Still Waiting for Root Device

[Spirrwell]

For 7 months or so now I've been doing a lot of research and attempts at the goal of installing OS X on multiple PCs. I recently attempted to install iPC 10.5.6 on my Dell GX280 with all PPF patches applied. It installed no problem, but when I ran it in different modes I got different results. I used -v to boot and got a black screen, I used -v -f and got a Still waiting for root device error, and I also tried it with nothing and I got the Apple screen with a not allowed sign. Currently I have an ATI X300 in my GX280. The chipset is supposed to be an Intel ICHx. (at least according to the guide I am referencing) The partition name that I have is named Macintosh HD. Is there anything I can do to fix the Still waiting for root device error or something? Please don't suggest a different distribution as for some reason the computer will now only read this one disc using only my USB DVD Rom. (don't ask me why) Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Gringo Vermelho]

Google, or type "still waiting for root device" in the search box above. It's probably the number one most asked hackintosh question ever.

If you really spent 7 months without getting anywhere with this problem then it's time to rethink your research strategy.

 

You'll see "Still waiting for root device" when OS X can't talk to your drive controller, either because you haven't installed the right driver for it, because your PATA drives are jumpered/cabled wrong, your drives are attached to an unsupported controller (then you're out of luck), or SATA is not set to AHCI mode in the BIOS.

 

If you can successfully boot an install DVD and complete the installation process, that means the DVD you're using has the correct driver, but you didn't select it under 'customize' before starting the installation.

[arifpaan]

I tried booting with -v -x busratio=13, it works for me.

[Spirrwell]

Okay, but I got it working by combining two distros together and somehow it worked. Thanks anyway.

[Spirrwell]

I tried booting with -v -x busratio=13, it works for me.

 

Actually I had some problems with the Ethernet driver in my way and it ran pretty slow, your -v -x busratio=13 worked perfectly.

 

Is there another way to boot it without booting into safe boot?

[MaLd0n]

You'll see "Still waiting for root device" when OS X can't talk to your drive controller, either because you haven't installed the right driver for it, because your PATA drives are jumpered/cabled wrong, your drives are attached to an unsupported controller (then you're out of luck), or SATA is not set to AHCI mode in the BIOS.

 

[ishared]

Disculpame si no entendes español, pero en mi caso para solucionarlo tuve que abrir el gabinete y cambiar de lugar los conectores sata de mi disco y eso hizo que me funcione.

 

Saludos ojala te sirva! Posteo en español porque solo se leer ingles, escribir es mas dificil

[Gringo Vermelho]

Most modern motherboards have a secondary SATA controller from JMicron, Silicon Image or Marvell.

 

The SATA ports of the secondary controller are normally colored differently (white or orange) than those of the primary controller (usually red). Check your motherboard manual to see which ports belong to which controller.

 

There are drivers for OS X for the most common secondary controllers, but the main controller (Intel ICHx or Nvidia nForce) is usually the more compatible since Apple use Intel ICHx and nForce as well.

 

If you have problems with drives not being recognized, either plug them into a port on the main drive controller, or find and install drivers for the "off-chipset" drive controller.

 

For PATA (IDE) drives, try a different jumper setting and/or cable position, and make sure you're using 80 conductor cables. If you have two IDE ports, put each device at the end of it's own cable and jumper it as master device.

There's very limited support for PATA drives in OS X (IIRC no modern Macs have PATA devices?) so you'll probably need a community provided driver to get your PATA drives running. Again Intel and Nvidia are the easiest to get working.

 

The Chameleon bootloader official download includes some injector or "legacy" kexts for many common PATA and SATA controllers.

 

If your board has a Marvell 6xxx controller, you need AppleVIAATA or SuperVIAATA.kext. There are also nForceATA and ATIATA kexts out there. Older Intel boards with ICH5 might need a patched AppleIntelPIIATA.kext.

 

Intel ICHx or nForce SATA controllers in AHCI mode (set in the BIOS) are the most compatible and easiest to get working.