Jump to content
4 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

Hi guys,

 

It's been a living nightmare to install Mac Os X SL on my computer. When I finally found a way to burn the Mac Os X DVD on Windows, and managed to boot on it without errors (took me several DVDs, USB thumb, ISO...), I realized OS X didn't saw any of my drives, but the USB thumb I "burned" the iso on. But I finally managed to install it on my USB hard drive (Western Digital, 500 Gb).

 

I then cloned my WesternDigital on one of my 250 gb internal hard drive. However, when I boot on it (with [url="http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/279450-why-insanelymac-does-not-support-tonymacx86/"]#####[/url] by example), I get the error : "Still waiting for root device". I also had this error when I tried to install OS X with a retail DVD.

 

I read on the internet that it's somewhat related to AHCI options in the boot. Right now, here's what I have in my boot :

Under “Drives -> SATA Operation”, I set the SATA mode to “RAID Autodetect / ATA” (a long time ago, as I didn't wanted the RAID ON).

I think I tried with RAID On too, and it didn't worked...

 

Here's the DELL XPS 420's config :

 

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4 GHz

2048 Mo of Ram

nVidia GeForce 8800 GT

Intel X38 Express chipset

2x 250 Gb Hard drives, SATA, with RAID options.

 

Does anybody have an Idea ??? This is getting me crazy...

Hi

I have the same PC and have managed to get Snow Leopard running.

You will need to disconnect all your hard drives except the one to install OSX on and make sure that is on SATA 0. Then run the install DVD and at the installation screen, run Disk Utility from the Utilities menu, click on the Partition tab. In the options click GUID Partition Table and set to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) then apply.

The installer will now see your hard drive and install to it.

Hope this helps.

Hi.

Thank you for your answer.

 

Well the problem is, OS X doesn't find my internal hard drives at all, even in disk utility. I've already tried to remove the other hard drive, to change their position etc...

That's why I had to format my external hard drive to install OS X on it (so that I had one running, in case of).

 

However, I'm not even able to launch any install process anymore, as I don't have the 8 gb USB thumb anymore (only a 4 gb one). DVDs with different .iso all shows the same error ("still waiting for root device"). So I'm quite a bit stuck for now...

Maybe there is a less than 4 gb .iso around here, so that I can try something else. I'll search for one.

 

PS :

My HDD are from Seagate, model BARRACUDA 7200,10 Family.

Have you checked that each sata port is switched on in the bios. I had this problem where the bios would do an automatic ide reconfiguration and turn off different sata ports.

Also you need to be on bios version A07

Don't give up, it can be done. I'm running a very stable 10.6.8 on my XPS 420.

The only issue I have at the moment is the App Store won't let me log in it keeps saying my device can't be verified and I've done every work around I can find with no luck but it's only a minor issue and I'll sort it somehow.

Hope this helps

×
×
  • Create New...