macOS 10.15 Catalina on Unsupported Macs

[s.ruizpe]

Hi! Need your help! Have MacBookAir 4.2 updated form Mojave to Catalina GM. With auto installed patches. All went good except no AirDrop at all. Nowhere! Wifi and BT works good. On Mojave it was with working continuity and handoff.
Used scripts and manual methods described earlier here like did in Mojave.

Tried clean install on external drive. Same thing. I saw same few posts here recently with no answer at all.
Onlу thing I installed "APFS BootROM Support" patch from Dosdude1's patcher site just in case before update. But I don't think it's the source of question.

Here some hardware data from terminal if it helps

Spoiler

@macbook-Air ~ % ioreg -l | grep "board-id" | awk -F\" '{print $4}'

Mac-742912EFDBEE19B3

@macbook-Air ~ % ioreg -r -n ARPT | grep IOName

| "IOName" = "pci14e4,4353"

@macbook-Air ~ % system_profiler -detailLevel mini | grep "Card Type"

2019-10-16 16:49:54.941 system_profiler[72776:612781] SystemInfo-AccessoryFW from dict - AirPods = 0x0688

2019-10-16 16:49:54.941 system_profiler[72776:612781] SystemInfo-AccessoryFW - iPhone : no firmware version info available

2019-10-16 16:50:03.488 system_profiler[72807:613325] SPUSBDevice: IOCreatePlugInInterfaceForService failed 0xe00002be

2019-10-16 16:50:03.489 system_profiler[72807:613325] SPUSBDevice: IOCreatePlugInInterfaceForService failed 0xe00002be

Card Type: AirPort Extreme (0x14E4, 0xE9)

Any help to resolve this issue? Ask if needed additional info or screenshots

Now on Catalina supplemental. Waiting for updated BlueSky patch. Worked on GM, now fully hangs system.

And thank you!

Same here, another MacBookAir 4.2 updated form Mojave to Catalina Release version. No AirDrop and it always worked, AirPlay icon appear/disappears every time I click on "Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available", is that normal? This model Macbook Air Mid 2011 is compatible by hardware with AirPlay. Since I can not see the AirPlay icon at the top bar, I can not connect to SideCar.

Might it normal that AirDrop doesn't work on Catalina 10.15? I saw the same issue on my Hackintosh iMac14,2 - no AirDrop any more.
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Yes you ned to use Catalina patcher versions 1.1.9 if you have macOS Catalina 15.0.33 which is the supplemental update I would recommend using the bootable installer but the install to this machine also worksView attachment 870411

If the supplemental update is not install that way... does it means that we can not update to future Catalina versions or update by using the "Software Update" in Settings?

 

[TimothyR734]

The Software update is broken in all of our unsupported Macs I read somewhere many pages ago some posted airdrop from Mojave and it worked in Catalina I don't know if that's the case now

 

[BigSmileMan]

MacBookAir 4.2 updated form Mojave to Catalina Release version. No AirDrop

Founded post but no patch file there. @jackluke wrote here
Will wait for his answer and maybe a helpful patch

 

[TimothyR734]

Founded post but no patch file there. @jackluke wrote here
Will wait for his answer and maybe a helpful patch

This is one I found

 

[lamerz78]

I guess restoring only your account should work, otherwise:

your mails should be stored here: /Users/YOURUSERNAME/Library/Mail/

the accounts instead should be on the Keychain or in iCloud, so you should export from there, not easy to retrieve them from hidden folders.

Mac User Guide

Learn what’s new in macOS, how to get started with your Mac and use it with your Apple devices, and how to control privacy and security on macOS.

support.apple.com

And then.......GOAL!!!!!
I've resterored only my account. Success !!!!
Today I'm going to apply the kext to properly awake from sleep, yesterday enabled the trim support.

Thank you all!!!!!

 

[asheenlevrai]

Managed to run the Catalina Patcher 1.1.9 and Install to this Machine, however this screenshot shows I am enrolled on the Beta

Same here. I disabled it (details->restore default).
Is it OK or was it a bad move?

 

[asheenlevrai]

If you are using an unsupported Mac you only have a few choices to install the supplemental update (...) use the install to this machine method within the Catalina patcher

Could you explain this method please?
Are you talking about the Patch Updater.app?

Tx
-a-

Answered in post #5625

 

[asheenlevrai]

Yes you ned to use Catalina patcher versions 1.1.9 if you have macOS Catalina 15.0.33 which is the supplemental update I would recommend using the bootable installer but the install to this machine also worksView attachment 870411

So if I got it right:
every time a new update comes out, we should reinstall catalina (with the patcher tool from DosDude1) on top of our previous patched Catalina install. Is that right?
Tx
-a-

 

[joevt]

Yes, delete it. It's leftover from Mojave Patcher.

Deleted. What is the current method used to run the Patch Updater.app? Is there a patcherd elsewhere for Catalina?

 

[asheenlevrai]

Hi

I recently performed upgrades (not clean installs) from 10.13.6 High Sierra to 10.15 Catalina on the following machines:
- macbookair3,2 (late 2010)
- macbookair4,2 (mid 2011)
- iMac11,1 (late 2009)

I used the patcher from DosDude1 and, at the end, the Patch Updater app updated the following:
- Night Shift
- Legacy USB Support Injector

I use the dark mode as recommended.
In order to solve the only graphic glitch that I noticed (grey background in drop-down lists/menus) I installed the SkyLight patch (but not the HIToolBox patch) using the BlueSky.sh script (See the OP of this thread).

Now, the only issue that I noticed so far is that now my USB3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet adapter (KY-888) doesn't work anymore (as if it wasn't connected).
- I confirmed that it works properly on a different device.
- I confirmed that it works properly on the same devices running High Sierra
- I confirmed that it works properly on supported macs running Catalina
This adapter is based on a Realtek RTL8153 chip.
I tried reinstalling the Realtek driver but it didn't change anything.

Another USB-Ethernet adapter (the one from apple, USB->Ethernet 10/100) works fine, though. USB ports on the patched macs work fine too.

My best guess is that there is something wrong with the patch and thus the adapter doesn't work on patched-Catalina on unsupported macs...

Thoughts?

Thank you very much in advance for your help or your feedback.

Best,
-a-

PS: I read somewhere that on unupported macs patched with Catalina, Software Update doesn't work anymore. Can anyone confirm this? Does this mean that we should only rely on the Patch Updater app?

Does the patcher remove any driver that would be normally included in Catalina? For some reason beyond my understanding...

 

[Alex-Microsmeta]

macOS Catalina TIPS: it you have it, remove VMware fusion Helper from boot start (two squares icon on menu bar) It is useless and uses 30% of weak CPUs like mine. More resources and lower temperature gained.

For the same reason I have also disabled Crash Reporter Daemon:

launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.ReportCrash.plist
sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.ReportCrash.Root.plist

to restore:
launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.ReportCrash.plist
sudo launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.ReportCrash.Root.plist

 

[joevt]

macOS Catalina TIP: it you use it, remove VMware fusion Helper from boot start (two squares icon on menu bar) It is useless and uses 30% of weak CPUs like mine. More resources and lower temperature.

Speaking of VM, my Parallels Desktop for Mac Windows 7 VM has been super slow since after 10.14.3. (tried 10.14.6 and 10.15).

 

[Alex-Microsmeta]

@parrotgeek1 @dosdude1 @ASentientBot Still issues with caps lock, num lock and scroll lock leds on all my wired usb PC keyboards (they do not light) but functions work on Macmini 4,1. No problems with patched Mojave or USB Catalina installation pendrive. Why?

 

[Alex-Microsmeta]

Speaking of VM, my Parallels Desktop for Mac Windows 7 VM has been super slow since after 10.14.3. (tried 10.14.6 and 10.15).

I still use Vmware fusion 8.5.6 because newer versions aren't compatible with Core 2 Duo. Windows 10 x64 1903 isn't fast, but still usable for unavailable Cat apps like MS Access 2019. I have used Parallels, but dismissed for your same issue. i have used CrossOver on Mojave, but it is really confusing and unstable.

 

[asheenlevrai]

Hi

I recently performed upgrades (not clean installs) from 10.13.6 High Sierra to 10.15 Catalina on the following machines:
- macbookair3,2 (late 2010)
- macbookair4,2 (mid 2011)
- iMac11,1 (late 2009)

I used the patcher from DosDude1 and, at the end, the Patch Updater app updated the following:
- Night Shift
- Legacy USB Support Injector

I use the dark mode as recommended.
In order to solve the only graphic glitch that I noticed (grey background in drop-down lists/menus) I installed the SkyLight patch (but not the HIToolBox patch) using the BlueSky.sh script (See the OP of this thread).

Now, the only issue that I noticed so far is that now my USB3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet adapter (KY-888) doesn't work anymore (as if it wasn't connected).
- I confirmed that it works properly on a different device.
- I confirmed that it works properly on the same devices running High Sierra
- I confirmed that it works properly on supported macs running Catalina
This adapter is based on a Realtek RTL8153 chip.
I tried reinstalling the Realtek driver but it didn't change anything.

Another USB-Ethernet adapter (the one from apple, USB->Ethernet 10/100) works fine, though. USB ports on the patched macs work fine too.

My best guess is that there is something wrong with the patch and thus the adapter doesn't work on patched-Catalina on unsupported macs...

Thoughts?

Thank you very much in advance for your help or your feedback.

Best,
-a-

PS: I read somewhere that on unupported macs patched with Catalina, Software Update doesn't work anymore. Can anyone confirm this? Does this mean that we should only rely on the Patch Updater app?

I found the following information:

After installing the driver v1.0.19 from Realtek I get the following:
- the adapter works until it is removed. Then, when I plug it back, it is not working.
- if I boot with the adapter plugged, then it works (until i remove it. then it won't work again).
- if I boot without the adapter, it won't work when I plug it in.

Apparently this affects unsupported macs (Catalina Patch) and hackintoshes, but not supported macs running Catalina (native support as usual)

Apparently, this might be solved in 10.15.1, at least on Hackintoshes

Any idea?

Note:
My unsupported mac running Catalina (upgrade from High Sierra):
both the AppleRTL815X kexts come from the Realtek driver v.1.0.19

my supported mac running Catalina (fresh install):
(the adapter works normally on this machine)

On both macs, AppleRTX815X.kext is absent from S/L/E/IONetworkingFamily.kext/Content/PlugIns

 

[BigSmileMan]

This is one I found

So sorry but it’s not a patch but bunch of files that I don’t know how to use. No script inside that I can read or analyze. My road with MacOS started from preMojave. And I have no idea where to put them.
From another side I don’t understand why clean install of Catalina on MBA4.2 goes without core system “AirDrop” files.
Is there any exclusion for our almost supported by a hardware model? Maybe our experts like @dosdude1 can comment something about?
Will remind that continuity, handoff, Instant Hotspot and “take photo from iPhone” worked like a charm on Mojave after easy script or terminal manual mods.

 

[Vinc26]

Hi there,

ABOUT DHCP, and the ability to play movies bought on iTunes (AppleTV now) :
On my MacPro5,1, just after installing Catalina, using my original Video Card Radeon HD 4870, playing bought movies works well. BUT, once replaced the video card by the Radeon RX 580 8 Go, playing the same movie stop after 2 seconds

I've just tried this https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8448615?answerId=33791006022#33791006022 but it doesn't work.

Any sort of solution ? It worked well under Mojave. It's only since Catalina.

Thanks,

Vincent

 

[s.ruizpe]

The Software update is broken in all of our unsupported Macs I read somewhere many pages ago some posted airdrop from Mojave and it worked in Catalina I don't know if that's the case now

It was working before in Mojave by having an APFS system and using the @dosdude1 on Unsupported Macs. If the process still the same, I don't really understand what have changed so we can not update any longer.

 

[Alex-Microsmeta]

It was working before in Mojave by having an APFS system and using the @dosdude1 on Unsupported Macs. If the process still the same, I don't really understand what have changed so we can not update any longer.

I always update Catalina with the last version of dosdude1 patch on USB pendrive, over the previous version. It works fine, keeping all' 3th part apps installed and data and It Is fast. Then I clone backup the APFS partition 1:1 to have a restore ready. I fear the standard Apple update.

 

[jhowarth]

Yeah, just like the old Intel chipset IDE drivers. Should be nothing more than adding back a removed kext.

Actually a comparison of the kext in /System/Library/Extensions between 10.15.0 and 10.15.1 beta two show that no kext or kext plugin have been dropped.
[automerge]1571396805[/automerge]

Apparently Series 7 Sata Support has been dropped in 10.15.1 Beta 2 the C602 Intel Series 7 Drivers are no longer there.

And your evidence for that claim is exactly what?

 

[jackluke]

Founded post but no patch file there. @jackluke wrote here
Will wait for his answer and maybe a helpful patch

I am still testing an AirDrop general patch that can't cover pre-2009 machines due to a Broadcom hardware limitation. However you and @s.ruizpe can use the attached kext to bring back AirDrop to yours Catalina.

Open a Catalina terminal and copy/paste:

sudo mount -uw / ; killall Finder

Then from Catalina Finder replace (do not merge) them inside your Catalina /System/Library/Extensions/

after from a Catalina terminal send these commands one at once:

sudo chown -R 0:0 /S*/L*/E*/
sudo chmod -R 755 /S*/L*/E*/
sudo kextcache -i /

(the "kextcache" takes some minutes to complete)

At next reboot you should have AirDrop in Catalina Finder.

After you have a working AirDrop, I suggest to apply this additional fix to enable an extra AirDrop feature that apple removed from Catalina: "AirDrop Search for older Mac"

NOTE: The attached will work only on MacBookAir4,2.

 

[zephar42]

@dosdude1 - So I had previously had trouble installing beta 10 with 1.1.5, but I somehow managed to successfully install the official Catalina release with 1.1.7. I don't know what caused it to work, but here is what I did in case someone else has the same problem.

Originally, when I tried to install beta 10 with 1.1.5, it started to boot off the USB drive, but then showed a screen with a circle and line thru the circle.

Today, I tried to install the official Catalina release with 1.1.7 from a USB stick and it showed me the same screen with a circle and line thru the circle.

I then tried to install the official Catalina release directly to the Mac Pro 3,1 instead of the USB stick, and it appeared to start installing, but then rebooted back into beta 8 (I had skipped beta 9). Before doing the direct install to the machine, I had also pulled all the drives except the Catalina SSD drive to make sure I didn't mess up my other drives.

Here's what I have in each bay...
Bay 1 - Mojave SSD - Mac OS Extended
Bay 2 - Catalina SSD - APFS
Bay 3 - Mojave HD - Mac OS Extended
Bay 4 - Windows Bootcamp SSD - NTFS

With only one drive in Bay 2 and the others removed, I then tried booting from the USB stick and it worked!!! Maybe having those extra drives installed caused my previous problem?!?!

Anyway.. the official Catalina release is all up and running on my MacPro 3,1 with a GTX 680 card and all the drives back in their bays.

@dosdude1 - Thanks for keeping these old Mac's up and running with the latest OS!!!!

I just updated to 10.15s (19A602) with 1.1.9 on my Mac Pro 3,1 and it worked fine. I did not see the screen with a circle and line thru the circle and this time I had all my drives in their bays.

 

[BigSmileMan]

due to a Broadcom hardware limitation

Isn’t strange that MBA 4.2 have no such hardware limitations and why this problem appeared? Or I’m wrong?
Surely I’ll try your patch later when will be at home. Thank you for fast helping!

 

[jhowarth]

Yeah, just like the old Intel chipset IDE drivers. Should be nothing more than adding back a removed kext.

Is it significantly more difficult to patch the Software Updates under Catalina compared to Mojave? If not, it might be worth pushing that to the top of the queue so we can have a better view of potential regressions in the next point release while it still in beta and have time to address them prior to release.

 

[jackluke]

Isn’t strange that MBA 4.2 have no such hardware limitations and why this problem appeared? Or I’m wrong?
Surely I’ll try your patch later when will be at home. Thank you for fast helping!

You're right, infact the MBA4,2 has also the Bluetooth 4.0 , later try my patched kext, it should work for AirDrop.

Then to add additional features to your BT 4.0 device you could try this terminal command (in one line):

sudo /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set:Mac-YOURMACHINEID:ContinuitySupport true" "/System/Library/Frameworks/IOBluetooth.framework/Versions/A/Resources/SystemParameters.plist"