[Guide] Success! Install 10.8 on old unsupported Mac

[mishendr]

Yes, im waiting for 10.8.3 to update the guide all together. I don't want my method to be patched in 10.8.3 cuz Apple can easily patch this and future version will no longer work.

Very good, I think that's the best way to go. I can't wait to try it out, but I think it is better to wait for 10.8.3 and do it right all the way. Apple seems to take it's time with this update, so I suspect it to patch a lot of errors.

And if it doesn't work, we can always go with 10.8.2.

 

[RobertJB]

I have followed the instruction of getting ML 10.8.0 to the pen drive.
When I put it in my Mac Pro 2.1 and start with the option key I can select the pen drive
After like 20 seconds I get the attached panic screen.
Can one of the thread followers point me in the right direction of what I have done wrong

thanks,

 

[boppino]

macpro 1.1

Thank you so much for your efforts, hackerwayne.

I have the Macpro 1.1 with 5770 - and all is ok.

Thank you!

 

[hackerwayne]

I have followed the instruction of getting ML 10.8.0 to the pen drive.
When I put it in my Mac Pro 2.1 and start with the option key I can select the pen drive
After like 20 seconds I get the attached panic screen.
Can one of the thread followers point me in the right direction of what I have done wrong

thanks,

You have more then 8GB RAM.

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Thank you so much for your efforts, hackerwayne.

I have the Macpro 1.1 with 5770 - and all is ok.

Thank you!

you're welcome

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I figured that one out the hard way.. lol. Its okay though because I re downloaded my ML, so 10.8.2, did a reinstall. 10.8.2 seems to be working better, faster boot time, still not as fast as lion but better.

Is chameleon the only way? I know I could edit SMBios.plist but I've read mostly that it won't change anything. I know the MBP 3,1 has the same body as mine, but is supported for ML, therefore that should solve the iCloud problem.

What are the chances we'll ever be able to install updates without a full re installation? Or could there be a way to modify the update packages the same way we did for the initial mountain lion install? I'm more then willing to try things out when the updates start rolling around.

Actually yes, the reason why i said it can't be updated is because there is high chance that Apple is going to remove the X1600 kexts i added it, or at least crippled it. Theoretically speaking, if apple didnt do anything about this in the next update, you can just update it like a normal Mac.

THE ABOVE STATEMENT ONLY APPLIES TO X1600

For the upcoming X3100 and GMA950 patch. Update will INDEFINITELY brick the system. NO EXCEPTION. Reason is simple, we patched the ENTIRE extensions folder to 32bit. That includes the kernel Extensions (Kexts for short) to 32bit. Some from 10.8 DP1 some from 10.7.5.

 

[Nemesis19]

You have more then 8GB RAM.

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you're welcome

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Actually yes, the reason why i said it can't be updated is because there is high chance that Apple is going to remove the X1600 kexts i added it, or at least crippled it. Theoretically speaking, if apple didnt do anything about this in the next update, you can just update it like a normal Mac.

THE ABOVE STATEMENT ONLY APPLIES TO X1600

For the upcoming X3100 and GMA950 patch. Update will INDEFINITELY brick the system. NO EXCEPTION. Reason is simple, we patched the ENTIRE extensions folder to 32bit. That includes the kernel Extensions (Kexts for short) to 32bit. Some from 10.8 DP1 some from 10.7.5.

how the development is going? I have a macbook 4,1 with x3100 and I see it's still in beta testing...and I add these questions:
1. will icloud and imessage work?
2. is the issue with usb fixed? and network shared folders?
3. isight too?
4. sleep and brightness and video playback?

thank you!

 

[hackerwayne]

how the development is going? I have a macbook 4,1 with x3100 and I see it's still in beta testing...and I add these questions:
1. will icloud and imessage work?
2. is the issue with usb fixed? and network shared folders?
3. isight too?
4. sleep and brightness and video playback?

thank you!

1. No. Fix will come in future build. (fear this might never be possible)
Possible solutions are:
* Connect it back to Lion's server.
* Spoof/fake the older Mac to a newer mac. (very hard to do so unless we can modify its serial number and model identifier)
2. Fixed (beta testing. Mix result. OK on MacBook Air, sharing craps out on some GMA 950 MacBooks. #1 reason why we're holding the release. Im working very closely with MLForAll)
3. Fixed
4. Fixed

 

[Nemesis19]

1. No. Fix will come in future build. (fear this might never be possible)
Possible solutions are:
* Connect it back to Lion's server.
* Spoof/fake the older Mac to a newer mac. (very hard to do so unless we can modify its serial number and model identifier)
2. Fixed (beta testing. Mix result. OK on MacBook Air, sharing craps out on some GMA 950 MacBooks. #1 reason why we're holding the release. Im working very closely with MLForAll)
3. Fixed
4. Fixed

Ok. When I installed ml with mlforall method the first time iMessage was fully working. I think you have to use the same approach as for the graphics kext...I hope

 

[hackerwayne]

Ok. When I installed ml with mlforall method the first time iMessage was fully working. I think you have to use the same approach as for the graphics kext...I hope

iMessage and FaceTime might be working. iCloud don't think so

 

[Lil Car]

Next Steps

You said it yourself. You need a compatible computer to purchase. Or a friend with one. Or a virtual machine.
Have a skim through the thread, it'll set you up well if you have problems, much better than waiting until one actually hits you and not being prepared.

Use the search to look for the word compatible in this thread, you'll see the methods others are using. I for one used a 2011MBA that I also have.

1. I have done the necessary steps to get ML on a "compatible computer". I do not find the Basesystem.dmg as described in the tutorial. I have right clicked all over he place.

What have I done wrong?

2. The UNIX steps described I can not replicate, I can type in the first line "$default.....TRUE"
but I cannot get the second line to add "$Killall Finder"

Where can I find a UNIX tutorial as an aid?

I admit this this is all new to me, but the steps seem so forthright, I want to continue, so I can experience the success that so many in this community have had and RUN ML on my Mac Pro 1.1.

Please bear with this rookie.

 

[H2SO4]

Hi all.......

10.8.3 is out!!!

 

[hackerwayne]

10.8.3 is out!!!

Noted. Will try now and see if it breaks anything

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1. I have done the necessary steps to get ML on a "compatible computer". I do not find the Basesystem.dmg as described in the tutorial. I have right clicked all over he place.

What have I done wrong?

2. The UNIX steps described I can not replicate, I can type in the first line "$default.....TRUE"
but I cannot get the second line to add "$Killall Finder"

Where can I find a UNIX tutorial as an aid?

I admit this this is all new to me, but the steps seem so forthright, I want to continue, so I can experience the success that so many in this community have had and RUN ML on my Mac Pro 1.1.

Please bear with this rookie.

Please. just watch the video tutorial. im 99.9999% sure you didn't enable hidden files. And 2. Im sure you included the "$" in the command.

 

[H2SO4]

Noted. Will try now and see if it breaks anything.

Me too. I'm going to attempt an install with that as the base, (as soon as I can download the package from the store that is).

 

[RobertJB]

You have more then 8GB RAM.

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you're welcome

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Actually yes, the reason why i said it can't be updated is because there is high chance that Apple is going to remove the X1600 kexts i added it, or at least crippled it. Theoretically speaking, if apple didnt do anything about this in the next update, you can just update it like a normal Mac.

THE ABOVE STATEMENT ONLY APPLIES TO X1600

For the upcoming X3100 and GMA950 patch. Update will INDEFINITELY brick the system. NO EXCEPTION. Reason is simple, we patched the ENTIRE extensions folder to 32bit. That includes the kernel Extensions (Kexts for short) to 32bit. Some from 10.8 DP1 some from 10.7.5.

You are O so right I have 12 Gb. Took 4 Gb out of the system and now it is installing.
What are the developments on the 8 Gb limit. Once I have the system up and running I would be more then happy to have a go with the HEX part of the EFI.

 

[RobertJB]

You are O so right I have 12 Gb. Took 4 Gb out of the system and now it is installing.
What are the developments on the 8 Gb limit. Once I have the system up and running I would be more then happy to have a go with the HEX part of the EFI.

System installed but reboots after approx 60 sec on the bootscreen.
Is this due to the fact that the system still holds the 7300GT video card
I will have to get my hands on a HD 5770 this weekend

thanks,

 

[Project Alice]

[/COLOR]

Actually yes, the reason why i said it can't be updated is because there is high chance that Apple is going to remove the X1600 kexts i added it, or at least crippled it. Theoretically speaking, if apple didnt do anything about this in the next update, you can just update it like a normal Mac.

THE ABOVE STATEMENT ONLY APPLIES TO X1600

For the upcoming X3100 and GMA950 patch. Update will INDEFINITELY brick the system. NO EXCEPTION. Reason is simple, we patched the ENTIRE extensions folder to 32bit. That includes the kernel Extensions (Kexts for short) to 32bit. Some from 10.8 DP1 some from 10.7.5.

So basically we run the update with our fingers crossed and see if it works or not. What if the updates "fixes" our patched platformsupport.plist? I can pull out the drive and put into my desktop running ML, I know I can deal with the platformsupport.plist from there, but what about installing the kexts? I dont know of a kext utility that can target another volume aside from the one that is booted.

 

[hackerwayne]

So basically we run the update with our fingers crossed and see if it works or not. What if the updates "fixes" our patched platformsupport.plist? I can pull out the drive and put into my desktop running ML, I know I can deal with the platformsupport.plist from there, but what about installing the kexts? I dont know of a kext utility that can target another volume aside from the one that is booted.

You can actually replace platformsupport.plist and kexts via Terminal using the pen drive you created. Then boot into Single User Mode and repair permissions.

 

[MacGolfer]

The update bricked my Xserve

It looks like the 10.8.3 update bricked my Early 2008 Xserve. I now get the dreaded Circle-Slash icon when I try to boot up.

Luckily I have another Mac so I should be able to boot the Xserve into Target Disk Mode to access my startup disk and edit the platformsupport.plist file to include my system. I'll let you know if it worked.

Should I repair permission while I'm at it?

This system is already EFI64 and I've upgraded the video card to an NVIDIA GT120 -- no alternate kexts required.

Apple should actually check the hardware! They are being lazy with their installer by relying solely on the model number to determine whether a system is compatible or not.

The 2008 Xserve is much like the 2009 version (which is supported). Both use Intel Xeon processors and both are EFI64. But for 2009 they did away with the 2008's anaemic ATI X1300 mezzanine video card in favour of an NVIDIA GT120. So how come I can't update the card and move the system into the supported column?

Oh wait, I can! But they don't make it easy[/I]

 

[hackerwayne]

It looks like the 10.8.3 update bricked my Early 2008 Xserve. I now get the dreaded Circle-Slash icon when I try to boot up.

Luckily I have another Mac so I should be able to boot the Xserve into Target Disk Mode to access my startup disk and edit the platformsupport.plist file to include my system. I'll let you know if it worked.

Should I repair permission while I'm at it?

This system is already EFI64 and I've upgraded the video card to an NVIDIA GT120 -- no alternate kexts required.

Apple should actually check the hardware! They are being lazy with their installer by relying solely on the model number to determine whether a system is compatible or not.

The 2008 Xserve is much like the 2009 version (which is supported). Both use Intel Xeon processors and both are EFI64. But for 2009 they did away with the 2008's anaemic ATI X1300 mezzanine video card in favour of an NVIDIA GT120. So how come I can't update the card and move the system into the supported column?

Oh wait, I can! But they don't make it easy[/I]

Thanks for the heads up!
"The 2008 Xserve is much like the 2009 version"
No they're not.
Hapertown vs Nahelem. DDR2 vs DDR3.. Very very different architecture.

I just confirmed X1600 based systems LOCKS UP on 10.8.3. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO UPGRADE FROM 10.8.2 AS IT WILL SCREW UP OPENGL! System will require a FULL REINSTALL back to 10.8.2 before being functional again! Fix is currently being developed for 10.8.3.

 

[Goftrey]

Just booting up the USB stick & it's been going for quite a while now - how long does it usually take?

 

[hackerwayne]

Just booting up the USB stick & it's been going for quite a while now - how long does it usually take?

Less then 5 minutes

 

[Goftrey]

Yeah I managed to get it to boot but it failed again. Are you still working on that 'one click' installer you were on about at the end of last year?

 

[MacGolfer]

Thanks for the heads up!
"The 2008 Xserve is much like the 2009 version"
No they're not.
Hapertown vs Nahelem. DDR2 vs DDR3.. Very very different architecture

I understand this is the case, but what I mean is they both have the necessary architecture to support Mountain Lion. I suppose the 2008 Mac Pro is a better example -- it has the same architecture as the 2008 Xserve (with the exception of the RADEON HD 2600 XT), and it is supported. So it would appear Apple is excluding the 2008 Xserve based solely on the factory video configuration -- something that is easily resolved.

Anyway… good luck everyone. I hope you're all successful with your updating

 

[RobertJB]

System installed but reboots after approx 60 sec on the bootscreen.
Is this due to the fact that the system still holds the 7300GT video card
I will have to get my hands on a HD 5770 this weekend

thanks,

Before I get a HD 5770 is it correct that the system will re-start when it does not have the HD 5770 or other newer Graphics card?

thanks,

 

[mactoday]

Donations for a Mac is now closed. Reason: Project completed. Guide will be up within days

I would not call it success, only crazy kids could call it success because 10.8 is ridiculous MacOS X ever was made, tons of bugs and who would want 10.8? I want to go back to 10.6 but unfortunately my MacBook Air 2011 doesn't support it, I run 10.7.5 and it drives me nuts, tired 10.8 and was back in 10.7.5 in few days.

Apple does not understand what they are doing, I have the impression that they have lost their brains after Steve past away.

 

[hackerwayne]

Yeah I managed to get it to boot but it failed again. Are you still working on that 'one click' installer you were on about at the end of last year?

Focus more on fixing issues now then one click installer. If it says Installation Failed, its absolutely normal!