Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Status
The first post of this thread is a WikiPost and can be edited by anyone with the appropiate permissions. Your edits will be public.

makra

macrumors 6502
Dec 29, 2020
370
385
Northern Germany
The link that I sent you in the previous mail. The very first post in the thread has a link at the top about disabling the dGPU. I think that Avz is right—it’s a paid tool.

I would read through that thread thoroughly, however, and seek help on that thread before doing anything. If your dGPU is fine right now, you may not need to disable it to upgrade to unsupported Mojave or Catalina. I’m not sure. I just know that the dGPU in your mbp is famous for dying and causing all sorts of problems. Good luck! ✌?
You might also have a look at Dosdude1's page:
 
  • Like
Reactions: K two

crazybaldheads

macrumors newbie
Sep 30, 2019
6
1
EU
Thanks a lot. I have done everything that he says on his webpage concerning my laptop, 8,2 on Mojave concerning sleep, etc. Nothing works. If the machine sleeps, I must force restart, nothing else works.
 

martinbo66

macrumors newbie
Oct 16, 2019
6
1
The Netherlands
Can I use a Mojave Time Machine backup made on an unsupported device to move the installation onto a new supported MacBook, without any problems?
Upgrade to a new MacBook.
 

Ausdauersportler

macrumors 603
Nov 25, 2019
5,007
5,826
Can I use a Mojave Time Machine backup made on an unsupported device to move the installation onto a new supported MacBook, without any problems?
Upgrade to a new MacBook.
You should only restore user files and settings and avoid any system files (the old system has been patched and will not work properly on the new supported system) and check apps in advance, see below.

In case you are crossing the 64bit boarder using Catalina or later I would strongly recommend to avoid restoring applications, some of them may simply do not work any longer. Just migrate your user data in and install applications from the scratch.

Without any problems? This is the land of unsupported, i.e. self supported macs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: K two

C Punkt

macrumors member
Sep 2, 2019
70
19
Hi together.

Because I was missing the Bootrom Update (and my iMac10,1 supports HightSierra natively) and I didn't know how to install it without an OS (I had already erased the SSD for a clean install) I had to install Mojave as MacOS journaled and couldn't use APFS. So I will have a backdraw:

"Using APFS is REQUIRED in Mojave in order to receive system updates via the normal Software Update method. If you choose to continue using macOS Extended (Journaled) as your filesystem type, you will NOT receive System Updates via System Preferences."

I will seemingly need to update manually instead of letting it happen automatically. But how do I do it manually? (in sys. preferences it proposes for me to install BigSur.. which obviously wont work..)

Best,
 

Ausdauersportler

macrumors 603
Nov 25, 2019
5,007
5,826
Hi together.

Because I was missing the Bootrom Update (and my iMac10,1 supports HightSierra natively) and I didn't know how to install it without an OS (I had already erased the SSD for a clean install) I had to install Mojave as MacOS journaled and couldn't use APFS. So I will have a backdraw:

"Using APFS is REQUIRED in Mojave in order to receive system updates via the normal Software Update method. If you choose to continue using macOS Extended (Journaled) as your filesystem type, you will NOT receive System Updates via System Preferences."

I will seemingly need to update manually instead of letting it happen automatically. But how do I do it manually? (in sys. preferences it proposes for me to install BigSur.. which obviously wont work..)

Best,
You need to install High Sierra and all updates. Within one of these updates the firmware update will be applied. You have to install onto your internal disk.

You may just download the dosdude1 High Sierra patcher and use this tool only to download and create an unpatched High Sierra USB installer (this is only one way to get the installer, there are several other options, searching the net is much more effective than posting here).
 

C Punkt

macrumors member
Sep 2, 2019
70
19
You need to install High Sierra and all updates. Within one of these updates the firmware update will be applied. You have to install onto your internal disk.

You may just download the dosdude1 High Sierra patcher and use this tool only to download and create an unpatched High Sierra USB installer (this is only one way to get the installer, there are several other options, searching the net is much more effective than posting here).

I once had the Mac updated to the latest update possible so it should have been on it already. Didnt work anyways.
I thought it has to do with the fact that the HDD, where Sierra and the update was on, was exchanged to an SSD. So how would the Computer know this High Sierra Bootromupdate was ever installed? Does it install to any other Hardware besides the HDD? Because even if I used the same HDD.. Before I install the new unsupported Mojave, I have to format it to APFS.. which also erased any info.. How would that Computer know the update was ever installed?

Anyhow. This is not my question anymore. It is now extended journaled an thats ok. I just need to know how to get the firmware security update which are still to come to Mojave. Since without APFS they wont update automatically. How do I do it mannually?
 

Ausdauersportler

macrumors 603
Nov 25, 2019
5,007
5,826
I once had the Mac updated to the latest update possible so it should have been on it already. Didnt work anyways.
I thought it has to do with the fact that the HDD, where Sierra and the update was on, was exchanged to an SSD. So how would the Computer know this High Sierra Bootromupdate was ever installed? Does it install to any other Hardware besides the HDD? Because even if I used the same HDD.. Before I install the new unsupported Mojave, I have to format it to APFS.. which also erased any info.. How would that Computer know the update was ever installed?

Anyhow. This is not my question anymore. It is now extended journaled an thats ok. I just need to know how to get the firmware security update which are still to come to Mojave. Since without APFS they wont update automatically. How do I do it mannually?
There are macOS tools able to read the firmware version. Running the updates these tools are used, the firmware updates are staged to the internal EFI and on the next reboot it should run and apply the updates. This does not work in any case and on the first attempt, just retry. You may check the EFI partitions for an APPLE folder containing the firmware.scap files for updates. I could update all my iMac11,x and iMac12,x systems.

Your machine will not get any firmware updates from Mojave, it was never supported to run with Mojave. Why should apple bundle software for unsupported macs into macOS updates?

You need to go back to High Sierra, or the latest supported macOS version in general to get the firmware updates and APFS support.
 
Last edited:

internetzel

macrumors 6502a
Apr 29, 2015
627
804
Does it install to any other Hardware besides the HDD?
It is installed to the so called "boot ROM". The "boot ROM" is a small flash memory on the main board - something like a very small SSD.
The boot ROM contents is what is loaded and executed immediately after powering up. The software stored in the boot ROM will then try to find something bootable on some attached drive or might even try to connect to the internet for recovery.
 

C Punkt

macrumors member
Sep 2, 2019
70
19
There are macOS tools able to read the firmware version. Running the updates these tools are used, the firmware updates are staged to the internal EFI and on the next reboot it should run and apply the updates. This does not work in any case and on the first attempt, just retry. You may check the EFI partitions for an APPLE folder containing the firmware.scap files for updates. I could update all my iMac11,x and iMac12,x systems.

Your machine will not get any firmware updates from Mojave, it was never supported to run with Mojave. Why should apple bundle software for unsupported macs into macOS updates?

You need to go back to High Sierra, or the latest supported macOS version in general to get the firmware updates and APFS support.

Well someone once told me Mojave doesn't get any real updates anymore (since there are newer MacOSs) but machines that dont run newer versions than Mojave are not yet obsolete and still get security updates. I think that is what they mean with the quote of Dosdude on his homepage, I requote:

"Using APFS is REQUIRED in Mojave in order to receive system updates via the normal Software Update method. If you choose to continue using macOS Extended (Journaled) as your filesystem type, you will NOT receive System Updates via System Preferences."


It is installed to the so called "boot ROM". The "boot ROM" is a small flash memory on the main board - something like a very small SSD.
The boot ROM contents is what is loaded and executed immediately after powering up. The software stored in the boot ROM will then try to find something bootable on some attached drive or might even try to connect to the internet for recovery.
ahh thanks now I get it.
 

haralds

macrumors 68030
Jan 3, 2014
2,994
1,259
Silicon Valley, CA
I revived my MacBook Air mid 2011 running High Sierra and DOSDude's Mojave. Both are running well.
I would love to turn SIP back on. As a developer, i have KEXT signing privileges from Apple. I can only use it for our products for distribution but could sign other things for personal use.
Is there a list of patched KEXTs and Frameworks from DosDude? It would save time to get the system straight.
 

joevt

macrumors 604
Jun 21, 2012
6,971
4,262
Is there a list of patched KEXTs and Frameworks from DosDude? It would save time to get the system straight.
You can get the source code for the Catalina patcher. The Mojave and High Sierra patchers are probably similar.
You can download all the patches and examine them manually.
Each patch usually has two versions. One in the Objective C code (patcher) and one as a bash script (downloads).
But some patches only exist in one of those.
Code:
#=========================================================================================
# Download source code


git clone https://github.com/dosdude1/macos-catalina-patcher.git

#=========================================================================================
# Download patches

for theos in highsierra mojave catalina; do
    curl -s "http://dosdude1.com/${theos}/patchupdates/updates.plist" > ${theos}updates.plist
    [[ -d ${theos}updatepatches ]] || mkdir ${theos}updatepatches

    for theurl in $(plutil -p ${theos}updates.plist | sed -nE '/^ +"patchURL" => "(.*)"$/s//\1/p'); do
        echo $theurl
        thezip="${theurl##*/}"
        thefile="${thezip%.zip}"

        [[ -d $thefile ]] || mkdir "${theos}updatepatches/$thefile"
        curl -s "$theurl" > "${theos}updatepatches/$thefile/$thezip"
        open "${theos}updatepatches/$thefile/$thezip"
    done
done

#=========================================================================================
# Currently installed updates:

bbedit /Library/Application\ Support/macOS\ Mojave\ Patcher/installedPatches.plist
bbedit /Library/Application\ Support/High\ Sierra\ Patcher/installedPatches.plist
bbedit /Library/Application\ Support/macOS\ Catalina\ Patcher/installedPatches.plist
 

avz

macrumors 68000
Oct 7, 2018
1,830
1,896
Stalingrad, Russia
I revived my MacBook Air mid 2011 running High Sierra and DOSDude's Mojave. Both are running well.
I would love to turn SIP back on. As a developer, i have KEXT signing privileges from Apple. I can only use it for our products for distribution but could sign other things for personal use.
Is there a list of patched KEXTs and Frameworks from DosDude? It would save time to get the system straight.
This is an interesting idea. As far as I know frameworks are straight from Apple and should not need any extra signatures.
You might be able to see unsigned kexts when manually rebuilding prelinked kernel:
sudo kextcache -system-prelinked-kernel
 
  • Like
Reactions: haralds

C Punkt

macrumors member
Sep 2, 2019
70
19
Well someone once told me Mojave doesn't get any real updates anymore (since there are newer MacOSs) but machines that dont run newer versions than Mojave are not yet obsolete and still get security updates. I think that is what they mean with the quote of Dosdude on his homepage, I requote:

"Using APFS is REQUIRED in Mojave in order to receive system updates via the normal Software Update method. If you choose to continue using macOS Extended (Journaled) as your filesystem type, you will NOT receive System Updates via System Preferences."



ahh thanks now I get it.
Can no one help me with my issue here?
 

haralds

macrumors 68030
Jan 3, 2014
2,994
1,259
Silicon Valley, CA
Can no one help me with my issue here?
It is not quite clear to me what your question is. As previously pointed out, Mojave is not receiving further updates as of now. Depending on your system, you can install High Sierra to get the firmware update required to run on APFS. DOSDude's installer also has an EFI driver that allows running APFS on older systems. But if you can use High Sierra to install the firmware update, it's a better solution.
 

haralds

macrumors 68030
Jan 3, 2014
2,994
1,259
Silicon Valley, CA
This is an interesting idea. As far as I know frameworks are straight from Apple and should not need any extra signatures.
You might be able to see unsigned kexts when manually rebuilding prelinked kernel:
sudo kextcache -system-prelinked-kernel
Duh - should have thought of that. Thanks!

--> worked my way through and was able to patch a couple of KEXTs and their plugins, mainly LegacyUSBInjector and AppleHDA. I parked the SIPManager and rebuilt the kext cache. After double-checking the PlatformSupport.plist I did an NVRAM reset (clearing SIP disabled and boot-args) and was able to boot fine with everything intact.

==> must have missed an audio component. No sound - AppleHDA. Will have to find the responsible piece not loading. Meanwhile SIP is back off. I wonder whether the High Sierra version works.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: avz

avz

macrumors 68000
Oct 7, 2018
1,830
1,896
Stalingrad, Russia
Duh - should have thought of that. Thanks!

--> worked my way through and was able to patch a couple of KEXTs and their plugins, mainly LegacyUSBInjector and AppleHDA. I parked the SIPManager and rebuilt the kext cache. After double-checking the PlatformSupport.plist I did an NVRAM reset (clearing SIP disabled and boot-args) and was able to boot fine with everything intact.

==> must have missed an audio component. No sound - AppleHDA. Will have to find the responsible piece not loading. Meanwhile SIP is back on. I wonder whether the High Sierra version works.
AppleHDA kext is straight from the High Sierra as far as I know.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ausdauersportler

VaZ

macrumors 6502
Aug 31, 2012
322
84
Mojave is definitely and completely out of support - no further updates to be expected, although exceptionally some extraorbitantly critical hot fix might occur.
Not true i get updates for Mojave every few weeks still. Just run SilentKnight and install whats available √
 
  • Like
Reactions: K two

internetzel

macrumors 6502a
Apr 29, 2015
627
804
Not true i get updates for Mojave every few weeks still. Just run SilentKnight and install whats available √
But those things updated by SilentKnight are just something like malware definitions - no more security fixes or feature updates by Apple for the OS itself, not even Safari or WebKit (the latter is quite important in my opinion).
 

VaZ

macrumors 6502
Aug 31, 2012
322
84
But those things updated by SilentKnight are just something like malware definitions - no more security fixes or feature updates by Apple for the OS itself, not even Safari or WebKit (the latter is quite important in my opinion).
Security Updates is EXACTLY what SilentKnight updates amongst other things √
 

Ausdauersportler

macrumors 603
Nov 25, 2019
5,007
5,826
Security Updates is EXACTLY what SilentKnight updates amongst other things √
Please enlighten us which security updates have been silently published only available using this tool within the last 5 months since July, 21st - this was the day Apple released the last Mojave security update. Government, big universities , companies have phased out macOS Mojave support. Just search the net.
Catalina got in September another security update…
EDIT: Mojave got no in September or later.
 
Last edited:
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.