macOS 10.12 Sierra Unsupported Macs Thread

[conifer]

Got the safari 11.03update but not the new security patch ( it showed and installed on my new pro)

Edit: still not here, did anyone else get it?

Edit 2: downloaded it directly from Apple, says it is not supported on my system ( Mac alum late 2008).
Any ideas?

Edit 3 : solved it. Sierra doesn’t allow minor upgrades , but on page 201 of this thread, found a Patch and instructions for how to trigger. Very slow but worked.

 

[MDangerous]

So, I'm having some problems with last security update.
Computer: MacPro 3,1
MacOS: 10.12.6

I ran sudo softwareupdate --clear-catalog
I then ran swupatch.sh which concluded saying there are no new software updates.
I then tried to manually install SecUpd2018-001Sierra which said that "This software is not supported on your system"

Any thoughts?

 

[Logicuser]

Hi, I see that the wifi card I use on my 3,1 Mac Pro isn't supported with this modification, and I can't find any other available cards (which are supported) either. Any advice, anyone?

Also - is it possible to install this modification on one of the internal drives only, and boot from another system drive when needing wifi?

Thanks in advance.

 

[L Caputo]

So, I'm having some problems with last security update.
Computer: MacPro 3,1
MacOS: 10.12.6

I ran sudo softwareupdate --clear-catalog
I then ran swupatch.sh which concluded saying there are no new software updates.
I then tried to manually install SecUpd2018-001Sierra which said that "This software is not supported on your system"

Any thoughts?

So if you download the standalone updates from the Apple downloads pages, these will not install unless you replace the Distribution file contained in the .pkg. Instructions below.

Modifying the Security Update for Sierra.



Download Security Update.

Open Security Update.

Move SecUpd2018-001Sierra.pkg to Desktop.

Open Terminal.

Enter pkgutil --expand ~/Desktop/SecUpd2018-001Sierra.pkg ~/Desktop/Expanded



Open Expanded folder and then open Distribution file in Text Wrangler



Change Distribution file, change Board iD line 33 to <your Macs boardID> at line 41 remove <your Mac model>



Save As .xml file to the Desktop



In Terminal chmod +x ~/Desktop/distribution.xml

Remove the extension .xml

Move new Distribution file to expanded package replacing the original

In Terminal pkgutil --flatten ~/Desktop/Expanded ~/Desktop/Modified.pkg



Using the .pkg extension is crucial.

The Modified package on your desktop should now allow you to install the latest update
[doublepost=1516955283][/doublepost]

Hi, I see that the wifi card I use on my 3,1 Mac Pro isn't supported with this modification, and I can't find any other available cards (which are supported) either. Any advice, anyone?

Also - is it possible to install this modification on one of the internal drives only, and boot from another system drive when needing wifi?

Thanks in advance.

Yes. As long as it is El Capitan or earlier. Please note that the type of wifi card that you need for wifi to function in your Mac will be listed in this forum, just have a good look.

 

[Logicuser]

Please note that the type of wifi card that you need for wifi to function in your Mac will be listed in this forum, just have a good look.

Thanks for the help. I'll have a good look then!
[doublepost=1516957113][/doublepost]Found these cards that all should work with a modified 3.1 Mac and Sierra, in case others are looking for such cards as well (are there others too?).

https://www.amazon.com/Atheros-AR5BXB112-450Mbps-Wireless-N-Dual-Band/dp/B00L27OW18 $33

http://www.osxwifi.com/pre-order-ap...ac-bluetooth-4-0-with-adapter-for-macpro-2008 $125

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003MTTJOY/ $8

https://www.amazon.com/Glam-Hobby-802-11ac-Wireless-10-6-10-12/dp/B018TX8IDA/ $17

If the $8 solution works as well as the $125 solution, it won't be hard to make a decision.

 

[MDangerous]

So if you download the standalone updates from the Apple downloads pages, these will not install unless you replace the Distribution file contained in the .pkg. Instructions below.

Modifying the Security Update for Sierra.

Thanks L Caputo, that seemed to have worked. But I stopped before I began the install because there was a dialog box that said that the update wasn't compatible with my version of MacOS. I could continue but decided to stop and ask.

 

[L Caputo]

Thanks L Caputo, that seemed to have worked. But I stopped before I began the install because there was a dialog box that said that the update wasn't compatible with my version of MacOS. I could continue but decided to stop and ask.

Ok so tell us what did you do, what system are you on, what update are you trying to install and what did the dialogue box say, screenshots are helpful.
You say 'seemed to have worked' what part seemed to have worked.
You stopped before you began the install, so what happens when you double-click the Modified.pkg you created?

 

[dysamoria]

i've just upgraded my MacBook Pro 5,5 to Sierra. Things seemed to be a bit sluggish at first, and kernel_task was using 24-50% CPU, but it has calmed down now. i started looking at this:

https://blog.viktorpetersson.com/2016/10/01/how-to-fix-kerneltask-cpu-usage-on-macos-sierra.html

i did NOT take any action on it. The only thing i did was shut down, reset the SMC, and reboot. The boot was faster than previously and, after a short period of activity after logging in, all was normal.

Has anyone seen any problems with kernel_task CPU usage on their machines (especially those of you with a MacBook Pro 5,5) after their first couple of reboots?

 

[MrGame54]

Hi,

I successfully upgraded my MacBook 5,2 (mid 2009) to OS X Sierra a few days ago. My MacBook was unsupported so I used dosdude1's Patcher.(I upgraded from El Capitan) But I have a problem with Sierra. When I try to make the Brightness lower or higher it just stays the same Brightness.I also tried to change the Brightness in the Settings but it also does not work. I updated Sierra to 10.12.6. The Brightness works perfectly on El Capitan.Can someone please help me to fix it?
[doublepost=1517147900][/doublepost]

Hi,

I successfully upgraded my MacBook 5,2 (mid 2009) to OS X Sierra a few days ago. My MacBook was unsupported so I used dosdude1's Patcher.(I upgraded from El Capitan) But I have a problem with Sierra. When I try to make the Brightness lower or higher it just stays the same Brightness.I also tried to change the Brightness in the Settings but it also does not work. I updated Sierra to 10.12.6. The Brightness works perfectly on El Capitan.Can someone please help me to fix it?

Guys I just found a solution. I went to the App Store and installed Brightness 2. Now I can change my Brightness. But the Brightness Control on my Keyboard still don't work. I don't understand it but now I CAN CHANGE MY BRIGHTNESS YAY!

 

[Jack Neill]

Got the .3 update from MAS, seems to have broken brightness and volume patches on my MB 5,2. Tried to rerun the patches but still not fixed.

Edit: I meant to put this on the HS thread.

 

[Fernand]

Don't go with that USB Edimax N150 one. I got one and although it works, it's the slowest link I've tried. I tried it under windows too, and it's consistently been a miserable performer.

 

[MDangerous]

Ok so tell us what did you do, what system are you on, what update are you trying to install and what did the dialogue box say, screenshots are helpful.
You say 'seemed to have worked' what part seemed to have worked.
You stopped before you began the install, so what happens when you double-click the Modified.pkg you created?

Sorry if I wasn't clear. This is what I meant:
Computer: MacPro 3,1
MacOS: 10.12.6

I'm trying to update to SecUpd2018-001Sierra.

I followed your instructions, which I thank you for, but I get this warning when I run the Modified.pkg.

 

[L Caputo]

Did you make sure you downloaded the correct Security Update for Sierra.
Did you follow the instructions to the letter>
Did you enter the correct BoardID for my 3.1 it is F42C88C8?
Did you remove MacPro 3.1 from the nonSupporteModels list in line 41?
When you removed the .xml extension from the distribution file did its icon change to a black screen with exec on it?

These instructions work as that is how I install updates to my mac in this way and have never come across the dialogue you show.

EDIT- Just restarted in Sierra and opened up the Distribution file in Text Wrangler
The Board ID line is 21, and the nonSupportedModel line is 29. For some reason they display differently in High Sierra.

 

[MDangerous]

Did you make sure you downloaded the correct Security Update for Sierra.

I assume that SecUpd2018-001Sierra is the correct update. Is it not?

Did you follow the instructions to the letter>

Yes and No. I changed "chmod +x ~/Desktop/distribution.xml" to "chmod +x ~/Desktop/Distribution.xml" because Distribution has a capital D.

Did you enter the correct BoardID for my 3.1 it is F42C88C8?

Mac-F42C88C8

Did you remove MacPro 3.1 from the nonSupporteModels list in line 41?

Yes.

When you removed the .xml extension from the distribution file did its icon change to a black screen with exec on it?

Yes.

 

[L Caputo]

Correct. Yes D instead of d, but I just drag the distribution file into the Terminal window.
Good, excellent and great.
You seem to be doing everything correctly, so I am at a bit of a loss as to why that dialogue is coming up.
I am going to download the update again and then go through the procedure again just to make sure.
Will get back to you.
[doublepost=1517336572][/doublepost]O

I assume that SecUpd2018-001Sierra is the correct update. Is it not?


Yes and No. I changed "chmod +x ~/Desktop/distribution.xml" to "chmod +x ~/Desktop/Distribution.xml" because Distribution has a capital D.


Mac-F42C88C8


Yes.


Yes.

Ok so I have just downloaded the security update and then gone through the instructions to modify the distribution file. And everything went according to plan, so I can't see why you are getting that dialogue. The only thing that I can only think of is if at some stage you were running a Beta version of macOS Sierra at some point.

 

[MDangerous]

Correct. Yes D instead of d, but I just drag the distribution file into the Terminal window.
Good, excellent and great.
You seem to be doing everything correctly, so I am at a bit of a loss as to why that dialogue is coming up.
I am going to download the update again and then go through the procedure again just to make sure.
Will get back to you.
[doublepost=1517336572][/doublepost]O

Ok so I have just downloaded the security update and then gone through the instructions to modify the distribution file. And everything went according to plan, so I can't see why you are getting that dialogue. The only thing that I can only think of is if at some stage you were running a Beta version of macOS Sierra at some point.

Yeah, not sure what's doing on either. I'll investigate further. Also, thank you for getting me this far. If you have any other ideas let me know.

 

[Logicuser]

Yes. As long as it is El Capitan or earlier.

That's good to hear.

So - if I get a new WiFI card (already ordered one) and install Sierra on a separate drive, this should be a safe thing to do? No surprises I should be aware of - like problems with updating the OS, upgrading to High Sierra later, problems with installing security updates or similar?

 

[L Caputo]

That's good to hear.

So - if I get a new WiFI card (already ordered one) and install Sierra on a separate drive, this should be a safe thing to do? No surprises I should be aware of - like problems with updating the OS, upgrading to High Sierra later, problems with installing security updates or similar?

As long as you have ordered a card that is compatible with your Mac and can be used in El Capitan and Sierra and High Sierra then that should be fine. If you want to upgrade to High Sierra you will need to follow the instructions here, https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macos-high-sierra-10-13-unsupported-macs-thread.2048478/. Once you have followed the instructions there you should be able to update via the App Store, otherwise if you download standalone updates then you will have to modify the Distribution file before you can install it, same goes for Sierra.

 

[AwesomeQ]

Will this work on a white unibody MacBook from early 2008? Like this one:

Thanks!

 

[jbarley]

Try reading the first post in this thread, it lists the units that will work.

 

[Logicuser]

Thanks for the reply, L Caputo. At the moment I'm stuck in the middle of the process because it seems that my system drive (SSD) in the 2008 Mac Pro doesn't have a recovery partition, and it seems to be necessary to boot from the recovery partition in order to disable SIP. Or is there a workaround for this?

Can I format another drive, make sure it gets a recovery partition - disable SIP from that other drive, and then continue the dosdude process?

Or will the Mac forget that I disabled SIP from that other drive once I boot up from main system drive again?

 

[jbarley]

Carbon Copy Cloner allows for the creation of the Recovery Partition, and has a free trial period.
Keep in mind that because you are dealing with an unsupported Mac, the Rec HD needs to be modified before it will boot. I take the easy route and just copy the "PlatformSupport.plist" file from my boot drive and overwrite the file on the Rec HD.

 

[Logicuser]

Keep in mind that because you are dealing with an unsupported Mac, the Rec HD needs to be modified before it will boot. I take the easy route and just copy the "PlatformSupport.plist" file from my boot drive and overwrite the file on the Rec HD.

Thanks, jbarley! This isn't an 'unsupported Mac' until I install Sierra on it, I guess - and I can't seem to install Sierra on until I disable SIP. In order to disable SIP I need to boot from the recovery partition.

I tried to use CCC now - it tells me that an El Capitan Recovery HD already is associated with the disk in question. So - this SDD has El Cap on it, I try to start it from the recovery partition, but nothing happens. All that happens is that I hear more noise from the fans - for many minutes. How long is it supposed to take to boot from the recovery partition? I have four drives in this Mac, but I guess it isn't supposed to take 15 minutes or more? How can I access that partition, or art least see that it's there? Btw, I tried an app called Recovery partition Creator 4.04 yesterday, but that attempt ended up with an error message.

Edit: This ain't easy. I finally managed to disable SIP, but the Mac won't boot from the external USB drive (partition on a drive in my case) I created by following the dosdude instructions. Or - it may actually work, but I waited very long before I gave up.

 

[L Caputo]

Thanks for the reply, L Caputo. At the moment I'm stuck in the middle of the process because it seems that my system drive (SSD) in the 2008 Mac Pro doesn't have a recovery partition, and it seems to be necessary to boot from the recovery partition in order to disable SIP. Or is there a workaround for this?

Can I format another drive, make sure it gets a recovery partition - disable SIP from that other drive, and then continue the dosdude process?

Or will the Mac forget that I disabled SIP from that other drive once I boot up from main system drive again?

I wouldn't install Sierra or High Sierra on your primary drive, you should trial them out on a spare drive to see how you get on. On a spare drive install El Capitan that will also install a Recovery Drive. Once installed and updated boot to the Recovery Drive by restarting and holding down the option/ alt key, when you get the efi boot screen select the Recovery Drive and press return. When you get to the Utilities screen open terminal and enter csrutil disable press return, SIP is now disabled. Reboot to your new El Capitan disk and proceed with the installation of Sierra or High Sierra.

 

[Logicuser]

Fair enough, and thanks again... I have managed to disable SIP since I write that message, but there doesn't seem to be a way to get my Mac Pro to boot from the external USB drive. Last time I tried U was waiting for more than 45 minutes, and nothing happened - only a black screen. I have reset PRAM several times in this process, tried to boot with the option key in order to be able to select which drive to boot from (that never works)... maybe there's something else I need to know to make this work. I can of course find another drive to erase and use as a test drive (I already formatted one drive in order to get a drive to boot from while installing into an internal drive), but I'v tried several times to create an external drive and boot from it with no success. Maybe I have missed something essential that's needed to make the MP see (and boot from) that external USB drive.