new guide for installing mountain lion gm on unsupported macs

[Seth Mac Fan]

As the owner of two dropped macs, I can safely say it makes perfect sense to drop these machines. The dropped machines either lack a 64-bit EFI or have no GPU drivers that are 64-bit. Rather than maintaining two kernels, two sets of kexts, two disparate OSs, one 32 and one 64, Apple would rather focus on a single code base and improving it. Would it be nice if my two older macs could run it? Of course! Do I understand that in order to move forward, some things may need to be left behind? You bet. At the end of the day, my machines STILL do more now than they did when I bought them, so in my opinion, that's a win.

I agree somewhat , but if you want to run a current operating system down the line I think linux will be a great solution for those machines . Linux will probably support those older machines for a long time to come . If you need mac you can always dual boot as needed , but eventually software companys will stop producing software for the older mac versions and you will have no choice but to use something else if you want new software and linux is great for that . I still think they could have waited at least 1 more update until dropping support for those older macs . You really do not get much from Mountain lion that is going to make a huge difference so I guess it really does not matter right now . But the release after mountain lion will probably feature more exciting things and I think it will really annoy so people and have them asking why did they buy such a expensive mac when there just going to drop support after 4 or 5 years . They are doing the same thing with the ios devices in regards to dropping support rather quickly . The first gen ipad will not even run IOS 6 as far as I know and that came out in 2010 two years ago and it is way faster than the current gen ipod touch which will be able to run IOS 6 . This makes no since and it is just a way for apple to force people to upgrade . That is why I probably will never buy a ios device support is cut off way too quickly and it is not fair for a product to only be supported for 2 years when it costs so much .

 

[IllmasterMath]

As the owner of two dropped macs, I can safely say it makes perfect sense to drop these machines. The dropped machines either lack a 64-bit EFI or have no GPU drivers that are 64-bit. Rather than maintaining two kernels, two sets of kexts, two disparate OSs, one 32 and one 64, Apple would rather focus on a single code base and improving it. Would it be nice if my two older macs could run it? Of course! Do I understand that in order to move forward, some things may need to be left behind? You bet. At the end of the day, my machines STILL do more now than they did when I bought them, so in my opinion, that's a win.

Well, no. 64-bit drivers don't exist because Apple won't write them. The GPUs in question are 64-bit capable and drivers exist for Windows and Linux.

It's not like I'm asking for a gimme. I'd like to be able to pay for the newest version of software like everybody else. And since I'm not buying first gen tech (MacBook Pro with retina display) or last gen tech (MacBook Pro) they lost out on $20 bucks I would have been sitting here waiting to throw at them.

 

[dgarratt]

it might has something to do with the patch. so i made 3 new patches for this case. but i can't test them myself. please test them and report the result.
thanks in advance.

Update: the new patches has been tested and none of them work

dead.xx, can you please tell me what process you are using to generate and/or modify the boot.efi file. Are you simply using the bless tool or is there more to it?

I really want to start doing some more testing on my system to see if I can get around the problem mentioned previously.


Thank in advance.

 

[Mkdelta]

NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 512 MB graphics

Does anyone know if this will work with NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 512 MB graphics - before I start waisting time trying to install something that has no chance of working!

 

[albertsw]

It doesn't work for me on my early 2008 macbook. When I try to boot from the installer on an external drive. It just shows a circle with a line through it immediately after I select the drive to boot.

 

[dead.xx]

dead.xx, can you please tell me what process you are using to generate and/or modify the boot.efi file. Are you simply using the bless tool or is there more to it?

I really want to start doing some more testing on my system to see if I can get around the problem mentioned previously.


Thank in advance.

OK, the only thing i did is modify the configuration table of boot kernel selection.
use a hex editor to open boot.efi. and goto offset 722f0. then you will see the hex values:

[COLOR="Green"]AEA70600[/COLOR][COLOR="Blue"]00000000[/COLOR][COLOR="Red"]03000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]B6A70600[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]01000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]05000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]BEA70600[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]01000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]02000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]C9A70600[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]01000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]03000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]D4A70600[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]00000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]07000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]D9A70600[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]00000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]03000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]E0A70600[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]00000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]02000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

then goto offset ec8b8, you will see:

[COLOR="Green"]D869060000000000[/COLOR][COLOR="Blue"]00000000[/COLOR][COLOR="Red"]03000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]E069060000000000[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]01000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]05000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]E869060000000000[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]01000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]02000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]F369060000000000[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]01000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]03000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]FE69060000000000[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]00000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]07000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]036A060000000000[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]00000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]03000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]0A6A060000000000[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]00000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]02000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

the first block is used in 32bit efi, the second block is used in 64bit.
you may see each line has 3 marked part
the green part is a pointer that defines the modle type.
the blue part is a 32bit integer that defines whether it is a laptop.
the red part is a 32bit integer that defines the modle number. this part is to modified.
these values could be translated to:

[COLOR="Green"]macmini[/COLOR][COLOR="Red"]3[/COLOR],1
[COLOR="green"]macbook[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]5[/COLOR],1
[COLOR="green"]macbookair[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]2[/COLOR],1
[COLOR="green"]macbookpro[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]3[/COLOR],1
[COLOR="green"]imac[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]7[/COLOR],1
[COLOR="green"]macpro[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]3[/COLOR],1
[COLOR="green"]xserve[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]2[/COLOR],1

if your mac has a less modle number then the definitions, boot.efi will load 32bit kernel, other wise 64bit. but 32bit kernel does not exist in ML. as a result, boot.efi will return an error when trying to load it. so, simply change all the red part to 01000000 will make boot.efi to load a 64bit kernel anyway.

but your problem is not about these definitions. it is probably because of the 32bit efi will make the 64bit kernel to do a wrong memory map when you have more then 4GB ram installed.
i don't know how to fix it by modifying the boot.efi file. but i think there are 2 ways might work.
the first way is to use a hackintosh loader. and it is not recommend.
the second way is to compile a 32bit kernel by yourself when darwin 12 source is released.

 

[andyyau]

Is it possible to use osx LION boot.efi to replace it?

 

[notredewey]

Board id?

Maybe a stupid question but how do you find the board id and name of your mac? Thanks.

 

[Pendora]

I have installed ML on a Macbook2,1 with the 10.6.2 drivers. It does not work completely but until i have a new Mac good enough.
But I have a very strange problem. App Store and Message won't let me log in. App Store says it can not verify my Mac and Message says it has a problem logging me in.
Both applications work on my Mac Mini witch is support by ML.
Has anyone else have the same problem on a non supported Mac?

 

[dgarratt]

OK, the only thing i did is modify the configuration table of boot kernel selection.
use a hex editor to open boot.efi. and goto offset 722f0. then you will see the hex values:

[COLOR="Green"]AEA70600[/COLOR][COLOR="Blue"]00000000[/COLOR][COLOR="Red"]03000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]B6A70600[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]01000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]05000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]BEA70600[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]01000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]02000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]C9A70600[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]01000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]03000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]D4A70600[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]00000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]07000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]D9A70600[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]00000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]03000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]E0A70600[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]00000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]02000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

then goto offset ec8b8, you will see:

[COLOR="Green"]D869060000000000[/COLOR][COLOR="Blue"]00000000[/COLOR][COLOR="Red"]03000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]E069060000000000[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]01000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]05000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]E869060000000000[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]01000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]02000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]F369060000000000[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]01000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]03000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]FE69060000000000[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]00000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]07000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]036A060000000000[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]00000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]03000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
[COLOR="green"]0A6A060000000000[/COLOR][COLOR="blue"]00000000[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]02000000[/COLOR]0200000002000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

the first block is used in 32bit efi, the second block is used in 64bit.
you may see each line has 3 marked part
the green part is a pointer that defines the modle type.
the blue part is a 32bit integer that defines whether it is a laptop.
the red part is a 32bit integer that defines the modle number. this part is to modified.
these values could be translated to:

[COLOR="Green"]macmini[/COLOR][COLOR="Red"]3[/COLOR],1
[COLOR="green"]macbook[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]5[/COLOR],1
[COLOR="green"]macbookair[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]2[/COLOR],1
[COLOR="green"]macbookpro[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]3[/COLOR],1
[COLOR="green"]imac[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]7[/COLOR],1
[COLOR="green"]macpro[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]3[/COLOR],1
[COLOR="green"]xserve[/COLOR][COLOR="red"]2[/COLOR],1

if your mac has a less modle number then the definitions, boot.efi will load 32bit kernel, other wise 64bit. but 32bit kernel does not exist in ML. as a result, boot.efi will return an error when trying to load it. so, simply change all the red part to 01000000 will make boot.efi to load a 64bit kernel anyway.

but your problem is not about these definitions. it is probably because of the 32bit efi will make the 64bit kernel to do a wrong memory map when you have more then 4GB ram installed.
i don't know how to fix it by modifying the boot.efi file. but i think there are 2 ways might work.
the first way is to use a hackintosh loader. and it is not recommend.
the second way is to compile a 32bit kernel by yourself when darwin 12 source is released.

Thankyou dead.xx .... very much appreciate the detailed explanation!

btw, do you know when the darwin 12 source is scheduled to be released?

 

[winterny]

Does anyone know if this will work with NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 512 MB graphics - before I start waisting time trying to install something that has no chance of working!

I believe that is the same graphics card that came with my MacPro 3,1.

If so, that system is officially supported, and you should be good to go.

I've upgraded to an ATI R6870 months ago, though.

 

[Vo3Dyx]

Everything seems fine on my 4.1, but where i can get AppleHDA.kext for sound and how to install it?
And animation without vga driver is awful, cant use a lot of features cause that

 

[oldmacs]

Can anyone confirm this works with the retail version of Mountain Lion on a Macbook 4,1 ?

Also how usable is it?

 

[Vo3Dyx]

Can anyone confirm this works with the retail version of Mountain Lion on a Macbook 4,1 ?

Also how usable is it?

Didnt u see my post above?
Ive installed it easily, but without vga driver some features (swipes between screens, notification centre etc) are very annoying or unusable.

upd Launching Launchpad crashes syster and reboot needed.

 

[oldmacs]

Sorry, I didn't know if you meant that you had installed the Golden Master or the Mac App store version (I know they are very similar but sometimes apple changes things between them.

 

[Vo3Dyx]

Sorry, I didn't know if you meant that you had installed the Golden Master or the Mac App store version (I know they are very similar but sometimes apple changes things between them.

to make it cleare - ive installed final MAS version

 

[oldmacs]

Ok
Might try this as well, Just have to buy it first!
What is the chance that a Driver for the graphics will be developed/ Ported by someone for these MacBooks?

 

[oldmacs]

Also, What is the board id for a Macbook (White) 4,1?
thanks

 

[noglider]

Boy, I'm p*ssed! I paid a lot of money for this machine, and I did so because I thought it would last longer than a typical machine. It's a MacPro1,1

Knowing that the RAM capacity is 32 GB, I figured I could add RAM for years without needing to replace the machine. I bought it when it was two years old, refurbished, from Apple.

I run one or two virtual machines in it and do lots of Mac OS stuff, all at the same time, and it performs very well.

I do understand the point about one code base, but I'm still annoyed.

Is there a way to approach this by updating hardware instead of software? I could buy a new graphics card, right? And how about EFI? Am I nuts?

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: Mac Pro
Model Identifier: MacPro1,1
Processor Name: Dual-Core Intel Xeon
Processor Speed: 2.66 GHz
Number of Processors: 2
Total Number of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (per Processor): 4 MB
Memory: 13 GB
Bus Speed: 1.33 GHz
Boot ROM Version: MP11.005D.B00
SMC Version (system): 1.7f10
Serial Number (system): NQ815047UQ2
Hardware UUID: 00000000-0000-1000-8000-0017F20DFDDA
​

Graphics/Displays:

Chipset Model: NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT
Type: GPU
Bus: PCIe
Slot: Slot-1
PCIe Lane Width: x16
VRAM (Total): 256 MB
Vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0393
Revision ID: 0x00a1
ROM Revision: 3011
Displays:

W2252:

Resolution: 1680 x 1050 @ 60 Hz
Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Rotation: Supported​

​

 

[hms84]

Installed on Mac Pro 1.1 using the target disk method. But now I got a gray blank screen after the apple logo. Also the apple logo took a little longer than usual (on ssd).

 

[patelmayur86]

board id

how do you find the board id?

 

[gruvii]

Can I install on MacBookPro2,2

I am not sure if my CPU supports 64bit extention but I see that others are getting ML to install on a MacBookPro2,1. Here are my specs:


Hardware Overview:

Model Name: MacBook Pro
Model Identifier: MacBookPro2,2
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.33 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Bus Speed: 667 MHz
Boot ROM Version: MBP22.00A5.B07
SMC Version (system): 1.12f5

System Version: Mac OS X 10.6.8 (10K549)
Kernel Version: Darwin 10.8.0
Boot Volume: Macintosh HD
Boot Mode: Normal
Secure Virtual Memory: Enabled
64-bit Kernel and Extensions: No

ATI Radeon X1600:




* Chipset Model: ATY,RadeonX1600
* Type: GPU
* Bus: PCIe
* PCIe Lane Width: x16
* VRAM (Total): 256 MB
* Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
* Device ID: 0x71c5
* Revision ID: 0x0000
* ROM Revision: 113-xxxxxx-158
* EFI Driver Version: 01.00.158
* Displays:
Color LCD:
* Resolution: 1440 x 900
* Pixel Depth: 32-Bit Color (ARGB8888)
* Main Display: Yes
* Mirror: Off
* Online: Yes
* Built-In: Yes
Display Connector:
* Status: No Display Connected

THANKS!!!

 

[hms84]

how do you find the board id?

It's in the second post after the #

 

[patelmayur86]

when i try to restart manually it does not allow it.... it flashes O with a slash through it...

JBasco20, how'd you get past the screen with the slash? I have a MacBook4,1.

 

[tpmcguire]

MacPro1,1

HMS and NOGLIDER!!!!!

I made the mistake several times attempting to install ML GM on a MacPro1,1. I was able to install the firewire method and also from the macpro itself using an installation partition. Just follow the guide above but make sure you DO NOT HAVE the NVIDIA 7300. I also kept getting the grey circle with a line through it. I bought the HD5770 ATI card, swapped out the NVIDIA and booted perfectly. And I don't know if the extra RAM on the video card is helping but I now have a lot more free RAM. Safari would kill my system in Snow Leopard.

I ordered the card from B&H photo online yesterday with free shipping for $229 but I paid $10 extra for faster shipping.