I have the same Macbook Pro 8,2. I have Mojave 10.14.4 + Continuity Activation Tool patch working just fine.
In order for this to work (including brightness control and sleep), I had to remove dosdude1's AMD GPU disable patch, and use the method outlined in my summary. Here is that summary that I posted earlier:
Macbook Pro Early 2011, 8,2 03/11/2019
Install Mojave + dGPU disable + CAT on Mojave
- 15in. Macbook Pro Early 2011, 8,2
- Updated AirPort card: Broadcom BCM94331PCIEBT4CAX
- MacOS: 10.14.3 Mojave.
- Clean Mojave install, using dosdude1 Unsupported Macs Mojave Installer.
- Do not install dosdude1 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth patches.
- Do not install dosdude1 USBOHCI patch.
AMDRadeon GPU Disable (EFI software only method):
https://luispuerto.net/blog/2017/12/11/disconnecting-the-dgpu-in-a-late-2011-macbook-pro-third-way/
o
IMPORTANT: DO NOT use dosdude1 dGPU disabler app!
o Reset PRAM & SMC
o Disable SIP
o Use EFI method to alter nvram prefs to disable dGPU.
o Use script/loginhook method to unload/load AMDRadeonX3000.kext before/after boot.
Use pmset -a gpuswitch 1 in loginhook to keep dGPU from switching.
o Modify AMD6000Controller.kext to make CFG_FB_LIMIT=
3
<key>CFG_FB_LIMIT</key><integer>3</integer>
Continuity Activation Tool Install:
o All Wi-Fi / Bluetooth Kexts should be Mojave unaltered originals.
o Wi-Fi and Bluetooth should already be working as expected without Continuity.
o Install latest CAT
BETA as normal. (Make sure you are using ONLY the latest CAT Beta!)
o Once you reboot, CAT will say it is active, but is likely not really working.
1.) In terminal get your board ID number:
ioreg -l | grep "board-id" | awk -F\" '{print $4}'
Ex: MBP2011 Board ID: Mac-94245A3940C91C80
2.) Set SystemParameters.plist flag to "true":
sudo nano /System/Library/Frameworks/IOBluetooth.framework/Versions/A/Resources/SystemParameters.plist
- Search (Ctrl+w) for Board ID (paste your Board ID in the search field and hit enter).
- Change flag from “false” to “true”
- Ctrl+O (write changes), then Ctrl+X (to exit nano).
3.) Set BoardID in AirportBrcm4360.kext & AirportBrcmNIC.kext:
sudo -E perl -pi -e "s/\Mac-00BE6ED71E35EB86/\Mac-94245A3940C91C80/" /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext/Contents/PlugIns/AirPortBrcm4360.kext/Contents/MacOS/AirPortBrcm4360
sudo -E perl -pi -e "s/\Mac-00BE6ED71E35EB86/\Mac-94245A3940C91C80/" /System/Library/Extensions/IO80211Family.kext/Contents/PlugIns/AirPortBrcmNIC.kext/Contents/MacOS/AirPortBrcmNIC
4.) Restart, CAT should be working after you reboot!
Note:
I don’t take any credit for the “R&D” of the above “solution”. There are many other folks who have CRITICALLY contributed by figuring out the nuts & bolts and sharing their findings. Thank you all! Also, it seems to me that in the end, none of this would even be possible without dosdude1’s excellent contributions for “Unsupported Macs”. THANK YOU dosdude1!
So, all I’ve done is to collate everything I’ve learned into a process “document” summary, which I wanted to make and keep for myself. Hopefully, other folks will find this useful as well.
There was a lot of trial and error associated with making this work for my Macbook Pro Early 2011 (8,2) with a defective AMD dGPU. If the dGPU had NOT gone bad, I probably would’ve stayed on High Sierra. But since it needed to be disabled anyway, I decided I may as well try to upgrade to Mojave.
I can confirm that with the process above, I was able to achieve my goals and Mojave is working fabulously! My dGPU diode temp is typically between 4-12C, indicating dGPU is indeed disabled. My Backlight keys work as they should, and I have no sleep/wake issues. Additionally, (and even prior to dGPU failure), I was seeing battery drain issues on High Sierra, getting around 2.5hrs of battery life…even after repeated SMC/PRAM resets and battery calibrations. After this process, my battery life is now back within normal expectations, and I’m getting 5-7hrs of battery life.
Continuity (via CAT) was working great previously on this Macbook Pro in High Sierra. I was surprised when it didn’t work with Mojave, but thanks to the awesome folks in the forum, I was able to get it working via the process outlined above. It is now working great, and I’m sure I won’t be able to live now without Mojave Camera Continuity!
Thanks again everybody for your invaluable work. Now I can hold off on buying a new MBP for a while longer!!!
Regards,
Finbarr Cnaipe, 03/11/2019
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To upgrade to 10.14.4, I created a new installer flash drive with dosdude1's latest patcher, booted to the flash drive and upgraded. Reboot back from the Flash drive, ran the updated dosdude1 post-install patcher, reboot in to 10.14.14. I had to then confirm my loginhook and correct .kext files for graphics... Also had to uninstall/re-install CAT for Continuity (including having to re-do the board-ID for the appropriate .kext files for CAT (see above FYI: I replaced the stock Wi-Fi/bluetooth module on my MBP several years ago with continuity compatible bluetooth 4LE version. CAT takes advantage of that and patches to allow continuity, including Hotspot, and also now Camera for Mojave!).
In any event, my MBP 2011 (8,2) is working great...including sleep and brightness control. I also use gfxcardstatus to confirm integrated graphics is forced/selected.
If dosdude1 ever figures out a way to release a solderless GPU Mux w/firmware update, I will be first in line to buy it. In the meantime, I prefer the above software method for disabling my defective AMD GPU...it simply works as expected, without any caveats except for not having an external display. (External display is tied to the discrete GPU, so disabling it also disabled external display...but I don't really need an external display anyway...I just run ARD/VNC if I want to work on my MBP from another computer....oh, and that is working fine in clamshell mode... For work, if I need to do presentations, I just do them from my iPad or iPhone anyway....)
