macOS 10.15 Catalina on Unsupported Macs

[smartin80]

Yes, It's a good starting point for refining the guide. As Icubed having rightly pointed out: Where does the USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 fit in the update procedure ...

I added my comments in green for the supplement update guide as below (based on my latest update from 19H1819 to 19H1823):

1. Open CatalinaOTAswufix app. (If it gives you errors, move the application to your Desktop. Make sure it's the actual application and not an alias. Delete it from your Applications folder once you move it)
2. Click on "Software Update Fix". The CatalinaOTAswufix app will go away do the thing then jump up & down in the dock later on after step 3. Click on it to see the result. If successful, click the OK button to exit the app.
3. After you enter your password, System Preferences will open and begin checking for Software Updates. Click under the cog where it says "Details", and click restore defaults to revert to general public updates. You may need to close the settings pane a couple times for it to take effect.
4. When the normal software updates (not beta) show up, click on "Another update is available. It should say "macOS Catalina 10.15.7 Supplemental Update". Click Download. After the download started, open the CatalinaOTAswufix app again and click "OTA Update Fix". Your desktop icons should flash twice indicating this OTA Update Fix has been successful. If this is the case, goto step 8.
5. Let the update run completely. What will happen is, the computer will seem as if its installing it, but it actually reboots your machine instead. So just let it run through.
6. When your machine reboots, open the CatalinaOTAswufix app then click "OTA Update Fix".
7. Open System Preferences > Software Update. When the update comes up again, hit "OTA Update Fix" again before you press Install.
8. Let the update run through the installation process. The installation may be stuck in the middle of the progress bar with a white spinning cog slowly grinding to a halt. if the bootROM is not patched, insert the pre-made USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 USB to your Mac and manually turn off and turn back on again, hold the Opt key until the Apple EFI screen appears, select the OC EFI, then select macOS installer, or Macintosh HD if there is no macOS installer option. This will show a black background with a white Apple logo along with a progress bar. Let it run through to the end, which may be stuck again on a spinning cog slowly grinding to a halt. Turn off you Mac and go to next step.
9. You will need to boot back to your Catalina Patcher USB to apply the post-install patch. Turn on your Mac and wait for the OC picker screen to appear if you used USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 in step 8. Otherwise you will need to hold the Option key to get into the Apple EFI picker screen. If you haven't already, plug in your Patcher USB, select it and boot to it. (I managed to put both USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 and dosdude1-Catalina-Installation on the same USB memory stick.)
10. Click on macOS Post Install. Make sure you select your correct Mac model. Make sure that the "Legacy Platform Compatibility Patch" is selected if its not already.
11. Click Patch. Pay attention to it, because when the patch process is complete, make sure you check the box that says "Force Cache Rebuild", then click Reboot.
12. Your machine will reboot normally to the login screen. It’s a bit slow at first but it will reboot properly.
13. After your machine reboots, make sure to open Patch Updater and check for any patch updates for the system. Install them if necessary. You may or may not get a message saying that some patches (Night Shift Patch, for example) were overwritten by the update. Just simply reinstall them. Also check your Catalina version by clicking on the "Version 10.15.7" in {About this Mac} window and ignore the CP Software Update screen for at least 10 minutes.
14. Run SilentKnight to get MRT up to date again, which may require you to reboot your Mac if stuck on the spinning cog when running for the 1st time after the post-install patch. Enjoy.

========================================


Feel free to improve further.

TigerA,

I've just realised that I'd forgotten that security updates don't show up on my system since I installed Catalina so I'm grateful for your instructions...

A couple of questions however... (I installed Catalina using dosdude's patcher from here: http://dosdude1.com/catalina/ some time ago. I think I'm missing at least two security updates...)

1) Can I keep my upgraded graphics card (8mb Radeon RX 580) in place or do I have to re-install the stock card again before following your instructions? If I remember correctly, I'm unable to get to the Apple EFI screen with it in place...

2) I seem to need silentknight from here: https://eclecticlight.co/lockrattler-systhist/ . Is it Ok to run updates from that app *before* following your instructions as well as after? I seem to need a couple of updates already. See attachment...

3) is the "pre-made USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 USB" compatible with my method (Dosdude) of installing Catalina?

Thanks
S

 

[smartin80]

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

Jackluke,

Please forgive some Newb questions... I'm keen to be using the latest version of your app and I'm not familiar with GitHub...

When I go to your GitHub page here: https://github.com/jacklukem/CatalinaOTAswufix I assume I'm seeing the source-code...? How do I acquire the app? Do I have to compile it somehow...?

(Edit) Found it! Clicked on the "Latest" link on the right and ended up here: https://github.com/jacklukem/CatalinaOTAswufix/releases/tag/1.0

Thanks

S

 

[TigerA]

TigerA,

I've just realised that I'd forgotten that security updates don't show up on my system since I installed Catalina so I'm grateful for your instructions...

A couple of questions however... (I installed Catalina using dosdude's patcher from here: http://dosdude1.com/catalina/ some time ago. I think I'm missing at least two security updates...)

1) Can I keep my upgraded graphics card (8mb Radeon RX 580) in place or do I have to re-install the stock card again before following your instructions? If I remember correctly, I'm unable to get to the Apple EFI screen with it in place...

2) I seem to need silentknight from here: https://eclecticlight.co/lockrattler-systhist/ . Is it Ok to run updates from that app *before* following your instructions as well as after? I seem to need a couple of updates already. See attachment...

3) is the "pre-made USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 USB" compatible with my method (Dosdude) of installing Catalina?

Thanks
S

1. I am not certain but it should not be the case: You should be able to see Apple EFI screen. Besides, you can upgrade to OCLP Big Sur / Monterey with that card (assuming it's metal supported) unless you need Catalina for certain apps.
2. Don't need to run silentknight before the update.
3. USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 USB is for dosdude1 Catalina, if your Mac does not support native APFS. Make sure you have previously installed the latest High Sierra including updates (assuming it's the highest macOS your Mac supports natively). This app is basically an OpenCore EFI picker, which is useful if you ever have issue with the default Apple EFI screen. note: My iMac10,1 supports APFS natively but somehow it still needs this app to update: very strange.

P.S. my iMac10,1 is getting slower and slower with the latest update. It can still perform some basic functions like web browsing and document viewing/editing. The YouTube watching is getting stuttering more often now. This iMac is not upgradable and it's on the way out. (The MCP heatsink reading is also very high: up to 61C with Macs Fan Control, and it's getting slower once reaching to this temperature.)

 

[rdcoulthard]

Playing around with my mid-2009 13" MacbookPro5,5, I got Catalina up and running with dosdude1's installer. I eventually got it updated from 19H15 to 19H1284 using CatalinaOTAswufix and USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3. It eventually worked, but there were innumerable reboots and re-installations of the dosdude1 patches involved, many probably unnecessary. Only thing wrong is that the trackpad isn't "seen" and both the trackpad and mouse prefpanes ask me to turn on bluetooth and look for a bluetooth device. Trackpad works though so that's something. Not sure I'm going to keep it going this way, but it's nice to know it can be done.

 

[smartin80]

1. I am not certain but it should not be the case: You should be able to see Apple EFI screen. Besides, you can upgrade to OCLP Big Sur / Monterey with that card (assuming it's metal supported) unless you need Catalina for certain apps.
2. Don't need to run silentknight before the update.
3. USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 USB is for dosdude1 Catalina, if your Mac does not support native APFS. Make sure you have previously installed the latest High Sierra including updates (assuming it's the highest macOS your Mac supports natively). This app is basically an OpenCore EFI picker, which is useful if you ever have issue with the default Apple EFI screen. note: My iMac10,1 supports APFS natively but somehow it still needs this app to update: very strange.

P.S. my iMac10,1 is getting slower and slower with the latest update. It can still perform some basic functions like web browsing and document viewing/editing. The YouTube watching is getting stuttering more often now. This iMac is not upgradable and it's on the way out. (The MCP heatsink reading is also very high: up to 61C with Macs Fan Control, and it's getting slower once reaching to this temperature.)

TigerA,

Really appreciate your response...

Just to be clear... 3) I did have the latest version of High Sierra running before I installed Catalina. Does that mean I won't need USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 in order to do the interim upgrades to Catalina?

Maybe I should just bite the bullet and try for Big Sur as I'm not really getting on with Catalina... I was under the impression that it was a tricky process though...?

BTW... I'm 99% certain that I won't be able to see the EFI screen with my upgraded graphics card in place. I think I'll have to revert to the original card.

S

 

[TigerA]

TigerA,

Really appreciate your response...

Just to be clear... 3) I did have the latest version of High Sierra running before I installed Catalina. Does that mean I won't need USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 in order to do the interim upgrades to Catalina?

Maybe I should just bite the bullet and try for Big Sur as I'm not really getting on with Catalina... I was under the impression that it was a tricky process though...?

BTW... I'm 99% certain that I won't be able to see the EFI screen with my upgraded graphics card in place. I think I'll have to revert to the original card.

S

If your Apple EFI is not working, then USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 is required.
If you don't need Catalina for certain apps, I'd say OCLP Big Sur may be a better option, which will avoid all the tricky stuff for dosdude1 Catalina update. It took me a lot of effort to finally understand the intricacies of all these app and processes.

 

[smartin80]

If your Apple EFI is not working, then USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 is required.
If you don't need Catalina for certain apps, I'd say OCLP Big Sur may be a better option, which will avoid all the tricky stuff for dosdude1 Catalina update. It took me a lot of effort to finally understand the intricacies of all these app and processes.

TigerA,

I'm also coming to the conclusion that going straight to Big Sur might actually be easier than updating Catalina I'm going to research any driver incompatibilities with my peripherals...

Thanks again!

S

 

[honeycombz]

There is a great OpenCore documentation online available, time to start reading it.

Turns out I csrutil had inadvertently been enabled when I thought it was disabled. That is why I was having such trouble getting the EFI boot drive made. Didn’t even occur to be to check that since that is usually disabled. Anyhow, OpenCore EFI Boot USB pops right up now on option boot.

 

[honeycombz]

Yes, It's a good starting point for refining the guide. As Icubed having rightly pointed out: Where does the USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 fit in the update procedure ...

I added my comments in green for the supplement update guide as below (based on my latest update from 19H1819 to 19H1823):

1. Open CatalinaOTAswufix app. (If it gives you errors, move the application to your Desktop. Make sure it's the actual application and not an alias. Delete it from your Applications folder once you move it)
2. Click on "Software Update Fix". The CatalinaOTAswufix app will go away do the thing then jump up & down in the dock later on after step 3. Click on it to see the result. If successful, click the OK button to exit the app.
3. After you enter your password, System Preferences will open and begin checking for Software Updates. Click under the cog where it says "Details", and click restore defaults to revert to general public updates. You may need to close the settings pane a couple times for it to take effect.
4. When the normal software updates (not beta) show up, click on "Another update is available. It should say "macOS Catalina 10.15.7 Supplemental Update". Click Download. After the download started, open the CatalinaOTAswufix app again and click "OTA Update Fix". Your desktop icons should flash twice indicating this OTA Update Fix has been successful. If this is the case, goto step 8.
5. Let the update run completely. What will happen is, the computer will seem as if its installing it, but it actually reboots your machine instead. So just let it run through.
6. When your machine reboots, open the CatalinaOTAswufix app then click "OTA Update Fix".
7. Open System Preferences > Software Update. When the update comes up again, hit "OTA Update Fix" again before you press Install.
8. Let the update run through the installation process. The installation may be stuck in the middle of the progress bar with a white spinning cog slowly grinding to a halt. if the bootROM is not patched, insert the pre-made USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 USB to your Mac and manually turn off and turn back on again, hold the Opt key until the Apple EFI screen appears, select the OC EFI, then select macOS installer, or Macintosh HD if there is no macOS installer option. This will show a black background with a white Apple logo along with a progress bar. Let it run through to the end, which may be stuck again on a spinning cog slowly grinding to a halt. Turn off you Mac and go to next step.
9. You will need to boot back to your Catalina Patcher USB to apply the post-install patch. Turn on your Mac and wait for the OC picker screen to appear if you used USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 in step 8. Otherwise you will need to hold the Option key to get into the Apple EFI picker screen. If you haven't already, plug in your Patcher USB, select it and boot to it. (I managed to put both USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 and dosdude1-Catalina-Installation on the same USB memory stick.)
10. Click on macOS Post Install. Make sure you select your correct Mac model. Make sure that the "Legacy Platform Compatibility Patch" is selected if its not already.
11. Click Patch. Pay attention to it, because when the patch process is complete, make sure you check the box that says "Force Cache Rebuild", then click Reboot.
12. Your machine will reboot normally to the login screen. It’s a bit slow at first but it will reboot properly.
13. After your machine reboots, make sure to open Patch Updater and check for any patch updates for the system. Install them if necessary. You may or may not get a message saying that some patches (Night Shift Patch, for example) were overwritten by the update. Just simply reinstall them. Also check your Catalina version by clicking on the "Version 10.15.7" in {About this Mac} window and ignore the CP Software Update screen for at least 10 minutes.
14. Run SilentKnight to get MRT up to date again, which may require you to reboot your Mac if stuck on the spinning cog when running for the 1st time after the post-install patch. Enjoy.

========================================


Feel free to improve further.

Trying to establish where USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 fits into the DosDude patched Catalina Sec Update process and this seems like a nicely revised process. A few questions, when I tried to run the Sec Update without USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3, everything just ran through and the only problem was it seemed the installation didn't take. I didn’t get to step 8 and have the installation get stuck in the middle, which in this process seems where you would use the USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 USB? Could someone clarify where USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 fits into this process if installation doesn’t get stuck in the middle? Also, I have never run SilentKnight before, just downloaded it, seems like it wants to install various things. Is this a program you would only run and update if there are problems post update or is this an expected part of the procedure? Thanks to everyone!

 

[TigerA]

Trying to establish where USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 fits into the DosDude patched Catalina Sec Update process and this seems like a nicely revised process. A few questions, when I tried to run the Sec Update without USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3, everything just ran through and the only problem was it seemed the installation didn't take. I didn’t get to step 8 and have the installation get stuck in the middle, which in this process seems where you would use the USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 USB? Could someone clarify where USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 fits into this process if installation doesn’t get stuck in the middle? Also, I have never run SilentKnight before, just downloaded it, seems like it wants to install various things. Is this a program you would only run and update if there are problems post update or is this an expected part of the procedure? Thanks to everyone!

follow #14,933 for your case.

 

[K two]

Let's not make this more difficult than it needs to be. @smartin80 does not need USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 to complete the update, his bootROM is up-to-date. Likely the Library/Updates ƒ needs cleaning before re-running the update procedure. @honeycombz will need USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 after he too deletes everything in Library/Updates ƒ. Often, it is necessary to re-run the CatalinaOTAswufix.app to apply the OTA update fix selection as soon as the update D/L starts. - - - Once successfuly Updated by the DD1 Catalina Patcher post-install always select Force Catch Rebuild.

The USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 will be the USB furthest to the right in the Boot Picker which seems to cause uncertainty during these updates. Also, when making the USBOpenCoreAPFSloader3 just use option #2, let the app prepare the USB. Works every time.

The problem with all of these random update guides is they are not clear about the actual hands-on procedures and do not cover what to do when experiencing a failure which should be anticipated because for some updating seems to be a challenge? FYI - Dortania still RECOMMENDS the @dosdude1 Patchers for both Mojave and Catalina. Good advice by the experts.

 

[honeycombz]

Success I think. First time using SilentKnight. Should I install all updates or will that create additional problems for me? Seems like the install and post install went smoothly. Going to try it on another machine in this unit soon. Thanks everyone for all the support and resources with this. No way I am making this happen on my own.

 

[K two]

Success I think. First time using SilentKnight. Should I install all updates or will that create additional problems for me? Seems like the install and post install went smoothly. Going to try it on another machine in this unit soon. Thanks everyone for all the support and resources with this. No way I am making this happen on my own.

Install all of those updates. None require a reboot and are necessary. SilentKnight s/b part of macOS. If MRT "not found" keep trying, or use the Install Named Update option under File, copy and paste the Label title. Congrats.

 

[honeycombz]

Install all of those updates. None require a reboot and are necessary. SilentKnight s/b part of macOS. If MRT "not found" keep trying, or use the Install Named Update option under File, copy and paste the Label title. Congrats.

Everything installed. Like you said, needed to try for MRT a couple of times. Going to use this build for awhile and see if any problems crop up, get some updated backups and then consider if it’s worth trying to move up to Big Sur.

 

[K two]

Everything installed. Like you said, needed to try for MRT a couple of times. Going to use this build for awhile and see if any problems crop up, get some updated backups and then consider if it’s worth trying to move up to Big Sur.

Partition the SSD, install OCLP and put Big Sur installed from USB on the new partition. Migration Assistant will bring everything over if your GPU is boot screen compatible. DD1 Catalina will still boot just fine.

 

[3DXmac]

Hi Guys, huge thread and tons of crossing information. Please, can someone point me out to some clear instructions to update a cMP 5,1 to Catalina OS. The updating process after installing OS through Dosdude1 is not clear for me. Thanks!

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Hi Guys, huge thread and tons of crossing information. Please, can someone point me out to some clear instructions to update a cMP 5,1 to Catalina OS. The updating process after installing OS through Dosdude1 is not clear for me. Thanks!

You hit the wrong thread, try this one.

In any case reading the first post of this thread or the one I mentioned above is a good start. You can install Catalina on the cMP without any patching if you have bought a metal GPU.

 

[3DXmac]

Thank you, I thought cMP 5,1 was an unsupported model. I'll take look at it, glad to know.

 

[queenev11l]

BÄM

 

[makra]

BÄM

View attachment 1982952

Yes, works very well on that machine. You might want install security updates. Follow the links in the very first line of the very first post of this thread.

 

[jimmysofat6864]

Hello guys I just wanted to see if there was anybody else with the same issue as me. For some reason the automatic appearance switcher to automatically go from Light to dark mode does not work but picking light or dark manually works just fine. Also, other time related functions such as night shift and dynamic backgrounds work just fine it's just the auto light/dark mode not working. When I restart my system, I can see that it deselected automatic and picked either light or dark mode.

 

[TimothyR734]

Hello guys I just wanted to see if there was anybody else with the same issue as me. For some reason the automatic appearance switcher to automatically go from Light to dark mode does not work but picking light or dark manually works just fine. Also, other time related functions such as night shift and dynamic backgrounds work just fine it's just the auto light/dark mode not working. When I restart my system, I can see that it deselected automatic and picked either light or dark mode.

On unsupported Mac's automatic is broken so you as workaround there is an app called NightOwl that does it or you can set the time to go from high to dark

 

[jimmysofat6864]

On unsupported Mac's automatic is broken so you as workaround there is an app called NightOwl that does it or you can set the time to go from high to dark

Oh wow thanks I didn't know that going to try that when I get home. Do you know what else is broken after patching at the moment because the first post in the thread didn't mention this in the currently broken section.

 

[TimothyR734]

Photo's app you have to create a new album and move your pictures to it

 

[jimmysofat6864]

Photo's app you have to create a new album and move your pictures to it

Does auto update still work after patching or would I need to install something else?