Dell XPS 420 OSX86 Leopard 10.5.8 Installation Guide inc. Windows 7 Dual Boot

[StringsOnFire]

How To: Dell XPS 420 as a Hackintosh, 10.5.8, including Windows 7 Dual Boot

By StringsOnFire (previously makeluv247)

 

UPDATE: Snow Leopard guide available: http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=231347

 

UPDATE: New file link, now including OpenHaltRestart shutdown fix to prevent hanging at shutdown.

 

Note: This guide is also included as a docx within the zip file detailed below. I suggest printing it before trying to install!

 

Introduction

At the time of writing this guide, I use Mac OSX 10.5.8 flawlessly on my XPS 420. However, every time I start playing with other operating systems, I end up messing up my OSX install. So here is my guide to turning the 420 into a Hack Pro. Should save a lot of bother next time you need to reinstall. Of course, you should have a legal copy of OSX, and installation is only for evaluation to help you decide whether or not you want to buy a real one. This is my first guide for anything, so apologies for any mistakes in advance.

 

A note on Dual-Booting with Windows 7

I understand that Windows 7 will only install to the first Hard Drive, i.e. the one on SATA0. I have Windows 7 and OSX86 on 2 separate hard drives. Install Windows 7 first to your Windows 7 hard drive, plugged into SATA0. Once you’ve set it up, carry out his guide to install OSX. However, after the initial install of OSX, the system will reboot into Windows 7. Shut down, unplug from the mains, and switch the Windows 7 and OSX hard drives around. Plug back in and turn on. You should now continue with OSX. Windows 7 uses a separate partition to boot. So when you have installed “Chameleon 2.0 RC4”, select “System Reserved”, the Windows 7 Boot Partition, to boot Windows 7.

 

My Specifications

This guide is based on my own XPS 420, and so your own installation may vary slightly. This is my setup:

• CPU: 2.4GHz Intel Core2 Quad Q6600

• RAM: 8GB (4 x 2GB 800MHz modules)

• HDD: 3 500GB SATAII Hard Drives

• GFX: nVidia GeForce 8800GT 512MB

• SOUND: M-Audio Revolution 5.1 PCI (Already installed in bottom-most slot)

o I had no success getting the onboard sound working.

• LAN: Edimax EN-9230TX-32 Gigabit PCI (Already installed in second slot from bottom)

o I will include details for the onboard Ethernet, but I had problems with mine.

 

Downloads

Here are the bits you’ll need to get to carry out my method. I don’t take credit for any of them. I’ve accumulated these files over a fair period of time, so apologies to the creators but I don’t know who made what. Copy my files and the Combo Update to a USB drive.

• iPC OSX86 10.5.6 install DVD. You can find this in the usual places

• Dell BIOS update A07. Get it from http://support.euro.dell.com/

• Mac OSX 10.5.8 Combo Update from http://support.apple.com/kb/DL866

• http://rapidshare.com/files/334709078/XPS_...Drivers_etc.zip

 

BIOS Update

At the time of writing this guide, the most up-to-date version of the Dell XPS 420 BIOS is version A07. You’ll see the BIOS version on the boot screen every time you turn on the computer. If you do not have the A07 BIOS, go to the dell website as above, download the BIOS update, and run it. I believe you’ll need a Windows installation to install the BIOS update. I don’t remember there being a bootable version.

 

BIOS Settings

To enter the BIOS setup, press F2 while booting at the Dell loading screen.

• Under “Drives -> SATA Operation”, set the SATA mode to “RAID Autodetect / ATA”. Note that the eSATA port will not work in this mode, but I’m not sure how to get the installation running with the SATA controllers set to RAID mode.

• Under “Onboard Devices -> Integrated NIC”, select “Off” (Unless you want to try with the onboard LAN).

• Under “Onboard Devices -> Integrated Audio”, select “Off” (Unless you want to try with the onboard Audio).

• Both Windows SideShow, i.e. the small screen on the case, and the Dell Media Accelerator, will not work with OSX. Therefore, unless you will also be booting Windows, you may set both “Miniview Display” and “Media Accelerator” to “Off”.

• Under “Video -> Primary Video”, select “PEG”.

• Under “Performance”, both “Multiple CPU Core” and “Virtualization” should be “On”, and “SpeedStep” should be “Off”.

 

iPC Installation

1. Press F12 at boot to select a boot device, and insert the iPC install DVD. Select “Onboard or USB CD-ROM Drive”. Proceed with booting from the DVD.

2. Under “Utilities”, select “Disk Utility”. Choose the hard drive you wish to install OSX on and click on the “Partition” tab.

3. Click “Options”, and choose “GUID Partition Table”. Click OK.

4. Enter a name for your OSX partition, and select “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)” as format. Apply. Exit the Disk Utility.

5. Continue with the installation until you may select to “Customise” on the bottom left. Click “Customise” and set up as follows:

• Drivers -> Video Drivers -> NVIDIA -> NVdarwin 512MB

• Drivers -> Chipset Drivers -> [select the first 3]

• Applications -> Kext Helper b7

6. Install and reboot.

7. If you also have Windows 7, you will now boot into it. Shutdown and switch hard drives as explained (far) above.

 

Tuning

1. Copy all the downloaded files from the USB to the Desktop. Copy “OSX86 Tools” to “Applications”. Eject your USB drive, and install the Combo Update and reboot.

2. Use “Kext Helper” in “Applications” to install the 4 kexts I have included. These are to restore SATA and PCI functionality, as well as ensure the system shuts down and restarts properly.

3. Locate “Root Drive/System/Library/Extensions/NVdarwin.kext” and delete it.

4. Open “OSX86 Tools” you installed earlier, and under “System and Computer”, choose “Add EFI Strings/Boot Flag”. Go to the “GFX Strings” tab, and choose “NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT 512MB”. Then click “Import String to Boot Editor”. Click “Apply changes to com.apple.Boot.plist. Reboot.

5. Open up “OSX86 Tools” again, and click on “Enable/Disable Quartz GL”. Enable it and reboot.

6. Install “Chameleon 2.0 RC4” bootloader and reboot.

7. Install your sound and Ethernet drivers. (If you are using the onboard LAN, use “kext Utility” to install Intel 82566MM.kext.) Reboot.

8. Run software update and donwload/install updates. Reboot. Repeat until no more updates are available.

9. Install any extra drivers you may need, such as printer drivers.

10. I suggest you start backing up using “Time Machine” or “Carbon Copy Cloner” from http://www.bombich.com/ to save you from having to install again should something go wrong in future.

[shadowhill]

I wanted to enable Virtualization so I can use vm ware fusion and I do not have the virtualization option in my BIOS under Performance. I do have the latest BIOS A07 which I downloaded from Dell. Can you confirm that you actually do have this option? I'm not sure why I don't have it.

 

Thanks,

[StringsOnFire]

Are you sure you have a processor that supports virtualisation? If so, then yes it should be there.

[kNewton]

This explanation made my hackintosh.

 

i have win Vista Home Prem. on a 500 Gb drive Sata 0 and 10.5.8 on a TB drive Sata 1, but i can't get them to coexist.

Whenever i switch from Mac to PC, i need to insert my windows disk and let the computer reinstall some files.

 

Only once did chameleon give both OSs as an option. i think it was pressing f8 at start up, but to be honest, it may have been f12, then f8, i was too excited to pay attention.

 

Is the key to dual booting in changing the bios?

i did not understand or follow this part of your instructions, as i switched drives before installation:

 

> You should now continue with OSX. Windows 7 uses a separate partition to boot. So when you have installed “Chameleon 2.0 RC4”, select “System Reserved”, the Windows 7 Boot Partition, to boot Windows 7. <

 

i do not know where in chameleon to find "System Reserved" to select it, and is that partion on thepc drive or the mac drive?

 

thanks.

kNewton

 

i have a XPS 420, 2.4 6600 Quad, 3GB, Ati Radeon HD 3650

[StringsOnFire]

When chameleon loads, you should have an apple icon and a countdown bar. Before the bar runs out and osx loads, press a button on your keyboard, I press enter out of habit. Your other bootable partitions should them appear. To boot Windows 7, you need to select the System Reserved partition, as this is how Windows 7 boots. Vista does not make use of such a partition, so you would just select the vista partition. Or, you coud try Vista as primary, use disc to repair it, then switch hdds so OSX is primary, see if that brings it up in chameleon. If not again, then boot into Vista and install EasyBCD. I don't like using it because I've had more problems than success with it.

 

hope that helps

[lethalfunk]

When booting from the iPC disk, it gets to the apple screen and comes up with a panic kernal.

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php...=174782&hl=

 

As you can see, I've been trying to get OSX to work for a long time lol.

Have you encountered this problem at all?

[StringsOnFire]

nope, never. try removing cards like the wlan card that don't need to be there? might be your graphics card. the 9800... was hat out before or after the ipc disk?

[ihack321]

I've just installed OSX and want to install Windows 7, and as you mentioned, it will not let me because I have OSX intalled on the first hard drive. Is there a way to bypass this?

 

Thanks

[StringsOnFire]

Did you try switching the hard drives as instructed? Windows 7 wants to be on the primary. so switch the SATA connectors and startup, install windows 7, and switch the sata cables back again. that should do it

[kNewton]

My mistake was I was keeping my PC drive higher in the Bios boot, so Chameleon never had a chance to start, except when i physically switched cables.

 

i put a thin, loose rubberband around the pair of leads that are to stay together, to avoid simple switching mistakes.

 

i haven't got my sigmatel sound running i'll give it a week or two, then probably buy an external USB, though i would rather have everything 'in box'.

[kNewton]

i now run Windows ultimate 7 along with 10.5.8 ( some software is limiting factor)

 

i bought $7 external USB stereo sound adapter by best connectivity.

i haven't put any effort into getting Mac internet, just use PC

 

thanks again, makeluv247.