Problems Updating with Vanilla Kernel

[Concha]

I'm running OS X perfectly well with the vanilla kernel, but after updating to 10.5.8 via this guide the system will not boot again until I install the Voodoo kernel. Is there something I'm doing wrong?

 

I would like to continue using the vanilla kernel, as voodoo causes some programs to run incorrectly, it seems.

[Gringo Vermelho]

If your hardware can run the Vanilla kernel you should not be following that guide. You don't need a disabler.kext and you should be using fakesmc.kext instead of DSMOS.kext.

 

Try using the full 10.5.8 combo update instead of the smaller delta update, especially if you're updating an installation done with a hacked distro.

[Concha]

If your hardware can run the Vanilla kernel you should not be following that guide. You don't need a disabler.kext and you should be using fakesmc.kext instead of DSMOS.kext.

 

Try using the full 10.5.8 combo update instead of the smaller delta update, especially if you're updating an installation done with a hacked distro.

Thank you, I'll give that a try.

 

I've heard reports of successful updates via Software Update under the vanilla kernel without any additional kexts or anything. Is there any truth to that?

[Gringo Vermelho]

I've heard reports of successful updates via Software Update under the vanilla kernel without any additional kexts or anything. Is there any truth to that?

Yes of course. I've been doing that since 10.5.6, which was when I upgraded from a P4 to a Core 2 Duo CPU and started running retail OS X (the last distro I used was iPC 10.5.6 final). If your hardware is compatible and you have your patches tucked away on your EFI partition or elsewhere (some people like to use a USB flash drive to boot their Hackintosh and keep their patches on that), then running software update or installing combo or delta updates works just like on a real Mac.

The odd issue pops up from time to time, for example I had to change the way I patch my sound since the 10.6.3 update. but there have been no regular showstoppers since I started running retail at 10.5.6. And I'm at 10.6.4 now, without a single modified kernel extensions in S/L/E.

 

This is on an ASUS P5Q-E motherboard with ICH10R btw.

 

If you know what you're doing, you can also run software update on a system running the Voodoo Kernel, but it's easier if you're running a retail installation. Contrary to what seems to be popular belief (and I used to think that too) it's actually a lot easier to install and run retail than it is to troubleshoot and update when you're running a hacked distro. And this is true whether you're using the Vanilla kernel or Voodoo/other patched kernel.

 

The key to success is to separate your patches from the main system, ie avoid using patched kernel extensions in S/L/E as far as possible and use /Extra/Extensions instead.

[Concha]

Thanks for the info!

 

I haven't had to do anything outstandingly bizarre as far as patches go, my hardware is all compatible and I've become fairly experienced with disaster recovery, so I don't really have anything to lose. I will report back later with word of my results.

[Gringo Vermelho]

Two tips for you:

 

Make your own Chameleon boot CD (use a CD-RW) that you can use if your Chameleon installation breaks due to excessive experimentation.. Google for a tutorial if you want to learn how, the procedure is a little different from when you install Chameleon to a hard drive. I wrote one that's buried somewhere over at the Voodoo Projects Chameleon forum.

You could also use a USB flash drive for this purpose.

 

Use the "restore" function in Apple Disk Utility to clone a retail OS X installation DVD to a partition on your hard drive. This way you can always boot into a working environment (using your Boot CD or your main Chameleon installation) and use Terminal to work on your actual OS X install if you need to fix something. It also comes in handy if you should need to run a Disk Repair on your main installation, and last but not least you can use it to install retail OS X. Installation is many times faster when done from hard drive.

 

An 8.5 GB partition should do it, it can be anywhere on the drive.

[Concha]

Thanks for the tips; especially the second one. I have no problem doing a full reinstall if something goes wrong and that will really speed up the process if it comes to that.

 

Edit: Vitória! Successfully updated with no problems whatsoever.

 

I will remain cautiously optimistic for the moment, but so far all of the software that wasn't running correctly under the VooDoo kernel is working perfectly.

 

Cheers