macOS 10.15 Catalina on Unsupported Macs

[avz]

Hopefully one day they will write a patch also for this chipset...

I am still not sure you got the message. They ALREADY wrote the patch, it is just the very unsafe nature of the MCP79 chipset with its multiple definitions makes it a risky business.

 

[jowaju]

Hello everybody, I have a macbook 5.1 with catalina 10.15.4 patched and works perfectly. At the moment the main issue I have is the fact that it didn't recognise any cd, both data and audio. Actually my superdrive is connected with a usb cable as I put a second hard disk instead of it. I tried the superdrive with a win 10 pc and it works perfectly so I don't understand what to do. It works with dvd but only using VLC while the internal dvd player crashes. Any suggestion? Thank you all in advance

You need to replace the GVA framework to get DVD playback working. It’s posted in the Mojave thread, I’ll try to find the post later and link it.

 

[TimothyR734]

This is from High Sierra this might work

 

[c1830]

Hi, I updated my Mac Pro 2009 and MacBook Pro 2009 to Catalina yesterday with this patch, and everything is works, only one question is on Mac Pro, there is "Photos" button at sidebar in the Photos app, but MacBook Pro not, I know this is an existed issue on unsupported machine about Photos button missing, but why I can see this button on my Mac Pro? is that because I use GTX 780 with Mac Pro? it show "Metal: Supported" in System Report.
Thank you.

 

[Smokey_Jack]

I am still not sure you got the message. They ALREADY wrote the patch, it is just the very unsafe nature of the MCP79 chipset with its multiple definitions makes it a risky business.

Now I got it. I missed this part... Thank you
[automerge]1589101703[/automerge]

This is from High Sierra this might work

Thank you, I managed to copy the file you posted but it works exactly as before: dvd can be read only by vlc as dvd player crasher and when I put cds after some spinning I get the message: the disc is not readable by this computer. Can you help me?
[automerge]1589101815[/automerge]

You need to replace the GVA framework to get DVD playback working. It’s posted in the Mojave thread, I’ll try to find the post later and link it.

Thank you!!!

 

[kakawak]

hi,

my DVD/CD drive is not working in my macbook pro after catalina upgrade. Anyway to get this working again?

UPDATE: SOLVED! i just wrapped a lens cloth over a credit card and cleaned the slot and that seemed to do the trick! i haven't used it in a while so maybe just dirt/dust build up.

cheers

 

[asdf1415]

Hi there - this is just to let you know my experiences with Catalina 15.4(.02) on a MacBook Pro 13" (mid 2010):
I am struggling for weeks with a system that occasionally did not boot anymore - it sometimes just displays an Apple Logo forever and no progress bar shows up.

Sometimes the only solution seemed to be a fresh install.

However, I could solve the issue by just resetting the SMC. This can be done by disconnecting the power supply and while the MacBook Pro (2009 or later) is in the off state by pressing shift-ctrl-option and the power button simultaneously for about 12 seconds. The system is then perfectly usable again after the next reboot.

The only issue I observe is a reduced WiFi bandwidth - it does not reach even 100Mbit/s anymore.

 

[Pinarek]

10.15.5 DP4 here as always everything without any intervention thanks to dosdude1 Patch 1.4.3
after the 2nd phase.
BIOS reset has also been successfully resolved.

 

[vinaypundith]

I really need some help using the MacOS Catalina Patcher tool, on my 2008 model Mac Pro 3,1.

I think my main question is: is an EFI flashed XFX double fan Radeon HD 7950 GPU compatible with the patcher or not?
That same GPU works great in OS X El Capitan and somewhat in Mojave (installed with Mojave Patcher).
I flashed the card using this guide: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-7950-black-edition-card-for-mac-pro.1893886/
I haven't done the resistor removal modification to get 5GT/s PCI-E bus speed on this card yet. Could that be a problem?

The problem is that when I try to use the patcher to create a bootable installer, it gives me the Apple logo progress bar screen, the progress bar moves to about 60% and then the screen just goes blank.
I have tried with and without the "Auto-Apply Post Install Patches" option.
Since I have installed the APFS support BootROM patch, I am selecting "Disable APFS Booter". But it doesn't work even if I do leave that option unchecked. If I leave Disable APFS Booter unchecked, the Apple logo progress bar will eventually reach 100%, but then just stay there forever without changing to any other screen.

I know it isn't a USB driver problem, because I am using a 2.5" laptop hard drive on a SATA to USB adapter, and have tried connecting the hard drive directly to the Mac Pro's SATA port hard drive bays. No luck with that either.

I'm out of ideas. Can someone here please help?

I have used the Catalina Patcher to successfully install it on 2 other MacBooks (a white 2010 Macbook 7,1 and a white 2009 Macbook 5,2). Both of those machines are running flawlessly, but for some reason the Mac Pro isn't cooperating.

I'm not afraid of dealing with system files or program code if I have to.

 

[crjackson2134]

I really need some help using the MacOS Catalina Patcher tool, on my 2008 model Mac Pro 3,1.

I think my main question is: is an EFI flashed XFX double fan Radeon HD 7950 GPU compatible with the patcher or not?
That same GPU works great in OS X El Capitan and somewhat in Mojave (installed with Mojave Patcher).
I flashed the card using this guide: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-7950-black-edition-card-for-mac-pro.1893886/
I haven't done the resistor removal modification to get 5GT/s PCI-E bus speed on this card yet. Could that be a problem?

The problem is that when I try to use the patcher to create a bootable installer, it gives me the Apple logo progress bar screen, the progress bar moves to about 60% and then the screen just goes blank.
I have tried with and without the "Auto-Apply Post Install Patches" option.
Since I have installed the APFS support BootROM patch, I am selecting "Disable APFS Booter". But it doesn't work even if I do leave that option unchecked. If I leave Disable APFS Booter unchecked, the Apple logo progress bar will eventually reach 100%, but then just stay there forever without changing to any other screen.

I know it isn't a USB driver problem, because I am using a 2.5" laptop hard drive on a SATA to USB adapter, and have tried connecting the hard drive directly to the Mac Pro's SATA port hard drive bays. No luck with that either.

I'm out of ideas. Can someone here please help?

I have used the Catalina Patcher to successfully install it on 2 other MacBooks (a white 2010 Macbook 7,1 and a white 2009 Macbook 5,2). Both of those machines are running flawlessly, but for some reason the Mac Pro isn't cooperating.

I'm not afraid of dealing with system files or program code if I have to.

Are you trying to make an installer on the USB attached 2.5” HD? You should only be using a USB thumb-drive for the installer.

 

[Surenmunoo]

Hey Guys. On my early 2011 Macbook running the patched Catalina, my SD Card reader does not seem to be reading anymore, used to work on High Sierra but not anymore, also although Airdrop shows on my side bar in Finder, it does not work. I have a late 2012 running Catalina as well and it does not detect each other, both machines are set to discoverable for everyone.

 

[Blackriton]

Are you trying to make an installer on the USB attached 2.5” HD? You should only be using a USB thumb-drive for the installer.

I have also a MacPro 3,1 and installation of Catalina from 10.15.1 to the actual 10.15.4 worked using a USB attached 2.5 HD.....because with a thumb-drive it doesnt worked !!!!!!!. So I can confirm a thumb-drive is not requisite and an HD worked also.......

 

[joedesu1]

Hi,
I have a Mac pro 2008 and 2009. I oathced both with dosdudes Catalina tool and am having trouble finding working gpus. Was told by 710 would work natively, and the computer recognises the cards but won't output video to them. They show as metal enabled.

Are there any gpu lists here for card that are known working? Am I looking for a gpu that works with my year / model Mac pro, or one that is compatible with Catalina? Should I use Mojave instead? TIA

 

[GrimMethos]

I'll probably have to patch that separately.

I am not 100% positive this is caused by the patch, but I just had a zoom meeting that went into "not responding" (at 20minutes and 41 seconds to be exact) and all of the video that was going on disappered, the screen that was being shared, became frozen, and the people talking were still audible. Voice is also still working from me.

My video shows me in the meeting, the camera is "on" from my side with the camera light showing green, but my Video is not showing to the other meeting participants

I did exit the fullscreen and go back into fullscreen.

I guess if it would help I could do a zoom meeting if other people are getting the issue as well.

I am not seeing anything useful in any logs that I can find...

 

[GrimMethos]

This patch is working great I did noticed one small issue after the patch, Zoom no long recognises cpu type for virtual background sadly on the non patched version (4.5.9) this error doesn't occur

So this does not occur on the non patched 5.0.2-24030.0508 version of zoom either. (obviously video does not work)

Once the patch is applied, the error shows up. (and video still works as it did with 5.0.1)

I have gotten it to "work" by clicking on the greenscreen icon, but that just makes things look MUCH MUCH worse, and then makes the greenscreen button unable to be clicked off and you have to select non for virtual background

I wonder if we as a community could flood zoom support with a request to fix this (https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/requests/new )?
I guess it couldnt hurt to submit a request, would be better if @dosdude could explain a bit more about what his patch does other than switch out a few characters in the code...

 

[Lucky736]

So this does not occur on the non patched 5.0.2-24030.0508 version of zoom either. (obviously video does not work)

Once the patch is applied, the error shows up. (and video still works as it did with 5.0.1)

I have gotten it to "work" by clicking on the greenscreen icon, but that just makes things look MUCH MUCH worse, and then makes the greenscreen button unable to be clicked off and you have to select non for virtual background

I wonder if we as a community could flood zoom support with a request to fix this (https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/requests/new )?
I guess it couldnt hurt to submit a request, would be better if @dosdude could explain a bit more about what his patch does other than switch out a few characters in the code...

New update to Zoom killed me tonight. Prior version was a bit flakey but always appreciative of the fact that we have some wonderful people here who help to keep these machines running long past their heyday.

 

[dosdude1]

So this does not occur on the non patched 5.0.2-24030.0508 version of zoom either. (obviously video does not work)

Once the patch is applied, the error shows up. (and video still works as it did with 5.0.1)

I have gotten it to "work" by clicking on the greenscreen icon, but that just makes things look MUCH MUCH worse, and then makes the greenscreen button unable to be clicked off and you have to select non for virtual background

I wonder if we as a community could flood zoom support with a request to fix this (https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/requests/new )?
I guess it couldnt hurt to submit a request, would be better if @dosdude could explain a bit more about what his patch does other than switch out a few characters in the code...

Just created a new patch that fixes the virtual background issue! If you patched Zoom already, re-install it, then apply the new patch script attached.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hi, I updated my Mac Pro 2009 and MacBook Pro 2009 to Catalina yesterday with this patch, and everything is works, only one question is on Mac Pro, there is "Photos" button at sidebar in the Photos app, but MacBook Pro not, I know this is an existed issue on unsupported machine about Photos button missing, but why I can see this button on my Mac Pro? is that because I use GTX 780 with Mac Pro? it show "Metal: Supported" in System Report.
Thank you.

Yes, it is the metal graphics adapter which will make this and a lot of other bugs disappear, again.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hi,
I have a Mac pro 2008 and 2009. I oathced both with dosdudes Catalina tool and am having trouble finding working gpus. Was told by 710 would work natively, and the computer recognises the cards but won't output video to them. They show as metal enabled.

Are there any gpu lists here for card that are known working? Am I looking for a gpu that works with my year / model Mac pro, or one that is compatible with Catalina? Should I use Mojave instead? TIA

With 10.15.4 Apple introduced some changes which caused a black screen after installation on systems using Nvidia Kepler cards (metal enabled). @highvoltage12v found a solution which works with iMacs having Nvidia cards installed. This may after modification also work with your Mac Pro. You need to find the board ID end edit the XML file.

 

[hwojtek]

I think my main question is: is an EFI flashed XFX double fan Radeon HD 7950 GPU compatible with the patcher or not?
That same GPU works great in OS X El Capitan and somewhat in Mojave (installed with Mojave Patcher).
I flashed the card using this guide: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-7950-black-edition-card-for-mac-pro.1893886/
I haven't done the resistor removal modification to get 5GT/s PCI-E bus speed on this card yet. Could that be a problem?

It will work. My R9 280X, which is more or less the same hardware, didn't even need the resistor modification, it fired up in 5GT/s in Catalina right away.

Are you trying to make an installer on the USB attached 2.5” HD? You should only be using a USB thumb-drive for the installer.

Makes zero difference.

 

[K two]

Just created a new patch that fixes the virtual background issue! If you patched Zoom already, re-install it, then apply the new patch script attached.

Is there a way to get Zoom backgrounds to work on an i3? Zoom v.5.0.2 sez i5 or better.

 

[jhowarth]

Hi,
I have a Mac pro 2008 and 2009. I oathced both with dosdudes Catalina tool and am having trouble finding working gpus. Was told by 710 would work natively, and the computer recognises the cards but won't output video to them. They show as metal enabled.

Are there any gpu lists here for card that are known working? Am I looking for a gpu that works with my year / model Mac pro, or one that is compatible with Catalina? Should I use Mojave instead? TIA

The optimal card would be a GTX 680 2Gb model. If you can't find the Mac ROM'd model, going with the EVGA brand is best since their PC models are fully compatible with their Mac ROM images which you can flash under Windows.

How to Flash GTX 680 for Mac

 

[Lucky736]

I have just re-implemented "catalinaswufix5amfi.command" with a GUI to allow, download and install the Catalina Beta Software Update (and public too) on any Catalina unsupported Mac, I have tested it and seems to work enough good.

I used the @Czo SUVMMFaker.dylib , @Pinarek method of OTA .dist editing for machines whitelisting, and @ASentientBot disablelibraryvalidation with AMFI disabling methods .

In case someone resets the PRAM you still should use "csrutil disable" (from an USB Catalina Installer or Recovery environment terminal) before apply the post-install patches.


I release it now, before the 10.15.5 beta 1 , the app should allow also "OTA Combo updates", for example from 10.15.0 to 10.15.4 . While usually the Delta Updates are from 10.15.3 to 10.15.4 .

After you apply the OTA update fix, these are the four apple Catalina OTA update automatic phases:

1) apple logo short loading bar followed by auto reboot OTA packages preparing the "APFS macOS Installer" temporary volume (it may take up to 10 minutes, but on average about 5 minutes)

2) apple logo long loading bar followed by Catalina logo installing (OTA pre-scripts verifying on your APFS volume) (it may take up to 15 minutes, but on average about 10 minutes)

3) Catalina circle logo with installing progress bar (OTA stage2 installation on your APFS volume) (it may take up to 60 minutes, but on average about 45 minutes)

4) apple logo full loading bar OTA post-scripts followed by direct boot to Catalina or a bootloop (because post-install patches are required) (it may take up to 15 minutes, but on average about 10 minutes)

View attachment 902487 View attachment 902793 View attachment 902490 View attachment 902486

The CatalinaOTAswufix.app source code is viewable simply browsing the Show packages Contents.

My app is totally harmless and safe for any mac.

To run properly the app don't rename it and move it to Catalina Desktop , or Applications or Downloads paths.


edit (some tips):
To receive only non-beta updates after the "Software Update fix", simply from Software Update prefpane click "Details" and "Restore Defaults" (OTA update fix will still continue work correctly):
View attachment 902307
Moreover I'd advise to set the "Advanced" menu this way, in order to have more control on how updates are downloaded and installed (to give extended time to make a backup or to build a new USB Catalina Patcher for example):
View attachment 902283
Example downloading a non-beta update (from a beta updated machine):

View attachment 902280

Any thoughts on why with 10.15.4, installed and downloaded 10.5.5 b4, upon restart it would boot back into 10.15.4 rather than begin the update/install process? I have confirmed csrutil disable. Curious, seemed to install and download fine, and did do both parts of the process including OTA fix 2-3% into it.

 

[dosdude1]

Is there a way to get Zoom backgrounds to work on an i3? Zoom v.5.0.2 sez i5 or better.

I can probably patch that out as well if you want.

 

[K two]

I can probably patch that out as well if you want.

Much obliged, sir. i3 iMacs are common.