macOS 10.15 Catalina on Unsupported Macs

[Ausdauersportler]

Thank you for your answer. I've given up now after wasting all weekend on it. There is no way to get the current Mac OS on my system. I had also tried the OpenCore Patcher, but to no avail. It looks like Apple won and I'm going to buy a current Mac. But it's a bit hypocritical from Apple. With the iPhones there is more power supply because of the environment, but I should scrap a working Mac just because Apple does not adapt the current OS.

Really a shame, especially because thousands of users got an NVIDIA card working in these iMac11,x and iMac12,2 models since 2014 and later on Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur or Montery installed following the guides posted on the iMac GPU thread.

Not sure if you should blame Apple for your choice of patcher tools and guides.

 

[K two]

Yes, i selected the right disk for boot …

What happens when NOT holding down <option/alt> at start-up?

 

[jowaju]

What happens when NOT holding down <option/alt> at start-up?

In my experience with the 3 or 4 machines I saw this on previously, NOTHING happened. You get the chime and a white screen but no Apple logo, no boot menu, nothing. Weirdest part was that Nvram reset x3 would allow it to boot with no key pressed but only the 1 time immediately following the reset. After that back to no boot without pressing a key.

 

[NewbiePete]

I’m confused. According to your post the computer works fine you just have to hold down the option key to get it to boot once it’s powered off? That sounds like a hardware problem and not one that would be solved even if your device was “supported” by Apple.

I rule out a hardware defect because the Mac works perfectly with High Sierra (sleep, restart and shutdown)

 

[NewbiePete]

What happens when NOT holding down <option/alt> at start-up?

Then the System hangs (Black Screen)

 

[K two]

Then the System hangs (Black Screen)

Forever or does the iMac shut itself down in time?

 

[NewbiePete]

Forever or does the iMac shut itself down in time?

I waited about 2 minutes and the screen was still black.

 

[jowaju]

I waited about 2 minutes and the screen was still black.

I’ve left it for hours and it never did anything. Never booted, never showed anything on screen, never shut down.

 

[BrianBaughn]

Just used dosdude1's patcher to put Catalina on my 2008 MacBook 5,1. Clean install.

Seems great so far.

 

[K two]

I waited about 2 minutes and the screen was still black.

You mentioned FW patch?

 

[NewbiePete]

You mentioned FW patch?

Yes, although I had already installed V87.0.0.0, I still installed the DosDude version. As was to be expected, because of the same version number, this did not help.

 

[K two]

Beta update courtesy of CatalinaOTAswufix, OC, dosdude1 Catalina Patcher v.1.4.4 in less than 30 minutes incl. post install patches and Force Cache Rebuild. Runs as expected.

View attachment 1929740

?️Noticed all of the building blocks for Build 19H1704 are titled macOS 10.15.7.1.x. Hmmmm? ?‍♂️

 

[joevt]

I have dosdude Catalina and OCLP Big Sur + Monterey on MacPro3,1. I can't seem to use OCLP to boot Catalina to do software updates (security updates) - so I have a OpenCore 0.6.5 for that purpose (the issue is AMFI related I think). Should I be able to use the OCLP for all three: dosdude Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey?

 

[Ausdauersportler]

I have dosdude Catalina and OCLP Big Sur + Monterey on MacPro3,1. I can't seem to use OCLP to boot Catalina to do software updates (security updates) - so I have a OpenCore 0.6.5 for that purpose (the issue is AMFI related I think). Should I be able to use the OCLP for all three: dosdude Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey?

Officially the developer crew does not support Catalina, but on my iMacs I used OCLP for a long time to run and maintain Catalina installations like native installations, too.

The only difference to your current case was probably: Mine did not need any patches to be installed onto the root volume and so there was no need to use the AMFI disabled.

BTW: The update to 0.2.5 changed the way OLCP handles the need of the AMFI setting.

Back to your question: Yes, OCLP should be able to handle a Catalina installation, too.

 

[joevt]

Back to your question: Yes, OCLP should be able to handle a Catalina installation, too.

I guess I should compare configs and kexts - but if I have to change something in OCLP to make it compatible with my dosdude Catalina, then it might become incompatible with Big Sur and Monterey. Probably a reason why MyBootMgr exists
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mybootmgr-refindplus-opencore.2231693/
but it seems to me that it would be nice if OpenCore could be made to do different things for different OSes without requiring multiple OpenCore folders. Some of the features are per OS (they check the macOS version or something) but I haven't checked all the settings.

 

[TravelerJoe]

I can’t get CatalinaOTAswufix to work for Security Update 008.


I have been using dosdude1’s patcher for years. My MacPro 3,1 w/ NVIDIA 680 has been working fine with his patcher.


I have used CatalinaOTAswufix many times to update Catalina. I am currently running 19H1519. My 3,1 is using AFPS and I use USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 to apply the updates. System Integrity Protection is disabled.


But this time when I start the download of Security Update 008 and then click the OTA update fix button, it never gets me to the “long” completion message. I always get the message to “check again”. I have emptied the Update folder. I have rebooted prior to the attempt. I have attempted clicking the OTA update fix button many times during a download. No change.


Any ideas? Thank you.


I figured it out. I now have 008 running on my MacPro 3,1 .

 

[bane_x1]

Are you using a wired USB keyboard and mouse? A lot of the time, Bluetooth devices need to be re-paired. Not sure about the sleep issue though; the only thing that would affect that is the non-Metal video card patches, but they are not installed since you have the Quadro card installed. One thing to ensure is that you have the latest system firmware installed. If unsure, you can install the firmware update package linked on the Catalina Patcher webpage.

Could You please check Your Twitter inbox. Thanks in advance )

 

[Demontager]

Guys i'm having problem with wifi adapter "IOName" = "pci14e4,4331". ( BCM4322MC ). When i reboot wifi router MBP 17 late 2011 cant reconnect back after wifi network running again. It shows like trying to connect but never connect until i do press wifi icon manually and chose network.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

I guess I should compare configs and kexts - but if I have to change something in OCLP to make it compatible with my dosdude Catalina, then it might become incompatible with Big Sur and Monterey. Probably a reason why MyBootMgr exists
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mybootmgr-refindplus-opencore.2231693/
but it seems to me that it would be nice if OpenCore could be made to do different things for different OSes without requiring multiple OpenCore folders. Some of the features are per OS (they check the macOS version or something) but I haven't checked all the settings.

The OCLP developer try this with Monterey and Big Sur (which sometimes causes confusion when a Kepler based machine planned to be used with Big Sur will be configured with SIP disabled just because it needs patching on Monterey).

I guess you can try to use OCLP with it's patching to rund Catalina on your (unknown to me) system. But I would not try to patch (using OLCP) an already patched (using dosdude1) system But one can reset this manually.

Because of the TS2 patches it will be the only solution for 2011 Mac and still working AMD HD6xxx series dGPU.

 

[makra]

Guys i'm having problem with wifi adapter "IOName" = "pci14e4,4331". ( BCM4322MC ). When i reboot wifi router MBP 17 late 2011 cant reconnect back after wifi network running again. It shows like trying to connect but never connect until i do press wifi icon manually and chose network.

I had problems with wifi with my MPB 8,1 (late 2011) until I began to manually check the post-install Broadcom patch. By default Catalina has it unchecked.

 

[honeycombz]

Hey, does this patcher get security updates? I am on 10.15.7 (19H2) and am not seeing the current security update listed in software update. Just wondering if I am missing something here.

 

[lcubed]

Hey, does this patcher get security updates? I am on 10.15.7 (19H2) and am not seeing the current security update listed in software update. Just wondering if I am missing something here.

this is a good starting point...

macOS 10.15 Catalina on Unsupported Macs

Nice try but needs clarifications.;) 1) From CatalinaOTAswufix.app> select Software Update fix button, let it confirm OK 2) Start the 008 install from the Apple SWU C/P (re-runnng the CatalinaOTAswufix.app may be necessary) 3) Select OTAswfix button as the D/L starts, it will confirm OK 4)...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[joevt]

Hey, does this patcher get security updates? I am on 10.15.7 (19H2) and am not seeing the current security update listed in software update. Just wondering if I am missing something here.

I use an OpenCore booter to get security updates for dosdude1 Catalina on my MacPro3,1. Hold option key to get into Apple's Startup Manager, hold the Control key and press Return in Startup Manager to bless and start the OpenCore booter, in OpenCore select Catalina, hold the Control key and press Return to bless the Catalina booter and boot it (I think OpenCore is still the main booter - it's smart enough to not un-bless itself), do the update, when Catalina boots again, and everything is done updating (check the macOS version), you can restart into the Startup Manager, and bless Catalina as the default booter.
I'm using an OpenCore 0.6.5 version for this purpose. I need to figure out why the OCLP OpenCore installation I use for Big Sur and Monterey doesn't work with my dosdude1 Catalina.

 

[zfrogman]

Re: Firmware (Boot ROM) Version: 82.0.0.0.0 & SMC Version (system): 1.69f4 After successful clean install of latest Catalina 10.15.7 (19H1704) returning from Big Sur after reformat.

Question: Although everything works flawlessly, do I need to install firmware 87.0.0.0 with the only option of reinstalling High Sierra (clean or just reinstall via USB installer over existing Catalina) and to reinstall afterwards Catalina with DosDudes patcher? Thanks for any guidance or just accept the proverbial "if it sin't broke don't fix it"....

 

[Finbarr Cnaipe]

Re: Firmware (Boot ROM) Version: 82.0.0.0.0 & SMC Version (system): 1.69f4 After successful clean install of latest Catalina 10.15.7 (19H1704) returning from Big Sur after reformat.

Question: Although everything works flawlessly, do I need to install firmware 87.0.0.0 with the only option of reinstalling High Sierra (clean or just reinstall via USB installer over existing Catalina) and to reinstall afterwards Catalina with DosDudes patcher? Thanks for any guidance or just accept the proverbial "if it sin't broke don't fix it"....

I did for mine.

I got both an Intel 27in iMac and Intel 16in MBP in 2020, along with an Intel Mac Mini in this year. (I do alot of work with Windows, and need VM running Windows...so until/unless that gets addressed, the new M1 stuff is of diminished value to me over Intel versions. Since my line up prior to 2020 was 2009 27in iMac, MBP 8,2, and 2012 Mac Mini, I made the decision to "retool" to what I thought would be the last Intel based Macs. I should be good for years to come....hopefully by the time I'm dated again, the situation will change around MS Windows emulation/VM.) So focus has been mostly using those. (Sorry, I digress...)

The other day, I had some time and decided to do some testing on my 2011 MBP 8,2 which I'd sent to dosdude1 back in 2019 to get the deMux flash completed. He did, and it works flawlessly. It is SO nice not to have to do the PRAM dance for the defective AMD GPU... My MBP 8,2 also is upgraded with Samsung SSD & 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and had been running Mojave.

Anyway, noticed that FW was on 82.0.0.0.0, and so decided to do a new/fresh High Sierra install to get FW updated to latest. It didn't take that long, and I'm glad I did it. I STRONGLY suspect that 87.0.0.0.0 will be the last FW update for MPB 8,2. However, even though I downloaded the latest High Sierra installer to do this (via dosdude1 patcher), I did not see the FW update take place until after also downloading and installing the latest High Sierra SW Update patches from Apple. So keep that in mind.

After, I then used dosdude1 Catalina patcher USB drive to erase SSD & clean install....went well. Then used CatalinaOTAswufix to grab latest updates, repatched, and works great.

Since then, I thought to try Monterey using the OCLP route. That is what I'm running now, and still testing. While Monterey works OK, I am thinking Catalina seems better for MPB 8,2. I will probably run a few more days with Monterey, and might go back to Catalina after Christmas if I can't tweak Monterey install enough to my liking, or come across any more "anomalies"...

Anyway, I really would recommend IMHO, to just get the FW updated to 87.0.0.0.0 if you have the time. It will most likely be the last time you will need to install High Sierra to do a FW update on MBP 8,2.

Finny