Lifehacker Guide with GA-EP45-UD3P Motherboard

[thepretender]

@AkronElliott

 

(edit) Guess I was bit distracted and took to long to respond, told ya help was a click away

 

1. Procedure to rename /extra the easy way. Drag (copy) /Extra to desktop and rename. Drag original /Extra to trash then drag (copy) /Extra from desktop to root.

 

2. rar is a compressed format you need to extract the files then in OSX install the MacBIOS Bootloader v0.3lb.pkg on the intended drive.

 

3. Download Rar expander or Winrar for mac or In window Winrar to expand your rar files.

 

From memory to burn the disk from Disk Utillity drag the iso to the lower left of Disk Utility and highlight it the click burn this will expand the files and make the disk bootable.

 

The hard drives turning orange is a known thing, and is purely cosmetic but there is a kext you can use to return them to what you are used to. Name of IOAHCIBlockStorageInjector.kext

 

Press the end key several times right after the beep and it should take you to Qflash.

What result are you having?

 

Are you by any chance using the aluminum mac keyboard? Try another one if you can.

 

The video I believe is from a couple of bios versions back and the procedure should and will be a little bit different.

[AkronElliott]

This Update has been difficult.

 

1. Could not rename Extra in Finder. Only could rename the non-booted drive.

Tried using Terminal but mv gave me permission errors.

 

2. Formatted the USB - V3 Lifehacker thumb-drive to FAT. Placed the G4-EP45-UD3P2.rar on the FAT USB Thumb drive. This will not boot.

 

3. Tried to open the G4-EP45-UD3P2.rar on the hard drive but it open VLC.

 

-----

Downloaded the Boot-CD. Burned the ISO onto a CD. Rebooted, Did not run.

Opened the ISO and installed on the hard drive.

 

So I continued with the install. Updated HardDrive2, the clone. Then Updated HardDrive1.

Rebooted, expected to flash the BIOS. Got into the System, Hard Drives are now orange.

 

Tried rebooting and can not get to the Q-Flash

---

Only got the EXTRA folder installed - could not get the BIOS flashed.

 

I got the LIFEHACKER V3 EXTRA and replaced CARTRI's

 

So I am back at V3. Will need to re-read the directions. SO many different options

-----

 

Did not look anything like the YouTube videos.

 

I was able to use UnRar to get the package to the desktop.

 

I renamed Extra, then I flashed the BIOS

 

The BIOS is done, I got lost with the print screen settings. I had more than the manual.

 

I booted up to V3, then I ran the installer. I have the Apple logo to boot in.

 

I was unable to get to the place where I should enter DSDT=cartri.

When the desktop loaded the OS complained about my network settings. Built In Network not configured

 

I can get onto the net for this posting. Not sure what I missed. This may have been turned on in the bios.

 

I do have the desktop, lost an application that blocked my internet access.

[Georgiles]

I was able to use UnRar to get the package to the desktop.

In my signature I have the Catri 0.8 MacBios in a zip filr instead of RAR, special for ppl who have rar problems

 

I renamed Extra, then I flashed the BIOS

The BIOS is done, I got lost with the print screen settings. I had more than the manual.

Yes, got a little confused too. He edited the screenshots. Not all boards are the same in Bios so I think the manual is more general there.

 

I was unable to get to the place where I should enter DSDT=cartri.

Watch in this video starting minute 3, and you will see exactly where to type DSDT=cartri

When the desktop loaded the OS complained about my network settings.

Make sure all the bios settings match the manual. forget the missing ones. You have the same board like me. 1.6. you should be fine

[kdp]

will GA-EP45-UD3L work with stella v3's install? i'm having a hard time locating the P model ..

[AkronElliott]

I was able to use UnRar to get the package to the desktop.

 

I renamed Extra, then I flashed the BIOS

 

The BIOS is done, I got lost with the print screen settings. I had more than the manual.

 

I booted up to V3, then I ran the installer. I have the Apple logo to boot in.

 

I was unable to get to the place where I should enter DSDT=cartri.

When the desktop loaded the OS complained about my network settings. Built In Network not configured

 

I can get onto the net for this posting. Not sure what I missed. This may have been turned on in the bios.

 

I do have the desktop, lost an application that blocked my internet access.

 

 

UPDATE: BIOS flashed

 

I was able to load via DSDT=CARTRI then removed renamed Extra.

I found some BIOS settings did not match Cartri guide.

 

I believe the extra items is causing my onboard NIC to appear that gave me warnings.

The drive icons can be updated later.

 

Missing Software loading, these are the console logs when trying to load it.

7/1/10 10:46:36 PM [0x0-0x38038].com.Cvnt.ce[3075] ioctl CTLIOCGINFO: No such file or directory

 

Another App

7/1/10 10:47:00 PM com.x3.x3daemon[3165] ioctl CTLIOCGINFO: No such file or directory

 

Update 2

 

Still can not load 2 software packages that I need.

 

7/2/10 7:07:47 AM com.x3.x3daemon[501] /System/Library/Extensions/x3nke.kext failed to load - (libkern/kext) requested architecture/executable not found; check the system/kernel logs for errors or try kextutil(8).

 

I did run Kext Util and rebooted. Did not fix the issue.

 

Update 3

 

Stable... No errors in console...

 

I am in Cartri Bios, using the V3 Stell's Extra, modified to 32-bit architecture.

Running the 2 apps that had issues.

 

The test tonight would be to see if I can run George Anton's Extra with 32 bit architecture in the Com.Apple.boot.Plist. Thank you George, I got it from your signature. The Cartri installer was missing many items that you have already worked on.

 

I will post in a new response tonight. Quoting "Ren and Stimpy" Oh Happy Joy Joy

Thanks for the patience and help.

Eric

[thepretender]

will GA-EP45-UD3L work with stella v3's install? i'm having a hard time locating the P model ..

No but kakewalk will work for you http://puru.se/

And for the adventurous the Cartri mac bios method will http://cartri.net/blog/downloads

[AkronElliott]

Update 3

 

The test tonight would be to see if I can run George Anton's Extra with 32 bit architecture in the Com.Apple.boot.Plist. Thank you George, I got it from your signature. The Cartri installer was missing many items that you have already worked on.

 

I have a working system using George Anton's Extra. I added in the 32-bit Architecture to the above PLIST.

 

I will save the old extra for emergencies.

 

Thanks for the patience.

Update

See post 808 on page 41 for updating the Plist for 32 bit.

 

I was not able to get the IOAHCIBlockStorageInjector.kext Searched the internet for the

file. Will check the old "Extra Good" saved off for future purposes.

Leaving the current drives as orange, not a big deal. Will work on this at a later time.

 

Mistake I made was not knowing that I had to decompress the RAR file. I thought it was an installer. Flashed the Bios before the installer, but being able to run the last EXTRA I had no problem. There may be individual set ups for the EXTRA. I just copied Georgiles and converted for my need.

[RocketLynx]

I have the GA-EP45-UD3P v1.6 and the Lifehacker - Adam Pash/Stellarola V3 Install package upgraded and working correctly on Snow Leopard 10.6.4. I haven't yet taken the Cartri plunge. I'd like a little more information from anyone using the exact same board with the Cartri v0.8 MAC BIOS.

 

I understand that I still need the fakesmc.kext and the IOAHCIBlockStorageInjector.kext (for cosmetic purposes) but, since I'm using a TRENDnet PCI card that has the RTL8169 chipset, do I need to use/keep a kext for that or is that native to Apple? I don't see that a kext was added in the Stellarola V3 pkg (there doesn't seem to be one in the Extensions.mkext either) for Adam Pash's Lifehacker so I wondering if Apple's OS X recognizes it upon Snow Leopard installation and installs a kext for it automatically.

 

Also, since the -UD3P (v1.6) uses the ALC889a audio chipset, do I still need to add the LegacyHDA.kext or is that just for ALC888 chipsets?

 

Thanks in advance,

Charles

[960brick]

I have the GA-EP45-UD3P v1.6 and the Lifehacker - Adam Pash/Stellarola V3 Install package upgraded and working correctly on Snow Leopard 10.6.4. I haven't yet taken the Cartri plunge. I'd like a little more information from anyone using the exact same board with the Cartri v0.8 MAC BIOS.

 

I understand that I still need the fakesmc.kext and the IOAHCIBlockStorageInjector.kext (for cosmetic purposes) but, since I'm using a TRENDnet PCI card that has the RTL8169 chipset, do I need to use/keep a kext for that or is that native to Apple? I don't see that a kext was added in the Stellarola V3 pkg (there doesn't seem to be one in the Extensions.mkext either) for Adam Pash's Lifehacker so I wondering if Apple's OS X recognizes it upon Snow Leopard installation and installs a kext for it automatically.

 

Also, since the -UD3P (v1.6) uses the ALC889a audio chipset, do I still need to add the LegacyHDA.kext or is that just for ALC888 chipsets?

 

Thanks in advance,

Charles

 

 

Hi RocketLynx, I have an almost identical setup as you, with Catri 0.8 Bios, TRENDnet PCI card needs no additional kext, the ALC889a audio chipset still needs LegacyHDA.kext in E/E (Cartri will include this in future bios build)

 

I took a jpeg of my kext folder and the ones in green are from Apple. Hope this helps

 

[RocketLynx]

I have a working system using George Anton's Extra. I added in the 32-bit Architecture to the above PLIST.

 

I will save the old extra for emergencies.

 

Thanks for the patience.

Update

See post 808 on page 41 for updating the Plist for 32 bit.

 

I was not able to get the IOAHCIBlockStorageInjector.kext Searched the internet for the

file. Will check the old "Extra Good" saved off for future purposes.

Leaving the current drives as orange, not a big deal. Will work on this at a later time.

 

Mistake I made was not knowing that I had to decompress the RAR file. I thought it was an installer. Flashed the Bios before the installer, but being able to run the last EXTRA I had no problem. There may be individual set ups for the EXTRA. I just copied Georgiles and converted for my need.

 

AkronElliott, the IOAHCIBlockStorageInjector.kext is packed inside Stellarola's V3 installer. I'm going to use MKextTool to unpack it for use in my Cartri MAC BIOS conversion since I know it already works correctly with my Lifehacker install running on Snow Leopard 10.6.4. Here's Stella's V3 package download link... http://stellarola.tumblr.com/post/23846198...-update-ud3p-v3 and the MKextTool can be found by simply Googling "MKextTool download". With that, you can unpack any .kexts in your Extensions.kext file that work and keep and reuse them so I've been told.

 

Hope this helps.

[MasterTiiro]

I hope am not totally off topic here. I have this board(v1.1) and using Stella's v3 to boot latest OSX. Can I boot Windows from OSX boot loader? OSX and Windows are on different HDDs, and I hate trying to catch F12 from the boot-up. As of current, when I select the Windows partition, it would say 'boot loader is missing, CTR-ALT-DEL to restart'.

 

I heard you need to copy "chain0" file to Windows, but I can't find it on my OSX drive anywhere. Any help is appreciated.

[thepretender]

I hope am not totally off topic here. I have this board(v1.1) and using Stella's v3 to boot latest OSX. Can I boot Windows from OSX boot loader? OSX and Windows are on different HDDs, and I hate trying to catch F12 from the boot-up. As of current, when I select the Windows partition, it would say 'boot loader is missing, CTR-ALT-DEL to restart'.

 

I heard you need to copy "chain0" file to Windows, but I can't find it on my OSX drive anywhere. Any help is appreciated.

 

Assuming you installed windows on a blank disk and had the windows install partition the hard drive.

When you boot with chameleon and get the drive icon and hit any key your OSX drive shows your windows drive shows and one called "system reserved" pick system reserved as it has your widows boot loader on it.

[MasterTiiro]

Assuming you installed windows on a blank disk and had the windows install partition the hard drive.

When you boot with chameleon and get the drive icon and hit any key your OSX drive shows your windows drive shows and one called "system reserved" pick system reserved as it has your widows boot loader on it.

 

That worked! of course you knew that. I'm just relieved because I don't need to change boot files. Can't believe why I didn't bother to try that partition, because I've tried every other Windows partitions. Thanks!

[Wanna Hack]

AkronElliott, the IOAHCIBlockStorageInjector.kext is packed inside Stellarola's V3 installer. I'm going to use MKextTool to unpack it for use in my Cartri MAC BIOS conversion since I know it already works correctly with my Lifehacker install running on Snow Leopard 10.6.4. Here's Stella's V3 package download link... http://stellarola.tumblr.com/post/23846198...-update-ud3p-v3 and the MKextTool can be found by simply Googling "MKextTool download". With that, you can unpack any .kexts in your Extensions.kext file that work and keep and reuse them so I've been told.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

There's no need to unpack the mkext as Stella offers the "basics folder" (third link) with all the kexts he used for the v3. IOAHCIBlockStorageInjector.kext is in the "KEXT" folder along with the others. Any and all of them will work with Cartri's Mac BIOS via E/E.

[RocketLynx]

There's no need to unpack the mkext as Stella offers the "basics folder" (third link) with all the kexts he used for the v3. IOAHCIBlockStorageInjector.kext is in the "KEXT" folder along with the others. Any and all of them will work with Cartri's Mac BIOS via E/E.

 

Thanks Wanna Hack, I also didn't realize that and I unpacked mine for the IOAHCIBlockStorageInjector.kext when I converted to Cartri v0.8. It still worked OK but your information would have saved me that extra step.

 

Regards,

Charles

[HAVEC]

I hope am not totally off topic here. I have this board(v1.1) and using Stella's v3 to boot latest OSX. Can I boot Windows from OSX boot loader? OSX and Windows are on different HDDs, and I hate trying to catch F12 from the boot-up. As of current, when I select the Windows partition, it would say 'boot loader is missing, CTR-ALT-DEL to restart'.

 

I heard you need to copy "chain0" file to Windows, but I can't find it on my OSX drive anywhere. Any help is appreciated.

 

Another slightly OT subject. I'm thinking about converting my other W7 system to a dual boot W7/SL system. The GA-EP45-UD3P doesn't seem to be available any more. Anybody know where to buy a UD3P or what would be a good substitute for a Cartri system. I have a Q9550 and some DDR2 Ram that I would like to keep using for a few more years.

[thepretender]

Another slightly OT subject. I'm thinking about converting my other W7 system to a dual boot W7/SL system. The GA-EP45-UD3P doesn't seem to be available any more. Anybody know where to buy a UD3P or what would be a good substitute for a Cartri system. I have a Q9550 and some DDR2 Ram that I would like to keep using for a few more years.

 

The closest match I think would be a EP45-USBP3. I don't think the usb 3 ports would be supported by OSX yet, I think they would operate at usb 2 speed. Check the Bios status table at cartri.net and pick any board with alc 889a that fits your needs.

[HAVEC]

The closest match I think would be a EP45-USBP3. I don't think the usb 3 ports would be supported by OSX yet, I think they would operate at usb 2 speed. Check the Bios status table at cartri.net and pick any board with alc 889a that fits your needs.

 

Thanks. I like it.

[AkronElliott]

Thanks Wanna Hack, I also didn't realize that and I unpacked mine for the IOAHCIBlockStorageInjector.kext when I converted to Cartri v0.8. It still worked OK but your information would have saved me that extra step.

 

Regards,

Charles

 

Thanks All,

 

Was able to load the Kext with the utility. Looks exactly like the previous installation.

 

Eric

[Wanna Hack]

Thanks Wanna Hack, I also didn't realize that and I unpacked mine for the IOAHCIBlockStorageInjector.kext when I converted to Cartri v0.8. It still worked OK but your information would have saved me that extra step.

 

Regards,

Charles

 

Does auto sleep (Energy Saver setting) work for anyone running Cartri's 0.8?

[thepretender]

Does auto sleep (Energy Saver setting) work for anyone running Cartri's 0.8?

 

Yes, most users of the Cartri mac bios enjoy that function :censored2:

[RocketLynx]

Does auto sleep (Energy Saver setting) work for anyone running Cartri's 0.8?

 

Yes, actually works more reliably than before when I was just using the Lifehacker setup with 10.6.4

[Wanna Hack]

Yes, most users of the Cartri mac bios enjoy that function

 

I guess I'm currently not in the same camp with most people.

 

Yes, actually works more reliably than before when I was just using the Lifehacker setup with 10.6.4

 

I remember the system would auto sleep, but I can't remember when it stopped (before or after Cartri's BIOS). I checked -- and rechecked -- the BIOS setup and also selected the options (one, two, three, and various combo) in Energy Saver. No auto sleep. Backed up all the data, wiped HDD clean, and started with 10.6.

 

Auto sleep works! The next step:

 

Combo update to 10.6.4... broke the auto sleep.

 

v1.6 board with 0.8 BIOS and Q9550. Crucial Ballistix (2x2GB) @ 2V.

 

Any ideas?

[RocketLynx]

I guess I'm currently not in the same camp with most people.

 

 

 

I remember the system would auto sleep, but I can't remember when it stopped (before or after Cartri's BIOS). I checked -- and rechecked -- the BIOS setup and also selected the options (one, two, three, and various combo) in Energy Saver. No auto sleep. Backed up all the data, wiped HDD clean, and started with 10.6.

 

Auto sleep works! The next step:

 

Combo update to 10.6.4... broke the auto sleep.

 

v1.6 board with 0.8 BIOS and Q9550. Crucial Ballistix (2x2GB) @ 2V.

 

Any ideas?

 

I didn't quite understand if after the HDD wipe you restored or did a clean install, however, if you used Cartri's Bootloader package, you should be OK. If you installed an earlier Bootloader, it may contain SleepEnabler.kext. You don't want that.

 

On my early Bootloader installs, SleepEnabler.kext was in there and messing the sleep function after I upgraded to 10.6.3 and then to 10.6.4. I had to manually locate it and delete it. Also, double check your BIOS settings.

 

It sounds like you have the GA-EP45-UD3P v1.6 MD, correct? If so, I'm using the same board. Before the Cartri BIOS v0.8 flash, I still had flaky sleep mode problems. I could set the sleep timer to three minutes and it would probably start at about 20 to 30 minutes after no activity. Strange behavior.

 

That's about all I can think of right now

 

Regards,

Charles

[Wanna Hack]

I didn't quite understand if after the HDD wipe you restored or did a clean install, however, if you used Cartri's Bootloader package, you should be OK. If you installed an earlier Bootloader, it may contain SleepEnabler.kext. You don't want that.

 

On my early Bootloader installs, SleepEnabler.kext was in there and messing the sleep function after I upgraded to 10.6.3 and then to 10.6.4. I had to manually locate it and delete it. Also, double check your BIOS settings.

 

It sounds like you have the GA-EP45-UD3P v1.6 MD, correct? If so, I'm using the same board. Before the Cartri BIOS v0.8 flash, I still had flaky sleep mode problems. I could set the sleep timer to three minutes and it would probably start at about 20 to 30 minutes after no activity. Strange behavior.

 

That's about all I can think of right now

 

Regards,

Charles

 

Version 1.6 board.

 

Clean install with the bootloader provided by Cartri.

 

In 10.6, auto sleep was set to 1 min, and the system went to sleep at 3 min 45 sec (used a timer) in several tests/restarts/shutdowns.

 

Then, only installed the combo update to 10.6.4. Auto sleep no longer worked set at 1 min in 10.6. Restarted. Checked the settings. Left the machine on and ate lunch. No sleep. Changed Energy Saver settings. Left the machine alone. No sleep. Changed the settings again. Restarted. Checked setting. Left the machine alone. No sleep. Changed settings. Restart. Checked settings. Left the machine alone... over night. No auto sleep.

 

Only the necessary kexts (FakeSMC and LegacyHDA in E/E) were used in 10.6 and 10.6.4.