new install: can't even get to the installer

[Goldy11]

This is my first attempt at OSx86 so please be kind I have a custom desktop PC, but I hate Windows and since purchasing my early 2008 Macbook Pro last year I have gone strictly OSX. I'm unable to get a Mac Pro at the moment and I have this $3,000+ system as a friggen paperweight so I want to put OSX on it. Here are the specs:

 

MB: XFX 790i ultra with NVIDIA nForce4 NB chipset

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 Yorkfield 2.5GHz

RAM: Patriot Viper 2x2GB DDR3 1333MHz

Vid: XFX GeForce 9800 GTX 512MB

HDD: WD 150GB 10kRPM Raptor SATA (also have another IDE that has a stable Vista x64 install on it that I would prefer not to touch until I get this working)

DVD: choice of either ASUS SATA DVD-ROM or LG Super-Multi IDE

 

What I've done so far:

 

-Kalyway 10.5.2 and couldn't get to installer..kept getting "Still waiting for root device" even using every combination of kernel switches I could find. I get a Firewire error then get "still waiting for root device" - burned @ 2x

 

-iPC 10.5.6 and couldn't get to installer..kept getting "display: family specific matching fails" using every switch. This gets further than Kalyway (as far as I can tell) and loads NVDANV50Hal.kext but gives me the display error shortly afterward - burned @ 2x

 

-downloaded iDeneb v1.3 10.5.5 and made 2 coasters getting the DVD to burn at 2x in Disk Utility on my MBP

 

-went the Boot-132 route and used the 'modified kexts' in this thread along with a Retail 10.5 disc, and also a Retail 10.5 Server disc. got "waiting for root device" in both instances with every switch

 

Question:

 

I don't have a preference as to which distribution to install at this point so if anybody has any suggestions on getting either Kalyway or iPC to install I'm all ears.

 

If not, I'll just go the Boot-132 route with, I assume, a custom initrd.img? I'd love to put 10.5 Server on it but I would obviously settle for anything at this point. This thread details how to get my exact video card working, so I downloaded the kext package and have it available.

 

But to avoid making any more coasters and just wasting more time I'd like some input from anybody that has ideas. Help

 

Thanks.

[Ianxxx]

This is my first attempt at OSx86 so please be kind I have a custom desktop PC, but I hate Windows and since purchasing my early 2008 Macbook Pro last year I have gone strictly OSX. I'm unable to get a Mac Pro at the moment and I have this $3,000+ system as a friggen paperweight so I want to put OSX on it. Here are the specs:

 

MB: XFX 790i ultra with NVIDIA nForce4 NB chipset

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 Yorkfield 2.5GHz

RAM: Patriot Viper 2x2GB DDR3 1333MHz

Vid: XFX GeForce 9800 GTX 512MB

HDD: WD 150GB 10kRPM Raptor SATA (also have another IDE that has a stable Vista x64 install on it that I would prefer not to touch until I get this working)

DVD: choice of either ASUS SATA DVD-ROM or LG Super-Multi IDE

 

What I've done so far:

 

-Kalyway 10.5.2 and couldn't get to installer..kept getting "Still waiting for root device" even using every combination of kernel switches I could find. I get a Firewire error then get "still waiting for root device" - burned @ 2x

 

-iPC 10.5.6 and couldn't get to installer..kept getting "display: family specific matching fails" using every switch. This gets further than Kalyway (as far as I can tell) and loads NVDANV50Hal.kext but gives me the display error shortly afterward - burned @ 2x

 

-downloaded iDeneb v1.3 10.5.5 and made 2 coasters getting the DVD to burn at 2x in Disk Utility on my MBP

 

-went the Boot-132 route and used the 'modified kexts' in this thread along with a Retail 10.5 disc, and also a Retail 10.5 Server disc. got "waiting for root device" in both instances with every switch

 

Question:

 

I don't have a preference as to which distribution to install at this point so if anybody has any suggestions on getting either Kalyway or iPC to install I'm all ears.

 

If not, I'll just go the Boot-132 route with, I assume, a custom initrd.img? I'd love to put 10.5 Server on it but I would obviously settle for anything at this point. This thread details how to get my exact video card working, so I downloaded the kext package and have it available.

 

But to avoid making any more coasters and just wasting more time I'd like some input from anybody that has ideas. Help :censored2:

 

Thanks.

 

I'd start by taking out a stick of memory until you get things working so you have under 3gig

[Goldy11]

lol I'm an idiot..that didn't even cross my mind.

 

I tried the iPC distro with only 1 stick of RAM, the SATA HDD as the only HDD connected and the IDE CD/DVD drive set as master with jumpers but still got the "display: family specific matching fails" followed by the "waiting for root device" errors.

 

I then stuck the Kalyway 10.5.2 distro in and it goes to the installer after ~2 mins without a hitch. I opted to NOT install the additional fonts nor Language Translations, and NO graphics drivers, but left all of the other defaults alone.

 

Installing now..I will update with (hopefully) progress.

[ForestGuardian]

Taking out extra RAM is a precautionary step, but shouldn't really be necessary. You'd never even get as far as "waiting for root device" if it was bugging out your system. You may eventually need to use the maxmem=3072 (or something like that) string in your bootplist though, if you have kernel panics while burning dvds, or running other intensive applications and tasks.

 

For now, you need to eliminate the cause of the "waiting for root device".

• from my experience, this is caused by the SATA controller (or lack thereof) not being able to find an active partition due to incompatible motherboard / chipset kext combinations, NOT kernel choice -- a bad kernel will simply panic and throw a multilingual tantrum at you

• enable AHCI mode for your SATA controller in BIOS

• "waiting for root device" during a DVD boot means you can't boot that particular build off your IDE optical drive. SATA-DVD is always recommended when working with OSx86. As well, try applying the 5 PPF patches now available for the iPC ISO.

• for your motherboard, install an nForceATA controller, and no other. If there's more than 1 type, you'll have to test which one works. If the first fails, you'll have to wipe the installation and start over, or the other kext might still be there to cause problems on the next restart (unless you're able to boot the retail DVD, where a fresh install actually works without having to erase the partition.)

 

Graphic issues

• the nVidia 9800 is fairly new, and I don't expect a lot of support for it yet among custom kext packs. If there is one in iPC, then choose it, but nothing else, not even NATIT, unless specifically recommended for that ISO.

• if you get a black screen on startup, but it doesn't seem to have frozen, then you'll need to completely disable any graphic driver in the installer. I'm sure there are kexts floating around for the 9800 if it's not on the custom DVD images. You can install them after a successful startup.

 

 

Good Luck!

[Goldy11]

OK install went smoothly. Yay!

 

But upon first boot when I get to the "identifying keyboard" screen I press the Start-menu key on my keyboard (when I plugged this keyboard into my MBP it didn't recognize it but it uses the Start-menu key as the 'Command' key), but it seemingly just hangs.

 

It has been "identifying your keyboard" for like 20 minutes..

 

I have a Logitech S510 USB mouse/keyboard combo..any thoughts?

[Goldy11]

Couldn't find anything about the S510 anywhere, and didn't have a different keyboard on hand, so I went and picked up a wired Apple keyboard and mouse and install/setup is done.

 

The basics seem to be there. The default audio seems to be working, though I haven't really tested it much.

 

It seems as though ActivityMonitor.app is recognizing all four cores of my CPU..weird because I thought Kalyway had the cpus=1 switch? Or is that just for the installation?

 

LAN and graphics are obviously not working yet, and I haven't tested sleep or anything else.

 

Haven't put the other RAM stick back in yet and probably won't until everything is up and running smoothly.

 

Unfortunately, I can't seem to mount a USB flash drive. System Profiler sees it connected, but I'm unable to mount it (maybe I'm just a noob and just need to run a command somewhere?). This is how I was planning on installing all of my kexts etc

[Ianxxx]

Couldn't find anything about the S510 anywhere, and didn't have a different keyboard on hand, so I went and picked up a wired Apple keyboard and mouse and install/setup is done.

 

The basics seem to be there. The default audio seems to be working, though I haven't really tested it much.

 

It seems as though ActivityMonitor.app is recognizing all four cores of my CPU..weird because I thought Kalyway had the cpus=1 switch? Or is that just for the installation?

 

LAN and graphics are obviously not working yet, and I haven't tested sleep or anything else.

 

Haven't put the other RAM stick back in yet and probably won't until everything is up and running smoothly.

 

Unfortunately, I can't seem to mount a USB flash drive. System Profiler sees it connected, but I'm unable to mount it (maybe I'm just a noob and just need to run a command somewhere?). This is how I was planning on installing all of my kexts etc

 

 

Before you try re-installing ram, go over to http://www.infinitemac.com/ and ask someone for a copy of the newest nvidia sata kext file the one you have uses 32 bit addressing which is why it won't work with more than 3 gig of memory.

 

As for your usb problem there are a few possibilities. The first is to check that your system.kext matches your kernel

 

open terminal and type uname -r

this is kernel version

then open system profiler on the right window choose software/Extensions find system.kext and compare version number to kernel

[Goldy11]

Thanks for the RAM tip..I'll tackle that later on.

 

As for the USB--I'm running kernel 9.2.0 and system6.0 in Software/Extensions of SystemProfiler gives me a version of 7.9.9. Does that mean I need to install with a different kernel?

 

Also, any ideas on where I can find the proper LAN kext? If I have to reinstall with a different kernel, maybe I should install networking drivers then, as I didn't the first time?

 

Thanks for the help.

[westwaerts]

you have an nforce based chipset, that is said to interfer with the nvidia kexts

 

apple doesnt use nforce chipsets, so the nvidia.kexts are pci matching very wide and vage

edit the nvidia kexts with proper vendor and ID ( delete the &0000fff endings)

( copy them out of your extension folder, edit them with plist editor pro and reinstall with kexthelper)

 

and set you grafic card up with efistring method ( efistudio is the right app for that)

write it down to your com.apple.boot.plist

[Goldy11]

I used nForceLAN.kext and that worked great, but no dice using GFX Strings yet.

 

I just tried updating from 10.5.2 to 10.5.6 and apparently have hosed everything The update froze at the "Restart your computer now" etc screen, and now I can't log back in.

 

I'm searching for solutions now.

 

Thanks to all for your little nudges in the right direction!

[ForestGuardian]

I used nForceLAN.kext and that worked great, but no dice using GFX Strings yet.

 

I just tried updating from 10.5.2 to 10.5.6 and apparently have hosed everything The update froze at the "Restart your computer now" etc screen, and now I can't log back in.

 

I'm searching for solutions now.

 

Thanks to all for your little nudges in the right direction!

 

Oy! >_<

 

You'll have to wipe that partition and reinstall anew. In general, stay away from Software Update if there is a new version of the OS listed, which means there is a new kernel and/or extensions (eg. going from 10.5.2 to .3/4/etc.). Use the online update only if you already know it works.

 

On the other hand, Quicktime, iTunes, Java, iLife, etc. are usually online-update-friendly and can be selected without worry.

 

Your hardware is new enough to work very well with a retail version, but not so new that you'd be missing a lot of driver support. I recommend purchasing a copy

 

 

Before anything else though, repartition your hd if you can, and create a small segment (14-20GB is a lot) for utility purposes. Install the most recent working configuration of Leopard you've had so far, and don't touch it from there on. (You'll use it to boot up whenever your main installation breaks for any reason.) Then...

 

Follow this installation method (my favorite thus far):

Leopard (Retail) DVD Perfect Guide 10.5.6 Chameleon EFI• ➽ Dec 22 Kexts Pack for 10.5.6

 

OR this one:

Retail DVD Guide, 10.5.6, PC-EFIv9 installer, EFI studio, Vanilla or Voodoo, GA-P35-DS3P (L,R), DS4, or OS X Compatible board

 

Yes, it says retail in both links, but you can use any other ISO in its place and still use the Apple ComboUpdate (download it from www.apple.com, not Software Update). Afterward, use the updated kext packs to ensure compatibility.

 

In addition, however, you'll need to use Pacifist (available in these forums, at www.macupdate.com, or via Google search) to extract and install the nForce chipset kexts, and any others you need, from the public release ISO of your choice. This is done at the end of the installation, along with the other patches.

 

Remember to type -f at the boot prompt whenever restarting on your main partition after any major update.

 

Good luck, have fun!

[Goldy11]

Thanks for the suggestions..I'll certainly check them out.

 

When updating, I have been using the combo update packages. I have tried updating straight to 10.5.6 three times now (using different methods to delete the AppleIntelCPUPM.kext file) to no avail..they always lock up at ~38% with the "restart your computer blah blah" screen.

 

I have downloaded Mysticus*C's nForce Combo update packages and also Combo Update 10.5.3..so if nothing goes well I suppose I have those to fall back on.

 

I have a Retail DVD so if need be I can go that route (hopefully). I was reinstalling for the 3rd-ish time last night and gave the 9.2.2 vanilla kernel a shot, and that didn't go so well..KPs, endless reboot loops, etc., so I'm not sure if my hardware will like a vanilla kernel. I'll have to try your suggestion with the Voodoo kernel.

 

I have reinstalled four times now (not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing ) but I seem to have found at least one configuration that my hardware likes. Before packing things up for the night, I installed and didn't make any changes..maybe I'll make that my boot partition and play around on another partition on the rest of the drive.

 

I won't be able to do much work on it today, but I will update as soon as I can. Thanks!

[530sCheapMac]

if you do not have it workng, use iATKOS. so much better tahn anything else you will see.

 

also, this is a request to other members: please do not quote almost a full page of text in your post, just post and it will be assumed that you are posting directly to the question. Just quote if you want to answer subquestions or questions by other users. thanks