macOS 10.14 Mojave on Unsupported Macs Thread

[visberry]

Hey- I am a writer for Appleosophy, I featured the patcher as an article @dosdude1!

https://appleosophy.com/2018/09/07/install-macos-10-14-mojave-on-an-unsupported-system/

 

[lumos]

Yes, you will have no issues adding APFS support to your ROM if you've used my tools to add NVMe support. It does exactly as you say; dumps the ROM, adds APFS support, and flashes the modified ROM back on. Your ROM will still contain NVMe booting support once it's done. If there is not enough free space on the ROM, the program will stop and error out before flashing anything.

@dosdude1 I have a Mac Pro 3.1 and I need to add your APFS Rom Patch.
Do you suggest me to add also the NVMe patch (even if I have an SSD without the NVMe?).
Have you made a program to patch the NVMe?

Thank you

 

[olad]

Yes, but it requires more patching on the users part. If done correctly though, this is easier.

perhaps if you were to tell us the problem you set out to solve, and what your input has achieved, it might be more enlightening. since few have had any problem with dosdude1's patcher, some explanation may be useful. (shift keys working sporadically, hence no capitals...)

 

[jackluke]

I noticed when I just replaced the OpenGL framework with the one from HS my Mac booted faster wench I replaced the OpenCL framework it took 5 mins to boot

Yes, using a legacy OpenGL framework make the system a bit faster, but I can assure that without replacing also OpenCL framework you will get many core apps (and not only) crashing after their launch, since OpenCL is the basis GPU rendering. These two frameworks are extremely depend one to each other.

 

[visberry]

How do you get “Hey Siri” working on an older Mac? The old Dictation trick does
Not work anymore

 

[jackluke]

Yes, but it requires more patching on the users part. If done correctly though, this is easier.

Even if correctly patched (personally I don't think it's so easier), I guess a complete in-place installation/upgrade is not feasible, cause the Installer itself mounts first the InstallESD.dmg, then inside expands its Packages, mainly the Core.pkg, into some hard disk temporary folders, then there is a mandatory rebooting and booting from that Temporary "Install folder", from there the real files overwriting (or clean installation) starts.

As far I know neither a delta/combo update is done "totally" in-place, after the pkg expanding it requires a reboot to Install from that Temporary folder.
[doublepost=1536308441][/doublepost]

How do you get “Hey Siri” working on an older Mac? The old Dictation trick does
Not work anymore

They are both based on apple servers, but regarding Dictation I guess you use offline Enhanced Dictation manually installed pkg (ex. SpeechRecognitionCoreLanguage_en_US.pkg).

While Siri (till now) doesn't have any offline commands, neither "Hey Siri".

 

[oscarodas]

Hi, I have been following this thread for a while but I fail to understand the discussion on the Dark and Light mode, my system lets me choose either Light or dark from Preferences, My wallpaper is Dynamic, changes according time of day, the only thing that I seem to is the transparency on the top bars of apps and the Dock, am I missing on anything? or is this as far as my unsupported iMac will achieve? Thank you.

 

[pkouame]

Hi, I have been following this thread for a while but I fail to understand the discussion on the Dark and Light mode, my system lets me choose either Light or dark from Preferences, My wallpaper is Dynamic, changes according time of day, the only thing that I seem to is the transparency on the top bars of apps and the Dock, am I missing on anything? or is this as far as my unsupported iMac will achieve? Thank you.

Depends on your flavor of "unsupported":

1. unsupported mac + metal compatible card = no apparent problems in Dark and Light Mode. For example, I have a pro 3.1 + GTX680 (metal compatible card) and both Dark and Light modes work as advertised. Even if I switch metal OFF (useMetal=0) , re-enabling IOP (useIOP=1) is sufficient to get functional Dark and Light mode vibrancy back.
2. unsupported mac + built-in non-metal NVidia gpus = Dark mode works - Light mode "glitches" (ugly grey non-translucent menu bar + ugly grey non-translucent ui elements like app sidebars. For example, my mbp 5.3 has a functional Dark mode but a borked Light mode. We are attempting to implement fixes and or workarounds.
3. unsupported mac + buil-in IG or AMD gpus = don't know - maybe someone can fill this in, but I suspect it glitches also.

[doublepost=1536312259][/doublepost]

Yes, using a legacy OpenGL framework make the system a bit faster, but I can assure that without replacing also OpenCL framework you will get many core apps (and not only) crashing after their launch, since OpenCL is the basis GPU rendering. These two frameworks are extremely depend one to each other.

Yes, wholesale swapping with HS OpenGL and OpenCL will not work and hang your machine.

 

[visberry]

Even if correctly patched (personally I don't think it's so easier), I guess a complete in-place installation/upgrade is not feasible, cause the Installer itself mounts first the InstallESD.dmg, then inside expands its Packages, mainly the Core.pkg, into some hard disk temporary folders, then there is a mandatory rebooting and booting from that Temporary "Install folder", from there the real files overwriting (or clean installation) starts.

As far I know neither a delta/combo update is done "totally" in-place, after the pkg expanding it requires a reboot to Install from that Temporary folder.
[doublepost=1536308441][/doublepost]

They are both based on apple servers, but regarding Dictation I guess you use offline Enhanced Dictation manually installed pkg (ex. SpeechRecognitionCoreLanguage_en_US.pkg).

While Siri (till now) doesn't have any offline commands, neither "Hey Siri".

Diction just won’t open Siri, even with enhanced dictation. Maybe you can advise me on how to manually install enhanced dictation?

 

[jackluke]

Diction just won’t open Siri, even with enhanced dictation. Maybe you can advise me on how to manually install enhanced dictation?

That's a good question, once I downloaded the Enhanced offline dictation for a previous OSX, but don't know exactly where recently it stores while it's being downloaded enabling it from a supported mac, maybe the link is catchable from Terminal or Console during the downloading but before installing since that pkg is quickly removed.

Anyway you should find this package (I guess the High Sierra one should work too on Mojave):
SpeechRecognitionCoreLanguage_xx_YY.pkg

where xx lowercase and YY uppercase are your main language locale ids. The file size is tipically 800-900 MB. Attached an example packages catalog, shortcut CMD+F typing "Recognition" as keyword.

 

[0403979]

Even if correctly patched (personally I don't think it's so easier), I guess a complete in-place installation/upgrade is not feasible, cause the Installer itself mounts first the InstallESD.dmg, then inside expands its Packages, mainly the Core.pkg, into some hard disk temporary folders, then there is a mandatory rebooting and booting from that Temporary "Install folder", from there the real files overwriting (or clean installation) starts.

As far I know neither a delta/combo update is done "totally" in-place, after the pkg expanding it requires a reboot to Install from that Temporary folder.
[doublepost=1536308441][/doublepost]

They are both based on apple servers, but regarding Dictation I guess you use offline Enhanced Dictation manually installed pkg (ex. SpeechRecognitionCoreLanguage_en_US.pkg).

While Siri (till now) doesn't have any offline commands, neither "Hey Siri".

I know that in-place upgrades aren’t possible. This patch is only useful if you’re installing it to another partition or drive.

 

[oscarodas]

Depends on your flavor of "unsupported":

1. unsupported mac + metal compatible card = no apparent problems in Dark and Light Mode. For example, I have a pro 3.1 + GTX680 (metal compatible card) and both Dark and Light modes work as advertised. Even if I switch metal OFF (useMetal=0) , re-enabling IOP (useIOP=1) is sufficient to get functional Dark and Light mode vibrancy back.
2. unsupported mac + built-in non-metal NVidia gpus = Dark mode works - Light mode "glitches" (ugly grey non-translucent menu bar + ugly grey non-translucent ui elements like app sidebars. For example, my mbp 5.3 has a functional Dark mode but a borked Light mode. We are attempting to implement fixes and or workarounds.
3. unsupported mac + buil-in IG or AMD gpus = don't know - maybe someone can fill this in, but I suspect it glitches also.

[doublepost=1536312259][/doublepost]
Yes, wholesale swapping with HS OpenGL and OpenCL will not work and hang your machine.

Thanks pkouame, mine is a AMD card and has what you call (ugly non-translucent menu bar), but to be honest I prefer this system as it is rather than going back to High Sierra.

 

[jackluke]

I know that in-place upgrades aren’t possible. This patch is only useful if you’re installing it to another partition or drive.

Maybe the dosdude1's Mojave Patcher is already-ready for this (I mean after USB Mojave creation, launching directly from a booted system), probably replacing only the Core.pkg inside the Packages folder with the newest Mojave release could work, unless inside Core.pkg there are other osinstall.mpkg or similar package integrity content checks (apart the mandatory SIP disabled and no_compat_check enabled).

I guess since High Sierra it has become harder, more customizations were possible until Sierra because the Core.pkg was different and named Essentials.pkg .

 

[16v]

Now i´m on PB9, and MM still don´t work..

touch options are missing.

 

[Larsvonhier]

Depends on your flavor of "unsupported":

3. unsupported mac + built-in IG or AMD gpus = don't know - maybe someone can fill this in, but I suspect it glitches also.

Yes, same light mode glitches (no surprise, just to confirm it here again) on an Intel HD3000 GPU in a MacBook Air 4,1 with DP/PB 10 of Mojave.

 

[jackluke]

@pkouame , probably you already did noticed, but I report the HIToolbox's Resources files, maybe need a bit more attention: HIToolbox.rsrc and Extras2.rsrc

Ok, we are agree that 70% of "Finder windows menu bar drawing" resides into the HIToolbox Carbon sub-framework, but I instill another doubt, while the "SArtfile.bin" seems deprecated for many years, could be addressed our "Mojave light mode grey OpenGL glitch" issues also to the CoreUI.framework (S/L/PrivateFramework) ?

Here the source I've examined that brought me there:

https://superuser.com/questions/439...ng-when-a-keyboard-shortcut-is-used-in-mac-os

edit:
Already tried to replace CoreUI.framework from HS, but it hangs before reaching stage2 apple logo.

I add ThemePark is deprecated and seems not compatible with Intel processors, while Rezilla app should work without passing through Xcode, at least to view inside.

Just inspected, nothing much useful into HIToolbox.rsrc, while Extras2.rsrs seems more interesting.

 

[swamprock]

@pkouame , probably you already did noticed, but I report the HIToolbox's Resources files, maybe need a bit more attention: HIToolbox.rsrc and Extras2.rsrc

Ok, we are agree that 70% of "Finder windows menu bar drawing" resides into the HIToolbox Carbon sub-framework, but I instill another doubt, while the "SArtfile.bin" seems deprecated for many years, could be addressed our "Mojave light mode grey OpenGL glitch" issues also to the CoreUI.framework (S/L/PrivateFramework) ?

Here the source I've examined that brought me there:

https://superuser.com/questions/439...ng-when-a-keyboard-shortcut-is-used-in-mac-os

edit:
Already tried to replace CoreUI.framework from HS, but it hangs before reaching stage2 apple logo.

I add ThemePark is deprecated and seems not compatible with Intel processors, while Rezilla app should work without passing through Xcode, at least to view inside.

Just inspected, nothing much useful into HIToolbox.rsrc, while Extras2.rsrs seems more interesting.

The final Themepark release (4.1) is compatible with Intel processors, but not with the resources in later OS x/OS releases beyond Snow Leopard (or was it Lion? Not exactly 100% sure).

I just remembered... while working on the Tiger Sierra theme, I did notice that you could build Extras.rsrc (and Extras2.rsrc) and Finder.rsrc for Intel machines. This was with Themepark 3.1, so it's likely that release runs under Intel as well. However, it's all moot at this point.

 

[L Caputo]

Depends on your flavor of "unsupported":

1. unsupported mac + metal compatible card = no apparent problems in Dark and Light Mode. For example, I have a pro 3.1 + GTX680 (metal compatible card) and both Dark and Light modes work as advertised. Even if I switch metal OFF (useMetal=0) , re-enabling IOP (useIOP=1) is sufficient to get functional Dark and Light mode vibrancy back.
2. unsupported mac + built-in non-metal NVidia gpus = Dark mode works - Light mode "glitches" (ugly grey non-translucent menu bar + ugly grey non-translucent ui elements like app sidebars. For example, my mbp 5.3 has a functional Dark mode but a borked Light mode. We are attempting to implement fixes and or workarounds.
3. unsupported mac + buil-in IG or AMD gpus = don't know - maybe someone can fill this in, but I suspect it glitches also.

[doublepost=1536312259][/doublepost]
Yes, wholesale swapping with HS OpenGL and OpenCL will not work and hang your machine.

Just a quick question if you would indulge me, I have a wonderful 3.1 still going strong but am thinking of treating it to a different graphics card because of all of this Mojave bother. I am in the UK and have found a Nvidia GTX680 for sale, it is flashed for Mac but does that mean it will also be Metal compatible there is very little info on the vendors website.

Thanks for any input.

 

[jackluke]

The final Themepark release (4.1) is compatible with Intel processors, but not with the resources in later OS x/OS releases beyond Snow Leopard (or was it Lion? Not exactly 100% sure).

I just remembered... while working on the Tiger Sierra theme, I did notice that you could build Extras.rsrc (and Extras2.rsrc) and Finder.rsrc for Intel machines. This was with Themepark 3.1, so it's likely that release runs under Intel as well. However, it's all moot at this point.

Yes I've read about your custom theme, great job, anyway downloaded Themepark 4.1 but says incompatible with prohibitory symbol, I'm on a core 2duo and do have gatekeeper master disabled. Rezilla app does work but not showing pictures theme preview.

 

[swamprock]

Yes I've read about your custom theme, great job, anyway downloaded Themepark 4.1 but says incompatible with prohibitory symbol, I'm on a core 2duo and do have gatekeeper master disabled. Rezilla app does work but not showing pictures theme preview.

I'm pretty sure one of the Themepark releases does run on Intel machines, as I've got a pile of Snow Leopard theme files that I've applied in the past. Maybe TP just doesn't run on OS/OS X past Snow Leopard or Lion...?

OR... if you're running it in Mojave... aren't 32-bit apps depreciated completely now? Or even Universal apps? Another thing that I'm not completely sure about, especially since I'm on my first cup of coffee...

Anyway, not that it matters for the purposes here. Back to our regularly scheduled hacking

 

[jackluke]

Just a quick question if you would indulge me, I have a wonderful 3.1 still going strong but am thinking of treating it to a different graphics card because of all of this Mojave bother. I am in the UK and have found a Nvidia GTX680 for sale, it is flashed for Mac but does that mean it will also be Metal compatible there is very little info on the vendors website.

Thanks for any input.

It is Metal supported (even on a C2D), and moreover you will have official Nvidia driver updates:

https://www.nvidia.com/Download/driverResults.aspx/136062/en-us

http://www.macvidcards.com/drivers.html

but wait also for others opinions, since it's an expensive GPU.

 

[dosdude1]

It is Metal supported (even on a C2D), and moreover you will have official Nvidia driver updates:

https://www.nvidia.com/Download/driverResults.aspx/136062/en-us

http://www.macvidcards.com/drivers.html

but wait also for others opinions, since it's an expensive GPU.

Yes, it is your best option for having a boot screen and full acceleration under Mojave on a Mac Pro 3,1. Definitely get the card.

 

[T-MobileCustomer2017]

.

 

[pkouame]

It is Metal supported (even on a C2D), and moreover you will have official Nvidia driver updates:

https://www.nvidia.com/Download/driverResults.aspx/136062/en-us

http://www.macvidcards.com/drivers.html

but wait also for others opinions, since it's an expensive GPU.

and @L Caputo

I have the macEdition of the GTX680 on my pro 3.1 and it is metal compatible.

EDIT: I believe the only difference between mine and a PC flashed version is how it boots. I don't think its inherent metal capabilities are compromised in any way. Others may be able to corroborate. Otherwise very satisfied with my (now) three year old investment.

 

[dosdude1]

First of all, I would like to thank all of you for your contributions that have made the macOS Mojave Patcher a reality, and especially @dosdude1 for creating patch tools for the past few versions of macOS.

Secondly, will upgrading to a more powerful CPU on a Mac that lacks hardware accelerated graphics in Mojave partially help solve user interface lag and increase frame rates?

(specifically upgrading i3-550 to i7-870 on a 27" mid-2010 iMac with Radeon HD 5670 GPU)

@Badruzeus @pkouame @jackluke @ASentientBot @0403979 @tsialex

All you need to upgrade is the GPU (or "downgrade" it, as a Radeon HD 4xxx series and older will work perfectly in Mojave). The CPU won't make too much of a difference.