[Guide] Success! Install 10.8 on old unsupported Mac

[Buddygor]

10.8.4 can't even JOIN an encrypted networks. Only OPEN network.

Good thing my network is open then


Noah Budgor

 

[cody.lilley]

Install Issues

Ok, i have a few questions, but I'll give my scenario first.

I used a friend's Mac to buy and download a Legit copy of Mountain Lion(10.8.3), and transfered the .app to my Late 2008 13' MacBook (4,1) and after following the guide, when I go to restart at the very end, it doesn't give my the Gray Do Not Enter deal, it just does the lines going in a circle (not Pinwheel, the loading deal right before login) any way, I gave up after like 45 Min, I also tried it on my Mac Pro 1,1 same deal.

So, what am I doing wrong?

 

[patent10021]

The forbidden sign means something went wrong probably... Verify if all the installation files were copied to the USB.
What is the file size on the USB?

MLPF = 5.19GB on a Sony 32GB GUID stick.

Btw, I have an OS X Installation app that is 21.7mb (10.8.2) and another one that is the proper 4.46 GB size (10.8.3).

How did this happen? What's the difference inside the apps?

And if I want to install 10.8.3 I should wait for MLPF 0.3 right?



.

 

[53kyle]

MLPF = 5.19GB on a Sony 32GB GUID stick.

Btw, I have an OS X Installation app that is 21.7mb (10.8.2) and another one that is the proper 4.46 GB size (10.8.3).

Image
Image

How did this happen? What's the difference inside the apps?

And if I want to install 10.8.3 I should wait for MLPF 0.3 right?



.

Get rid of the 21.7 GB one, it is broken. Only use 10.8.3, it works with 0.2.2

 

[patent10021]

Get rid of the 21.7 GB one, it is broken. Only use 10.8.3, it works with 0.2.2

But I've tested it as a standalone OS installer and it works.

Yeah, 10.8.3 works with 0.2.2 but it's still buggy including the Safari flickering. That's why I was thinking to wait since it will be released soon.

Btw, you said you can install MLPF on a USB but what good is that if you're not putting 10.8.3 on the USB as well? I was wanting to know how to install 10.8.3 on an unsupported Mac via USB (only). That way I could take my USB anywhere with me and install 10.8.3 on any unsupported Mac.

Can I install MLPF (and) put the 4.46GB 10.8.3 installer app on the USB? How would I do that properly?

Lastly, after you install Mountain Lion on your Mac's "ML" partition can we boot into 10.8.3 and use disk Utility to erase the old "10.7x OS volume" and "Install" partitions? Can we also rename ML -> Anything we want since it is now the startup disk?

EDIT: Ok this is REALLY weird. Because the USB wouldn't work I even installed MLPF onto a real partition ("Install") and when I rebooted into that partition I got the same forbidden sign.

So both USB and a real partition didn't work for me. Hmmmm

Another weird thing. MLPF used 5.19GB on the USB but 5.11GB on the HD's partition. Why the discrepancy? Should be the same regardless of media!

Installed it again. Now it's 5.12GB lol! and now the "Install" HD doesn't say "Install" on the Apple startup menu, it says EFI Boot.

.

 

[sgtwicki]

No problems here

I see so much negative stuff and complaining on this forum.
I just wanted to say that installation went fine the first time just following the directions.
Now I have ML running on my 2006 MacBook and old upgraded Mac Mini.
My method was to use an external USB hard drive with 2 partitions: Lion and Install. That way I'm able to use the entire internal hard drive on each machine for ML. I'll just keep the USB drive handy in case of emergency.

Thank you Wayne and MLforAll !

 

[H2SO4]

I see so much negative stuff and complaining on this forum.
I just wanted to say that installation went fine the first time just following the directions.
Now I have ML running on my 2006 MacBook and old upgraded Mac Mini.
My method was to use an external USB hard drive with 2 partitions: Lion and Install. That way I'm able to use the entire internal hard drive on each machine for ML. I'll just keep the USB drive handy in case of emergency.

I thought the same. My install is not quite 100% but it does work brilliantly. I knew from the start that this was being done essentially for free and as it's a hack there are always caveats.
I still say Great Job Wayne!!

Ignore the moaners.

 

[mrlee78]

Trying to recreate this

this method was shown at life-hacker and someone posted this in the reply.
i am trying to recreate this .I am a little lost , anyone can help me with a simple guide.I have a mac pro 1,1 with 2 Hdd . one is empty and i wanted to see if I get this done too .I created ML usb stick long time ago from my mac book pro .
I could upgrade those , i dont have ML on my Mac-pro tower.do i need to re download it again or I can use my usb stick . thanks again for the creator of this app.

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

This will turn your USB into a ML 10.8.x Installer for all older mac. (should work for new macs too) I did this 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.

Anyone knows , what he means ?

 

[RB107]

Using the older method before MLPF I had installed 10.8.0 without graphics acceleration on my Macbook 4,1.

Should I wait for the new version of MLPF 0.3 or upgrade to 10.8.3 using the current MLPF? Also how do I revert to a single partition after installation.

the Install partition can be removed. But now ML partition has my OS and the Macintosh HD has all my data/files.

I want to use the Macbook with a single partition. any suggestions

 

[H2SO4]

Using the older method before MLPF I had installed 10.8.0 without graphics acceleration on my Macbook 4,1.

Should I wait for the new version of MLPF 0.3 or upgrade to 10.8.3 using the current MLPF? Also how do I revert to a single partition after installation.

the Install partition can be removed. But now ML partition has my OS and the Macintosh HD has all my data/files.

I want to use the Macbook with a single partition. any suggestions

Use a USB key?

 

[TriDotS]

Based on my last Post

I added a script, which performs the copy work

For all who are not familiar with the terminal and cant wait for v0.3 release, i tried to explain everything in the readme.

 

[bu6u]

Hi guys, this worked for me but I was curious if my machine can install "natively" or with less changed files, so I installed it "manually"

iMac5,1 (alive 2006) 3gb/2gb+2gb sticks osx10.8.3 (12D78) Kernel 12.3.0 64bit

Files changed:
PlatformSupport.plist - InstallableMachines.plist- boot.ef - OSinstall.mpkg - Audio kexts - Graphics kexts - OpenGL - OpenCL

Apart from Recovery HD - Startup Disk chooser "bless" and a long boot up "80sec", other stuff seem to work fine including iSight - Bonjour seems a bit lazy but works - Notification Alerts works. - Purge works - smb works.

System is running in 64bit fast, solid & snappy!

Some issues solved with no problems:
I had a problem streaming to my iMac so I set my network speed from "Cocktail". 10.8 installs with Delayed ACK switched on.
iSight in PhotoBooth: Untick everything from debug menu to work perfect.

1 error I get at boot time for firewire, it switches to full secure and that can limit the speed for FW transfers.
AppleHDA assertions at boot but audio works fine.
1 error keeps popping up in Disk Utility is the resource folder in OpenGL due to not being a symbolic link.

So thanks to Hackerwayne, ML4all and whoever is contributing.
Would be nice if MLPF had a custom install for separate files, just a thought.

 

[Nemesis19]

Hi guys, this worked for me but I was curious if my machine can install "natively" or with less changed files, so I installed it "manually"

iMac5,1 (alive 2006) 3gb/2gb+2gb sticks osx10.8.3 (12D78) Kernel 12.3.0 64bit

Files changed:
PlatformSupport.plist - InstallableMachines.plist- boot.ef - OSinstall.mpkg - Audio kexts - Graphics kexts - OpenGL - OpenCL

Apart from Recovery HD - Startup Disk chooser "bless" and a long boot up "80sec", other stuff seem to work fine including iSight - Bonjour seems a bit lazy but works - Notification Alerts works. - Purge works - smb works.

System is running in 64bit fast, solid & snappy!

Some issues solved with no problems:
I had a problem streaming to my iMac so I set my network speed from "Cocktail". 10.8 installs with Delayed ACK switched on.
iSight in PhotoBooth: Untick everything from debug menu to work perfect.

1 error I get at boot time for firewire, it switches to full secure and that can limit the speed for FW transfers.
AppleHDA assertions at boot but audio works fine.
1 error keeps popping up in Disk Utility is the resource folder in OpenGL due to not being a symbolic link.

So thanks to Hackerwayne, ML4all and whoever is contributing.
Would be nice if MLPF had a custom install for separate files, just a thought.

so let me get this, you did this install without using MLPF? and only changing those files?

 

[bu6u]

so let me get this, you did this install without using MLPF? and only changing those files?

Yes, doing a bootable thumb drive and changing the files without the audio/graphics, after install, you'll need to change the files again, boot in low graphics without audio and change the audio, graphic files.

 

[Nemesis19]

Yes, doing a bootable thumb drive and changing the files without the audio/graphics, after install, you'll need to change the files again, boot in low graphics without audio and change the audio, graphic files.

and how do you boot in low graphic?

 

[bu6u]

and how do you boot in low graphic?

after install, the sustem without the proper graphic kexts will boot in low graphics 5mb vram

----------

PlatformSupport.plist - InstallableMachines.plist • I inserted my ID board and model no
boot.efi - OSinstall.mpkg • got them off the internet
Audio kexts • from my 10.7.5
X1600 Graphics kexts - OpenGL - OpenCL • are wayne's files from another thread.

 

[bu6u]

To those who wish to install MLPF and are having problems installing MLPF from the app in Applications:
Restore the install.dmg from the app or retail disc to the install partition or USB stick "google how to create an osx bootable installer"
Leave the app in Applications then apply MLPF to the install as a patch, should work.
For video flickering in MLPF, try installing DivX.

 

[aaroman]

Piece of cake!

Just finished up the install and migration of my old Lion installation to my black early '08 MacBook (MacBook 4,1). I'm hoping to get years more service out of this machine now, thanks to this guide!

I did see some flickering in Safari when I was running ML off an external HD, but now that I moved it to my internal drive (a Seagate 512GB Hybrid), I'm not seeing the flickering anymore.

I am thrilled at how well this works!

 

[patent10021]

Every time I install MLPF on either a USB or internal partition then reboot into that disk I get

I have tried numerous times. Weird thing is every time I do the install the installed file size from MLPF is slightly different i.e. 5.11GB or 5.19 GB etc.

 

[bu6u]

patent10021: Did you apply again MLPF to the installed system? might be the boot.efi file or the mach_kernel

 

[patent10021]

patent10021: Did you apply again MLPF to the installed system? might be the boot.efi file or the mach_kernel

You mean I install MLPF into the USB or HDD partition called "Install" then again into "ML" partition?

2 times?

 

[bu6u]

You mean I install MLPF into the USB or HDD partition called "Install" then again into "ML" partition?

2 times?

Yes to the ML, MLPF will change the files for booting again.

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You mean I install MLPF into the USB or HDD partition called "Install" then again into "ML" partition?

2 times?

from Wayne's guide:
5. You will get "Installation Failed" at the end of the installation, its normal.
6. Go to Utilities and select MLPostFactor apply it to the partition "ML"
7. Reboot into Mountain Lion

You can apply it afterwards from 10.7

 

[patent10021]

No no no. I do not receive "installation failed" message because It doesn't even install for me.

 

[bu6u]

No no no. I do not receive "installation failed" message because It doesn't even install for me.

Are you sure everything is copied to the install, if so, try to bless the install from 10.7

 

[hackerwayne]

so let me get this, you did this install without using MLPF? and only changing those files?

Just before confusion arises, this method is the old method for X1600 just before MLPF's release. It will only work on X1600 and yes its 64-bit. Do not attempt this on anything else except X1600.

2. Start-up is incredibly slow, due to 64-bit kernel unable to communicate with 32-bit NVRAM

3. No iCloud, iMessage or FaceTime

4. If done correctly using our previous guide, you will get acceleration.

----------

To those who wish to install MLPF and are having problems installing MLPF from the app in Applications:
Restore the install.dmg from the app or retail disc to the install partition or USB stick "google how to create an osx bootable installer"
Leave the app in Applications then apply MLPF to the install as a patch, should work.
For video flickering in MLPF, try installing DivX.

We released a 64-bit X1600 patch just before MLPF releases. (it was then discontinued, favoring 32-bit) Expect a 64-bit MLPF which will do exactly just this and enable graphics acceleration.

----------

Every time I install MLPF on either a USB or internal partition then reboot into that disk I get

Image


I have tried numerous times. Weird thing is every time I do the install the installed file size from MLPF is slightly different i.e. 5.11GB or 5.19 GB etc.

Image

Boot into "Install" with Verbose mode. (CMD+V) and post a picture of that