Dell Precision M90 - Jas OSx86 10.5.4 Success

[madmatt]

Hello,

just wanted to let everyone who's interested know that, after a couple of days of fiddling, I have managed to successfully install Jas 10.5.4 on my Dell Precision M90

 

Options Chosen in Jas Custom install settings (unfortunately I didn't write them down so I may be missing something ...):

- Intel ICH7-9 support

- ACPI fixes (I think)

- Universal Kernel

 

Do not choose the NVIDIA drivers in the distro, otherwise after the first reboot you will be forced to boot in single user and manually remove the kext files (been there, done that )

 

Additional software I found useful to complete the install:

- OSX86 Tools

- pciutils_osx86

- Dell Laptop post Installer V1.4

 

Additional fixes used not found in Jas distrib:

-PS2Fix1054.pkg (used to enable trackpad and notebook keyboard, had to complete the installation with a USB keyboard and Mouse)

- Seatbelt.kext found here http://www.infinitemac.com/f5/updated-dmg-...versions-t1992/ (follow explanation and choose the correct file for the kernel used) in order to avoid kernel panics when opening .dmg files

 

 

M90 Specs:

 

Processor: Core2Duo @ 2Ghz

Memory: 4GB (only 3.3 GB seen, M90 limitation in all Oses)

 

 Hardware Overview:

   Model Name:    Mac Pro
   Model Identifier:    MacPro3,1
   Processor Name:    Intel Core 2 Duo
   Processor Speed:    2 GHz
   Number Of Processors:    1
   Total Number Of Cores:    2
   L2 Cache:    4 MB
   Memory:    4 GB
   Bus Speed:    667 MHz
   Boot ROM Version:    MP11.005C.B08

 

sh-3.2# uname -a
Darwin rfc-1918 9.6.0 Darwin Kernel Version 9.6.0: Mon Dec 22 15:42:46 PST 2008; root:xnu-1228.9.59.obj/RELEASE_I386 i386
sh-3.2# 
h-3.2# lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express PCI Express Root Port (rev 03)a
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 01)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 01)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 01)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 3 (rev 01)
00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 4 (rev 01)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 01)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 01)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 01)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 01)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 01)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev e1)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 01)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA IDE Controller (rev 01)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 01)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation G71 [Quadro FX 2500M] (rev a1)
03:01.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Ricoh Co Ltd R5C832 IEEE 1394 Controller
03:01.1 SD Host controller: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C822 SD/SDIO/MMC/MS/MSPro Host Adapter (rev 19)
03:01.2 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C843 MMC Host Controller (rev 01)
03:01.3 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C592 Memory Stick Bus Host Adapter (rev 0a)
03:01.4 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd xD-Picture Card Controller (rev 05)
09:00.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM5752 Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express (rev 02)
0c:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection (rev 02)

 

Peripherals:

 

Graphics Display: Nvidia Quadro FX 2500M@512MB: Working at 1920x1200, QI/CE enabled, NO NEED TO FLASH THE BIOS, using nvinject 0.2.1 found here: http://nvinject.free.fr/downloads.php

 

Graphics by NVIDIA:

 Chipset Model:    Graphics by NVIDIA
 Type:    Display
 Bus:    PCIe
 PCIe Lane Width:    x16
 VRAM (Total):    512 MB
 Vendor:    NVIDIA (0x10de)
 Device ID:    0x029a
 Revision ID:    0x00a1
 ROM Revision:    NVinject 0.2.1
 Displays:
Display Connector:
 Status:    No display connected
Display:
 Resolution:    1920 x 1200
 Depth:    32-bit Color
 Core Image:    Hardware Accelerated
 Main Display:    Yes
 Mirror:    Off
 Online:    Yes
 Quartz Extreme:    Supported
 Rotation:    Supported

 

Wired Network: Broadcom BCM5752 Gigabit working with AppleBCM5751Ethernet.kext found on this forum

Wireless Network: Intel 3945g Waiting for the release of the beta driver from the Voodoo Team

 

Audio; Sigmatel 9200 fully working with VoodooHda driver: http://code.google.com/p/voodoohda/downloads/list

 

Bluetooth: Working

 

Firewire: Recognized, not tested

 

Media Keys: Volume and mute working, play pause stop not associated with anything

 

SD Card reader: recognized in lspci, ignored otherwise

 

DVD Burner: Recognized and working:

 

PHILIPS DVD+-RW SDVD8820:

 Firmware Revision:    AD15
 Interconnect:    ATAPI
 Burn Support:    Yes (Generic Drive Support)
 Profile Path:    None
 Cache:    2048 KB
 Reads DVD:    Yes
 CD-Write:    -R, -RW
 DVD-Write:    -R, -R DL, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
 Write Strategies:    CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
 Media:    Insert media and refresh to show available burn speeds

 

Sleep Working more or less flawlessly: have to unload/reload VoodooHda to make sound work again, and if put to sleep with a usb stick inserted the system complains because it was ejected incorrectly

 

What else ... everything working smoothly, no kernel panics, no slowdowns, graphics interface is snappy, already installed a couple of additional applications and (crosses fingers) it looks like everything's working fine ....

 

Will add more info if needed, just ask

 

Madmatt/Mattia

 

 

PS:

I couldn't have done it whithout all the information found in this forum, thanks guys

 

PPS:

When it really works for a couple of months (still have to tackle the import of my 15GB mailboxes) will try to duplicate on my main machine (Dell M6400Covet) ....

[maleorderbride]

I did a retail 10.5.8 install, but am having problems with the video somehow.

 

I DLed the NVinjectGO 2.1 512MB installer, but I just get a black screen (with HDD activity) when booting up in normal mode...connecting an external display does not seem to do anything either.

 

Other stuff works fine. =/

 

Also tried the NVEnabler with manual entry of 0x029100a1 deviceID in NVDAN40HAL and NVDAResman. That also led to a black screen.

 

I am wondering if this is a sleep error of some kind instead? I thought that only plagued the GMA950. Anyone else know?

[madmatt]

I did a retail 10.5.8 install, but am having problems with the video somehow.

 

I DLed the NVinjectGO 2.1 512MB installer, but I just get a black screen (with HDD activity) when booting up in normal mode...connecting an external display does not seem to do anything either.

 

Other stuff works fine. =/

 

Also tried the NVEnabler with manual entry of 0x029100a1 deviceID in NVDAN40HAL and NVDAResman. That also led to a black screen.

 

I am wondering if this is a sleep error of some kind instead? I thought that only plagued the GMA950. Anyone else know?

 

Hi,

there's a problem with the default NVCAP string that is used in the latest NVInject and osx version > than 10.5.5 (at least, that's what I desumed with several nights of trial and error) and the Quadro FX

 

You should be able to boot in single user mode and edit the file /System/Library/Extensions/NVinject/Contents/Info.plist

 

and change the NVCAP value to:

   <key>NVCAP</key>
  <data>BAAAAAAAAwAMAAAAAAAABwAAAAA=</data>

 

That should get you to a working screen , if not, try to boot with no external monitor attached.

 

 

If you aren't able to edit a file from the command line, the procedure will be more complex, you'll have to move away from the extensions folder the NV*, GE* extensions, boot in VGA mode, edit the same file, move back the folders, fix the permissions, delete the extension cache and reboot.

 

If this last phrase sounds like greek to you, dont worry, just lurk around in the forums and you'll find plenty of posts that explain how to do it

 

If you also want to have QE/CI enabled, in the same file, you'll also have to change the value of IoProbeScore to 0, otherwise you'll get full resolution but no qe/ci

 

That said, I'm having lot of problems with QE/CI enabled almost always leading to frequent UI crashes. If you manage to get everything up and running it would be great to know how weel the setup works for you

 

 

Regards

[maleorderbride]

Changing the IoProbeScore results in my mouse/keyboard not responding on the OS itself freezing a soon as it loads the background. I can not tell which.

 

Can you upload your NVinject.kext for me? I don't see how I can be screwing up the kext editing, but maybe I am.

 

I did kind of want QE/CI so that I could watch a DVD =/

[madmatt]

Hi,

try to boot in safe mode (-x at chameleon prompt) and/or reduce the amount of video memory (Vram Total Size) in the NVinject Info.plist to 256MB

That helped me to reduce the number of crashes and to allow for the system to boot up correctly 90% of the time. Looking at a DVD for now has been a no/no for me, either the UI crashes or the whole system freezes, but since watching DVDs isn't really a priority for me I just ignored it.

 

I don't have the M90 around at the moment, if you want I can post the 256MB string later

 

 

Regards

[maleorderbride]

Hi,

try to boot in safe mode (-x at chameleon prompt) and/or reduce the amount of video memory (Vram Total Size) in the NVinject Info.plist to 256MB

That helped me to reduce the number of crashes and to allow for the system to boot up correctly 90% of the time. Looking at a DVD for now has been a no/no for me, either the UI crashes or the whole system freezes, but since watching DVDs isn't really a priority for me I just ignored it.

 

I don't have the M90 around at the moment, if you want I can post the 256MB string later

 

 

Regards

 

I would appreciate the string if you get a chance. I was already considering switching to 256MB, so I am happy to hear that you met with some success doing that.

[madmatt]

Just checked out on google, you can find the complete description here:

http://warp101.blogspot.com/2009/01/modify...for-nvkush.html

 

You sould change your Info.plist from

<key>VRAM,totalsize</key>

<data>

AAAAIA==

</data>

to

<key>VRAM,totalsize</key>

<data>

AAAAEA==

</data>

 

you can find info.plistst for different vram sizes on nvinject site:

http://nvinject.free.fr/files/VRAM,totalsize.zip

 

Have fun

[maleorderbride]

Thanks! will play with that tomorrow.