Installing Snow Leopard 10.6.4 Using iATKOS S3 Version 2 Snow Leopard 10.6.3 Install DVD on a GPT SATA HDD on an Asus P5N32-E SLI Plus MOBO

[verdant]

All done on an internal SATA Hard Drive......using a USB keyboard and mouse (NOT PS/2), Asus P5N32-E SLI Plus motherboard, Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 G0 CPU running at 3.0GHz, PATA DVDRW, Gigabyte nVidia GeForce 8600GT 256MB graphics card, Netgear GA311 Gigabit LAN PCI card (RealTek 8169S chipset) and Asus SupremeFX audio card (AD1988b audio codec).

 

NO WARRANTY IS IMPLIED OR GIVEN AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THESE STEPS WILL WORK FOR YOU AS THEY HAVE FOR ME.

 

THIS GUIDE IS ONLY for INTEL CPUs NOT AMD CPU SYSTEMS AND THE SYSTEM INSTALL SELECTIONS USED IN THE GUIDE ARE FOR AN nFORCE CHIPSET MOBO. CERTAIN SELECTIONS WILL NEED TO BE DIFFERENT FOR AN INTEL CHIPSET MOBO.

 

I have used the iATKOS S3 Version 2 Snow Leopard 10.6.3 Install DVD

 

NOTE: md5 of iATKOS_S3_version2.iso is 55d3aaae14435065b53acb61e3bccae2

According to the very useful iATKOS S3 Readme, with this iATKOS S3 release (designed for Non-Apple x86 Intel CPU computers), you can choose MBR (Master Boot Record) or GPT (Guid Partition Table) via partitioning options, and says that it boots into 64bit mode by default, but that if you select the 32bit package or any of the 32bit-only driver(s) then the system will boot the kernel in 32bit by default. However, it is not clear if this is referring only to the OS X system it installs, since the Install DVD itself boots into 32bit mode according to the com.apple.Boot.plist in /Extra on the DVD:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">'>http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">

<plist version="1.0">

<dict>

<key>Kernel</key>

<string>mach_kernel</string>

<key>Kernel Flags</key>

<string>arch=i386</string>

</dict>

</plist>

 

NOTE that like ALL single-layer DVD distros, this Install DVD is a "stripped-down" version of the Retail OS X Install DVD containing NO Printer Drivers........

 

INSTALLATION PROCEDURE

 

1. Boot from the iATKOS S3 Version 2 Snow Leopard 10.6.3 Install DVD

 

 

2. When the Chameleon bootloader appears, and when you see the option to do so, press F8 to go to the Chameleon Boot Icon menu, then type:

 

-v cpus=1 maxmem=2048

 

but only use maxmem=2048 if you have > 2GB RAM installed on your MOBO.

 

 

If you have any problems, try

 

-v -x cpus=1 maxmem=2048

 

but only use maxmem=2048 if you have > 2GB RAM installed on your MOBO.

 

 

In any event, you will see what you have typed to the right of the boot: prompt in the bottom left corner of the screen.

 

 

3. Now with the iATKOS S3 version 2 boot icon framed, press Enter to start the OS X Installer

 

 

4. Use Disk Utility to set up at least 2 OS X volumes of equal size (minimum 80GB, partitioned/formatted as GPT/Mac OS Extended (Journaled); one as OSX_Main and the other as OSX_Backup

 

 

5. Select OSX_Main as your target install volume in the Select a Destination popup-window

 

 

6. Click on Customize button in the Install Summary popup-window, and select as follows:

 

In the Installer Customise menu, select the options shown in RED here:

> iATKOS S3 Main System [Pre-selected Default]

 

> Bootloader

 

>> AsereBLN v1.19 [Default]

>> PC_EFI v10.6

 

>> Slice

 

>> AnVAL Loader

 

>> Chameleon v2 RC5

 

>> Chameleon v2 RC4

 

> Bootloader Options

 

>> 32-bit boot

 

>> Graphics Enabler

 

"You can choose to use Graphics_Enabler (BUT ONLY if you have a nVidia graphics card.......)"

 

>> -pci1

 

"If you normally have problems using Graphics Enabler, you may need to select this option too"

>> Ethernet

 

>> USB (USBBusFix; EHCIacquire; UHCIreset)

 

>> Quiet Boot

 

>> Legacy Logo

 

>> UUID [selecting this breaks HDD multiboot options]

 

> Patches

 

>> /Extra directory [Default]

>> fakesmc [Default] V2.5 [MUST BE SELECTED]

 

>> Disabler [Default]

 

>> RTC (RTC [Default]; RTC(32bit)) [RTC(Default) is a 64bit kext]

 

>> Modified Kernels (qoopz 10.3.0; qoopz 10.2.0; PCJ kernel; Atom Kernel)

>> EVO Reboot [Default]

 

>> Sleep Enabler

 

>> USB

 

>> UUID

 

> Drivers

 

>> Main Hardware

 

>>> SATA/IDE (AHCI SATA; Intel SATA/IDE; JMicron SATA/IDE; VIA SATA/IDE (support for VIA, SiS, SI, ULI, Marvell and some nForce chipsets); nForce SATA/IDE)

 

>>> Sound (Voodoo HDA [Default]; Apple HDA 10.6.2 [Default])

Initially choose both Voodoo HDA and Apple HDA 10.6.2 options, ESPECIALLY if you are not sure which available option(s) for your audio chipset/codec to choose,........this should give you sound during the initial setting up via the OS X Welcome screen.........

 

If you are using a Legacy Audio kext with a patched DSDT.aml file in / or in /Extra, you can delete VoodooHDA.kext from /System/Library/Extensions/, and MUST also rename the AppleHDA.kext in /S/L/E/ as follows:

 

sudo mv /System/Library/Extensions/AppleHDA.kext sudo mv /System/Library/Extensions/AppleHDA.kext.orig

 

leaving the AppleHDA1062.kext untouched, or if the version 0.2.61 VoodooHDA.kext works best for your chipset/codec (check entry in About This Mac > System Profiler > Audio (Built In), then delete the AppleHDA1062.kext instead......"

"If you have a AD19988b audio chipset/codec, then you will need to follow the audio fixing procedure using a Legacy Audio kext with a patched DSDT.aml file as described in post #2 here......."

 

>>> PS/2 (Apple PS/2; Voodoo PS/2)

 

"One of the PS2 options is needed ONLY if you are using a PS/2 keyboard and/or PS/2 mouse......"

 

>>> CPU Power Management (Voodoo P-State; Voodoo Power; EvO Speedstep)

 

>>> Laptop Hardware (Battery; Card Reader; TSC Sync; ACPI Thermal (32bit)

 

>>> NTFS-3G (Mac FUSE Core; NTFS-3G [automatic sub-selection])

 

>> VGA

 

>>> nVidia

 

>>>> EFI String (DVI/DVI; DVI/VGA; VGA/DVI)

 

>>>> Enablers (NVEnabler; Natit)

 

>>> ATI

 

>>>> Enablers (EVO enabler; ATY-Init (32bit)

 

>>>> ATI 48xx

 

>>>> ATI Framebuffer

 

>>> Intel

 

>>>> EFI String

 

>>>> Natit (32bit)

 

>>>> GMA 950 (GMA 950 27A2 (32bit); GMA 950 27AE (32bit))

 

>>>> GMA X3100 (Framebuffer (32bit)

 

"UNLESS you have one of the ATI or Intel graphics cards using a driver in the list of options.......

 

OR if you have a nVidia graphics card BUT have not chosen Graphics Enabler in Bootloader Options; in which case, choose an appropriate nVidia EFI String option OR Enabler option above."

NOTE: I have found that both Graphics_Enabler and NVEnabler work with my GeForce 8600GT 256MB graphics card giving CI/QE (as seen from the transparent top menu bar) but Graphics_Enabler works more cleanly during bootup, as the bootup screen shows......

>> Network

 

>>> Wireless

 

>>>> Atheros

 

>>>> Atheros Corei7 fix

 

>>>> Broadcom

 

>>>> Ralink (RT257x; RT2500 (32bit); RT2870; RT2860 (32bit); RT256x (32bit))

 

>>>> Realtek (RTL8187 (32bit); RTL8187B (32bit); RTL8187L (32bit); RTL8187SE (32bit))

 

>>>> Zydas (32bit)

 

>>> Wired

 

>>>> Realtek (RTL8168; RTL8139)

 

>>>> Marvell (Yukon 88E8001; Yukon 88E8056)

 

>>>> Atheros (Attansic L1; Attansic L1E; Attansic L2 (32bit)

 

>>>> Intel (Intel Pro V100; Intel Gigabit)

 

>>>> Broadcom (BCM440x; BCM5755M (32bit); BCM5787M (32bit))

 

>>>> nForce

>>>> Via Rhine (32bit)

 

"Choose nForce unless you know exactly which of the listed drivers your MOBO onboard LAN chipset requires........if your chipset is not listed, then choose NONE......., or if you are using a wireless network connection/device, then choose accordingly from the Wireless options above"

 

> Language Translations

 

>> Spanish

 

>> Turkish

 

>> Japanese

 

>> German

 

>> French

 

>> Italian

 

>> Korean

 

>> Russian

 

>> Brazilian Portuguese

 

>> Simplified Chinese

 

IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE:

 

A. The /Extra folder generated is hidden in the / directory, and contains:

 

AppleNForceATA.kext

Disabler.kext

ElliottForceLegacyRTC.kext

EvOReboot.kext

fakesmc.kext

 

 

B. Based on the selected Bootloader Options, the com.apple.Boot.plist file generated is:

 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">

<plist version="1.0">

<dict>

<key>Kernel</key>

<string>mach_kernel</string>

<key>Kernel Flags</key>

<string></string>

<key>Boot Graphics</key>

<string>Yes</string>

<key>Quiet Boot</key>

<string>No</string>

<key>Timeout</key>

<string>5</string>

<key>arch</key>

<string>i386</string>

<key>GraphicsEnabler</key>

<string>Yes</string>

</dict>

</plist>

 

C. The AppleNForceATA.kext now in /Extra/Extensions/, based on its size and version, appears to be the original AppleNforceATA kext version 1.0.3 by MeDevil, i.e. neither slashack's nor AnV's version 1.0.4 variant......

 

So, if you have > 3GB RAM and/or experience any kernel panics in use, then you should replace it with slashack's version, or with AnV's version 1.0.4 variant......to be found in my Snow_Leopard_Support_Files_V2.3......

 

 

D. The Sleepenabler.kext does not enable sleep on nForce MOBOs AFAIK and also prevents updating to 10.6.4.

 

 

E. The Install DVD runs NVEnabler on bootup......

 

7. Download and run the Mac OS X Update 10.6.4 Combo Package Installer.......after successful installation.......click on the Restart button.......as is usual the PC will reboot twice......

 

 

8. Once everything on OSX_Main is running Snow Leopard 10.6.4 just as you want it to, you can then use Disk Utility or Carbon Copy Cloner v3.3.2 to clone it to the OSX_Backup volume......

 

 

9. Despite a successful installation and updating to OS X 10.6.4, MY RECOMMENDATION is to do a full vanilla Snow Leopard Retail OS X Install DVD installation, with the necessary non-vanilla kexts placed, if at all possible, only in /Extra/Extensions/, using my nForce GUIDE toINSTALL Snow Leopard (10.6) on a Series 6 or 7 nForce chipset / IntelCore2 Duo or Quad or newer CPU MOBO, which explains how to do a successful installation of Snow Leopard 10.6 using either a USB flash drive installer method, or my nForceSLBoot132DVD method........