others have pointed out. The one dealbreaker for me is that iWork apps like Pages won't show any text as some people have already mentioned. I have been trying many different things to get them to work. I have found that if I click on the show outline button in the top left toolbar the text will show up for a brief second and then disappear. Does this mean anything? Is there any way of fixing these apps? Thanks in advance!

 

[hackerwayne]

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/498235

Here, there is people in a discussion over the intel GMA950 driver source for linux. And it seems that in this link ( http://downloadcenter.intel.com/det...dID=9722&strOss=39&OSFullName=Linux*&lang=eng ) we can download the source code.

I post it because I think this can help (may be there is someone that can compile it for 64 bit??), but I'm not sure, I'm not programer...

As far as i know, Linux drivers are very different from Mac (Core Animation, Core Image etc.) So its extremely hard or not possible.