macOS 10.15 Catalina on Unsupported Macs

[TimothyR734]

I hate that I never seem to have the same problems that everyone else has. I am enjoying Catalina on a Mid 2010 MBP (Thanks a billion DosDude! ) and everything was fine until... I tried to use the personal hotspot function on my iPhone and suddenly, not even messages on the MBP was working! Sign out, sign in, sign out, sign in.... Apparently, it is not enough to be on the same account, one has to be on the same Apple ID?! Somehow, music takes the Apple ID and Password and... Nothing! again and again and again! Ok, I can just play from the phone... The problems didn't end there but I think the idea is clear: one day, everything runs like a charm and then one day, everything goes bananas! So....

Why not just update to the latest release and see if Apple has fixed some of the problems and then you can just focus on working around what they haven't yet.... Only, now, there is stuff in the hard drive that I want to keep and downloading the latest version and installing erases everything so, ok, go to MacRumors and search around... Maybe in the wiki? no. Has anyone tried to just update directly from Apple? Did it work? Hot Spot? Phone call from Mac?

I'm open to suggestions but I really would like to avoid having to reinstall the entire OS every time there is an update if at all possible.

dosdude is working on a fix if possible for the software update in system preferences the patch to get updates in macOS Mojave no longer works in Catalina so it has to be redone from scratch and it takes time with his full plate but for now that is the only way to keep your system updated by downloading macOS Catalina and creating a patcher to install it

 

[Hustler1337]

The AMD 6xxx series is a problem:

From DosDude's website

• AMD/ATI Radeon HD 5xxx and 6xxx series graphics acceleration: Currently, it is not possible to achieve full graphics acceleration under Catalina on any machines that use a Radeon HD 5xxx or 6xxx series GPU. If you have a machine with one of these GPUs installed, I'd advise upgrading it if possible (can be done in 2010/2011 iMacs, iMac11,x-12,x), disabling the dedicated GPU if using a 2011 15" or 17" MacBook Pro (MacBookPro8,2/8,3, instructions to do so can be found here), or not installing Catalina. Running Catalina without full graphics acceleration will result in extremely poor system performance.

I don't know if there are any other workarounds elsewhere but if DosDude says it, I am inclined to take him at his word.

Thanks for sharing this @RAMtheSSD. Looks like even if I disable the dedicated GPU, it will result in extremely poor systm performance if I understood correctly. It's a shame because apart from the GPU, this is a very capable and fast machine. Was only interested in Catalina to take advantage of dark mode and support for newer apps. e.g. tried to install the new Twitter app for Mac today but as it's based on Catalyst, it requires Catalina. 😔

 

[dosdude1]

Thanks for sharing this @RAMtheSSD. Looks like even if I disable the dedicated GPU, it will result in extremely poor systm performance if I understood correctly. It's a shame because apart from the GPU, this is a very capable and fast machine. Was only interested in Catalina to take advantage of dark mode and support for newer apps. e.g. tried to install the new Twitter app for Mac today but as it's based on Catalyst, it requires Catalina. 😔

No... As stated, if you disable the crappy AMD 6xxx series card, Mojave and Catalina will work perfectly fine. It'll only have issues if you don't disable it.

 

[LuisN]

I hate that I never seem to have the same problems that everyone else has. I am enjoying Catalina on a Mid 2010 MBP (Thanks a billion DosDude! ) and everything was fine until... I tried to use the personal hotspot function on my iPhone and suddenly, not even messages on the MBP was working! Sign out, sign in, sign out, sign in.... Apparently, it is not enough to be on the same account, one has to be on the same Apple ID?! Somehow, music takes the Apple ID and Password and... Nothing! again and again and again! Ok, I can just play from the phone... The problems didn't end there but I think the idea is clear: one day, everything runs like a charm and then one day, everything goes bananas! So....

Why not just update to the latest release and see if Apple has fixed some of the problems and then you can just focus on working around what they haven't yet.... Only, now, there is stuff in the hard drive that I want to keep and downloading the latest version and installing erases everything so, ok, go to MacRumors and search around... Maybe in the wiki? no. Has anyone tried to just update directly from Apple? Did it work? Hot Spot? Phone call from Mac?

I'm open to suggestions but I really would like to avoid having to reinstall the entire OS every time there is an update if at all possible.

Installing a new version over existing one doesn't erase any of your programs/files. You are doing something wrong. Don't have any problems signing to any of Apple's services so no advice there

 

[TimothyR734]

Thanks for sharing this @RAMtheSSD. Looks like even if I disable the dedicated GPU, it will result in extremely poor systm performance if I understood correctly. It's a shame because apart from the GPU, this is a very capable and fast machine. Was only interested in Catalina to take advantage of dark mode and support for newer apps. e.g. tried to install the new Twitter app for Mac today but as it's based on Catalyst, it requires Catalina. 😔

do you have dual GPU's in your Mac if you have nVidia and AMD as primary by disabling AMD and running with nVidia you will have acceleration if I am reading correctly dosdude beat me to it

 

[Hustler1337]

No... As stated, if you disable the crappy AMD 6xxx series card, Mojave and Catalina will work perfectly fine. It'll only have issues if you don't disable it.

Ah thanks for clarifying @dosdude1. Looks like I can install Catalina (thanks to you!!!) 😃🙃 Man I'm so pleased.

do you have dual GPU's in your Mac if you have nVidia and AMD as primary by disabling AMD and running with nVidia you will have acceleration if I am reading correctly dosdude beat me to it

Yes there's integrated grahics (Intel HD Graphics 3000) and the trash dedicated graphics (AMD Radeon HD 6490M) on this MBP. I have little use for the latter for my use case and avoid using it as much as possible due to the infamous graphics issue that plagued this model prompting Apple to launch a repair program (which I had to use).

 

[jcdigitalart]

sudo mount -uw / to make system files writable

Thank you so much friend. It worked now. I typed this command line and was able to modify some System Library files and my Airdrop is now enabled.
[automerge]1573170668[/automerge]
I am now unable to log in to Apple Music and Apple TV +. Has anyone had this same problem and managed to solve it? I already logged out of iCloud and logged in again but the problem continued.

 

[RAMtheSSD]

Installing a new version over existing one doesn't erase any of your programs/files. You are doing something wrong. Don't have any problems signing to any of Apple's services so no advice there

In the past, I did what every one else does and, if I am reading this correctly, I will have to do again. Download the current Catalina directly from apple, use DosDude's utilities to create a new usb with the updated Catalina, reboot in repair mode, disable SIP, install Catalina (and this is when it warns you that it will erase everything and it does), let the patch utility patch, reset PRAM, enjoy. I used to move /USER to another drive but it really doesn't like that unless you leave an account on the same drive and after any major update, the account has to be reconnected with the "other" /USER and it just seemed like too much of a hassle when iCloud is so handy... and then I went and tried to use the hotspot 😡

(AFAIK) I'm doing what everyone else does but if something catches your eye, let me know. Thanks

 

[TimothyR734]

In the past, I did what every one else does and, if I am reading this correctly, I will have to do again. Download the current Catalina directly from apple, use DosDude's utilities to create a new usb with the updated Catalina, reboot in repair mode, disable SIP, install Catalina (and this is when it warns you that it will erase everything and it does), let the patch utility patch, reset PRAM, enjoy. I used to move /USER to another drive but it really doesn't like that unless you leave an account on the same drive and after any major update, the account has to be reconnected with the "other" /USER and it just seemed like too much of a hassle when iCloud is so handy... and then I went and tried to use the hotspot 😡

(AFAIK) I'm doing what everyone else does but if something catches your eye, let me know. Thanks

it is highly recommended to leave the SIP disabled on unsupported Mac I had that happen to me I ended up signing out of my Apple ID then iCloud then back in and it worked for me some people have created a new account and this issues happens even those with supported Macs

 

[RAMtheSSD]

No... As stated, if you disable the crappy AMD 6xxx series card, Mojave and Catalina will work perfectly fine. It'll only have issues if you don't disable it.

As I understood it, it would not run well but rather more bad than good. ((AFAIK)), the built in graphics on the processor are not really up to the task of drawing the GUI so what the paragraph seemed to be saying (as I read it) that those particular Macs would be poorly suited at best. I read that to mean that with the utilities and some sweat equity, some processors would have enough to run the os as a challenge but not as a production system. Without knowing how many of us are doing this for the security and function and how many are doing it for the challenge, I read the paragraph as a warning and answered accordingly.

I said all of that because the lag in mine when the built in graphics are used makes the system all but unusable to the point that I have disabled the built in and taken the battery life hit instead. My machine is older than his and has an Nvidia graphics card (I was fortunate that it wasn't a choice, I prefer AMD so I would be in trouble!) but it isn't all that much older and the built in graphics are terrible and how much can an i5 improve in 6 months?

being wrong is how I get to being right someday


Edit: This may well be my blondest moment LOL!! there ought to be a warning concerning egg on one's face when the man that made it all possible says one misread a given paragraph LOL!

Thanks for understanding and thanks for your awesome work DosDude

 

[LuisN]

In the past, I did what every one else does and, if I am reading this correctly, I will have to do again. Download the current Catalina directly from apple, use DosDude's utilities to create a new usb with the updated Catalina, reboot in repair mode, disable SIP, install Catalina (and this is when it warns you that it will erase everything and it does), let the patch utility patch, reset PRAM, enjoy. I used to move /USER to another drive but it really doesn't like that unless you leave an account on the same drive and after any major update, the account has to be reconnected with the "other" /USER and it just seemed like too much of a hassle when iCloud is so handy... and then I went and tried to use the hotspot 😡

(AFAIK) I'm doing what everyone else does but if something catches your eye, let me know. Thanks

Never happened to me. SIP is always disabled as it is required for Catalina to run in unsupported Macs, (the patcher does that automatically), boot with installer patcher, install over the previous system and it doesn't delete anything. That's how I upgraded from the first beta through 10.5.1. No data lost. Make a bootable backup with CCC just in case something goes wrong and your data will be safe. I've done it in all my machines and it worked in all of them. MBP 6,2; MB 6,1; MB 5,2; MP 3,1 and iMac 7,1

 

[Pinarek]

I miss new reports about macOS 10.15.2 DP1 Build 19C32e. Has not anyone tried to install? On my native Hackis it runs without any problems. I'm testing it tomorrow on my hack book, not underscored, (Medion Akoya P8610) where already the 10.15.1 final runs without any bugs 1a.

 

[ASentientBot]

Just confirmed that Catalina 10.15.2 DP1 is working adequately on my non-Metal MacBook7,1.

I'll comment further on stability after using it for a little while. (I'm finally trying to make Catalina my primary system and I'm cautiously optimistic so far.)

Notes:
--> Weirdly, my photos-based screensavers have disappeared once more... something to do with manually extracting an update package perhaps?
--> The AirPlay icon shows up intermittently in the menu bar but is presumably still non-functional.
--> Thanks again to @jackluke for your excellent find of kcditto -- much quicker than writing out the full cp command after a prelinkedkernel rebuild.

And I'm still poking around with enabling really full acceleration, but no breakthroughs yet. Hopefully that will change 🤞

I hope you all are having a good week.

 

[Dilli]

Before Siri, you need the Audio/Sound to work, and try to re-apply the post-install patches selecting only the "Audio Patch" and check also the "force rebuild cache".

After you have a working Audio, try this for Siri: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...unsupported-macs-thread.2121473/post-27950776

Tks for the link. I got sound back .Got Siri back too. Tks for all who helped. Cheers. Now got working Mojave as well.

 

[0134168]

I'm trying to update my Mac Pro 3,1 from Catalina 10.15 to 10.15.1. Direct install via Dosdude1's patcher didn't work so i try to create an installer on a USB key. Creation of this installer worked but when I reboot to the USB key to start the install, my MagicMouse2 is not recognized and I can't click on Continue.........
What I am doing wrong to get the recognition of the mouse is my question ?????? Thanks for help and ideas.

Try with the keyboard and go ahead. Maybe later works the mouse.

 

[jackluke]

Just confirmed that Catalina 10.15.2 DP1 is working adequately on my non-Metal MacBook7,1.

View attachment 875724

I'll comment further on stability after using it for a little while. (I'm finally trying to make Catalina my primary system and I'm cautiously optimistic so far.)

Notes:
--> Weirdly, my photos-based screensavers have disappeared once more... something to do with manually extracting an update package perhaps?
--> The AirPlay icon shows up intermittently in the menu bar but is presumably still non-functional.
--> Thanks again to @jackluke for your excellent find of kcditto -- much quicker than writing out the full cp command after a prelinkedkernel rebuild.

And I'm still poking around with enabling really full acceleration, but no breakthroughs yet. Hopefully that will change 🤞

I hope you all are having a good week.

Thanks instead to you for this great finding in Catalina single user mode: mount -uw /System/Volumes/Data

I found by chance the "kcditto" (I guess should mean "kextcacheditto"), simply opening the usr/sbin folder and noticing it as a new command near the others kext* commands, I knew "ditto" is for "copying", so I just typed and it showed the output of the "long prelinkedkernel path", moreover this "kcditto" is launched at almost every Catalina verbose system reboot/shutdown when a kext is added or removed.

About AirPlay I could say that it works if Catalina is only patched with all the legacy kext, but keeping stock metal frameworks, so in Framebuffer video mode, I add when I did my non-clever Catalina early experiments this can be restricted only to CoreDisplay and SkyLight, but much better to have a macOS accelerated than AirPlay or the useless auto-dark-light-mode.

After your "non-metal light mode" impressive fix I use mainly it for both Mojave and Catalina.

Yes, the Catalina full acceleration is really hard to achieve, probably we should try this Lilu or Whatevergreen kext, but I don't know them.

 

[air.man]

Sorry for the dumb question, but is there any way to have the keyboard backlit working on MB5,1? Thanks!

 

[Phoenix Fire]

hi sorry for the up
which are the way to update Catalina 15.0 to 15.1 on a Mac-mini 3.1?

 

[alphascorp]

Hi all,
My contribution:
I found a "make up" for the shadow (and consequently the corners) below the dock menu at HIToolbox (Mojave and Catalina)
Consider that this is not a correction, but only an adjustment in the intensity and position of the shadow.


View attachment 874745 View attachment 874746

8cd8d cmp al, 0xff
8cd8f mov edx, 0x2

Hi,
Can I do the same thing with Mojave?

With Which software did you edit HIToolbox?
I took a closer look /S/L/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Frameworks/HIToolbox/Versions/Current/HIToolbox
But with my hex editor I can not find what you found

 

[fabioroberto]

Hi,
Can I do the same thing with Mojave?
View attachment 875772
With Which software did you edit HIToolbox?
I took a closer look /S/L/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Frameworks/HIToolbox/Versions/Current/HIToolbox
But with my hex editor I can not find what you found

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...unsupported-macs-thread.2121473/post-27942178

 

[Pachnes]

hi sorry for the up
which are the way to update Catalina 15.0 to 15.1 on a Mac-mini 3.1?

-Download CatalinaPatcher 1.2.3 from Dosdude and install it in Applications.

-Open CatalinaPatcher, download macOS Catalina 10.15.1 with CatalinaPatcher.

-Make a new Bootstick.

-Boot from this Bootstick.

-Install over the existing 10.15.0 Partition (without !!!!! formatting the disk). Applications and Data on your disk will be kept.

-After first boot, you will be told that some drivers have to be reinstalled, click ok and reboot, when reinstallation has finished.

-Done.

 

[Pluda]

Hello

After Patch Updater asked me to update Legacy Video Card Patch my external display(s) no longer work... I re-installed the Video Card Patcher but no luck, the system knows they are connected, but no image at all :-(

I'm on a MacBook Pro 8,1 with Intel HD Graphics 3000 512 MB, Running macOS 10.15.1 (19B88)

 

[kral84]

have i any chance to youtube 4K without freezing on my imac 2011 with 860 GTX card??

 

[Pachnes]

Did you try to boot with no external monitor plugged in? Than plug one external M. in and look and configure it. Than plug in the second and configure it.

 

[hrc3]

My iMac 9,1 has been running Catalina for a while thanks to dosdude1's Installer and Patch Updater for Catalina. Yesterday, Patch Updater offered me two patch updates. One was the Legacy USB Support Injector. I did not get the name of the other. I installed both yesterday someitme and, this morning, I restarted.

Now, I cannot login. On the login screen, I enter my password and it appears that the login is working. I see the spinner, but after about 1.5 seconds, the small spinner "freezes" and a larger spinner appears. After a second or two, the entire screen goes black for 1-2 seconds and then the login screen reappears.

Anyone else experiencing these symptoms? Need to get this resolved ASAP as I depend on my iMac every day...

ARGH! This has happened again rendering my iMac inaccessible because I cannot logon successfully.

There are two patches being applied by Patch Updater that seem like they might be related to this issue. One is Legacy USB Support INjector and the other is Legacy Video Card Patch.

The last time I resolved this by switching from the developer download of Catalina to the public download. The problem went away and didn't recur until today when I applied a new Catalina update and then let Patch Updater do its thing...

I could REALLY use some help with this. I depend on my iMac every day and just can't afford to be down.

Thoughts, anyone?