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Installing and Dual boot Lion and Windows on Dell XPS L502x
This guide is created with the attempt of assisting any newcomers wanting to install OS X 10.7 on there Dell L502X Sandy Bridge system. This guide is mostly done, I will be updating where clarification is needed
First off this guide couldn't have been possibile without the two pioneers DoiX and Wen1 in the orignal guide (Which is currently still active with discussion for help and development). All credits go to DoiX for the DSDT, SSDT creation, Package creator and help for just about perfecting this system. Now let's begin:
My System:
CPU: Intel Core i7 2630QM
GPU: Nvidia 525m
RAM: 6GB
Monitor: 1920x1080
Sound: ALC 665
WIFI: Intel Centrino Wireless-n 1030 (Replaced with DW1510. Works perfectly out of box)
What works:
Native resolution via Intel HD 300 graphics
Sound (with some EQ help from Boom program)
Proper CPU detection
Wired Network
Webcam
Native Power management
Speedstepping for Sandy Bridge Processors
Display ports (except HDMI)
What Doesn't:
Wifi (Install a DW1510 from amazon or ebay. It works out of box)
Nvidia Graphics (Due to BIOS lock which makes it impossible to power the card without a modified BIOS or injector Kext)
USB sleep on the 3.0 ports and a couple other minor glitches
Trackpad 3 and four finger gestures (Hardware limitation)
Essentials:
iAtkos L1 (Google it)
A USB drive with MBR partition table or blank DVD
Blank CD
Latest RBootLE & [url="http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/279450-why-insanelymac-does-not-support-tonymacx86/"]#####[/url] from Tonymacx86
A running MAC (if your going to try creating a bootable USB disk)
CPU busratio value. You can find yours out here. Mine is 20 so that is what I'll use throughout the guide
DoiX's Package Installer
L502x Pack files (Only use if the package installer gives you problems. This pack is basically is a back up set of files. DSDT and smbios are outdated. However, the essential kexts will be enough to get you running. You can update afterwards)
If your looking to Dual boot OSX and Windows with a data partition to keep the data synced between them:
1) Use the Windows 7 installation disk to delete any current partitions on your machine (leaving you with a blank disk) and reinstall Windows on a 40- 50GB partition depending on your needs
*If you already have Windows installed you can try to shrink your drive to size needed using the disk manager. If disk manager won't let you, then its easiest to just wipe your hard drive and start fresh. If that isn't an option, using Gparted will easily get the job done but it takes a while to move your data across the disk
**** A preemptive measure to make fixing a future bootloader issue easier is, after installing windows, reboot the install CD and delete the 100 MB System partition. Then repair Windows to reinstall the bootloader to the Windows 7 partition. What this does is put the bootloader on the Windows 7 drive to streamline the dual boot process and make repairing the bootloader in the future, easier.
2) Create an unformatted partition for your data (If the disk manager makes this partition a logical drive its ok. But the Windows and OS X drives must be primary drives). We will format them to HFS+ during the installation process
3) Create an un-formatted 55GB partition for OS X at the end of the disk so that if you end up not using it, you can easily delete this and easily regain the disk space
4) Decide what formatting you want to use for the data drive:
For Windows being primary: I'd format the data partition to NTFS and install Tuxera for OS X
For OSX being primary: I'd format the data partition to HFS+ and install Paragon ntfs+ (Macdrive is another suitable option but I've run into issues with it)
For the debate on EXFat (Supported natively on both OS's) I've found this information to help compare the different formats and see the disadvantages of EXfat
Installation Process:
1) Use an working OS X machine to restore the iAtkos DMG to the USB drive in disk utility
1a) If you find the USB method doesn't work, restore the DMG in OS X or in windows using Transmac. While this method is safer and virtually bug free, it takes significantly longer to go through the install process
2) Burn/Restore RbootLE to a CD
3) Restart your computer and boot from the USB drive (Make sure no other devices are connected, and the USB drive is connected to the USB 2.0 port which is on the right side). If you get into the iatkos boatloader, type:
-v -f GraphicsEnabler=No cpus=1 busratio=20If you get a "Missing operating system" error go to 3a
3a) If booting from USB drive doesn't work, you can try to use the RBootLE boot loader to try and boot from the USB. If that doesn't work try 3b
3b) Boot with a burn copy of iAtkos and boot the USB drive with -v -f GraphicsEnabler=No cpus=1 busratio=20
3c) If for some reason iAtkos still doesn't boot, just use the DVD to boot with mentioned flags
4) Accept the terms of use and now at the disk screen go to utilities and choose disk utility, select the partition you want to format and click the erase tab. Format the OS X partition to HFS+ journaled and name it "OS X". If your using a data partition, go ahead and format that partition to the same
5) Exit out of the Disk Utility app. Now select the appropiate partition to install and click customize. select the following options:
Install_.png 211.22KB
1587 downloads6) If you managed to get the USB drive to work, the install process should take about 10 minutes. If using a DVD, the process could take about 45 minutes to an hour
7) Go ahead and insert your RBootLE CD and reboot
8) You now have two options to get through the Lion Setup assistant process. This is tricky cause if you boot lion at this point, the intel graphics aren't fully working and the screen will be cut in half till you install the right DSDT:
8a) Boot windows and install Macdrive. From there use the L502X pack provided above to use the DSDT you need (Full HD DSDT is for a 1920x1200 screen and the HD DSDT is for the lower resolutions) and copy that respective DSDT to /OS X Partition Name/Extra Now . Now reboot using RBootLE and use the following boot arguments:
-v GraphicsEnabler=no busratio=20 cpus=1you should have Intel Graphics working with Native resolution, your usb 2.0 port recognized. Continue the install process
8b) If you don't have Windows installed, you will have to boot with RbootLE with
-v GraphicsEnabler=no busratio=20 cpus=1. The install process will be difficult but you can navigate through the set up screens if you guess the location of the button you need to press.
9) Once at the desktop you need to install kexts needed to boot OS X without the RbootLE CD:
9a) Use DoiX's package installer to install the kexts and the necessary files
9b) Use the L502X zip file, run kext Wizard to install the kexts in the "Kexts" folder
**DoiX's package is easier to use, however, if you should have an issue use the kexts from the pack.
**If you pre copied your DSDT to the OS X partition, you'll want to update it with the latest one from the package
10) What to choose in the package:
A) System Definitions: the i5 processors should choose the 8,1 system defintion, i7 processors should choose the 8,2
DSDT: If you own a 1920 x 1200 display choose the Full HD DSDT, otherwise choose the HD DSDTC) Speedstepper: Choose the AICPUPM version that corresponds to the OS your running (Should be 10.7.1 after fresh install). As for which SSDT to use, check the explanation below (There should be a succint explanation in the package itself)
*** After install you'll get errors saying the extensions were improperly installed, this is ok. Just click out of them for now-9TS-SSDT.aml.zip uses 9 turbo states like real MBP 8,2 that allows your CPU to reach its max (2.9GHz) but if you are a heavy user like myself rendering and other stuff, this version is not good if you care of your laptops life span because it automatically goes to the max. Keeping it under heavy load most of the time heats up the CPU to 80ºC with no cooler pad. (Also included in pack)
-3TS-SSDT.aml.zip uses 3 turbo states, so your CPU doesn't go to it's max TS (2.9GHz) unless there is a hard core application demanding it so the CPU heats up to only around 60-65ºC (which is better than on windows either way). The CPU will run under average conditions with a TS of 24-26 unlike the 9TS version which would go to 2.9 even from opening youtube. (Also included in pack)
11) Copy the "org.chameleon.Boot" from /extra to the desktop, edit the key that says "UseKernelCache" and change no to yes. Copy the file back to the extra folder
12) Find NullCPU Powermanagement in S/L/E/ and delete NullCPUPowerManagemnt
13) After the install run Kext Utility and after thats finished, repair permissions with disk utility
14) Reboot OS X. It should boot normally now with the CD or any arguments
15) Run Mulitbeast and select the following options:
Mutlibeast.png 133.54KB
1525 downloads16) Run Kext Utility and Disk Utility and then reboot
17) Install the 10.7.2 Combo Update but DON'T REBOOT YET
18) Open back up the package and reselect the audio kexts and select the 10.7.2 AICPUPM this time.
19) Run Kext utility and disk utility. Reboot, and now you should be updated with everything working
Optimizing:
1) Data Partition: For those using a data partition follow this guide to move your user folder over to your data partition: http://chris.pirillo...n-os-x-and-why/ reboot after
2) Audio: Search for the XPS_ALC665.kext in /System/Library/Extensions/. Right click on it, and select show contents. Click through the folders till you find a info.plist. Replace that info.plist with the one in the pack. Credits for this solution go to Whitegerry. For those who want specifics of the altered plist:
3) Mouse: Install Steermouse to customize your mouse, run Kext Utility and Disk Utility and rebootTo fix the heavy bass you need to remove the node:
Dell_XPS_ALC665.kext/Contents/info.plist
HDA Platform Resource > Layouts > PathMapRef > IntSpeaker > SignalProcessin
4) Software Updates: Use software update to update the system with any App updates (Don't update the OS)
5) iCloud: Insert your account information into iCloud settings in Preferences after the 10.7.2 update
Customization:
1) Recommended software
A) Hyperdock- Customize dock with Windows 7 previews, aero snap window
BetterTouchTool- Customize Keyboard shortcuts
touch.png 125.15KB
691 downloadsC) Google Chrome- Better browser
D) Rdio/Spotify- Streaming media
E) iLife- almost required
2) Making Windows the default boot partition:
The easiest solution is to edit the chamelon boot plist.
open a terminal and type in
diskutil list
and hit enter
This gives you the hard drive device and partition id for your win 7 partition.
Note also the "Label" name if it has one - if it doesn't, you can boot windows and use disk manager to give it a name.
open your com.apple.boot.plist (or org.chameleon.boot.plist) and add the following key
<key>Default Partition</key>
<string>hd(x,y)</string>
where x = your hard drive id and y = your win7 partition
3) To hide your data partition you need to go back into Diskutil in terminal and take the x and y values for the data partition and add this to the plist:
<key>Hide Partition</key>
<string>hd(x,y)</string>
4) Dualbooting with the Windows 7 bootloader: be warned this way is theoretical and I haven't tested it
(To use this method make sure you have the RBootLE CD handy)
When you install Lion, run the show all files program and look at the root of your OSX drive. Remove the boot file by putting it on your desktop. Reboot, and windows should auto boot know that you've taken OSX out of the picture.(This method is the only way I got windows to recognize the bootloader) run the easyBCD program and reinstall windows boot loader, and then add OSX to windows boot loader. You should then be able to boot with the RBootLE cd and put the boot file back into the root of the drive and theoretically have dual boot windows boot loader
Troubleshooting:
1) I rebooted and got a kernel panic: This is probably the most vague problem. Reasons vary from not rebuilding kext cache with next utility, to an improper kext installation. I have encountered a couple of Kernel Panics on reboot, and for some strange reason, just trying to boot again made them go away and they never returned
2) I booted and get a Kernel Panic after a minute or two of using OS X. I can't rebuild next caches or repair disk permissions: The most common problem causing this is a bad kernel cache. Reboot with "UseKernelCache=No" and rebuild caches in kext utility and repair permissions in disk utility
3) I can't repair Disk permissions: Boot the usb drive using chimera on your HD with the options
-v GraphicsEnabler=no busratio=20 cpus=1Go to disk utility, verify disk and repair permissions and reboot
4) In console you find a message spamming your log saying: "com.apple.kextd[10] Can't create kext cache under / - owner not root.": Open up terminal and type:
sudo chown root:admin /
5) The package incorrectly patched my AICPUPM: Run this code in terminal
Go to the speed stepper folder in the pack and find the Speedstepper file. Now open up another finder window and go to "/System/Library/Extensions/AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement.kext/Contents/MacOS" Now open up a terminal window and type
Sudo Drag speed stepper file in the command and then space and drag the AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement file after itExample:
sudo Users/Austin/Desktop/l502x Lion pack/Speedstepper/speed_stepper_lion_1072 /System/Library/Extensions/AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement.kext/Contents/MacOS/AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement. press enter, type your password and it should say patching complete. Now copy the 3SSDT (Look at the bottom of the thread for clarification on the differences in the SSDT's) to the root of OSX drive and rename it to SSDT.aml Lastly, go to "System/Library/Extensions" and delete nullCPUPowerManagement
6)Bootloader issues: You get a "Missing operating system" error when trying to boot Windows
To Solve this issue you need to boot into OS X and run the "show all files" app (You can find it in [url="http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/279450-why-insanelymac-does-not-support-tonymacx86/"]#####[/url] from Tonymac). After that go to the root of the OSX directory and move the file named boot to the desktop (Be warned you'll need the RBootLE disk handy once you do this). After that go into the Windows installer disk and run automatic repairs to repair the bootloader. Reboot and Windows should automatically load. If so then reboot and this time boot from the RBootLE CD and when your back in OS X replace your boot file back in the root of the drive
*For information purposes, as you should never need them, the manual commands to repair the Windows 7 bootloader are: "Bootrec /fixmbr" "Bootrec /fixboot" "Bootrec /RebuildBCD"
7) Audio issues: More than likely you improperly installed the Audio kexts. They are quarky, I always had to have the latest chimera for them to work for me. So update chimera, reinstall the 3 audio kext from the pack (IOAudio, AppleHDA, Dell_XPS) and be sure to run kext utility and then repair permissions with disk utility
