[Guide] Success! Install 10.8 on old unsupported Mac

[hackerwayne]

Hi All,

I got the 10.8.3 update from the AppStore. Format is Pkg, located in Library/Updates. 10.8.2 is working perfectly (except Bonjour, but we all know a fix is coming !)

As mentioned in guidelines, it should not be executed, and instead, MLPostFactor should be used.
How exactly ? Cannot get MLPostFactor to work from there.
Could you explain in simple words, like in "Mountain Lion for Dummies ?"

Many thanks

First of all, i don't recommend upgrading because graphics glitches are reported on 10.8.3. But if you really want then:

1. Make sure you're on 10.8.2
2. Download the 10.8.3 update file. Keep it anywhere u like
3. Open Disk Utility, wipe the Install partition
4. Run MLPostFactor, select 10.8.3.
5. Update your Mac using Software Update, when it ask to reboot,
6. Reboot into "Install" partition, go to Utilities & install MLPostFactor into "ML"
7. Reboot back to "ML"
8. Done, enjoy 10.8.3 on your unsupported Mac

 

[danz207]

Use Disk Utility to partition see if the problem exist there?

Created a 100GB partition and this comes up:

Also if i try to download the Windows drivers, it wont without a usb plugged in and this happens:

 

[hackerwayne]

You install it normally, then it will reboot, but boot into the 'Install' partition and open up MLPostFactor from the Utilities tab and select 10.8.3 and install it to your ML drive, then reboot back into your ML partition and you're done

The 10.8.3 selection is done in MLPostFactor prior to restart.

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Created a 100GB partition and this comes up:
Image

Also if i try to download the Windows drivers, it wont without a usb plugged in and this happens:
Image

No.... Thats not what i meant.... Download the drivers via Boot Camp Assistant, create a partition in Disk Utility, format it to Fat32, name it BOOTCAMP. Put your Windows DVD in and reboot while holding option. The above things you do is similar to what Boot Camp Assistant does. And by the way, is the partition Mac OS X Extended Journaled?

 

[danz207]

Download the drivers via Boot Camp Assistabnt, create a partition in Disk Utility, format it to Fat32, name it BOOTCAMP. Put your Windows DVD in and reboot while holding option. The above things you do is similar to what Boot Camp Assistant does

Ahhh ok, i would try that but the bootcamp drivers take forever to download, last time it took about 6 hours (no joke... )

Yes, it is Mac OS X Extended Journaled.

 

[hackerwayne]

Ahhh ok, i would try that but the bootcamp drivers take forever to download, last time it took about 6 hours (no joke... )

Its a 1gb file (with loads of craps in it).. So it depends on your internet. If you're installing Windows 7, let Windows Update do the job & not use BootCamp Assistant. Not sure why Apple wanna include drivers that the iMac doesnt need.

 

[Fred57]

First of all, i don't recommend upgrading because graphics glitches are reported on 10.8.3. But if you really want then:

1. Make sure you're on 10.8.2
2. Download the 10.8.3 update file. Keep it anywhere u like
3. Open Disk Utility, wipe the Install partition
4. Run MLPostFactor, select 10.8.3.
5. Reboot into "Install" partition, go to Utilities & install MLPostFactor into "ML"
6. Reboot back to "ML"
7. Done, enjoy 10.8.3 on your unsupported Mac

OK, thanks. Will try tonight when I am back home. Just surprised I keep the update file just anywhere I want. How does MLPostFactor finds the update then ? Anyway, will give it a try this way and report success.

Thanks for all the efforts put into the Hack !

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And by the way

Any plan to add Airplay mirroring for unsupported processors on unsupported Macs on Mountain Lion ?

One of the main features of ML & not available to us.
Airparrot only works with Apple TV, not with other Airplay compatible video systems

Thanks

 

[danz207]

Its a 1gb file (with loads of craps in it).. So it depends on your internet.

Internets fine (100Mbps down), it must be Apple's servers.
Anyway, booting into Windows 8 DVD now, all good so far, will install and see if works.

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Nup, 'Error: Drive is formatted as GPT' or something like that.

 

[hackerwayne]

Internets fine (100Mbps down), it must be Apple's servers.
Anyway, booting into Windows 8 DVD now, all good so far, will install and see if works.

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Nup, 'Error: Drive is formatted as GPT' or something like that.

64 bit Windows please.. Don't think ML supports 32b anymore.

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OK, thanks. Will try tonight when I am back home. Just surprised I keep the update file just anywhere I want. How does MLPostFactor finds the update then ? Anyway, will give it a try this way and report success.

Thanks for all the efforts put into the Hack !

----------

And by the way

Any plan to add Airplay mirroring for unsupported processors on unsupported Macs on Mountain Lion ?

One of the main features of ML & not available to us.
Airparrot only works with Apple TV, not with other Airplay compatible video systems

Thanks

WHOOPS! I huge mistake on my part. That guide was for Combo Update!!

After running MLPostFactor, you need to Update using Software Update, then upon restart, boot into Install see the updated guide below:

1. Make sure you're on 10.8.2
2. Download the 10.8.3 update file. Keep it anywhere u like
3. Open Disk Utility, wipe the Install partition
4. Run MLPostFactor, select 10.8.3.
5. Update your Mac using Software Update, when it ask to reboot,
6. Reboot into "Install" partition, go to Utilities & install MLPostFactor into "ML"
7. Reboot back to "ML"
8. Done, enjoy 10.8.3 on your unsupported Mac

 

[danz207]

64 bit Windows please

Yea, the Windows 8 DVD was 64 bit.

 

[hackerwayne]

Yea, the Windows 8 DVD was 64 bit.

And what was the error again?

 

[danz207]

And what was the error again?

The drive was formatted as GPT, instead of MBR.

 

[tr43]

hello hackerwayne, the new mlpostfactor is amazing, graphics are incredible (7300GT), but i detect an issue, every time i start my mac, the connection to the keyboard has lost, and i have to reconnect them (Apple Wireless Keyboard).

EDIT : Chrome, Firefox, Safari... works 100% no crash, no lag and finally i can see 1080p videos w/out any lag (with Nvidia Geforce 7300GT), thank you for your hard work. MLPostFactor is the best

 

[hackerwayne]

The drive was formatted as GPT, instead of MBR.

Since win 7 x64 it supports GPT partition type

 

[danz207]

Since win 7 x64 it supports GPT partition type

Are you saying only Windows 7 64 bit supports GPT? Or everything after that does?
Either way, this is definently a Win 8 64 bit disc and it said that it was formatted as GPT and couldn't install.

Don't know if this helps, but when I inserted the disc the blue metro windows logo came up and nothing happened for a full 3 and a half minutes.
Then the new spinning logo came on for 5-10 seconds and the installer came up.

 

[Supermacguy]

Sorry if this was covered, at 71 pages it's too much to read. (Go ahead call me lazy, or how does one search just this discussion?).

Are processor-upgraded computers able to do the install?
Mac Pro 2007 with dual x5365.

 

[hackerwayne]

Are you saying only Windows 7 64 bit supports GPT? Or everything after that does?
Either way, this is definently a Win 8 64 bit disc and it said that it was formatted as GPT and couldn't install.

Don't know if this helps, but when I inserted the disc the blue metro windows logo came up and nothing happened for a full 3 and a half minutes.
Then the new spinning logo came on for 5-10 seconds and the installer came up.

Windows 7 and Windows 8 64b should theoretically supports GPT.

See this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GUID_Partition_Table#Windows:_64-bit_versions

Mac uses EFI similar to UEFI. So 64 bit Windows should boot in GUID Partition Table. Or GPT.

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[/COLOR]

Sorry if this was covered, at 71 pages it's too much to read. (Go ahead call me lazy, or how does one search just this discussion?).

Are processor-upgraded computers able to do the install?
Mac Pro 2007 with dual x5365.

It depends on graphics card. 7300GT & X1900XT install 32bit. Anything else, wait for 64 bit.

 

[hackerwayne]

ANNOUNCEMENT!
Let the image do the talking

LET THE PREVIEW BEGINS

32-bit V0.3

Long awaited 64-bit V0.3

Both side by side?

What does it mean when we enter private beta? Expect release soon

X64 V0.3 Private Beta ChangeLogs.

Initial X64 Private Beta Release V0.3
- Support for Mac Pros with upgraded graphics
- Support for XServe with upgraded graphics
- Support for X1600 iMacs (optional)
- Long start-up time
- iMessage, FaceTime & iCloud does not work.

X86 V0.3 Private Beta ChangeLogs

X86 Private Beta Release V0.3
- Fixed mDNSResponder Issues
- Fixed Disk Utility not repairing permission
- Incomplete, testing & fix in progress. (more things to be fixed hopefully)

Future Plans

If all remaining serious bugs are ironed out on 32-bit V0.3 we will launch:
- V0.4 X86/X64 combined.
If all remaining bugs are ironed out on both 32 & 64 bit of V0.4 we will launch:
- V0.5 X86/X64 combined.
If all goes well, we will move on to the final version.
- V1.0

Legend:
Green: Good to go
Orange: Minor issue & fix in progress
Red: Major/Serious issue & fix in progress

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At this point, minor bug reports for V0.2 is now CLOSED. We will focus on fixing the issues that were reported. If you encounter any major bugs (such as crashes), you can still post it here. We'll see what we can do about it.

 

[derickjsmith]

Can't boot into INSTALL

I followed the steps and was able to make it to 3. After installing, reboot into "Install" partition with no errors. When I go to reboot and hold the option key down, I only have 2 options, my normal os, and my recovery drive. I can't find the INSTALL partition to finishing installing step 4.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[bosscharles]

Hi hackerwayne, just noticed that on reboot any changes I made to the dock (magnification on, icons added) icons sorted on desktop etc. in a previous session are lost? I get a feeling this could be down to incorrect permissions which may get sorted in the next release.. (Disk utilities - fix permissions) Thanks...

 

[hackerwayne]

I followed the steps and was able to make it to 3. After installing, reboot into "Install" partition with no errors. When I go to reboot and hold the option key down, I only have 2 options, my normal os, and my recovery drive. I can't find the INSTALL partition to finishing installing step 4.

Any help would be appreciated.

You do not have the 4.XXGB file in Applications folder when you install MLPostFactor.

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Hi hackerwayne, just noticed that on reboot any changes I made to the dock (magnification on, icons added) icons sorted on desktop etc. in a previous session are lost? I get a feeling this could be down to incorrect permissions which may get sorted in the next release.. (Disk utilities - fix permissions) Thanks...

Yes, I believe these are permission problems. Will test out in our private betas later.

 

[Maoltuile]

At this point, minor bug reports for V0.2 is now CLOSED. We will focus on fixing the issues that were reported. If you encounter any major bugs (such as crashes), you can still post it here. We'll see what we can do about it.

I'm finding Rapidshare and Mediafire impossible to use for downloading this file.

Seriously, man. Put it up on The Piratebay.

 

[CoBrA2168]

Hi Hackerwayne - could you briefly describe what exactly you're doing to modify Mountain Lion to get it to boot?

I'm attempting to boot Mountain Lion on my ThinkPad (hackintosh) with no luck. I used your tool, and installed Chameleon on the partition in which I'm trying to boot. It looks like it's trying to boot in 64-bit mode, which is giving me kernel panics on almost every kext it tries to load.

Maybe you could provide in the first post, a technical overview of what exactly this tool is doing to our Mountain Lion installers.

 

[derickjsmith]

4.xxGB file

Which file are you referring too? I have the Install OS X Mountain Lion that I purchased and the MLPostFactorV0.2.2 Folder that I downloaded. I Attached a picture to show you.

Thank you again for your help.

You do not have the 4.XXGB file in Applications folder when you install MLPostFactor.

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Yes, I believe these are permission problems. Will test out in our private betas later.

 

[nam265]

Put this on USB Drive for easy installation on Multiple Macs.

Instead of setting up an Install partition for each mac, can I install MLPostFactor (basically this software + OSX 10.8.x installation file) onto a USB drive (8GB+ and format with GUID partition)?

Will this transform my USB into a ML 10.8.x Installer that I can use for all older mac? and will this USB works on newer macs by simply not install MLPostFactor at the end of installation?

My gf has the white MB and I have a 2010 Mini. It'll be great if I can create a Universal installer for all my Macs.

Btw, I used the Install Partition method on my late 2006 Core2Duo MBP. Almost everything works. (iSight being laggy/low frame rate)

ML feels a lot smoother than Lion. Plus I get BootCamp with Win8. This MBP will serve me at least for 1-2 more years.

Thank you hackerwayne and MLForAll for this great release.

 

[hackerwayne]

I'm finding Rapidshare and Mediafire impossible to use for downloading this file.

Seriously, man. Put it up on The Piratebay.

No. I might put it up on Mega.

----------

Instead of setting up an Install partition for each mac, can I install MLPostFactor (basically this software + OSX 10.8.x installation file) onto a USB drive (8GB+ and format with GUID partition)?

Will this transform my USB into a ML 10.8.x Installer that I can use for all older mac? and will this USB works on newer macs by simply not install MLPostFactor at the end of installation?

My gf has the white MB and I have a 2010 Mini. It'll be great if I can create a Universal installer for all my Macs.

Btw, I used the Install Partition method on my late 2006 Core2Duo MBP. Almost everything works. (iSight being laggy/low frame rate)

ML feels a lot smoother than Lion. Plus I get BootCamp with Win8. This MBP will serve me at least for 1-2 more years.

Thank you hackerwayne and MLForAll for this great release.

1. You can do it on a USB no problem
2. Its more then just MLPostFactor at the end, you can try with a stock/unmodified 10.8 installer, it wouldnt even load on the unsupported Mac. We did a hell of a work to make it "boot" (including modified EFI, PlatformSupport.plist etc etc.