macOS 10.15 Catalina on Unsupported Macs

[kinetos]

I've updated my MBP 4,1 (10.15 to 10.15.1) with DosDude1 1.2.3 but after the first reboot my MBP reboot again and again. There is a solution for that?

 

[rlw6534]

I'm aware of this but not sure why it's happening; I've investigated it before with very little success. Essentially, the UI is accelerated, but it seems like some 2D things are not. I'm going to take another look at this soon. It's one of the main reasons why I don't consider Catalina to be usable as a primary system, and I want that to change.
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Cool! Have you tried these commands? I'm going to test this when I get to school.
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I'd keep a backup of the 10.14.3 installer and then update to 10.14.6. That way you can downgrade again if anything gets weird. Any Mojave release other than 10.14.4 should be stable enough for daily use though. Catalina, not as much.

I don't think that's an APFS vs. HFS+ issue, it's a Mojave vs. Catalina issue. I investigated this a little bit and it seems like the issue is saving the hibernate file, not loading it. But I never figured out the root cause.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I don't have a copy of the 10.14.3 installer (and a quick Google search didn't help, any leads/links?). I'll try 10.14.6 with APFS and see if hibernate works... I don't recall ever getting it to work with APFS previously.

 

[kral84]

Now you can Build your own package for the Legacy Video Patch
Using pkgbuild
For Nvidia and Intel
Follow the new video
☞ Legacy Video Patch

@chris1111 i have an GTX 860 card on my imac 2011 , can i install it or its for original mac grafic cards like amd 6xxx? on catalina patcher i have not set legancy video ...

on youtube i can play 4K its stuttering/freezing.... on my amd 65xx card nom problem , on my metal card GTX 860 have it problems... driver problem?

 

[jackluke]

Would you suggest replacing AppleGVA.framework from HS or Mojave? Do you happen to have access to either of those files? I also noticed in S/L/PrivateFrameworks that there is also a "AppleGVACore.framework." Is that new for Catalina and does it need to be replaced as well?

AppleGVACore is present also on HighSierra, however I've tried to replace the AppleGVA but still no HW accel on Catalina in certain webGL or video apps.
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I'm aware of this but not sure why it's happening; I've investigated it before with very little success. Essentially, the UI is accelerated, but it seems like some 2D things are not. I'm going to take another look at this soon. It's one of the main reasons why I don't consider Catalina to be usable as a primary system, and I want that to change.
[automerge]1572879138[/automerge]

Cool! Have you tried these commands? I'm going to test this when I get to school.

Not yet, seems those require additional kext, but in case those dictionary keys don't work, you can easily remove them, since they are by default empty:

defaults delete com.apple.coremedia
defaults delete com.apple.AppleGVA

however I guess the video acceleration framerate dropping you noticed on your webGL apps, probably it's related also to them and from what I read this tool should check if it is enabled:
https://github.com/cylonbrain/VDADecoderCheck

I attach the compiled binary exec, but doesn't tell much, on MacBook7,1 from 10.13.6 and 10.14.6 for example it outputs just that a GPU is fully accelerated (click the blur to reveal):
Hardware acceleration is fully supported

while in Catalina it throws an error about a "VDA layer":

VDADecoderCreate failed. err: -12473
An error was returned by the decoder layer. This may happen for example because of bitstream/data errors during a decode operation. This error may also be returned from VDADecoderCreate when hardware decoder resources are available on the system but currently in use by another process.
VDADecoderCreate failed. err: -12473

Meanwhile internally I found these dependencies: CoreMedia.framework , CoreVideo.framework and VideoDecodeAcceleration.framework

 

[poke36878]

I’ve updated a 2011 MacBook Pto, a 2010 Mac Pro and a Mac mini 2011 with Dosdude’s fantastic software.

All seem faster than Mojave and more stable.

 

[danielschwitz24]

@jackluke Hi Jack, I have a question Does your method to enable Airdrop without 4.0 BT dongle work on Mojave OS too?

 

[LuisN]

Hi,
some issue (maybe off topic??):

Mac Mini 5,3 Server 2011:

VMware Fusion 15.5.0 can not use 3D-Acceleration with Windows 10 x64:

When starting a virtual machine a window does pop up and says: "There is no 3d-support from host........."

Is this VMware Fusion 15.5.0 related, as they did change their new VMware Fusion 15.5.0 from opengl to metal driven drivers?

vmware Fusion never had support for 3D-acceleration in macOS.
SORRY I misread your question. It should work with Windows 10. Maybe some problem installing VMware tools?

 

[jackluke]

@jackluke Hi Jack, I have a question Does your method to enable Airdrop without 4.0 BT dongle work on Mojave OS too?

Patching the AirPortBrcm4360 driver I guess so, but your Broadcom Wifi card needs to be 0x14E4 , 0x9* or later, 0x8* or earlier produce kp, check the output from Terminal copy/paste this:

ioreg -l | grep "board-id" | awk '{print $4}'

system_profiler -detailLevel mini | grep "Card Type"

 

[rlw6534]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I don't have a copy of the 10.14.3 installer (and a quick Google search didn't help, any leads/links?). I'll try 10.14.6 with APFS and see if hibernate works... I don't recall ever getting it to work with APFS previously.

Update - Mojave 10.14.6 with APFS (using ROM patch) is installed and hibernate is working correctly (hibernate mode 25) on Macbook5,1. Thanks!

I'll stay here for a while and see if the Catalina situation improves with time... No hibernation was a deal breaker.

 

[ASentientBot]

AppleGVACore is present also on HighSierra, however I've tried to replace the AppleGVA but still no HW accel on Catalina in certain webGL or video apps.
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Not yet, seems those require additional kext, but in case those dictionary keys don't work, you can easily remove them, since they are by default empty:

defaults delete com.apple.coremedia
defaults delete com.apple.AppleGVA

however I guess the video acceleration framerate dropping you noticed on your webGL apps, probably it's related also to them and from what I read this tool should check if it is enabled:
https://github.com/cylonbrain/VDADecoderCheck

I attach the compiled binary exec, but doesn't tell much, on MacBook7,1 from 10.13.6 and 10.14.6 for example it outputs just that a GPU is fully accelerated (click the blur to reveal):
Hardware acceleration is fully supported

while in Catalina it throws an error about a "VDA layer":

VDADecoderCreate failed. err: -12473
An error was returned by the decoder layer. This may happen for example because of bitstream/data errors during a decode operation. This error may also be returned from VDADecoderCreate when hardware decoder resources are available on the system but currently in use by another process.
VDADecoderCreate failed. err: -12473

Meanwhile internally I found these dependencies: CoreMedia.framework , CoreVideo.framework and VideoDecodeAcceleration.framework

Thanks, that will really help with debugging

 

[jackluke]

Thanks, that will really help with debugging

Thanks to you for your amazing Catalina patches, if this "secondary h264 HW accel" won't be figured out is not so important, the main non-metal acceleration and "light mode" are already been achieved.

However I made some my non-clever replacements of those frameworks (from HighSierra), and noticed that CoreVideo.framework is constantly in use by the system and dependent from CoreMedia.framework , but it doesn't worked on Catalina finder becomes unresponsive, while replacing only the AppleGVA and VideoDecodeAcceleration works but doesn't fixed the Catalina "secondary HW accel".

Moreover here is an advanced apple developer guide about VDA framework:

Technical Note TN2267: Video Decode Acceleration Framework Reference

TN2267: Describes the Video Decode Acceleration Framework APIs available on Mac OS v10.6.3 and later with certain Mac models.

developer.apple.com

 

[jeffhalmos]

Just updated to 10.15.1, but still cannot get a Boot Drive going (Command R). Anyone have success adding one on a 5,1?

 

[Flacko]

Just updated to 10.15.1, but still cannot get a Boot Drive going (Command R). Anyone have success adding one on a 5,1?

See my post here https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macos-10-15-catalina-on-unsupported-macs.2183772/post-27911074

 

[jeffhalmos]

I used dosdude1's patcher(ver1.2) successfully installed Catalina onto my early 2009 iMac, everything is fine except:

1: Airdrop is missing, the Airdrop app doesn't even exist in the system at all, although wifi is perfectly normal

2: In light mode, sidebars are grey-out in every window, which made light mode totally unusable

Anyone with similar experience ?

Same here, and I used Patcher 1.2.3. No AirDrop. Used to work with Mojave.

 

[nekton1]

This might be one of those cases too, Jack. Although the flashing white power LED error seemed to clear up by itself, I pulled the risers, blew the dust off, pulled the RAM DIMMs, cleaned the edge connectors, reassembled and re-installed and immediately got the flashing white LED! But at least I could see the red warning on the riser. Bottom riser DIMM 2. I pulled that one again and reseated and the MP started up fine. It could be the DIMM going bad or a corroded edge connection but something to watch for (and at least not the motherboard).

My experience with bad memory in MacPro 3,1's has been that it can be a real PITA to pin down. Especially when the failures are sporadic. Usually I've had to wait for the failures to become severe and them pull banks of DIMMs until I could find the dodgy set.

 

[nekton1]

Maybe KPs are part of the 10.15.1 experience?

Crashes and lockups in 10.15.1, trouble waking

My Mac (2014 5K iMac, well-specced, all SSD storage) is really acting up since updating to 10.15.1. Tough to say exactly what's happening, but whenever my screen goes dark (I guess the Mac is going to sleep) I have trouble Waking it. Keyboard taps, trackpad taps, etc. don't have any effect...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Macbookprodude]

Hello everyone,

I was able to save up and now will be moving to a 2012 MacBook Pro non-retina. However, I will come back here when the next OS comes out, hopefully 10.16 will run on a 2012 machine. I have sold my 2011.

 

[Murphybp2]

Maybe KPs are part of the 10.15.1 experience?

Crashes and lockups in 10.15.1, trouble waking

My Mac (2014 5K iMac, well-specced, all SSD storage) is really acting up since updating to 10.15.1. Tough to say exactly what's happening, but whenever my screen goes dark (I guess the Mac is going to sleep) I have trouble Waking it. Keyboard taps, trackpad taps, etc. don't have any effect...

forums.macrumors.com

I just had an issue today where my system unexpectedly shut down, and the error seemed to indicate it was a problem related to going to sleep.

 

[M@rk]

Hi all,

First of all, thanks to everyone that makes our old Macs new again. Just a new problem when I upgraded to 10.15.1 (iMac 8,1). The Music app, TV app and podcast app doesn't allow you to log into your account and won't let you authorize the computer. I have logged off iCloud and re logged into it via settings

Anyone else having this issues?

 

[TimothyR734]

No issues here I am signed into iTunes,Music,Podcasts,and AppleTV

 

[M@rk]

No issues here I am signed into iTunes,Music,Podcasts,and AppleTVView attachment 875008

I get this;

 

[avz]

AppleGVACore is present also on HighSierra, however I've tried to replace the AppleGVA but still no HW accel on Catalina in certain webGL or video apps.
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Not yet, seems those require additional kext, but in case those dictionary keys don't work, you can easily remove them, since they are by default empty:

defaults delete com.apple.coremedia
defaults delete com.apple.AppleGVA

however I guess the video acceleration framerate dropping you noticed on your webGL apps, probably it's related also to them and from what I read this tool should check if it is enabled:
https://github.com/cylonbrain/VDADecoderCheck

I attach the compiled binary exec, but doesn't tell much, on MacBook7,1 from 10.13.6 and 10.14.6 for example it outputs just that a GPU is fully accelerated (click the blur to reveal):
Hardware acceleration is fully supported

while in Catalina it throws an error about a "VDA layer":

VDADecoderCreate failed. err: -12473
An error was returned by the decoder layer. This may happen for example because of bitstream/data errors during a decode operation. This error may also be returned from VDADecoderCreate when hardware decoder resources are available on the system but currently in use by another process.
VDADecoderCreate failed. err: -12473

Meanwhile internally I found these dependencies: CoreMedia.framework , CoreVideo.framework and VideoDecodeAcceleration.framework

Thanks for yet another useful script! I would say that Mojave is very hard to beat at this stage of the current developments. I can watch 1080p60fps on youtube without any issues.

 

[0134168]

Thanks for yet another useful script! I would say that Mojave is very hard to beat at this stage of the current developments. I can watch 1080p60fps on youtube without any issues.

View attachment 875011

Im staying in Mojave in all my macs for the time now. Have SSD´s with Catalina for testing and help to the forum.

 

[TimothyR734]

I get this;

check your internet connection reboot your router see if that helps

 

[Dilli]

Same here, and I used Patcher 1.2.3. No AirDrop. Used to work with Mojave.

Follow these steps for Airdrop activation. However, search the thread for your machine specific ktext files.
REPEAT PLEASE LOCATE ZIP FILE TO YOUR MACHINE SPECIFIC ON THIS THREAD.

The zip file posted is for MacBook Air 4.2 ( 2011 ) You should locate for your model.

QUOTE

AirDrop Catalina pre-patched (only for Broadcom cards) to those interested you should post the output of these Catalina Terminal commands:

ioreg -l | grep "board-id" | awk '{print $4}'
ioreg -r -n ARPT | grep IOName
system_profiler -detailLevel mini | grep "Card Type"
system_profiler -detailLevel basic | grep "Model Identifier"

Meanwhile here are some Wifi kext that I've pre-patched (tested and working) to AirDrop on Catalina unsupported Mac, they are hyperlinks so just click the one for your machine to download:

AirDrop Catalina patched MacBookAir2011 4,2.zip

After downloaded, 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 copy/paste 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"

After a working AirDrop on Catalina, if you have also a Bluetooth 4.0 card (or BT4.0 usb dongle), to add Continuity (Handoff, hotspot, etc.) check this example: enable continuity from terminal

UNQUOTE

Above was posted by many genius good people who have contributed to having unsupported Macs work with Catalina.