Snow Leopard Working on ASRock ConRoe945G-DVI (and others)

[webplus]

Snow Leopard Installation on ASRock ConRoe945G-DVI (and other motherboards)

 

Using the files and details below I was able to install and boot Snow Leopard and get everything working except for sleep (it tries to sleep but seems to hang - the SleepEnabler.kext hasn't worked for me, but maybe a BIOS setting or other file is needed for this).

 

As well as the ASRock board, I was also able to install Snow Leopard on an Intel motherboard (Intel D945GCPE) and others have reported being able to do the same with others boards, so if the Boot CD works for your board you should be able to set-up SL with this guide.

 

I'm using the onboard graphics (GMA950) and the kexts AppleIntelIntegratedFramebuffer.kext and ElliottAppleIntelGMA950LegacyEnabler.kext have allowed graphics with all resolutions, but I haven't had a lot of time to test this properly - all seems okay so far. Also, if you are using onboard graphics from a different motherboard or a separate graphics card, you may not need to use the 2 kexts above and will need to use the appropriate kexts and/or graphics string in your Snow Leopard/Extra/com.apple.Boot.plist to get your graphics working properly.

 

Also, remember that the kexts for GMA950 in Snow Leopard are 32-bit only, so the com.apple.Boot.plist file will boot with arch=i386 to allow 32-bit. If using a different graphics card you may be able to boot in 64-bit and can remove arch=i386

 

This is the hardware I used: ASRock ConRoe945G-DVI with onboard GMA950 (BIOS 1.90, Intel Dual Core E2180, 2GB RAM, Seagate 250GB SATA HD, Optiarc SATA DVD-RW) - I was also able to boot and install SL on an Intel D945GCPE motherboard so it should work with other boards, strange though, the Boot CD was created for a Gigabyte board (works with ASrock and Intel too) but refused to boot on my Gigabyte G31M-ES2L which I have working 100% now from another guide.

 

dsdt.aml - I tried making and using several dsdt.aml files to get graphics working but none seemed to work so I've left a dsdt.aml file in the Extra folder in case it's doing anything to help!

 

These are the steps needed:

 

1) Download the Snow Leopard Boot CD (from blackosx - make sure it's version 1.01 - included below) and burn to a CD-RW (I read that CD and DVD ReWritable discs worked better for boot discs for some reason but a CD-R may well work just as well).

 

2) Connect to the motherboard a SATA hard drive to SATA Port 1 (drive where SL will be installed) and you can have 1 or more SATA CD/DVD drives - PATA IDE drives seem to cause problems, so disconnect anything else other than above during installation.

 

3) Remember that Snow Leopard is an upgrade, so you will need to have Leopard already on the SATA HD (not sure if the SL installer detects Leopard on external drives or even the Leopard installation DVD) so bear in mind that Leopard is needed for the upgrade.

 

4) Boot the computer via the Boot CD and select the drive where the SL Installer is (either the SL Retail DVD -- you can swap the Boot CD for the SL DVD -- see blackosx posting for details) or SL that's been restored to a USB (8GB+ flash or hard) drive.

 

5) Once Snow Leopard has been installed, use the same Boot CD to boot into SL on your SATA hard drive.

 

6) When you reach the SL Desktop you will need to install the bootloader and other files:

 

- Install Chameleon 2 RC3 to your Snow Leopard hard drive.

 

- Once Chameleon 2 RC3 is installed use Terminal to remove the boot file that was installed by Chameleon (in Terminal type: cd / [Enter] {then type} sudo rm boot [Enter]) you then drag and drop the PC EFI V10.3 file named 'boot' into the root of your SL drive (use ls in Terminal to list contents of / (root)).

 

- On your SL drive, open the folder named Extra and drag and drop into it the files com.apple.Boot.plist, dsdt.aml, Extensions.mkext and Extensions folder.

 

- Open the Extensions folder because you will need to edit the file called PlaformUUID.kext so drag and drop this file onto your Desktop, then do the following to edit the file:

 

PlatformUUID.kext - Right mouse-click, select Show Package Contents. Inside Contents folder open Info.plist with TextEdit. Look for <key>PlatformUUID</key> and replace the string on the next line with the string for your own hard drive where Snow Leopard is installed (to find this string open Disk Utility, select the hard drive Snow Leopard is on and right mouse-click Information. The string is found under Universal Unique Identifier). Copy and paste this into Info.plist and Save. Close any remaining open windows from PlatformUUID.kext

 

You can now drag and drop the edited PlatformUUID.kext from your Desktop into the Extensions folder. Because the file has been edited you should use MKext Tool (if you don't have this a google search will allow you to download) to make a new Extensions.mkext file (select 32-bit build) and replace with the .mkext file in Extra.

 

- Now you will need to install some kexts into System/Library/Extensions using Kext Helper b7 (google if you don't have this). Before you do this make sure you have a backup of the Extensions folder in System/Library/ - delete the file AppleIntelIntegratedFramebuffer.kext from your System/Library/Extensions then install AppleAzaliaAudio.kext, AppleIntelIntegratedFramebuffer.kext and ElliottAppleIntelGMA950LegacyEnabler.kext using Kext Helper.

 

7) You can now reboot without the Boot CD and hopefully boot into Snow Leopard with full graphics and sound output (no audio input with AppleAzaliaAudio.kext) but better than nothing if you don't have sound.

 

You can then download updates from Apple's Software Update -- 10.6.1 will update fine, not sure about future SL updates though.

 

The files needed are:

 

Snow Leopard Boot CD from blackosx [version 1.01 download link included further below] (http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=180954):

http://lb.redirectingat.com/?id=292X457&am...p%3Fmq4y4jmgmyj

 

Chameleon 2 RC3:

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=184766

 

PC EFI V10.3:

http://netkas.org/?p=224

 

SL_ASRock_ConRoe945G_DVI.zip zip file (includes contents of my Extra folder, other kexts, boot file and this guide)

 

Version 1.01 of the Boot CD from blackosx:

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=42da53e...04e75f6e8ebb871

 

More details for ASRock boards can be found at:

 

Retail 10.6 for Asrock owners

(http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=185599)

 

A big thanks to everyone for their work and the above files.

[Arsenicson]

Quick update: I was able to boot into installation with version 1.01 of the initial blackox boot CD, NOT with the later version 1.04 which caused kernel panic immediately after the original SL disc started booting.

 

Also, installing from a USB drive requires enabled support for legacy USB in BIOS.

[pilsator]

Thanks for the guide, webplus.

 

I'm afraid, Version 1.01 of the boot cd is no longer available at blackosx' thread. Could someone be so kind to upload it?

[ShelaxMac]

my system has intel d945gcnl mobo can i use external dvd-rw instead of sata dvd-rw

[webplus]

Thanks for the feedback, I've just edited the original post to include version 1.01 of the boot CD with a download link which is available at:

 

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=42da53e...04e75f6e8ebb871

 

my system has intel d945gcnl mobo can i use external dvd-rw instead of sata dvd-rw

 

It should work, I used an external USB DVD drive (the drive inside was an IDE/PATA) when I tried this on my Intel board.

[k3vin168]

first all's Thanks for your hard work and sharing with us the great stuff ... i am new here also noob

i have read over and over all the topic how to install retail dvd to pc .. But i haven't success .. got panic all the time .. i have the same motherbroad as your ... Asrock 945 DVI ..... i have also use all kids for boot123 ..but have no luck ... i have reinstall again and again .. * all the whole month* can't get work...

Don't know what to do anymore ..

 

Motherbroad : Asrock 945G DVI

Harddrive: SATA 250G

CPU: 2 duo core 2.5

 

HELP please please ...any advice i'll try ...

[pilsator]

Just found the download link to Boot Cd v. 1.01. Works for me! I could boot an install dvd restored on a USB stick after nothing but kernel panics with other boot discs. The rest should be easy.

 

k3vin168, just follow the instructions in post 1.

[pilsator]

Back again with 10.6.1!

 

I think the snow install hd doesn't have to be connected to a certain sata port. I installed the system on an esata hd.

[k3vin168]

Just found the download link to Boot Cd v. 1.01. Works for me! I could boot an install dvd restored on a USB stick after nothing but kernel panics with other boot discs. The rest should be easy.

 

k3vin168, just follow the instructions in post 1.

 

Thanks for reply for helping me .... i success install SL.... boot cd v.101 ... work 100% and follow instruction with patch folder ... everything work perfect .... Thanks again ...

P.s seem i can't update from mac .... i got error when update process ... anyway i will go for search and read more ... before asking some help .... i hope any who have Asrock can install it ....... *FOLLOW INSTRUCTION AND READ MORE KEEP READING ** IS WORK 100%*

 

k3vin

[pilsator]

I attached a working sleep enabler, another sound kext and an SMBIOS.plist.

 

Obviously the system works without this SMBIOS.plist. Yet it is usually recommended to have it in the Extra folder. If you want to use it you have to edit it with TextEdit depending on your machines hardware.

In the second line you enter the UUID of your 10.6 boot partition. Open hd utility, click on your 10.6 boot partition icon, then click on info.

If your machine runs at, lets say, 333 MHz fsb speed, you type 333 instead of 200.

If CPU speed is 2 GHz you type 2000 instead of 1800.

If RAM runs at 533 MHz you type 533 instead of 667.

 

The included SleepEnabler.kext works in Extra/Extension. Copy it to this folder and drag the folder on Kext Utility to clean up everything.

 

VoodooHDA.kext may or may not work in Extra/Extensions. I installed it with Kext Helper in System/Library/Extensions (logged in as root before), then dragged S/L/E on Kext Utility before reboot.

 

2kexts_SMBIOS.plist.zip

[ShelaxMac]

Hi Everyone.

 

I have Successfully Installed SL On My System With ATI 4650 Card.

 

My Card Detected with 256 MB Graphics Memory.

 

Any Possibilities to Take Advantage of My Full 1024 MB Graphics Memory.

 

And How to Change Default Resolution to 1280x1024x32

 

I Have Tried Kernel Flags "Graphics Mode"="1280x1024x32"

Graphics Mode String 1280x1024x32.

 

Plz Give Me Some Info How to do That?

[naglimund]

I attached a working sleep enabler, another sound kext and an SMBIOS.plist.

 

...

 

The included SleepEnabler.kext works in Extra/Extension. Copy it to this folder and drag the folder on Kext Utility to clean up everything.

 

Thanks a million, pilsator!!! I had everything working, except for proper sleep. Now Everything works just beautyfully, 32bit and 64bit!

 

--

Asrock Conroe 945-DVI, 1.86 Core2Duo, SATA 500GB, SATA 250GB, IDE DVD, 7300 GS

10.6.1 64bit, LAN incl. Bonjour, GFX, Audio, Time Machine, Sleep

[Dr. C]

Thanks everybody for the tutorial and the comments on this.

The system is running great, however, I still can`t get it to wake up after sleep. I`m running the AsRock ConRoe 1333 DVI/H, which is basically the 945-DVI. Any suggestions? I already tried pilsator`s SleepEnabler, without success.

 

Thanks

Dr. C

 

EDIT: Hm, seems like the system is not running as smoothly as I thought - I`m having troubles with shutdown, the screen goes blank almost immediately, but afterwards the computer won`t shut down. I have to hold the power button a few seconds, and, in order to start the computer again, I must switch off the Power Supply (!) first - otherwise the power button on the front is not responding at all. Anyone can help me out with this? OpenHaltRestart.kext seems to be installed:

sh-3.2# kextstat | grep Open
  16	0 0x3b9b5000 0x2000	 0x1000	 com.psystar.driver.OpenHaltRestart (1.0.3) <4 3>

 

Restart works, but after the reboot some programs are complaining about a no proper shutdown, hm.

 

Maybe this is related to the GF7600GT, as I can`t see the difference in my system in comparison to yours. I tried EFI-string and Graphics Enabler in Chameleon (which is not working right with this card), but with no success at all.

[~Neo]

Same Problem,

 

seems to be a problem with the RAM...

If you put only 1GB RAM in the computer, shutdown works!

 

cYa

[Nghia Developer]

Yeah, Restart works but Shutdown is not

 

I have a similar Mobo, which is Asus P5LD2-VM revision 1.03, chipset Intel 945G, not support Core 2 Duo CPUs

My CPU is Intel 630 3GHz 1 core HT, Intergrated Intel GMA950

I have 3GB DDR II ( 2x512MB 667 & 2x1GB 800)

 

My system is dual boot Leopard 10.5.8 and Snow Leopard 10.6.1 on a same HDD, different partitions ( PC EFI 10.3 )

 

In Snow Leopard 10.6.1, Almost everything works, sleep works, sound works with an extra Kext, Gigabit Ethernet recognized by default...excepts that DVD Player quit unexpectedly and immediately when open a DVD movie

 

In 10.5.8 it's works perfectly

 

My PC is too old ( 4 years old) , I can't believe I can install Snow Leopard with it

However, I still feel very happy after all...testing, failure and reboot hundred times

 

I'm thinking about 64 bit drivers, perhaps I can get some from Snow Leopard Server 10.6 because it built on 64 bit kernel so I will use 64 bit drivers

 

http://www.apple.com/server/macosx/

 

Any idea?

[Dr. C]

seems to be a problem with the RAM...

If you put only 1GB RAM in the computer, shutdown works!

Hm, worked without problems in 10.5.

 

But I think I have the source of my troubles located - if I remove the dsdt-File from the Extra-folder, the system shuts down and restarts just fine. But the PCI-USB-card won`t work, so this is no solution

 

I don`t know much about creating the dsdt-File, is there a tutorial or even a common solution for my shutdown-problem?

 

EDIT: Seems solved "PowerOff still waiting on AppleUSBEHCI" <-- Removed the PCI-USB-card (which worked without problems in 10.5, btw), shutdown & restart working with OpenHaltRestart.kext and sleep also with pilsator`s SleepEnabler.kext.

[Detosx]

No joy, thus far; kernel panic at boot. I tried addressing the usual suspects shown in verbose by using Netkas's PIIXATA in IOATAFamily's plugins, and Dune's patched IOATAFamily, tried compatibility mode. Bios is 1.90, everything working in Leo.

[Detosx]

I always have two Mac partitions on my tri boot GUID HD; if I mess up one, I can rescue it from the other. Leo and Snow Leo, re Chameleon, don't seem to co-exist happily no matter the Chameleon permutations. You live and learn. I did, though, get Snow Leopard working but only by putting Chameleon on the EFI partition and only by using the -X32 -V prompts at boot. After installing 10.6.1 I was back to kernel panics. Again, neither Netkas nor Dune's kexts helped. Kernel Panic with and that IOATAFamily error message. Time to hit the search engine trail, I guess! I did find someone with fully working voodooHDA sound/inputs outputs - but he wouldn't share!

[DanielMac]

Thanks for all those pointers to get Snow Leopard working on the Conroe 945G-DVI motherboard.

 

I had 10.6.1 working fine in high resolution with the inbuilt 945G card. Now the 10.6.2 update screwed up my display, and I can only see 1024x768. What do I need to do to fix it again?

 

Thanks!

 

Daniel

[Detosx]

I had everything working in 64bit with 10.6.1, including my Geforce 7300 with a string but 10.6.2 killed that, unless you reinstall the Geforce kexts and NV kexts from 10.6.0/10.6.1; it works fine with -x32 put in the boot plist. Sleep worked for me just once and then the computer wouldn't reboot, needed a hard shutdown. Sleep now only screen sleeps.

[Detosx]

Thanks for all those pointers to get Snow Leopard working on the Conroe 945G-DVI motherboard.

 

I had 10.6.1 working fine in high resolution with the inbuilt 945G card. Now the 10.6.2 update screwed up my display, and I can only see 1024x768. What do I need to do to fix it again?

 

Thanks!

 

Daniel

Hi Daniel, I'm not sure but I would think you would need to replace a couple of kexts, namely appleintelintegratedFramebuffer.kext and the GMA 950 one for the one that came with 10.6.0/10.6.1 . I don't know, though; take a look at webplus's kexts pack, reinstating those two might do it. I wonder, though, as Apple updated the intel kexts for 10.6.2. This thread seems to have died a little but I think your best bet, beyond a search engine using the terms 10.6.2 insanelymac GMA 950 , you might try messaging some of those here who were using our motherboard with just the on-board graphics chip. Best of luck.

[Detosx]

The modified Voodoohda.kext that I messaged an Italian guy about turns out to have a link to it on the thread that he started.

 

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php...190322&st=0

 

In the first post go to number 2, you can download it from there. Once you have expanded the compressed file and entered the folders, ignore all but voodoohda.kext in the folder named S/L/E - install that one; I use Kext Utility to install kexts because it sets permissions and rebuilds the mkexts - and you'll also want the VoodooHDA.prefPane which is in the folder named Voodookiller. Just double click on that prefpane file and it will install and you will see a new entry in System Preferences. There are two other files voodoohdahelper and voodoo killer but when I tried them terminal came up and said it couldn't locate them; strangely it showed my system volume misnamed. I tried to translate the Italian Read Me but Babelfish isn't the best.

 

Anyway. What works is... well, the inputs don't seem to work but the outputs and more specifically the lower centre socket gives excellent sound via headphones and that is all I needed. The sound is better than I have had from past injectors and installers from Taruga and the most recent VoodooHDA.kext which game me low volume. To get it to work go to System Preferences, click on Sound and then click not on Headphones but Unknown. In the VoodooHDA pane, which again you select from System Preferences, again select Unknown. Close System Preferences. Reboot.

[pilsator]

No luck here with the 10.6.2 combo update. How did you do it, DanielMac and Detosx?

I updated the sleepenabler.kext as recomended by netkas, ran kext utility over EFI/Extra/Extensions, then ran the 10.6.2 combo update, rebooted and got a kernel panic. The system didn't like the sleep enabler.kext, so I deleted it, performed the kext utility routine, rebooted and again got a kernel panic. Now it says: Version mis-match between Kernel and CPU PM.

I use the onboard gma950 gpu like DanielMac.

 

I'm on Chameleon 2 RC 3 without the PC EFI 10.3 boot file. Maybe I should try that.

 

Edit: installing PC EFI V10.5 didn't have much effect. I can still boot 10.6.1 while 10.6.2 kernel panics.

[Detosx]

No luck here with the 10.6.2 combo update. How did you do it, DanielMac and Detosx?

I updated the sleepenabler.kext as recomended by netkas, ran kext utility over EFI/Extra/Extensions, then ran the 10.6.2 combo update, rebooted and got a kernel panic. The system didn't like the sleep enabler.kext, so I deleted it, performed the kext utility routine, rebooted and again got a kernel panic. Now it says: Version mis-match between Kernel and CPU PM.

I use the onboard gma950 gpu like DanielMac.

 

I'm on Chameleon 2 RC 3 without the PC EFI 10.3 boot file. Maybe I should try that.

 

Edit: installing PC EFI V10.5 didn't have much effect. I can still boot 10.6.1 while 10.6.2 kernel panics.

Hi Pilsator, I sent you a message. With me kernel panics were because the new 10.6.2 kexts weren't compatible with my Gefore 7300GS under 64bit with my modified boot plist; I could only boot with the -x32 command. I replaced those kexts with my backed up Gefore/NV kexts from 10.6.0/10.6.1 and I was back up and running in 64bit. A crude hack but it will do for now. I don't know if using the GMA950 and integratedframebuffer kexts from 10.6.0/10.6.1 would help in your case. Removal, rebuilding of mkext and reinsertion and rebuilding of mkext, re Netkas's new sleepenabler kext for 10.6.2 seemed to be critical, also. I followed his 10.6.2 tutorial on his website, as I'm sure you have. As you can see from my message to you, I got there but via too convoluted a path to make it worthwhile posting, here; I got a kernel panic during the 1st boot phase after installing 10.6.2 - I want to do a clean install and detail it here in the next few weeks or so. Everything is working, though, and under 64bit, including deep sleep but no mic inputs, which is frustrating. I need to learn more about voodoohda.

[pilsator]

Hi Detosx,

 

now I see that I didn't follow Netkas' instructions exactly. ("Updated sleepEnabler for 10.6.2 – link, I binpatched the old one, so don’t ask for sources, I don’t have them, install(if you want) only AFTER updating.")

 

I updated with the new sleepenabler.kext for 10.6.2 in EFI/Extra/Extensions. Later I removed this kext but that doesn't help.

So I know now what to try next. Fortunately I have a backup.

Thanks for responding. I almost gave it up.

 

If you're looking for a cheap audio interface take a look at this one

 

http://www.thomann.de/gb/swissonic_easy_us...ac460052495fe23

 

or this one

 

http://www.thomann.de/gb/swissonic_easy_fi...ac460052495fe23

 

What I can say at the moment is that these boxes are cheap, so you don't risk much, they are built like tanks and the drivers seem to work under Leopard and Snow Leopard. I couldn't test by ear yet as I cant just plug in the cables of my headphone or speakers, I have to solder an adapter first. If you need an input for the kind of mikes musicians use - forget it. There are 2 line inputs, 2 line outputs and a headphone output with volume control.

It's a phonic firefly 202 with a different label. The driver also is for phonic devices.