Guide on how to install 10.6 on a Gateway LT20

[silpa]

There is no guide for this particular netbook. I figured people my want this since, they were discounted recently at best buy, and sold out.

 

 

How to Install Mac OS X 10.6 on a gateway lt2005u

 

Instead of making a USB Installer, we will make a USB drive with the OS, and then clone it onto the LT20. When I tried the various installer methods, my LT20 would kernel panic during installation. I still get a few panics doing this, however, I can move forward each time. It's painful, but doable.

 

What you need:

• A working Mac with 10.5+

• Gateway LT20 series Netbook (I used a LT2005u)

• USB Drive (8GB min)

• Retail Copy of Snow Leopard DVD (not the upgrade or a restore DVD)

 

Step 1. Formatting the USB Drive.

• Connect the USB drive to the Mac, and launch Disk Utility (located in /Applications/Utilities)

• Select the USB Drive on the left and click the Partition tab.

• Select 2 Partition. Set the size of Partition 2 to be about 1GB and let Partition 1 be the rest of the drive.

• Select Options. Choose Master Boot Record

• Enter a simple name for Partition 1. Similar to "ModdedSL" or "Snow"

• Enter a simple name for Partition 2. Similar to "misc"

• Partition Drive.

• When done quit Disk Utility

 

Step 2. Install OS.

• Insert the Snow Leopard DVD or mount the image.

• From the Go Menu in Finder, Select Go to Folder.

• Type in /Volumes/Mac OS X Install DVD/System/Installation/Packages and press enter. Note that "mac os x install DVD" is the name of the DVD or the image. If could be different then your dvd or image's actual name.

• Launch OSInstall.mpkg

• Install the OS to the USB drive. Do a custom Install and uncheck all unnecessary options (printers, languages, and so on). I only install the essential software then add in other things as needed.

 

Step 3. Make the USB Bootable.

• Run NetbookBootmaker. When it complains just press continue.

• Select Partition 1 from the USB drive ("ModdedSL")

• Click Prepare Boot Drive

 

Step 4. SuperDuper

In order to copy your installed OS from the USB drive to your LT20 you'll have move the files over. You can do this a few different ways. Disk Utility or SuperDuper. I prefer SuperDuper, since it can start back off from where it left off. Which is good if you get kernel panics (which I did).

• Move the Super Duper app to /ModdedSL/Applications. You'll need a licensed copy to start the restore from where it left off which is needed if you kernel panic. If not, and unlicensed copy will work fine.

 

Step 5. Boot to the USB Drive.

 

Step 6. Go through the setup installer. When at the desktop launch Disk Utility (/Applications/Utilities)

• Select your netbook's drive (not a volume), and click partition.

• Set the scheme you want, click options. Select GUID Partition Table. Click Apply.

 

Step 7. Launch SuperDuper.

• In the left top drop down menu, select your USB Drive (ModdedSL)

• In the right drop down menu, select the Hard drive of the netbook.

• next to "using" select restore -all files"

• click options. select "copy different files" firm the top drop down. Click ok. Click copy.

• if the system kernel panics just boot to the USB drive, and repeat this step until it copies everything.

 

Step 8. Go to /Applications and launch NetbookInstaller.

• Click continue on the "unsupported device" message.

• Select your netback's mac os x volume.

• Uncheck everything except install Chameleon 2 RC3 bootloader.

• Click Install. Restart.

 

Step 9. You should have automatically booted to your netbook's drive!

 

Step 10. Install the additional kexts.

Included in the zip file are kexts for the video, power management, and sound (speakers only).

• Run the Azalia Audio installer. DO NOT restart

• Install the rest of the kexts using "Kext Helper b7". Restart.

 

For increased performance, and less kernel panics in step 7 I recommend installing a 2GB RAM module.

 

Also, please note the following:

Video out, sleep, networking (wireless or lan) and mic or headphone ports do not work.

 

There is no support for this. I've spend two weeks non-stop looking.

 

I ended up buying a PCI E wirless card that I know works off ebay, but since it wasn't half height it didn't fit. So, I then bought a wireless external dongle. Which works. I would recommend that.

 

 

I also installed Ubuntu 9.04. When you install it DO NOT install the grub boot loader on the MBR (as by default) instead install on the ubuntu partition itself. Then you can boot to the mac usb stick and reinstall netbookinstaller. Its much easier then editing GRUB. I couldn't get GRUB to load mac os x at all and ubuntu 9.10 comes with grub2 which doesn't work with Snow Leopard.

 

Built in wireless should work in Ubuntu.

1_lt2005u_important_drivers.zip

[PinkFreud]

please note the following:

Video out, sleep, networking (wireless or lan) and mic or headphone ports do not work.

 

There is no support for this. I've spend two weeks non-stop looking.

 

You don't know about the AttansicL1e kext? This netbook is the same hardware as the Acer AOD-150 (KAV10) and/or AOD-250 (KAV60)

 

To avoid kernel panics while installing:

• Remove the battery before beginning installation and use only the AC power adapter.
  
• Boot using the option "cpus=1"
  

[toga.bear]

You don't know about the AttansicL1e kext? This netbook is the same hardware as the Acer AOD-150 (KAV10) and/or AOD-250 (KAV60)

 

To avoid kernel panics while installing:

• Remove the battery before beginning installation and use only the AC power adapter.
  
• Boot using the option "cpus=1"
  

 

Will this fix the sleep issue? The wifi card works 80% of the time realtek1000.kext with 1.25 bios and 10.6.2. That would be amazing. Going to try any way, but wanted to see if any can confirm this.

[silpa]

You don't know about the AttansicL1e kext? This netbook is the same hardware as the Acer AOD-150 (KAV10) and/or AOD-250 (KAV60)

 

To avoid kernel panics while installing:

• Remove the battery before beginning installation and use only the AC power adapter.
  
• Boot using the option "cpus=1"
  

 

 

I tried the AttansicL1e kext and nothing. I didn't work. Were you able to get it to work? If so, can you explain step-by-step what you did?

[Barq's]

I have a few real newbe questions; What is a kert? How do I cross reference my LT2022u back to the the Acer model from which it was cloned? and how do I find the proper BIOS upgrade needed to complete the install?

[jnik]

Has anyone got the AttansicL1e kext working with the KAV10 (AOD-150)? Based on DPCIManager, it looks like it's the right kext for me.

 

I've tried installing it via terminal, via OSX86Tools and KextHelper ... no errors and the file ends up in the right place, but still no Ethernet. Am I missing something?

 

BlueTooth, USB, QE/CI and SD slot work, am waiting upon arrival of a wireless card (eBay).

 

Haven't played with audio yet ("nice to have") and it would be good if sleep worked (anyone?).

 

TIA

jnik

 

I have a few real newbe questions; What is a kert? How do I cross reference my LT2022u back to the the Acer model from which it was cloned? and how do I find the proper BIOS upgrade needed to complete the install?

 

Never heard of a kert ... a kext is a kernel extension.