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[Guide] Mavericks on Dell XPS 15z L511z


hahutzy
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0. optional step to install wireless card

L511z default card isn't supported by OSX

so if you want, order a DW1510 from ebay and install it into your L511z

 

1. Prepare the USB for booting (on PC)

download Niresh Mavericks

download transmac (free trial)

using a blank 8GB USB, restore image of Niresh onto the USB with transmac

 

2. Priming harddrive for install

using a windows 7 boot disk, boot into windows installer

shift+F10 to bring up cmd

using diskpart, clean the disk (NOTE: it will wipe everything on the disk!)

 

3. BIOS settings

reboot and F2 into bios

on settings page, enable everything

on settings page, set harddisk to AHCI

on boot order page, change the order to:

- USB

- CD/DVD

- harddisk

- the rest doesnt matter

 

4. booting into OSX install

put the boot USB into L511z, the USB slot further away from you (but not the ESATA slot)

power on and let it load into bootloader

select Niresh Mavericks option

boot with "-v -x" flags

 

5. OSX install settings

go to disk utility

Erase your harddrive into OS Extended Journaled format with a name of OSX

continue through the install screens and select your harddisk. dont click install yet

click Customize, then:

- [uncheck all] Boot-Loader Flags > Chameleon Configuration > SMBIOS > MacPro

- [check] Boot-Loader Flags > Chameleon Configuration > SMBIOS > MacBookPro > MacBook Pro 8,1

continue by actually clicking Install

 

6. fixing 4k sector error (only if you can't boot with localdisk; it means your harddrive uses 4k sectors that chameleon cant handle)

boot using the USB again, but choose to boot into the localdisk OSX without any flags

once it's booted, plug a USB mouse into the slot nearest you

setup your mac, set both Full name and Username as Admin

enable the wifi etc.

download the boot1h.zip below

reboot with USB into USB installer with "-v -x" flags

open Terminal

then unplug the mouse and plug in a spare USB

exit Terminal

open Disk Utility

Erase the new USB into OS Extended Journaled, and name it NONAME

Unmount the OSX partition from the harddrive

exit Disk Utility

open Terminal again and type:

- cp /Volumes/OSX/Users/Admin/Downloads/boot1h /Volumes/NONAME

- dd if=/Volumes/NONAME/boot1h of=/dev/disk0s2

exit Terminal

shut down

unplug all USBs

boot again, now you should be able to boot into the bootloader without using the USB

 

7. solving boot problems, part 2

if you still have problems (like i do) with "Operating System is missing"

it's because somehow, the laptop can't detect OSX when it's the first thing it tries booting

that's why when you have a USB in there, it boots

meaning, it can also boot when you have a CD/DVD in there, and choose to not boot from it

my solution is to permanently have a windows install disk in the CD drive, and make sure the boot priority of it is higher than localdisk OSX

then, every time you boot up, windows disk loads first. but you can not press any key and the windows boot wont start

then, Niresh's bootloader loads successfully for you to boot into OSX without any flags

 

8. disable sleep

System Preferences > Energy Saver > slide "Computer sleep" all the way to the right

System Preferences > Energy Saver > uncheck "Put hard disks to sleep when possible" and "Wake for network access"

 

9. audio problems

if you experience buzzing noises at max volume:

System Preferences > VoodooHDA > slide "Input Gain" slider all the way to the left

 

10. trackpad problems

First, download "Drivers.zip" included in this post (below)

Decopress Drivers.zip. You'll be using the files inside Touchpad folder

to install cypress PS2, first go to System/Library/Extensions (SLE) to delete "ApplePS2Controller.kext" and "AppleACPIPS2Nub.kext"

then using Kext wizard, Install VoodooPS2Controller.kext. then Repair Premissions and RebuildCache

reboot into OSX

if it panics, reboot into OSX with -v -x and run Kext wizard to repair and rebuild again, then boot again with -v only

once it's booted, install VoodooPS2cypressPane.prefPane

go into the pref pane, and disable 5finger screen lock and 5finger sleep

 

11. brightness and battery problems (update)

Thanks to ctheanh's DSDT and tips on kexts, it is now possible to adjust brightness and show battery status!

First, download dsdt.aml.zip at the bottom of this post.

Decompress the zip to get dsdt.aml

Place dsdt.aml inside the following directory:

/Extra/

 

In Drivers.zip, you'll be using the contents of Battery and Keyboard Fn Keys folders.

Open Kext Wizard, go to Installation tab

Drag both IOWMIFamily.kext and AppleACPIBatteryManager.kext into Kext Wizard

Click Install

After it's done, click to Maintenance tab

Check "System/Library/Extensions"

Check "Repair Permissions"

Check "Rebuild Cache"

Clic Execute

After it's completed, you can reboot

if it panics, reboot into OSX with -v -x and run Kext wizard to repair and rebuild again, then boot again with -v only

You should now see the battery status at the top right, and Fn+F4 Fn+F5 now controls brightness.

 

Thanks again to ctheanh!

 

 

97. Things not working that i would like to solve:

nvidia 525gt gpu (wishful thinking)

 

98. Personal note on things I downloaded to try/use:

Cypress PS2 Trackpad kext

FireFox

Garage Band

F.Lux

BetterSnapTool

USB Overdrive X (for mouse driver)

 

99. History:

update [05/15/2014] : added f.lux and bettersnaptool, removed hyperdock as downloaded apps

 

update [03/03/2014] : added instructions for installing DSDT.aml

update [03/03/2014] : added instructions for installing brightness control and battery monitor

 

update [01/29/2014] : to install cypress PS2, first go to System/Library/Extensions (SLE) to delete "ApplePS2Controller.kext" and "AppleACPIPS2Nub.kext"

update [01/29/2014] : then using Kext wizard, Install VoodooPS2Controller.kext. then Repair Premissions and RebuildCache

 

update [01/24/2014] : I updated to 10.9.1 with the automated appstore update. Now it won't boot without flags. I need to -v -x

update [01/24/2014] : I installed all of the isaac1234 kexts. trackpad works. battery indicator still doesnt audio actually stopped working. I think I'm just going to reformat and just install the trackpad kext.

update [01/24/2014] : Trying the cypress PS2 trackpad kext before I reformat

update [01/24/2014] : Apparently, if you can't boot normally, just install more kexts and repair permissions and rebuild cache in safe mode fixes the problem

update [01/24/2014] : cypress PS2 installed properly, but keyboard and trackpad dont work in normal mode for some reason

boot1h.zip

Drivers.zip

dsdt.aml.zip

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That screen means you need a DSDT patch for the HD3000 card, and make sure you do an EDID override to fix other glitches. Check out this thread here, it's a monster but has all the information, DSDT's, patches, and kexts you could possibly need for the XPS 15z.

 

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/257950-guide-dell-xps-15-l502x-early-2011-snow-leopard-install-possibly-l702x-too/

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Installed 10.9.1 on Dell XPS L511z by using USB image (got from rutracker).

Most of thing are worked:

 + Disable NVIDIA 525m by fixing DSDT.

 + Battery status showed by using AppleACPIBatteryManager.kext with DSDT fixed.

 + Brightness changing by DSDT fixing and IOWMIFamily.kext (for using Fn+F4 and Fn+F5)

 + Trackpad  - 2 fingers and more by VoodooPS2controler.kext for Cypress (https://code.google.com/p/voodoops2controllercypress/)

 + USB & USB 3.0 worked by kext.

 + Audio by VoodooHDA 2.8.4 (sometime lost sound over headphone )

Not fixed:

 + Speedstep and HWmonitor

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  • 2 weeks later...

Installed 10.9.1 on Dell XPS L511z by using USB image (got from rutracker).

Most of thing are worked:

 + Disable NVIDIA 525m by fixing DSDT.

 + Battery status showed by using AppleACPIBatteryManager.kext with DSDT fixed.

 + Brightness changing by DSDT fixing and IOWMIFamily.kext (for using Fn+F4 and Fn+F5)

 + Trackpad  - 2 fingers and more by VoodooPS2controler.kext for Cypress (https://code.google.com/p/voodoops2controllercypress/)

 + USB & USB 3.0 worked by kext.

 + Audio by VoodooHDA 2.8.4 (sometime lost sound over headphone )

Not fixed:

 + Speedstep and HWmonitor

Care to share your DSDT.aml?

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 7 months later...
  • 2 months later...

I was able to use the same method as above, with Yosemite Zone from niresh.

 

Although, the touchpad kext doesn't work.

 

Volume works but need to disable "Show Desktop"

In System Pref -> Keyboard -> Shortcuts -> Mission Control

 

Also, the DVD trick no longer works to boot; you need the USB to boot into the Yosemite installed on the harddrive.

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I just updated to 10.10.2 and lost sound, even after reinstalling my applehda and ioaudiofamily. anyone have any idea why this would happen? reinstalling the audio kexts has consistently worked until now.

 

btw use Ulysse's trackpad kext for awesome trackpadding....it's so awesome with gestures and reliability that I gave him a donation!

 

*edit*

I just switched to voodoohda and everything's perfect soundwise...lol should've made this switch a long time ago.

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I used a vanilla install of Mavericks, followed by an update to Yosemite. Not sure what Yosemite Zone is, but I know that third-party helpers sometimes inject their own kexts with plugins that include trackpad/mouse/keyboard kexts, so make sure you don't have any of those in your S/L/E folder.

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  • 2 months later...

0. optional step to install wireless card

L511z default card isn't supported by OSX

so if you want, order a DW1510 from ebay and install it into your L511z

 

1. Prepare the USB for booting (on PC)

download Niresh Mavericks

download transmac (free trial)

using a blank 8GB USB, restore image of Niresh onto the USB with transmac

 

2. Priming harddrive for install

using a windows 7 boot disk, boot into windows installer

shift+F10 to bring up cmd

using diskpart, clean the disk (NOTE: it will wipe everything on the disk!)

 

3. BIOS settings

reboot and F2 into bios

on settings page, enable everything

on settings page, set harddisk to AHCI

on boot order page, change the order to:

- USB

- CD/DVD

- harddisk

- the rest doesnt matter

 

4. booting into OSX install

put the boot USB into L511z, the USB slot further away from you (but not the ESATA slot)

power on and let it load into bootloader

select Niresh Mavericks option

boot with "-v -x" flags

 

5. OSX install settings

go to disk utility

Erase your harddrive into OS Extended Journaled format with a name of OSX

continue through the install screens and select your harddisk. dont click install yet

click Customize, then:

- [uncheck all] Boot-Loader Flags > Chameleon Configuration > SMBIOS > MacPro

- [check] Boot-Loader Flags > Chameleon Configuration > SMBIOS > MacBookPro > MacBook Pro 8,1

continue by actually clicking Install

 

6. fixing 4k sector error (only if you can't boot with localdisk; it means your harddrive uses 4k sectors that chameleon cant handle)

boot using the USB again, but choose to boot into the localdisk OSX without any flags

once it's booted, plug a USB mouse into the slot nearest you

setup your mac, set both Full name and Username as Admin

enable the wifi etc.

download the boot1h.zip below

reboot with USB into USB installer with "-v -x" flags

open Terminal

then unplug the mouse and plug in a spare USB

exit Terminal

open Disk Utility

Erase the new USB into OS Extended Journaled, and name it NONAME

Unmount the OSX partition from the harddrive

exit Disk Utility

open Terminal again and type:

- cp /Volumes/OSX/Users/Admin/Downloads/boot1h /Volumes/NONAME

- dd if=/Volumes/NONAME/boot1h of=/dev/disk0s2

exit Terminal

shut down

unplug all USBs

boot again, now you should be able to boot into the bootloader without using the USB

 

7. solving boot problems, part 2

if you still have problems (like i do) with "Operating System is missing"

it's because somehow, the laptop can't detect OSX when it's the first thing it tries booting

that's why when you have a USB in there, it boots

meaning, it can also boot when you have a CD/DVD in there, and choose to not boot from it

my solution is to permanently have a windows install disk in the CD drive, and make sure the boot priority of it is higher than localdisk OSX

then, every time you boot up, windows disk loads first. but you can not press any key and the windows boot wont start

then, Niresh's bootloader loads successfully for you to boot into OSX without any flags

 

8. disable sleep

System Preferences > Energy Saver > slide "Computer sleep" all the way to the right

System Preferences > Energy Saver > uncheck "Put hard disks to sleep when possible" and "Wake for network access"

 

9. audio problems

if you experience buzzing noises at max volume:

System Preferences > VoodooHDA > slide "Input Gain" slider all the way to the left

 

10. trackpad problems

First, download "Drivers.zip" included in this post (below)

Decopress Drivers.zip. You'll be using the files inside Touchpad folder

to install cypress PS2, first go to System/Library/Extensions (SLE) to delete "ApplePS2Controller.kext" and "AppleACPIPS2Nub.kext"

then using Kext wizard, Install VoodooPS2Controller.kext. then Repair Premissions and RebuildCache

reboot into OSX

if it panics, reboot into OSX with -v -x and run Kext wizard to repair and rebuild again, then boot again with -v only

once it's booted, install VoodooPS2cypressPane.prefPane

go into the pref pane, and disable 5finger screen lock and 5finger sleep

 

11. brightness and battery problems (update)

Thanks to ctheanh's DSDT and tips on kexts, it is now possible to adjust brightness and show battery status!

First, download dsdt.aml.zip at the bottom of this post.

Decompress the zip to get dsdt.aml

Place dsdt.aml inside the following directory:

/Extra/

 

In Drivers.zip, you'll be using the contents of Battery and Keyboard Fn Keys folders.

Open Kext Wizard, go to Installation tab

Drag both IOWMIFamily.kext and AppleACPIBatteryManager.kext into Kext Wizard

Click Install

After it's done, click to Maintenance tab

Check "System/Library/Extensions"

Check "Repair Permissions"

Check "Rebuild Cache"

Clic Execute

After it's completed, you can reboot

if it panics, reboot into OSX with -v -x and run Kext wizard to repair and rebuild again, then boot again with -v only

You should now see the battery status at the top right, and Fn+F4 Fn+F5 now controls brightness.

 

Thanks again to ctheanh!

 

 

97. Things not working that i would like to solve:

nvidia 525gt gpu (wishful thinking)

 

98. Personal note on things I downloaded to try/use:

Cypress PS2 Trackpad kext

FireFox

Garage Band

F.Lux

BetterSnapTool

USB Overdrive X (for mouse driver)

 

99. History:

update [05/15/2014] : added f.lux and bettersnaptool, removed hyperdock as downloaded apps

 

update [03/03/2014] : added instructions for installing DSDT.aml

update [03/03/2014] : added instructions for installing brightness control and battery monitor

 

update [01/29/2014] : to install cypress PS2, first go to System/Library/Extensions (SLE) to delete "ApplePS2Controller.kext" and "AppleACPIPS2Nub.kext"

update [01/29/2014] : then using Kext wizard, Install VoodooPS2Controller.kext. then Repair Premissions and RebuildCache

 

update [01/24/2014] : I updated to 10.9.1 with the automated appstore update. Now it won't boot without flags. I need to -v -x

update [01/24/2014] : I installed all of the isaac1234 kexts. trackpad works. battery indicator still doesnt audio actually stopped working. I think I'm just going to reformat and just install the trackpad kext.

update [01/24/2014] : Trying the cypress PS2 trackpad kext before I reformat

update [01/24/2014] : Apparently, if you can't boot normally, just install more kexts and repair permissions and rebuild cache in safe mode fixes the problem

update [01/24/2014] : cypress PS2 installed properly, but keyboard and trackpad dont work in normal mode for some reason

All of your files are down. Please update

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