OS X El Capitan (10.11) on Unsupported Macs
OS X Extractor and MacPostFactor are apps that guide you through patching and installing OS X El Capitan (10.11), Yosemite (10.10), Mavericks (10.9), or Mountain Lion (10.8) on your older Mac. This thread focuses on OS X El Capitan.
MacPostFactor works for Mountain Lion, Mavericks, Yosemite, and El Capitan.
Please note that older GPU (GMA 950, X3100, X1600, X1300, X1900, 7300gt, etc.) Graphics Acceleration on Mavericks, Yosemite, and El Capitan are not supported yet.
Installing on these models may cause them to have graphical issues as stated in these pages. Kexts are provided to help a little bit.
OS X Extractor is somewhat for more advanced users and should only be used as an alternative to MacPostFactor. This thread consists of members prominent in these patches that can help you solve your issues. Please do not hesitate to post if you have questions.
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Apple History
OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard was the first OS X version with optional support for a 64-bit kernel, allowing booting either with a 32-bit or 64-bit kernel. However, Apple did not support booting the 64-bit kernel in Macs that shipped with EFI32 firmware, even if they had 64-bit processors capable of running the 64-bit kernel. When Apple dropped the 32-bit kernel entirely from OS X, starting with OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, EFI32 Macs no longer had an Apple-supported mechanism to boot newer OS X versions.
OS X 10.11 El Capitan includes rootless security. It makes sure that System file permissions are automatically protected, and updated during Software Updates. The Repair Permissions function is no longer available and access to system files that we need to use in this guide may be locked.
Fortunately, we have found a work around for these version of OS X. Here we provide guides in Post 1 in support for Installing OS X El Capitan on your Unsupported Mac.
This first post is usually updated with recent summarized information, updates, and more solutions.
For those who have 2006/2007 Mac Pros, you may be best suited to using Mr. Zarniwoop's Guide here. The MCPF and OSXE projects are not affiliated with them. We will not contact them for you either, that's your responsibility. Confrontation has occurred both publicly and privately in MacRumors, the site, and other forms of communications and we don't want anything to do with them and their Mac Models. It simple don't ask Mac Pro questions to people who don't have Mac Pros 
. Your post will be requested to be moved to their thread.
Prerequisites:
Tested Macs listed below. Here are the minimum requirements:
- Running 10.7 Lion
- At least 2GB of RAM
- A copy of the OS X El Capitan Installer in Applications Folder (.app file from Mac App Store preferred)
- 15 GB of free space from USB or HDD Partition to serve as your Installer Drive.
-MacBook2,x
-MacBook3,x
-MacBook4,x
-MacBookPro2,x
-MacBookAir1,1
-MacMini1,x with C2D
-MacMini2,x
-iMac4,x with C2D
-iMac5,x
-MacPro1,x
-MacPro2,x
We DON'T assist with Hackintosh. All private messages/emails involving installing OS X on non-Apple hardware will be redirected to another support team.
Guide to Installing OS X El Capitan on Unsupported Macs
ANY HARM OR DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS GUIDE HAPPENED UNDER YOUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY!
Be sure to have root privileges (administrator password) as OS X will prompt you for this on some stage.
A: Preparing The Installation Drive
- Make a BACKUP of your system if you can.
- I have some attachments below to help shave off a couple of hours.
- Get an OS X El Capitan Installer-App (Recommended from the Mac App Store)
- Make sure you have an Intel-Based Mac that supported OS X 10.7 Lion
B: Start Patching
- Install OS X Extractor.
- After you install, there should be a Hidden Toggle in your System Preferences
- Right click on the OS X Yosemite Installer app and click show package contents.
- There should be a new drive appearing on your Desktop called 'OS X Install ESD'
- Go to Applications/OS X Hackers Patch Files and run the AutoPatch package.
- Select the disk or partition (Installation Drive) that you want as the installer. WARNING: DO NOT SELECT YOUR CURRENT PARTITION (i.e Macintosh HD)
- (for non 64 bit Macs) Unlock and Replace the boot.efi files located in /System/Library/CoreServices and /usr/standalone/i386 with the copy provided in /Applications/OS X Hackers Patch Files/Boot EFI/ or from here . To Unlock it, use the Terminal app in Applications/Utilities/ and enter the command:
(for EFI32 Macs only) Unlock and Replace the boot.efi files located in /System/Library/CoreServices , /usr/standalone/i386 and RecoveryHD with the copy provided from here. To unlock it, use the Terminal app in Applications/Utilities/ and enter the command:
-
Code:
sudo chflags nouchg /Volumes/[Installation Drive Name]/System/Library/CoreServices/boot.efi
- Now lock the new boot.efi file
- (for non 64 bit Macs) lock the new boot.efi with this command:
-
Code:
sudo chflags uchg /Volumes/[Installation Drive Name]/System/Library/CoreServices/boot.efi
C: Installation
- reboot your Mac holding option (alt) key
- select the Installation drive (BaseSystem) and press enter
- If the Installation Drive boots you back to the main partition, try blessing the drive from your terminal app:
Code:
sudo bless --folder /Volumes/[Installation Drive Name] --file /Volumes/[Installation Drive Name]/boot --setBoot
- when booted click install/continue until you reach the disk selection menu, select your main drive (probably Macintosh HD) if you are sure about it, else select another empty drive (at least 15GB for testing/bigger if it should be a secondary system)
D: If Reboot Fails
If the Mac does not reboot to the El Capitan desktop, boot to the install-drive again and perform the following.
Boot back into the El Capitan Install Partition, open the terminal at the top menu bar or boot into single user mode (Hold Command-S immediately afterturning on) enter:
Code:
sudo rm /Volumes/[Main Drive Name]/System/Library/CoreServices/PlatformSupport.plist
E: Installing the 64bit-Kexts from the Kexts folder from OS X Extractor
(These will better the graphics by a little but you will not have Graphics Acceleration. Still in beta so they may not work well)
- ensure that the System Integrity Protection is disabled
- Navigate in your Finder and go to the 'OS X Hackers Patch Files' folder in your Applications Folder
- Open the 'Kexts' Folder
- Choose your Graphics Card Kext Installer and launch it.
- Select the Partition or Hard Drive that you are currently using the patched OS X.Install it. (Admin privileges required)
- Restart your Mac
IF your Macbook can't wake up from sleep:
Because of lack of working Graphics Acceleration. Your Macbook may not be able to wake from a display sleep
If your Macbook can't wake up from sleep:
Because of lack of working Graphics Acceleration. Your Macbook may not be able to wake from a display sleep
Install the NoSleep Extension
Set the Preferences to Never Sleep on AC Adapter and Battery
Check the 'Start NoSleep Utility on system startup' setting
Your Macbook screen will never turn off unless your actually shut down your Macbook.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Method 2 - MacPostFactor
El Capitan Install is EXPERIMENTAL. Try this on a secondary partition.
El Capitan can be installed on all computer but ONLY Mac Pros WITH AN UPGRADED GRAPHICS CARD can use graphics acceleration as of now !
Requirements for MacPostFactor to work
- A Mac with Core 2 Duo or Xeon Processor.
- OS X 10.6 or later
- 2GB RAM at least
- At least 20GB of HDD space (8GB for USB)
- Install OS X El Capitan.app with beta 1 or later in your Application Folder
- Read our instructions on MacRumors at least twice
Friendly reminder.
We're not responsible if you screw up your system. Technically, that won't happen as you can always go back to Lion, Mountain Lion, Mavericks or Yosemite
**********************************************************
VERY IMPORTANT to remind here!!!
Before trying ANYTHING new, invest half an hour of your time to make a bootable clone drive of your working main drive and check that you can boot from it. It will be the best invested half an hour of your life!
By doing so you can, as stated above, easely get back to a previous OS
or repair any damage in case your changes sctew your system up...
IT MAY AVOID DAYS AND DAYS OF EFFORT, FRUSTRATION AND SORROW!!!
***********************************************************
Instructions — Installing directly on this computer
- Make sure you have Install OS X El Capitan.app in your Application Folder
- Select "On this computer" on the main MCPF window. Then, choose the partition you want to install El Capitan on.
- Click install and prompt your password.
- Click reboot. Your computer should reboot with the OSXHackers logo.
- Once booted, Click Continue, Agree and choose the only partition showed.
- Click reboot when you see "Installation succeeded!".
- Enjoy!
Instructions — Installing via USB
- Make sure you have Install OS X El Capitan.app in your Application Folder
- Select "On an external drive" on the main MCPF window. Then, choose the disk you want to install the El Capitan installer on.
- Click install and prompt your password.
- Click exit. Boot the computer you want to install El Capitan on with 'alt' held and select your USB drive.
- Once booted, Click Continue, Agree and choose the partition you want to install El Capitan on.
- Click reboot when you see "Installation succeeded !".
- Enjoy!
OS X Recovery Patch
- Go to Applications/OS X Hackers Patch Files/Recovery Patcher/
- Install the 'Recovery Patcher' pkg (Not working for El Capitan)
OS X Software Updates
- Go to Applications/OS X Hackers Patch Files/Software Update Patch/
- Install the 'Software Update Patch' pkg
- (EFI32 Mac only) Using Pike's Boot.efi, Install the EFI Daemon patch.
Animation Disabler
You don't have Graphics Acceleration, right? Then you don't need excess Animation slowing down your system.
- Go to Applications/OS X Hackers Patch Files/Animation Disabler/
- Install the 'Disable Graphical Animations' pkg
Airdrop
- Go to Applications/OS X Hackers Patch Files/AirDrop Enabler/
- Open the 'Enable Airdrop' shell script in the Terminal
- Restart
You can send file with AirDrop to other Macs only. Sometimes newer Macs can't find your model.
Support
Feel free to post your questions, concerns, or success stories in this thread. If you can’t post us back because your only usable device is bricked, Skype at TMRJIJ, MLforAll, or email us at
Support@OSXHackers.net. We'll
try to respond within 3-4 days.
There should be some great support Applications that we will use to help you.
Be sure to thank our awesome developers who have contributed greatly.
Support Documentation (Construction)
Docs for macOS Extractor:
Docs for MacPostFactor:
Downloads/Files for Patching
The macOS Extractor v1.4.1 with all Patch files for Mountain Lion, Mavericks, Yosemite, El Capitan, and Sierra [October 31, 2016]:
Download Link
View Release Notes
MacPostFactor 2.0.1 [July 8, 2016]:
Download Link
View Release Notes
Boot.efi support for El Capitan (OS X 10.11) for unsupported Mac hardware with a 32-bit only EFI [by
Pike R. Alpha]:
Download Link
OS X Hackers are is not affiliated with Apple Inc. Mac OS Ten (X), Mac, iOS, iPhone, iPad, and all other Apple product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Inc. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
MacPostFactor was made by Wayne Wong (@Wayne_819) and Kelian Dumarais (@MLforAll)
Guide and OSXH site/app designed by Isiah Johnson (@TMRJIJ) and Robby Sharpero and is provided by Johnson Network.
Developers/Contributors:
Liem Mai, Birtha Åbel, Wayne Wong, Kelian Dumarais, Nolen Johnson, Mr. Zarniwoop, Tiamo, Pike R. Alpha, oem, atvusr, Jesse Samluk, Mike Hennessie
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