Install on Dell XPS 720

[valyno]

Hi,

 

So, I made my first try to install SL on my Dell XPS 720.

I replaced the original optical drive by a Pioneer S18L.

I checked in my Bios (Dell one... ) and turned off all the SATA port that were not in use.

I kept only one for the DVD reader and one for the SATA HDD (On, no RAID option)

Keybord: USB Logitech G15, mouse: Logitech MX1000 (wireless)

 

I booted from the [url="http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/279450-why-insanelymac-does-not-support-tonymacx86/"]#####[/url] nVidia CD Rom.

I removed the [url="http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/279450-why-insanelymac-does-not-support-tonymacx86/"]#####[/url] DVD to put the SL retail DVD, then entered -x -v and...

I have the famous "Still waiting for the root device"

 

Regarding this message, I don't really understand his meaning : sometimes I can read that it's an issue from the SATA drive not recognized. Since I had some unsupported SATA DVD drives, I bought the Pioneer one... without success...

Just before the Still waiting for the root device message, I have an error message telling this: ERROR: FireWire unable to determine security-mode; defaulting to full secure

any link between the two?

 

Or the problem comes from the nVidia chipset on my mobo (n680I)?

Or is it a problem with the SATA connectors? In my Dell, I have 6 SATA connectors, 4 for HDD and 2 for optical drives.

 

I know that my system is capable of running 'cause I successfully installed a Leopard version with iDeneb on a USB HDD. I screwed the install with an update... I did not tried again since then... I would like to install using a Retail DVD method...

 

I thank you in advance for your help.

 

Valyno

[J.B]

make sure you have the HDD in SATA0 and the DVD on SATA1 on your MB

[valyno]

Thank you for the hint J.B. I will try !

 

EDIT : well, I tried: HDD on SATA-0 and DVD on SATA-1, Still waiting for root device.

Need more reading of the forum on my part before I make a new attempt. As far as I understand, the problem might comes from the fact that my Mobo is not fully ACHI compliant and is running a nVidia chipset, not supported natively by SL.

Maybe I wil find a bootloader with the right Kext in it...

 

Thanks anyway for replying.

 

V

 

EDIT 2: I tried to boot from the nForceSLBoot123DVD for SATA DVDRW.. and I reached the grey screen with mouse pointer. Unfortunately, nothing happens now. The pointer is active, but I can't reach the Install screen.

 

New challenge!!

 

EDIT 3: Rebooted with the -x option: install process engaged. 25 mn to go !!!

I cross my fingers

 

EDIT 4: instal successfulln howevern boot is possible only with the -x option

Rez limited to 1024*768, no QE, no audio

but posting from my hack, recognize as a Mac Pro 2,1

 

EDIT 5: I have an issue with my internet connevtion: Airport is loosing the wifi after a few minutes.

I use an Asus WL 138 G v2

I successfully updated to 10.6.4, but none of the issues are sloved.

I installed the NVEnabler with [url="http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/279450-why-insanelymac-does-not-support-tonymacx86/"]#####[/url] for my graphic card, but still have no QE...

[galaxis78]

Hello

i'm XPs 720 and install Snow Leopard with DVD Hazard

DVD Hazard 1.6.1 1.6.2 SSE2 SSE3 + PPF Final

star -v cpus=1 maxmem=2048 busrqtion=10 arch=i386

Formatage HFS+ J 50 Mo HDDSYS + 100 Mo HDDATA

 

Mac OS_X_10.6.1

Mac OS_X_10.6.2

Kernel : Rien

Boot_Loaders-Options

Chameleon_RC3_PEFI

Bootx86

Boot_Options : Rien

Graphic_Drivers Drivers : Rien

Audio_Drivers

VoodooHDA_v2.5.3

NetWork_Drivers

USB_WLAN_Drivers

RT2xxx-3xxx_USB

Laptop_Support : Rien

Cmos_Reset_Fix

AppleRTC

ElliotForce

SATA_ATA_Fix

AHCI_SATA_Fix

Legacy_AHCI_SATA_fix

IOATAFamily_SATA_Fix

Patches

About_This_Mac_Fix

EvOreboot

IOATAFamily_Fix

OpenHaltRestart

SMBIOSResolver

Card_Reader

Upstream_Client_Disabler

USB_Fix

IOPCIFamily_Fix

IOUSBFamily_Fix

UUI_Fix

VoodooHDA_prefPane

Additional Fonts

Rosetta

 

Restart with

en -s arch-i386

 

move :

mv -R NV* /Users/Shared/

mv -R Ge* /Users/Shared/

 

not injector

 

Change AppleNForceATA.kext for version 1.04 32/64Bits

Bug DVD...

 

Inject GFXString in org.cameleon.Boot.plist

Ex : Extra/Extentions/

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">

<plist version="1.0">

<dict>

<key>EthernetBuiltIn</key>

<string>Yes</string>

<key>ForceHPET</key>

<string>Yes</string>

<key>Graphics Mode</key>

<string>1920x1200x32</string>

<key>GraphicsEnabler</key>

<string>Yes</string>

<key>Kernel</key>

<string>mach_kernel</string>

<key>Kernel Flags</key>

<string>arch=i386</string>

<key>SystemID</key>

<string>My system ID</string>

<key>Timeout</key>

<string>5</string>

<key>device-properties</key>

<string>My String</string>

</dict>

</plist>

 

video : nvidia 19.5.8f03 pkg

Audio : voodoohda.kext

Lan : BCM5722D.kext

 

smbios.plist macpro 3,1

 

and reboot and ok

 

create OSX lion on usb and all is ok

Dual Zotac GTX285 QE/CI

 

Im french sorry for my wrote..

 

Lag

[bhorth]

Hi,

I have been trying to get Snow Leopard on my Dell XPS 720 for years now. I now have a install of Snow Leopard 10.6.8 on my computer everything seems to work except the DVD drivers although they are recognised they don't seem to be able to read discs. I am using a usb DVD drive to bypass this problem at the moment. I am struggling to upgrade to Lion when i insert my lion installation DVD the installer says my CPU is not supported. My CPU is a 64bit quad core processor. I see galaxis78 has managed to install Lion on their XPS 720 i would be very interested in any suggestions and sucess stories

[valyno]

Hi there !

I am happy to see that my old post has been diiged up !

It happens that recently i tried again to install that damn SL on my XPS...

 

So far, I managed to install 10.6.8, running in 64 bits mode...

i am stuck with the "Your computer can't be verified" issue on the AppSTore... so I can't buy and install Lion....

 

I am booting with a customed boot CD prepared some months ago, and I have to investigate a bit more on the com.apple.boot.plist and the internet builtin option, since I suspect that the one directly on the system is not loaded...

I am quite a noob so I need some extra time to understad how the whole thing works...

[valyno]

Hi,

I have been trying to get Snow Leopard on my Dell XPS 720 for years now. I now have a install of Snow Leopard 10.6.8 on my computer everything seems to work except the DVD drivers although they are recognised they don't seem to be able to read discs. I am using a usb DVD drive to bypass this problem at the moment. I am struggling to upgrade to Lion when i insert my lion installation DVD the installer says my CPU is not supported. My CPU is a 64bit quad core processor. I see galaxis78 has managed to install Lion on their XPS 720 i would be very interested in any suggestions and sucess stories

 

Hi,

 

Read this post (I guess you already have), Verdant explains how to make the XPS recongized as a MacPro 3,1.

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=263931

[bhorth]

Hi Valyno,

 

Good to hear people are still working on this. Since my last post I have managed to update to lion 10.7.3(I downloaded previously on my netbook). I'm not exactly a expert myself so after much trial and error(just as well I'm patient!) I managed to creat a bootable USB stick (with the help of ###### and some readily availabe kext from the internet to enable keyboard and mouse support and defect hard drive/Ethernet etc) which can install 10.7.2 as a fresh install on this system then update straight to 10.7.3 before messing about with the system. After update I used ###### to install the boot loader and a few standard kext files then a few that I used to get the USB to boot also. System takes a min or two to boot but does do successfully and seems stable enough. I have sound off the built in motherboard working, Ethernet works fine, don't think sleep working yet but switched off in power options for now. Video stuck at 1024x768 dies not recognise my 8800gtx card. Have tried nvenabler which does then detect card but causes finder to crash and restart which is very annoying to then try and play with things. I also have the problem with access to the app store and have tried a couple of thing with no joy yet. My priority is to get the graphics working then the app store as I have a USB DVD drive which works fine with the system. Hope this fills you with hope and pushes you forward to get the latest version of lion up and running on out xps720's.

 

Btw I'm running stock hardware on this machine no addition sound card same DVD drive but nvidea 8800gx graphics and 2.4 quad processor very similar setup to yourself. If you can help me fill in any of the gaps or if I can help you with anything please give me a shout.