OS X 10.5.6 Retail Installation Procedure for
Latitude D620 with GMA950 graphics and Broadcom Wifi

**** Shameless AD Begin

Working Vid
Working Ethernet
Working Wifi
Working Sound
Working Shutdown/Restart
Working Dual Core Support

10.5.7 Update works
10.5.8 Update works with wifi caveat - see notes.

No fuss, no muss, no cuss, most stuff just works.
No fooling with boot parameters, no fooling with kexts - that's all done.

**** Shameless AD End


Table of Contents:

1. Requirements
2. Installation of OS X 10.5.6 Retail DVD
3. 10.5.6 Post installation
4. 10.5.7 update (recommended)
5. 10.5.8 update (see notes below)
6. Notes
7. Bugs/Issues
8. Change log
9. Grandiose Plans
10. Begging for feedback (not money)
11. Link to boot CD image

Requirements

Hardware:
* Dell D620 with Intel GMA950 Graphics with DVD read capability.

Software:
* OS X 10.5.6 RETAIL install DVD. (Buy one - don't steal it)
* CD made from BOOT-132-D620v2.iso


Installation of OS X 10.5.6 Retail DVD

1. Start computer with bootable CD made from BOOT-132-D620.iso cd image. No flags required.
- At F8 prompt, press F8.
- At the next prompt (displays "BOOT-132-D620v2.iso), hit escape.
- Insert OS X 10.5.6 RETAIL DVD ONLY. Wait for DVD Machine to read DVD and hit ENTER. You may have to retry F8 then Esc a few times until the OS X Installation DVD spools up and gets read.
2. Follow installation prompts to create a GUID HD partition and install OS X on the new partition. **** Suggestion **** At customize stage, de-select other language translations (other than default) and only select the printer drivers you will use. This will save about 2GB disk space and make installation and every backup thereafter 2 GB faster. *** At installation completion, OS X will say that installation failed because it was unable to mount the disk and prompt to reboot. This is normal and OS X is installed. I suspect that this is because I never selected a boot partition, but I never bothered to prove it out.
3. To run OS X for the first time, Reinsert BOOT-132-D620v2 boot CD and Reboot. Press F8 at the F8 prompt, then hit Escape and enter 80 (or the HD number you installed on).

10.5.6 post installation

You will want to boot from the hard drive and enable both cores. To do this, with the boot CD still in the drive after boot up, do the following:

1. Open the post_install folder on the boot CD.
2. Install the Chameleon-2.0-RC2-r640.pkg using all of the defaults. This is the easiest way.
3. Open terminal and copy and paste the following command, hit enter and provide your system password when prompted:

sudo sh /Volumes/BOOT-132-D620v2/post_install/Extra/56/post_install_1056

4. When the job completes, reboot.


10.5.7 update (recommended)

1. Open terminal and copy and paste this command, hit enter and provide your system password when prompted:

sudo sh /Extra/57/1057_update

2. Download and install 10.5.7 delta or 10.5.7 combo update (10.5.7 update only)
3. When the when 10.5.7 completes, reboot


Prior to 10.5.8 update (see notes below)

1. Open terminal and copy and paste this command, hit enter and provide your system password when prompted:

sudo sh /Extra/58/1058_update

2. Download and install 10.5.8 delta or 10.5.8 combo update
3. When the 10.5.8 update completes, reboot

Notes

1. Dell D620 with GMA950 and Broadcom wireless should have hardware accelerated video, wifi, ethernet, sound, shutdown and reboot, and dual core support working after 10.5.6 post install without modification to retail installation.
2. After 10.5.7 update is complete, everything should be working (with dual core support) just as they were in 10.5.6. The 10.5.7 update is recommended.
3. After applying 10.5.8 update, Broadcom wifi (Airport) may be broken. I've added a fix to update scripts, but they may or may not work for you. I've included the 2 kexts from 10.5.7 to replace those from the 10.5.8 update that are supposed to be the root of Evil Airport Update. If anyone needs to apply them, they are in the /extra/58 directory.
4. 10.5.7 and 10.5.8 share a GMA950 video update that breaks a 10.5.6 installation. If you apply the pre-patch for 10.5.7 without successfully applying the 10.5.7 update your video will be severely broken, and vice-versa. *** FIX: By booting into single user mode (boot flag -s at the Chameleon startup menu) you can restart the environment updates from the beginning starting with /Extra/56/post_install_1056, then /Extra/57/1057_update for 10.5.7 and so on. If the directions are followed and the environments are set up correctly, each update should go smoothly. This is basically because the Intel GMA950 hardware is crap and no one seems to know how to implement it in a correct and consistent manner without artifacts. Please don't send me another EFI string generated by OSX86 tools. Been there, done that and the t-shirt makes me look like a dork.
5. Instead of placing a bunch of kexts that do not seem to want to load correctly in the /Extra/Extensions folder, I built them into extensions.mkext files - one for each distribution. I've found this to be far more reliable way to get Chameleon to load appropriate kexts.
6. I haven't addressed the PCI card slot. I have it disabled (I never use it). I can add it if there's a demand and a fix I can implement in Chameleon.
7. Intel wifi cards are not supported by OS X. It's all dandy & stuff if you've got yours working, but it's still not supported and I'm not smarter than the guys trying to fix that issue. In fact, I'm barely smart enough to keep myself from drooling on my foot.


Bugs/Issues

1. If you set a system password in BIOS, your sleep may or may not work correctly. It is inconsistent at best here. There are various fixes available with all kinds of varying degrees of reported success, but I have opted not to apply any patches to the 'vanilla' installation itself for this project.
2. This installation results in minor video artifacting on my GMA950 machine. I'd like to fix it, but doing so may require a fix beyond the scope of Chameleon and EFI, and such a fix will be outside the scope of this project. Anyone with a fix I can load with from Chameleon is my new bestest friend in the whole wide world.
3. 10.5.8 airport? God knows what damage Apple's done here. There are threads all over the net on this topic. I **think** I've implemented a fix, but since this issue seems to vary from card to card, you'll have to check your own mileage.
4. The display is never properly detected and reported, but it works @ 1440 x 900 with full hardware acceleration.
5. If I plug the machine into a d/port with two monitors connected, it posts on one monitor and the OS X desktop loads on the other. Now that's almost as messed up as a politician blowing elephants on main street for a vote a herd.

Change log

v1 Original iso with more bugs than a 3 week dead beached whale in August.
v2 Dropped applehda patching. I hate slimy looking green critters.
v2 Started using voodoohda. This enables sound from the outset without adding or modifying anything in the system path. No green critters.
v2 Dropped former ps2 drivers. My cursor used to jump like a detoxing rock star, even with cpus=1 parameter.
v2 Implemented voodoops2 drivers. Provides smoother mouse operation and possibly allows for more control features to be added.
v2 Fixed kernel inconsistencies resulting in numerous malfunctions, including USB in 10.5.7 and 10.5.8. Oops, did I do that?
v2 Added Dual Core support for 10.5.7. and 10.5.8 updates.
v2 Attempted to fix Broadcom wifi issue in 10.5.8. Your mileage may vary.
v2 Sorted out video drivers compatible with each version, albeit with some artifacting.
v2 Got rid of the green lizard to make room for the Dell button. More green and for some reason, every time I booted I wanted to buy insurance.
v2 Added this somewhat long winded document.

Grandiose Plans

- Scripted builds for /Extra/Extensions.mkext based on a wider selection of hardware supporting both Nvidia and Intel graphics versions of D series Latitudes.
- Dual Core support for new kernels revisions as stable kernel patches become available.
- Better video solutions for this craptastic GMA950 video chip.
- Scripted EFI partition support.

Feedback, please

I have spent countless hours trying to get my D630 and D620 machines to boot various OS X distributions. None started simply and reliably. Out of that frustration I decided to roll my own. This method boots installation every time and the installations have been consistent, fast and reliable. Of course It'll probably work like crap on other hardware. I hope that others can benefit from the frustrations I've experienced in the process of learning and assembling this ISO distribution. Using this method, I can start from scratch and have a working system in a half hour. Updates are a few minutes each. Easy, breezy, almost sleezy simple.
Contributions, comments and test results from using this assembly are welcome.


Thanks

Thanks to the people at Voodoo Labs. Love your work, you are making things easier. And thanks to everyone who has posted any lame brained attempt to provide useful information at www.insanelymac.com or even farted in my direction. You've all contributed to the chaos which is part of the cosmic soup that nurtures and feeds inspiration. And if that's not a sign that I have rambled on too long now, nothing ever will be.

- leppy700m

Here's my boot cd image:

BOOT-132-D620v2.ISO

Update: D620 Nvidia replaced with Post Installer D620 D820


Update: 10.6.0 Boot CD for Snow Leopard Retail Install here: D620SLV1.iso

OS X 10.6.0 (Snow Leopard) Retail Installation Procedure

Tested:

• Latitude D620/D820/D420 with GMA950 Graphics and Broadcom Wifi
• Latitude D620/D630 with NVIDIA Graphics and Broadcom Wifi

Will probably work on ANY D series Latitude with Intel GMA950 or Nvidia graphics and Intel dual core processor

Working Hardware Accelerated Vid (32-bit only for Intel Graphics)
Working Ethernet (32-bit only)
Working Wifi
Working Sound
Working Shutdown/Restart (D620 Only)
Working Dual Core Support (All) without patched kernels

rebuild_mkext - Easy to customize - add/remove kexts to /Extra/Extensions and then double click rebuild_mkext.command in /Extra to rebuild custom boot cache without impact to /s/l/e. (Do this carefully at your own risk!)
Allows rebuilding of /Extra/Extensions.mkext in 64 bit mode. (Experimental - Nvidia ONLY)


10.6.1 Update works with no issues


Table of Contents:

1. Requirements
2. Installation of OS X 10.6.1 Retail DVD
3. Notes
4. Bugs/Issues
5. Change log
6. Grandiose Plans
7. Begging for feedback (not money)


Requirements

Hardware:
* Dell D420/D620/D820 with Intel GMA950 or Nvidia Graphics with DVD read capability.
* Dell D630 (Nvidia Graphics ONLY) with DVD read capability.
* Similar hardware configurations may work, but are untested.


Software:
* OS X 10.6.0 Snow Leopard RETAIL install DVD. (Buy one - don't steal it)
* CD made from D620SLV1.iso


Installation of OS X 10.6.0 Retail DVD

1. Start computer with bootable CD made from D620SLV1.iso cd image. No flags required.
- When Chameleon boot menu appears, eject the boot CD
- Insert OS X 10.6.0 RETAIL DVD ONLY. Wait for DVD Machine to read DVD and hit F5. You may have to retry F5 a few times until the OS X Installation DVD spools up and gets read.
- Select OSX Install from the Chameleon menu once it appears.
2. Follow installation prompt:.
- Before installing, make sure to start the DISK UTILITY (from go>utilities) to create a GUID HD partition and install OS X on the new partition. IMPORTANT: In order for the automated Chameleon install to work during the post install, you must install on the FIRST partition of the FIRST drive. If you have a bunch of drives installed and don't know how to get this done, then I suggest you remove other drives during the installation and post install procedure.
- Suggestion: After partitioning, and at customize stage, de-select other language translations (other than default). This will save about 2GB disk space and make installation and every backup thereafter 2 GB faster.
Note: At installation completion, OS X may say that installation failed because it was unable to mount the disk and prompt to reboot. This is normal and OS X is installed. I suspect that this is because I never selected a boot partition, but I never bothered to prove it out.
3. To run OS X for the first time, Reinsert D620SLV1 boot CD and Reboot. Select your new installation partition from the Chameleon menu and boot.

10.6.0 Post Installation

You will want to boot from the hard drive and enable both cores. To do this, with the boot CD still in the drive after your first boot up, do the following:

1. Open the boot CD.
2. Double click on post_install.cmd.
3. Follow the simple prompts.
4. When the job completes, reboot.

If desired, download and install the 10.6.1 updates from software updates in OS X.

Notes

1. Dell D620 with GMA950 and Broadcom wireless should have hardware accelerated video, wifi, ethernet, sound, shutdown and reboot, and dual core support working after post install without modification to retail installation. However, the drivers used are only 32 bit compatible. Intel
2. 10.6.1 update presented no issues that needed to be address in my experience.
3. I haven't addressed the PCI card slot. I have it disabled (I never use it). I can add it if there's a demand and a fix I can implement in Chameleon.
4. Intel wifi cards are not supported by OS X. It's all dandy & stuff if you've got yours working, but it's still not supported and I'm not smarter than the guys trying to fix that issue. In fact, I'm barely smart enough to keep myself from drooling on my foot.


Bugs/Issues

1. If you set a system password in BIOS, your sleep may or may not work correctly. It is inconsistent at best here. There are various fixes available with all kinds of varying degrees of reported success, but I have opted not to apply any patches to the 'vanilla' installation itself for this project.
2. The kexts used for this installation are the same ones that resulted in minor video artifacts on my GMA950 machine on 10.5.x. However, I haven't seen any artifacts yet with Snow Leopard.
4. The display is never properly detected and reported, but it works @ 1440 x 900 with full hardware acceleration on my 1440x900 machines Please don't ask why you aren't getting resolutions your particular machine does not support.
5. If I plug the machine into a d/port with two monitors connected, it posts on one monitor and the OS X desktop loads on the other. Now that's almost as messed up as Barack Obama winning a Nobel Peace Prize.

Change log

Initial Snow Leopard Release

Plans

- Scripted builds for a wider selection of hardware supporting both Nvidia and Intel graphics versions of D series Latitudes. (And possibly other compatible hardware)
- Better video solutions for this craptastic GMA950 video chip.
- Scripted EFI partition support.


Feedback, please and Thanks

Thanks to the people at Voodoo Labs. Love your work, you are making things easier.

Voodoo Labs provides kexts that load without modification of the /s/l/e path, including kexts for running the vanilla SL kernel un-patched without skipping or jumping, sound, ps2 device and trackpad support and even a kext to get the battery meter working. They provide Chameleon, the boot loader, which not only allows us to boot Snow Leopard, but also auto-detects and sets up Nvidia graphics well enough to support hardware accelerated video with no additional kexts. I don't want to think of how difficult a project like this would be without their talented hard work.

And AlexD, thanks for the direction to the ethernet kext I was looking so hard for.

And thanks to everyone who has posted any attempt to provide useful information at www.insanelymac.com or even farted in my direction. You've all contributed to the chaos which is part of the cosmic soup that nurtures and feeds inspiration. And if that's not a sign that I have rambled on too long now, nothing ever will be.

- leppy


10.6.0 Boot CD for Snow Leopard Retail Install here: D620SLV1.iso

Sounds really sweet, I have also tried a long time with Dell 620. I do have a retail version but not 10.5.6 i believe (need to check). Is it a must that it is that specific version? If not, is there a work around?

It think the install should work on earlier versions, but I don't have anything earlier to test with. If not, unless I figure out the magic video pill that works across versions, I think I am stuck at starting with 10.5.6 for initial iinstallation.

Stay tuned - or pick up a copy of 10.5.6 Retail. It's pretty cheap right now.

READ THIS IF YOU USE THE BOOT-132-D620v2 CD IMAGE TO INSTALL ANYTHING EARLIER THAN 10.5.6 RETAIL:

Kernels are version specific. Not caring for this properly is how I broke so much stuff in the v1 cd. The post install uses patched kernels that allow dual core operation specific to each version. If you use the post install routine on the CD it should work with earlier version EXCEPT FOR THE KERNEL. I *think* graphics up to 10.5.6 are compatible, 10.5.7 post install must also update graphics.

If you install from Retail of anything earlier than 10.5.6 you can do one of three things:

1. Do first post install and then edit /Extra/com.apple.Boot.plist and change the kernel from /Extra/mach_kernel to just mach kernel, and -tscsync to cpus=1. Boot from CD until this is done right.

- or -

2. Use the boot CD to boot and run updates from apple to get to a version supported by this CD distro, then run the post install procedures as in the document.

- or -

3. Do first post install and then install the appropriate kernel in /Extra for your install, repair permissions. Boot from CD until this is done right.

To repair permissions, open terminal and run: sudo chown -R root:wheel /Extra




This following is from the thread http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=117558 and it where the dual core patched but otherwise vanilla kernels come from.

Thanks to cosmot1 for supplying patched dual core kernels for every version of leopard to date.

I don't understand... With one kernel my keyboard and touchpad doesn't work, so I have to use bluetooth key&mouse, with another kernel keyboard and touchpad is working and even this blue thing (forget how to call it) in middle of keyboard is working... but nvidia graphics cards isn'n recognized then. I removed all injectors with osx86tools, also gfx video strings. Then I put GraphicsEnabler=Yes inside of com.apple.boot.plist.. and nothing happens, osx don't recognize my nvidia card, resolution is 1024x768 instead of 1440x900.. (Laptop Dell D620). Ah so, one more thing - I installed my osx from 10.5.4 retail disk not 10.5.6. Maybe I have to download 10.5.6 version and then follow your guide.

Ah, well, you have Nvidia video, which my CD doesn't address yet. Actually, I did a successfull vanilla OSX install on my D630 with my CD, but graphics were not working because I wasn't set up for them. Everything worked BUT correct video. But that's a very easy fix - If you'd like I can take a stab a nvidia version of the /Extra/Extensions.mkext that should work for you. That with the GraphicsEnabler in the plist should have you pretty well sorted out. Just make sure you use the correct kernel in /Extra for the version level you are at.

If you have a USB keyboard and mouse, then they will not work with the wrong kernel version. Also, if you have not applied a patch for ibmps2 keyboard and mouse, then the onboard laptop keyboard will not work. My CD takes care of those things if the directions are followed, but NVIDIA graphics will be broken. Install from 10.5.4 OS X should be okay, just boot from CD until you can install a correct Extensions.mkext for NVIDIA (GMA & framebuffer stuff removed) and apply the correct kernel before you try to enable dual core.

Now I'm using Darwin 9.8 tcs patched kernel, size 5076772 bytes. It is the same you have in "58" folder. And both of my cores working ok.

"If you'd like I can take a stab a nvidia version of the /Extra/Extensions.mkext that should work for you. " - that would be great!

Same place, same kernel. If you are running the 10.5.8 update, then that's the right kernel for you.

I'll work on something for you - it will have to wait until next week though. Because I was working on this stuff, I've put off some things I have to get to. Basically, the mkext should be the same minus the video kexts. Those will mess you up and You shouldn't need them if you have the right key in the Boot.plist.

hey, just a quick question.. i also have a Dell Latitude D620.. but my graphics is Intel 945GM.. and my wireless is an Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG.. If i follow ur instructions will it work?... i got myself a retail version of OSX already..

Thanks

Intel wireless is not supported by OS X. If your retail version is 10.5.6, then everything else (including wired ethernet) should work just fine, but other retail versions are untested.

Supported Broadcom wifi cards can be found on Ebay for under $20.00 USD, and they'll replace your Intel card easily.

I have a pretty elementary question (but I am new here)...

Where do I find BOOT-132-D620v2.iso?

- Where do I find BOOT-132-D620v2.iso?


There's a link at the bottom of the first post.

This has been downloaded over 50 times now. No one has feedback? Is it not working for others?

Thanks - I downloaded and burned the boot CD and got OS X installer up and running but got an error message saying that this OS can't be installed on this computer. I'm using the install DVD I got with my 17" Macbook Pro (it's the 10.5.6 media). Will that DVD not work?

No, it's not the retail version. BOOT-132 requires a RETAIL DVD, not a reinstallation DVD. They are different.

Leppy - I used your disk and now have 10.5.6 running on my D620 just fine! Woot. I have an Intel 3945ABG card and read I need to replace that with a supported Broadcom wifi card. Would either of these work in a D620?

I haven't hard wired to the Internet yet, but will do so today! Thanks for the instructions! So far, so good!

Also, will this disk work with a D600? I have one of those too!

Another question - my D620 doesn't display in 1440x900 mode. It's the nVidia display card. How do I get that working?

A Dell 1390 wireless card should work fine. here's a link to an Ebay source that has a number of them: Dell 1390 - it's $14.95 with free shipping. There might be better deals - I have a Broadcom 1500 (wireless N) in my D630, that works fine too.

Dell 1390 Dell 1390 Dell 1390 Dell 1390


I've read that some people have managed to get the Intel card working to some degree (with some bugs), but I don't think it's a very good solution for OS X given the number of cheap, compatible cards there are out there. Plug in a Dell/Broadcom, and you've got an Airport.


Your D620 with Nvidia graphics needs different video drivers to get high res, hardware accelerated video. I'll post an alternate Extensions.mkext and com.apple.Boot.plist a little later tonight. The Extensions.mkext will be minus the intel Video drivers and the Boot.plist will have the argument that is supposed to work for NVIDIA graphics cards.

The good news for you is that the Nvidia graphics have better perfomance and are less problematic than the Intel on this machine. Once you have it sorted out, it should be a winner.

I have no idea how OS X would work on a D600, but I don't think I'd expect the same result with that boot CD. Very specific drivers are loaded for the D620.

Okay here's a post installer for 10.5.x that should enable to original CD to work with Nvidia.

Just download this, unarchive it and double click on the post_install.command.

Let me know if it works.

Update: D620 Nvidia replaced with Post Installer D620 D820

The NVidia fix works on my D630 with Nvidia graphics.

Hi Leppy,

First off, I wanna say thanks for all your work on getting a good BOOT123 disk working for the D620 - so that we can install from legit OS X DVD's - I'm sure there are lots of people out there (myself included) that really appreciate what you've done thus far. :-D

I would like to throw my hat into the ring on this and offer to help you get this running with the D8x0 series of machines, in addition to the D6x0 series that you're working on now. So....

I have a D820. I used the v2 .iso file to install 10.5.6, then updated to 10.5.7, and then to 10.5.8. The install went smoothly, but some things don't work on the D820 I have. Here are the specs on my machine:

1.6Ghz Core Duo (32-bit)
2GB RAM
120GB HDD
Nvidia NVS 110m Video
WSXGA+ Screen (1680x1050)
Sigmatel Audio
Bluetooth
Boradcom Wireless
Broadcom Ethernet
Firewire
USB x4
Modem
PCMCIA Slot
Express Card Slot

And here is what's working and what's not:

Both Cores of the processor work
Video acceleration does not work - Only get 1024x768 graphics, with no acceleration
Audio Works
Wireless Works
Ethernet is detected, but I have not tested it yet (will test later tonight)
Firewire is detected, but I have not tested it yet (will test later tonight)
USB works
Modem is detected but I have not tested it yet (will test later tonight)
PCMCIA Slot - cannot test yet - will get a PCMCIA card and try it out
Express Card - cannot test yet - will get an Express card and try it out


I subsequently tried the 620 Nvidia patch you posted - no dice on that - still no video acceleration.

I have gotten video acceleration to work in the past with other distributions, but I would really rather run from an install via a legit DVD (I did buy it afterall, so I wanna use it).

Ultimately, I'd like to help you create a D620 / D820 / D630 / D830 .iso that provides a seamless install that "just works", much like the Mini9 guys have. As such, I'll be glad to test out whatever you want me to, and report results.

What do you think? Can I help out? If so, I'd like to start with the video. Any ideas there?

Thanks for your time, and thanks again for all your good work on this!

Awesome! It's working well on my d620 with 945GM now. I must have spent the better part of the past 2 days trying to get this to work with other installs. Thank you!!!!!!

I have a couple questions though: does your wake from sleep work? Mine does not want to work. I'm just getting a black screen. And I'm not getting 1440 x 900, I seem to max out at 1280 x 800.

Again, thanks. I should've tried this first!

Hey Fox, I appreciate the feedback. Of course you can help. That's exactly what your feedback is doing.

I'm not sure why the Nvidia solution isn't working for you - it really should. I got the idea to use the GraphicsEnabler string in the Boot.plist from AlexD, who used that approach on his D620 with Nvidia, and it works for him. The same thing is working on my Nvidia D630.

The beauty of using Chameleon and leaving the core of your installation alone is that you can try different things and back out pretty easily.

Let's retrace - you've installed Chameleon, and updated to the version specific Kernel, and you can boot without the CD, right? AFTER that, you used the Nvidia patch, replacing the extensions.mkext and com.apple.boot.plist in your /Extra folder? That should remove the Intel Video kexts required for the Intel version D620 to function and allowing for the Boot.plist to set up Nvidia video detection properly. You remembered to run the sudo chown -R root:wheel /Extra from terminal?

If that's all been verified, then try this: back up your extra folder, then delete it, then reinstall Chameleon. This time instead of going with all the defaults, try selecting GraphicEnabler and then install. Then go back and look at the com.apple.Boot.plist file Chameleon puts in your /Extra folder and post it here. It may add another string that would enable the graphics on your 820. When all that's done, delete the new /Extra folder and restore the one you had originally from your backup. I have another idea if this doesn't work.








Nope, sleep does not work here - it's a listed bug in the docs.

If you have a D620 with Intel graphics, your graphics should be working fine if you followed the post install instructions exactly - hardware accelerated with 1440 x 900 support if that's where your display runs under Windows. Not all D620s have 1440x900 displays - many have 1280 x 800's.

Make sure you aren't running the nvidia patch - that'll screw up your Intel graphics.

Hey Leppy,

I installed the D620 nVidia drivers you posted and now my system crashes at boot with the big 'you gotta reboot your computer' error. How do I go about replacing those 2 files with the ones I backed up? Is there a way to book into OSX without loading those drivers?

Thanks

Steve

Yeah, you can boot into OS X with the CD. Boot from the CD and then pick 80 (or your HD number) at the prompt. That's a reliable way to get in. You could try booting in using safe mode without the cd. Boot parm -x at the Chameleon boot menu.

That Entensions.mkext should not have pooched your install if you moved the files into the /Extra folder and changed ownership properly.

Hi Leppy! :-)



That's correct - I followed that procedure to the letter, and can boot without the CD, no problem. I also verified the ownership permission bits were set properly for the /Extra folder - Everything was set to root:wheel. Still no dice after the install - no accelerated video at all.



Ok - did that. After deleting /Extra and running Chameleon, there was no mach_kernel file, so I copied the one from my backup of the original /Extra (I called it /ExtraOriginal) and put that into my shiny new /Extra directory that Chameleon created. I did make sure to select GraphicsEnabler in the Chameleon installer.

Rebooted, and still no dice - graphics are still non-accelerated, and I can't change resolutions. :-(

I then did an ls -l in the /Extra directory, and was surprised to see that the ownership was not quite right - the comm.apple.Boot.plist file had my local user owner and group, and the Extensions.mkext file and Themes directory belonged to the admin group. I did a chown -R root:wheel to /Extra, then verified the permissions were correct this time, crossed my fingers, rebooted, and....

Still no dice. Graphics are still non-accelerated. T_T;;

I have created a tarball of the /Extra directory that Chameleon created with the GraphicsEnabler option turned on (I called it Extra-GraphicsEnabler.tgz). I will attach the file here. The mach_kernel file is not included, as it is was not created by Chameleon.

You mentioned you have other ideas on how to make it go? I'm all ears! :-D



My two yen on this. I have gotten sleep to work on my D820 before, but it was on one of the "other" disributions under 10.5.6. I have two hard drives in my D820 - I think what I'm going to do is install that distribution on my other hard drive and get it working with accelerated graphics and sleep, sound, ethernet, and (hopefully) PCMCIA & ExpressCard slots. Then maybe we can compare the two installs (vanilla -vs- non-vanilla) and see if we can isolate the differences that will help us.

Your thoughts on this?

-FoxND001


ATTACHMENT: /Extra from Chameleon install with GraphicsEnabler selected

hey Fox, glad you checked back in.

I just wanted to see if the Chameleon install would add an EFI string to your Boot.plist, but I see it didn't. I am looking for the easiest way to get graphics enabled without actually installing a kext to your /System/Library/Extensions folder.

I am guessing that the distro which has your vid working properly uses a modified nvidia kext or nvkush. My D630 works without those and just the GraphicEnabler string. Odd that it won't work that way on the D620. Next, I am thinking nvkush.kext. I am wondering if Chameleon can load that successfully from Extensions.mkext. Are you familiar with pcwiz's mkext tool? With that, you can customize an Extensions.mkexts to slip into the /Extra directory to play with. I'd start with the Extensions.mkext from the Nvidia archive I put up because it has the Intel Graphics stuff stripped out. If you don't want to mess with the tool, I'll get another Extensions.mkext to you.

Here's something I've been playing with: I formatted a 4gb USB flash drive (a smaller one will do) GUID. Then I installed chameleon on it, then replaced the /Extra directory with the one from the CD. I can boot from it - and quickly, so if I mess up the /Extra folder on my hard drive I can recover easily.

Maybe someone who has a D620 with Nvidia working with an EFI string only could share the string.

Sleep pretty much has to come after graphics. I've noticed in the past that until you sort out graphics, it's too early to worry about sleep. I've had sleep working on other machines only to break it again with a graphics solution.

Also, on INTEL graphics -

I am still unsuccessful getting my 620 working with the Intel Graphics correctly. I can get rid of artifacts if i give up hardware acceleration. If someone has an elegant solution to that, I'd appreciate hearing from you.

UPDATE: I obtained a D620 motherboard with NVIDIA graphics on Ebay on the cheap. I installed it in my D620, used the files from the 620 Nvidia patch I posted, and graphics work perfectly with hardware acceleration at 1440x900 resolution.

I think this proves out a viable install for the D620 with both Intel and Nvidia graphics options, and the D630 with Nvidia graphics. I haven't tried a D630 with Intel graphics and I think that video chip will be problematic. I still have artifacts with the D620 with Intel graphics, but hardware acceleration does work.

I don't know how the D820 with Nvidia differs and why it's not working. Maybe Fox has something more to report.

i have tried this with a D630 and 10.5.6 with no luck. i get through the first part of the install, but then when i reboot and try to boot using the 80 option, it just comes back to the same screen.

this is a d630 with nvidia graphics.


<edit> i got that fixed. I didnt setup the GUID partition as the installer did not prompt me. my next issue is the fact that my ethernet card is not being recognized. i ran the post 10.5.6 stuff, but have not installed 10.5.7 update yet.</edit>

any ideas?

I'll double check ethernet on my D630 later today. I am pretty sure it was working with the supplied Extensions.mkext from the 620 nvidia patch I put up. 1440x900 hardware accelerated graphics were also working. Make sure you've installed that.

On the D630, I was having trouble with shutdown/restart, but I think that could be fixed with openhaltrestart.kext

I am working on this installation with an upgrade to Snow Leopard 10.6. I will post my findings.

Current plan is to work on the installation as described for 10.5.6 which is the first Retail DVD I have. Then install 10.6 as an upgrade. (wasn't able to boot directly off the 10.6 DVD).

If that does not work, then I will attempt 10.5.6 to 10.5.7 then 10.6.

Then as a last effort, 10.5.6, 10.5.7, 10.5.8 up to 10.6.

Wish me luck and post any ideas

Hey Leppy,

did you try installing Snow leopard on your d620? I've been using Leopard on my d620 for few months now and it works like a charm. I managed to get SL running as well, but Wifi and the gma950 video card weren't working correctly. If you had more luck than I had, I'd really like to know how you were able to do so.

cheers!

Haven't tried SL yet. I am going to study other results some before I buy it.

GMA video on these seems to be an issue all the way around. Were you able to get the GMA950 working with hardware accelleration and no minor artifacts? If so - how?

Also, what wifi card do you have? The broadcom cards seems to work fine with 10.5.x, but 10.5.8 broke a lot of them. Some earlier version OS X kexts seem to fix that. You might have similar results with SL.



Good luck! What hardware are you using?

I did get video in SL but only 1024x768 no qe/ci No kext loaded

These are my specs according to osx86tools

I tried the nvidia stuff. it changed my graphics to the standard 1280x800. however, the ethernet card is still not working. if i upgrade to 10.5.8, the wireless card stops working also.



let me know what i need to do. if it is get a D620, then ill do that.

Well, I am glad your video is working at the right resolution.

Just double checked my D630, and ethernet is detected and works with the 620 Nvidia stuff, though I haven't given it a great big workout - I generally use wireless on these. At this point, I don't have any idea why your ethernet doesn't work - I think it's the same device for both the D620 and D630.

I am less than impressed with the 10.5.8 update process. There are reports all over of airport problems with real macs after the 10.5.8 update.

On my D620, 10.5.8 breaks my wireless sometimes when I upgrade, but not others. I've done it about a million times now to test this process - I think the restart processes in the 10.5.8 update are critical - they have to finish and restart for the wireless to work properly. If I get impatient and power down (thinking it's stuck) before the update finishes it's thing, it definitely will not work. Even if it does all the restarts on it's own (no intervention from me) it will fail to update the wireless properly about 30% of the time. Since the D630 doesn't shutdown/restart properly without openhaltrestart.kext, wireless doesn't work after upgrading to 10.5.8. When it doesn't work on the D620, I've been able to fix it by reverting back to a couple of kexts (APPLEAIRPORT and IO80211FAMILY) from 10.5.6 and they are included on the ISO image in the POST_INSTALL\EXTRA\58 folder. I think this should fix it on the D630 as well. You could use PCWIZ's MKEXT tool to add those kexts to your Extensions.mkext in the /Extra directory. Or you could try adding openhaltrestart to the extensions.mkext prior to the 10.5.8 update to see if that fixes the shutdown/restart issues and then try applying the 10.5.8 update to see if wireless works properly then. If shutdown/restart works during the update process, I'd say there's about a 66% chance of wireless working after 10.5.8 without reverting back to older airport kexts.

When I have some time, I'll patch my Extensions.mkext specifically for my D630 with Nvidia and post it here.

While the D620's make really nice hacks, I don't think they are perfect - Sleep doesn't work right and GMA950 graphics are buggy. The Nvidia version doesn't have the graphics issue, but sleep is still buggy. If you have a D630 with NVidia, I really don't think you'd be better off with a D620 hack.

Once again, if anyone has solutions to make this better, please post them. Outstanding issues:

* Sleep
* Intel GMA950 - Minor artifacts with hardware graphics acceleration enabled
* D/Port D/Dock compatibility with external monitors

interesting... what version did you upgrade from or were you able to do a fresh install?

What video kexts have you tried with SL? I wonder if the kexts we're using with Leo will work?

I followed a guide on ihackint0sh.com called "How to Install Snow Leopard (10A432) on PC Hackintosh" (can't post a link following forum rules... but it's on the main page for those interested). I used all the kext mentioned in this guide and the ps2 kexts from a post called "Dell D630 kext pack" over at infinitemac. That's it.

I tried inserting EFi String in com.apple.Boot.plist but then I get a Kernel panic. Tried using 10.5.7 gma950 kexts but also kernel panic... Not sure how to figure this out in a systematical way. So maybe someone else does...

I'd probably put chameleon on a GUID formatted flash drive and play with the /Extra folder on that. If you break it, you could still boot from the HD and get back to where you were. Have you tried not using any kexts for vid and using only EFI strings? I was able to get full res working that way once, but I didn't have hardware acceleration.

i got the ethernet working using the attached kext. im running 10.5.7. i havent upgraded to 10.5.8 yet, but i will post results when i do.

I got the boot CD to work, however, on the OSX DVD, I keep getting the following error:

EBIOS read error: Error 0xbb
Block 0 Sectors 64

Any idea as to what is going on? I have the retail installation DVD.

Problem was a faulty DVD drive. On with the installation...

Glad you got your ethernet sorted out, Jay. I am not sure why you needed a different kext, but I guess it's possible that these machines vary slightly.



Glad you figured it out. How'd things go with a different drive?

Everything worked out great. I haven't tried updating to 10.5.8 yet. I ran the commands; seems like this is to prepare for us to download the updates?

On another note, I've been trying to get the 2-finger scrolling to work properly. It seems like the Alps Touchpad driver is not installed. I've been trying to figure out how to get this to work with the Voodoo app but no success so far. Any ideas as to how we can get this to work?

I have now tried 2 scenarios. I have tried to install 10.5.6 and go straight to SL 10.6 and after the installation of SL it rebooted and came back to 10.5.6 like nothing happened. I also tried to go from 10.5.6 to 5.7 to 5.8 then to 10.6 SL and the same reaction. I tried booting the 132 CD with the 10.6 DVD and no luck.

Looks like it's stuck for some reason.

Has any one else seen this behavior?

I haven't played with 2 finger scrolling yet, but it's on my to-do list. I used the Voodoo kext to enable mouse & keyboard - supposedly it can be set up to support 2 finger scrolling (an additional kext)?

The post install updates on the boot cd just make sure you're set up with the correct kernel to support dual core for the version you are updating to - it doesn't do the update. It also makes sure that compatible video kexts are in place for Intel video. If the wrong kernel is used, it will likely break things like USB support.



I'm still waiting for my Snow Leopard update DVD to arrive. I don't know if it will work at all or if I'll need to buy the retail DVD (only found in the new box set). I am curious to see how this works out myself, as I'd rather not buy a new box set after just buying one within the past couple of months.

One thing for sure - if you are going to run Snow Leopard, com.apple.Boot.plist will have to be edited in /Extra unless you've located a patched kernel for dual core support. Until one is available, you'll probably need the cpus=1 kernel param and remove the kernel spec and -tsync param.

So. Good news - I have my Nvidia videocard now fully working! I installed your d620 nvidia fix and now I have 1440*900 resulotion. That's cool. BUT! Now my broadcom wifi card isn't working! And it worked before installing Nvidia fix you posted. When I run lspci command in terminal, I can see my wifi card - Broadcom BCM4312 802.11a/b/g. But Airport tool says, that "there's no airport card".

try a reboot with -F param at the Chameleon screen. let me know how it goes - the nvidia fix should not impact airport. I know the 10.5.8 update can.

This is something unbelievable.. I noticied that my touchpad and that blue thing in middle of my keyboard don't work either. Buy keyboard is working, usb mouse too.

I tried to restore com.apple.Boot.plist and Extensions.mkext that was in Extra folder before installing Nvidia fix. Impossible - video works fine without that enabling string in /Extra/com.apple.Boot.plist, but airport and touchpad is dead. Hmmmm.

Maybe it's somehow related with fact that yesterday I tried to install chameleon RC3? But today I installed RC2 back...

Couple of issues I've found so far:
-Once the display goes to sleep, can't "wake" it (this is not the SLEEP function itself, but the screen saver power setting)
-Can't "wake" from screen saver
-Touchpad and pointstick are both working; however, they are both not showing up as an Alps touchpad (I'm sure this is a big reason as to why the two-finger scrolling isn't working properly)

The display turning off could be a big issue since it kills battery life if you are away from your laptop for a bit.

Is there a way we can scroll with the touchpad at all (like windows; on the side)?

First off, fantastic work and guide. I was able to get everything working on the laptop. I am trying to tether my iphone to the laptop and it never sees it as a new ethernet/modem. The iphone is setup using the At&t settings and official tethering toggle. I was able to get tethering working on an iPC distro on anther laptop (that laptop had an unresolved video incompatibility).

My D620 is the same setup as the guide uses and I have updated to 10.5.7. I have also tried 10.5.8 with no luck. Anyone seen this or have info.


Thanks for any info you can provide.