macOS 11 Big Sur on Unsupported Macs Thread

[nitinnk]

If you used my "BaseSystem fix Installer" after installation then simply hold alt-option key from apple startup manager select it, wait a couple of minutes for BaseSystem booting, select Utilities menu, apply "BigSurFixes snapshot booting" (a minimal keyboard interaction is required to type your Preboot diskXs2 and BigSur label) at next reboot Wifi and AirDrop on Finder should work.

I have already tried, but it always returns this message as shown in the attached photo. I can't understand where I'm wrong. if you can help me I would be very grateful.

 

[tuzmaster]

Hi everyone! I've got some issue with the backlight leveling on my iMac 2011. When applying a Micropatcher it shows a message "INSTALL_BACKLIGHT command not found" and the highest level of backlight is very low in fact but leveling is working. I've tried to reinstall Micropatcher by different ways (from usb installer and from the working system, also trying to redownload patcher again and again) - nothing changed. What I'm doing wrong? Other features was patched successfully.

 

[Th3odor3]

I am completely lost with Bigsurfixes of Jacklukem, I created the bootable usb sticker with big sur, I applied fix 1 and 2, but on the installation screen I don't know what to do, if I apply the fixes, if I go first in hax3 fix installer, I'm completely in doubt, the disc is formatted, it's an iMac Late 2009 10.1, please help!



I made a video below using the BenSova patch on the MacBook Pro 2012 and posted on youtube, but I'm lost with the iMac 2009 on the Jacklukem Patch

Hi I am getting a strike thru No symbol after trying to boot with the patched Big Sur usb install.. can you help me?

 

[jackluke]

I have already tried, but it always returns this message as shown in the attached photo. I can't understand where I'm wrong. if you can help me I would be very grateful.

From your picture, for Preboot type exactly disk1s2 that is the largest MB (MegaBytes) Preboot volume that belongs to your BigSur installation on disk1s5, then the fix asks also for your BigSur System label type (from your picture): Mac HD

wait a couple of minutes to let complete the kernelcollection, at reboot Wifi should work.

 

[Ausdauersportler]

Thanks, is patcher the best option or should I just go OpenCore and native onto a new SSD? I'm not 100% clear on the best option for MP 5,1 with a Radeon RX580

I do not know. I am using iMac, only. And I do not know if your system needs a WiFi patch because it is unknown to me.

As I wrote before the micro patcher worked for a number of users before. I you have problems possibly you made and error I will not be able (and not willing) to find. You need to read and follow the guide step by step. Start over, again!

 

[page3]

Just a quick Thank You to Barrykn for his micropatcher and all those who contributed to it.

Upgraded my 2013 iMac yesterday on to an external SSD. Used migration assistant to pull across user accounts and I was back up and working within a couple of hours.

 

[nitinnk]

From your picture, for Preboot type exactly disk1s2 that is the largest MB (MegaBytes) Preboot volume that belongs to your BigSur installation on disk1s5, then the fix asks also for your BigSur System label type (from your picture): Mac HD

wait a couple of minutes to let complete the kernelcollection, at reboot Wifi should work.

same result, no ask me for the correction and always returns the same message as in the photo.

 

[ikokol]

Installed smoothly on a late 2013 iMac. Thanks a lot for your work @dosdude1 and @barrykn, which is awesome indeed!

One question: will this allow regular updates from Apple (system and Appstore)?

Again, thank you!

 

[justperry]

Installed smoothly on a late 2013 iMac. Thanks a lot for your work @dosdude1 and @barrykn for your work, which is awesome indeed!

One question: will this allow regular updates from Apple (system and Appstore)?

Again, thank you!

No OS Updates, Appstore Updates and work.

Edit: Software Update in System Preferences works but not for OS Updates on unsupported Macs, I just checked, got a Pro Video Formats Update and pretty sure others like Safari Preview updates will work but no OS Updates.

 

[jackluke]

same result, no ask me for the correction and always returns the same message as in the photo.

Post a picture where after you selected "BigSurFixes snapshot booting" you typed your BigSur Preboot (683.7 MB) diskXs2 (in your case it's disk1s2) you get an error message.

 

[Dilli]

I have a major issued. On following the micropatcher step identically I completed making the boot usb with Bigsur. On pressing option key i saw all drives and last yellow drive efi. I selected efi and the imac shutdown. Now again on restart while pressing option key I dont see any drives but only get my imac fans on with plain white display.
Please advice what should I do to correct this.

 

[ikokol]

No OS Updates, Appstore Updates and work.

Thanks for the info dude!

 

[ikokol]

No OS Updates, Appstore Updates and work.

Edit: Software Update in System Preferences works but not for OS Updates on unsupported Macs, I just checked, got a Pro Video Formats Update and pretty sure others like Safari Preview updates will work but no OS Updates.

Cool so that means that unsupported Macs should be using a patch whenever a new system update (not major) is released, like for instance security patches, right?

 

[nitinnk]

Post a picture where after you selected "BigSurFixes snapshot booting" you typed your BigSur Preboot (683.7 MB) diskXs2 (in your case it's disk1s2) you get an error message.

these are the various steps, but I always have this problem ... if instead I run the operation from opencore when I restart I no longer have the disk image and it does not restart.

 

[jackluke]

View attachment 1666044View attachment 1666045View attachment 1666046View attachment 1666047
these are the various steps, but I always have this problem ... if instead I run the operation from opencore when I restart I no longer have the disk image and it does not restart.

The issue you encountered is that you used probably micropatcher, because that additional Preboot .beforewifikexts folder is not made by "BaseSystem fix" (that also explains why your BigSur Preboot volume is 680 MB when typically size is around 350 MB ) .

Anyway you could try to fix this way, open from BaseSystem Utilities terminal and type:

diskutil mount disk1s2
mount -uw /Volumes/Preboot/
cd /Volumes/Preboot/
rm -r *.beforewifikexts

then close and from Utilities menu retry "BigSurFixes snapshot booting", it should work.

After this fix opencore is not required, but to boot also through opencore you should apply "BigSurFixes opencore preboot".

edit:
I just updated BaseSystem fix to include this script on "BigSur stage3 installer fix" for those who during any BigSurFixes encountered that Preboot ".beforewifikexts" folder.

 

[atbylhx]

Now the longer version

This is for a 2012 Mac Mini and almost sure for the MBP from the same year, others, especially earlier macs need extra steps, for that read the manual on micropatcher page.

1. Have a USB stick handy, or an external disk, or a dedicated partition.
2. Download the full installer from here.
3. Download Micropatcher from here.
4. Open Terminal.
5. sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur\ Beta --volume /Volumes/***
*** is the disk label you install the Installer onto, so the USB stick, I dragged and dropped my USB stick onto the terminal, the path will be automatically added.
6. Input your password.
7. It will erase your disk so be aware not to chose the wrong one.
8. Input "Y" if asked to erase.
9. Wait until it's finished, could take a while dependable of what kind of media you use.
10. Unzip the downloaded micropatcher, drag the micropatcher.sh file onto the Terminal window, then enter.
11. In Terminal type sudo and then a space, next drag the install-setvars.sh onto the Terminal window, hit enter.
12. Restart after it is finished.
13. Hold Option key right after restart, keep holding it until you see the bootpicker.
14. Chose the EFI disk, it will instantly shut down.
15. Start up again and again hold the option key for the bootpicker.
16. Chose the USB installer, wait for the installer to open.
17. Chose the disk you want Big Sur installed onto.
18. Wait for probably an hour or so (Have a coffee or a beer in the meantime 🍺 ) if you install from a USB stick, probably half of that if the installer resides on a SSD medium.
19. Restarts multiple times.
20. Almost done.
21. The next step is for WIFI, Wifi does not work OOTB on a 2012 Mini or 2012 MBP....
21a. Restart for the last time after it booted into Big Sur, you may restart before login or after login, makes no difference.
21b. Hold the Option key again to get into the USB installer, there are other ways but this one is the easiest, chose the USB installer, next open terminal from the menu.
21c. Input "/Volume/Image\ Volumes/patch-kexts.sh /Volumes/***" and hit enter, when finished enter "reboot", both without the quotes.
*** Is your disk label

Voila...done...a working Big Sur OS.🍺🍺

Edit: Do not forget to thank Barry K. Nathan

Thanks for your instructions. I have been installed Big Sur on my Mac Mini 2012 successfully.
But there is something interesting about the Wi-Fi network. My Wi-Fi name is "sudo rm -rf /*", and when I select this Wi-Fi, it shows the network can not be found. So, it may be a bug in Big Sur or only for patches?

 

[nitinnk]

diskutil mount disk1s2
cd /Volumes/Preboot/
rm -r *.beforewifikexts

The issue you encountered is that you used probably micropatcher, because that additional Preboot .beforewifikexts folder is not made by "BaseSystem fix" (that also explains why your BigSur Preboot volume is 680 MB when typically size is around 350 MB ) .

Anyway you could try to fix this way, open from BaseSystem Utilities terminal and type:

diskutil mount disk1s2
mount -uw /Volumes/Preboot/
cd /Volumes/Preboot/
rm -r *.beforewifikexts

then close and from Utilities menu retry "BigSurFixes snapshot booting", it should work.

After this fix opencore is not required, but to boot also through opencore you should apply "BigSurFixes opencore preboot".

edit:
I just updated BaseSystem fix to include this script on "BigSur stage3 installer fix" for those who during any BigSurFixes encountered that Preboot ".beforewifikexts" folder.

unfortunately to me it has always been an error even when entering in the terminal as you suggested.

 

[Loyd-01a]

The issue you encountered is that you used probably micropatcher, because that additional Preboot .beforewifikexts folder is not made by "BaseSystem fix" (that also explains why your BigSur Preboot volume is 680 MB when typically size is around 350 MB ) .

Anyway you could try to fix this way, open from BaseSystem Utilities terminal and type:

diskutil mount disk1s2
mount -uw /Volumes/Preboot/
cd /Volumes/Preboot/
rm -r *.beforewifikexts

then close and from Utilities menu retry "BigSurFixes snapshot booting", it should work.

After this fix opencore is not required, but to boot also through opencore you should apply "BigSurFixes opencore preboot".

edit:
I just updated BaseSystem fix to include this script on "BigSur stage3 installer fix" for those who during any BigSurFixes encountered that Preboot ".beforewifikexts" folder.

Hello,

@jackluke
@ASentientBot

Thanks a lot for your work you and all the contributors !

I have the same machine like you.
I wonder if graphics acceleration works under BigSur for you ?
If so, where can I find in this "long ;-)" thread a "How to - steps" install it on my macbook7,1 from Mojave ?
I didn't install Catalina yet.

Thanks !

 

[jackluke]

diskutil mount disk1s2
cd /Volumes/Preboot/
rm -r *.beforewifikexts

unfortunately to me it has always been an error even when entering in the terminal as you suggested.

I edited that previous post, retry and this should work :

diskutil mount disk1s2
mount -uw /Volumes/Preboot/
cd /Volumes/Preboot/
rm -r *.beforewifikexts

In few words from Preboot volume you need to delete that .beforewifikexts folder, because in my BigSurFixes I assume that there is only one Preboot UUID for BigSur kernelcollections (as it normally is), after that script your Preboot diskXs2 is halved to about 350 MB that is the correct BigSur Preboot size.

 

[spanish2]

https://github.com/BenSova/Patched-Sur/releases/download/v0.0.3/Patched-Sur.dmg

Tutorial:

This tool is very easy to use, it does everything practically by itself and it is not necessary to use the Terminal. You open the application, follow the steps, create the patched USB installer, boot from it, install Big Sur and that's it. Once the installation is finished, in the applications folder you will find the app "Patched Sur", and it gives you the option to apply the "Patch Kexts" to solve, for example, the Wifi, USB, ... once installed, restart and that's all functional.

YES!!! this video helped me install big sur on catalina mid 2012 macbook pro. Everything runs amazingly. Only thing is the boot process takes a long time about 5 minutes.

 

[PalError]

Now the longer version

This is for a 2012 Mac Mini and almost sure for the MBP from the same year, others, especially earlier macs need extra steps, for that read the manual on micropatcher page.

1. Have a USB stick handy, or an external disk, or a dedicated partition.
2. Download the full installer from here.
3. Download Micropatcher from here.
4. Open Terminal.
5. sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur\ Beta --volume /Volumes/***
*** is the disk label you install the Installer onto, so the USB stick, I dragged and dropped my USB stick onto the terminal, the path will be automatically added.
6. Input your password.
7. It will erase your disk so be aware not to chose the wrong one.
8. Input "Y" if asked to erase.
9. Wait until it's finished, could take a while dependable of what kind of media you use.
10. Unzip the downloaded micropatcher, drag the micropatcher.sh file onto the Terminal window, then enter.
11. In Terminal type sudo and then a space, next drag the install-setvars.sh onto the Terminal window, hit enter.
12. Restart after it is finished.
13. Hold Option key right after restart, keep holding it until you see the bootpicker.
14. Chose the EFI disk, it will instantly shut down.
15. Start up again and again hold the option key for the bootpicker.
16. Chose the USB installer, wait for the installer to open.
17. Chose the disk you want Big Sur installed onto.
18. Wait for probably an hour or so (Have a coffee or a beer in the meantime 🍺 ) if you install from a USB stick, probably half of that if the installer resides on a SSD medium.
19. Restarts multiple times.
20. Almost done.
21. The next step is for WIFI, Wifi does not work OOTB on a 2012 Mini or 2012 MBP....
21a. Restart for the last time after it booted into Big Sur, you may restart before login or after login, makes no difference.
21b. Hold the Option key again to get into the USB installer, there are other ways but this one is the easiest, chose the USB installer, next open terminal from the menu.
21c. Input "/Volume/Image\ Volumes/patch-kexts.sh /Volumes/***" and hit enter, when finished enter "reboot", both without the quotes.
*** Is your disk label

Voila...done...a working Big Sur OS.🍺🍺

Edit: Do not forget to thank Barry K. Nathan

This error came up when applying the last part , dragging install stevars ? any tips

 

[Bray93]

I don’t mean to clog up this thread anymore but I signed up for the forums just to say a big THANKS to everyone involved in getting this to work. I’ve today installed Big Sur on my Late 2012 iMac 27” (purely a test machine with a mechanical HDD and it is running very well so far. Cannot understand why Apple excluded these models from the update. I did have trouble with the WiFi initially but the patch has fixed that.

I have a Late 2013 iMac 27” and a Mid 2012 MacBook Pro 15” to install it on yet, but I’m confident from my experience today that they should also go smoothly.

Once again, a big thanks to all involved and also to justperry for the simplified instructions in this thread!

 

[jackluke]

I have a major issued. On following the micropatcher step identically I completed making the boot usb with Bigsur. On pressing option key i saw all drives and last yellow drive efi. I selected efi and the imac shutdown. Now again on restart while pressing option key I dont see any drives but only get my imac fans on with plain white display.
Please advice what should I do to correct this.

Does your Metal GPU worked with a bootscreen without opencore ?

Have you tried a PRAM reset ?

 

[nitinnk]

I edited that previous post, retry and this should work :

diskutil mount disk1s2
mount -uw /Volumes/Preboot/
cd /Volumes/Preboot/
rm -r *.beforewifikexts

In few words from Preboot volume you need to delete that .beforewifikexts folder, because in my BigSurFixes I assume that there is only one Preboot UUID for BigSur kernelcollections (as it normally is), after that script your Preboot diskXs2 is halved to about 350 MB that is the correct BigSur Preboot size.

excuse my stupidity, but what am I wrong??

 

[jackluke]

excuse my stupidity, but what am I wrong??

Type one line at once:

diskutil mount disk1s2

mount -uw /Volumes/Preboot/

cd /Volumes/Preboot/

rm -r *.beforewifikexts