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PCWiz OS X Kernel Installer


~pcwiz
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UPDATE This is the latest version 1.1 of this program. If you downloaded before March 12 2008 please download again as this new version has major improvements

kernelinstaller.jpg

 

I have created a kernel installer application that will automatically install Mac OS X kernels for you. Just run the Kernel Installer application program included in the zip file (download below) and it will guide you through a user friendly, interactive wizard to back up your existing kernel and to install a new one.

 

CHANGELOG (v1.0 to 1.1)

  • The kernel can be selected from anywhere rather than just the desktop
  • You can specify the name of the file that you want mach_kernel to be backed up to
  • You can install to a different target drive than the drive you are running it from

The NEW 113KB zip file is attached. Also included is a ReadMe file for more information..

 

I hope this helps! ;)

 

P.S. Just in case you were wondering, I have tested this and it works :o

pcwizkernelinstall.zip

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netkas kernel

 

I guess I should update my sig :rolleyes:

 

P.S. Does anyone know how I would go about creating a GUI front end for this and make it a .app instead of a script? It would be nicer, I don't want to spend too much effort on it, but if anyone knows an easy way :rolleyes:

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Well it's a bit more complicated, you'd have to either run the shell script as an NSTask, or use AppleScript Studio and 'do shell script().' The latter would be easier, but the former is the best method. Even better if you used NSFileManager.

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I just created a GUI version of this app using Platypus and CocoaDialog. I'll post pics soon :angel:

 

EDIT: Heres a screen:

 

kinstaller1.jpg

 

Like it? It took a while to learn the CocoaDialog syntax and all but its fully working in .APP format. I'll post it up tomorrow :angel:

 

EDIT2: I couldn't wait and I posted it up today :P

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The only thing I can think of that would make this perfect is the ability to drag and drop a kernel from anywhere and install it...The only way to do that would be to implement drag and drop in some form

 

Headrush69,

 

I thought of AppleScript too, but wouldn't that mean that I would have to recode the entire thing in a different language? AppleScript isn't the same as bash is it? Or could I insert my bash code into AppleScript raw?

 

EDIT: Since I have nothing better to do, I will tell you how I did this:

 

First of all, as you know, the original version (released today evening) was just a bash script to run in Terminal. What I wanted to do was make it user friendly, so I researched a long time and tried to find a way where I could just convert the bash script into a GUI app. I finally came across the solution with an open source app called Platypus. What Platypus does is it puts a GUI wrapper around shell scripts, apple scripts, and some others. So I imported my script and changed the interpreter from "sh" to "bash". Then I set the output mode to text window, made admin priveleges required, and I set it not to shut down once finished running. Then I created my app. It ran the backup, but then it came to the part where you had to type "y" or "n" to confirm kernel installation. This is where I came across my first problem. Platypus apps don't let you import text.

 

Then I came across the solution for that problem in the form of a little app called CocoaDialog. What it does is it lets you put in dialog boxes, so I planned to switch the text prompts to clickable dialog boxes. Then I found instructions on how to integrate PlatyPus and CocoaDialog together. Then I was all set.

 

After a few long hours of reading CocoaDialog documentation and about 20 copies of the app later, I got one that actually worked. Then I refined it more and voila, the GUI edtion was born!!

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Thanks Deviant0ne!

 

EDIT: Lol I just noticed something. The app is "Universal" so it works with PPC and Intel. Genius! Platypus is a wonderful app I must say, maybe not by itself, but with the addition of things like CocoaDialog, it ROCKS :P

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Headrush69,

 

I thought of AppleScript too, but wouldn't that mean that I would have to recode the entire thing in a different language? AppleScript isn't the same as bash is it? Or could I insert my bash code into AppleScript raw?

Depends. Since this is such an easy scrpt you could re-write it in Applescript. Applescript is really simple and learning it would prove useful for other things too.

You could also just have the Applescript execute the BASH script passing the "dropped" file.

 

All these procedural computer languages aren't terribly different once you know one. Sure their syntaxes might have differences but it shouldn't a problem.

 

EDIT: Since I have nothing better to do, I will tell you how I did this:

You need a girlfriend! :(

 

P.S. I emailed you an Applescript Primer ebook for future reference if you want to take a look. :censored2:

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PcWizzzzzzz....

Don't you wanna make us a kext installer that you can set the "target" drive, ie, if I want to add kexts on my 10.4.11 drive while I'm in 10.5.2!

Kext helper B7 ONLY does install on the active drive and that is a real PAIN!

 

Also if your kernel installer can do the same as MOST of the problems is getting a kernel onto a problematic HDD which most of the time is not the one, one is currently working from!?

 

SticMAN

 

Colonel,

with the utmost respect, sometimes it is JUST the convenience of NOT having to go through the whole chmod,chown thing!

 

SticMAN

 

I know copying mach_kernel to your HDD is a seriously difficult task that needs a custom application to accomplish... :(
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I believe I know how to make a version where you can SELECT the mach_kernel file you wish to install instead of just installing it from the desktop.

 

The only problem is that I want to make it so that you can ONLY install mach_kernel files and nothing else. The only way to to this would be to limit extensions, but the problem is that mach_kernel has no extension!

 

Does anyone know what the file extension for mach_kernel is?

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Never mind above, in the end I had to remove the extension limitations.

 

I have suceeded in creating a version where you can select the file you want to install, however. Does anyone want to beta test the new version for me?

 

EDIT: Well actually I think I messed the new version up a bit. Let me just recode it from scratch, its pretty messy. But that won't take too long, I know how to do it :censored2:

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Sorry for triple post everyone, but I am making a new version tomorrow of this that adds 2 features:

 

* The ability to choose the kernel from anywhere on your system instead of it just being on the desktop

* The ability for you to name the backed up kernel yourself, instead of it being mach_kernel.backup by default

 

Enjoy ;)

 

EDIT: Okay, progress check. I've done the part where you can select the kernel yourself using a file browser and that part works fine. The part where it lets you specify a name for the backed up kernel is proving to be challenging. The code for the inputbox is written in Perl so I'll have to translate it into bash...Hopefully I can do it :)

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Hey guys. I'm new to OSX86, though am a fairly advanced computer user and I was just wondering if someone could answer a quick query for me?

 

I've got Uphuck 10.4.9 on my AMD system but I wanted to run iWork and iLife '08 and I need 10.4.10 for it. I got Zephyroth 10.5.2 working but it was painfully slow for some reason so rolled back intending to update to 10.4.10 or 10.4.11. Trouble is that after running the PascalW Delta, my system just crashes.

 

I was thinking of using this to install PascalW's manual update Kernel but wasn't sure if this would work or not (would I need other Kext's etc).

 

Final thought: The install guide I used went in to detail on how to restore things through the terminal if it went wrong by rolling back to previous Kext's but when I booted with –v, it didn't appear to be a Kext causing the problems

 

Any advice would be massively appreciated!

 

AMD Athlon X2 x64 4200+ (SSE3)

Foxconn NF4 Motherboard

1.5gb RAM

ATA Hard Disc

 

Update:

Just used it to install new Kernel (working) but still reporting as 10.4.9 - what else do I do to get to 10.4.10?!

Should I just use the JSN1 System Version Changer to trick it?

 

Thanks

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