iMessage fails on Unsupported '06 iMac w/10.8

[burnout8488]

I'm running an iMac 4,1, which has been flashed to 5,1 so I was able to install 10.7 Lion on it. (The iMessage beta worked great on this when it was valid)

Now that I've used MLPostFactor to install 10.8.4, I get the dreaded "The server encountered an error processing registration, please try again later." iCloud works, and FaceTime works. (Does this rule something out since iMessage and FaceTime usually go hand in hand?)

I've tried fixing the hosts file, changing around my network adapter settings, using ethernet and wifi, etc... Every "fix" I've read about I've tried, and none have worked. Could this be due to the machine's serial number not matching up with what iMessage supports? (10.8 compatible Macs only?)

There are plenty of people using MLPostFactor that have 2006-era Macs, and don't have an iMessage problem. I'm wondering if there might be an easy workaround for this.

(I posted in the MLPF thread, however it largely goes ignored, and this issue may not be due to that tool)

Thanks for any help you can give!! The only reason I bought this OS was for the iMessage integration, really would hate to see my $20 go to waste. (Lion has worked beautifully for me)

 

[burnout8488]

I just changed the way I installed 10.8.4. Instead of a fresh install, I did an upgrade over my 10.7.5 installation. What happened next was very strange.

Upon first boot, the iMessage box popped up and displayed all of my iMessages from back when I ran the iMessage BETA on 10.7.5 last year. However, I still couldn't log in.

Apple is somehow seeing this computer as 10.7.5 still, I think.

 

[pilchfish]

Firstly I admit I do not know what I'm doing when it comes to file systems unless I have a detailed guide on the internet to follow, but some how I managed to get imessage working and all I did was move a couple of files from a machine with a working iMessage to this hacked imac 2006.

I tried everything like you, even tried hackintosh ideas and nothing worked, just the same error like you time and time again.

my method which worked for me is
Enable hidden files on both machines as you will need access to the user hidden library files. Loads of info on web about how to do this, but the code I used on the imac in terminal was
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE && killall Finder
Then headed to ~/Library/Preferences/ and found files similar to com.apple.imservice.ids.iMessage.plist and copied everything which I felt was associated with imessage in to the same file path in the users directory on the the iMac. Went to log in to imessage and worked first time.

I have tried to delete the files to replicate it again and pin point which file worked, but it just keeps working now. Not sure how, but on that day the Apple Gremlin must of took pity on me.

If this works for you please let me know.