How do I start hackintoshing?

[SevenTheAppleKitty]

I initially necroposted an older thread of mine to attempt to find that out, but I've basically given up on that thread.

 

My hard drive is currently split for 2 OSes. 186 GiB for Windows 7 and 46 GiB for Linux mint (I'm planning to replace Linux Mint with a hackintosh : P )

it's been a while, so I'm quite nooby again. What's the easiest way to hackintosh this ancient (and uncommonly problem attracting, apparently) laptop while keeping windows 7 completely intact? (I need it for a hobby)

 

By the way, I'm completely unsure what OS X version I want to use (which is why it's in new users instead of one of the actual hackintoshing categories), most likely Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion.

Edited April 13, 2025 by SevenTheAppleKitty
omg i said "snow lion" and didn't fix it for the longest time aaaaaaagh

[SevenTheAppleKitty]

it's been 8 hours, can somebody bother to accept the modified text?

[SevenTheAppleKitty]

1 hour ago, eSaF said:

I would hazard a guess the reason you've not had a helpful response is due to the fact that you omitted to tell us, just like you did about your Gender (Gender doesn't matter but Specs do).

Lawl! Yeah, sorry. tired me was hoping someone would give some sort of suggestion before asking for the specs for some reason, I'll get to outfitting my signature with the specs of my potato.

 

edit: on another note, how do I show signatures I hid? I hid my own signature.

edit edit: by the way, the message you quoted is actually to the mods, because i edited the text and it didn't get approved for public view until hours later

Edited March 18, 2025 by SevenTheAppleKitty

[SevenTheAppleKitty]

45 minutes ago, eSaF said:

PS. I just done a search on the fore-mentioned site and found one example - https://github.com/mavethee/Hackintosh-OpenCore-EFI-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Y530 - this one.

The OC Files and kexts will need updating to the latest before its advisable to use the said EFI Folder.

Oh, I thought this laptop was so obscure it wouldn't have a page (mostly because it's usually mixed up with the Legion Y530, which I don't have)

Is the EFI compatible with most Mac versions? Still thinking of using the OS X versions I mentioned.
edit: and hopefully external display support is preincluded, my laptop screen has a malfunctioning backlight

edit edit: checked the repo's README, it doesn't support audio : (

Edited March 18, 2025 by SevenTheAppleKitty

[SevenTheAppleKitty]

I attempted to booting into a opencore USB with high sierra via dortania's guide, but it resulted in the return of the first problem i ever had with hackintoshing: THE BLINKY UNDERSCORE (the laptop technically boots, but does nothing)

[SevenTheAppleKitty]

9 hours ago, verdazil said:

I think this laptop belongs in a museum of rarities. Don't waste your time trying to run macOS on it - there is no full-fledged or at least minimally acceptable model of using it with macOS in 2025.
I don't claim to be the ultimate truth. Take this as an opinion. One of several possible ones.

most of my time with this thing has been wasting my time running useless things on it, when given the option to dedicate a ludicrus amount of time trying to run a useless OS on or using a small amount of time to install a useful one, i'll choose the useless OS because it's fun to troubleshoot

essentially, I want to waste my time (albeit I'd only want to waste my time running an OS X version before yosemite because *eurgh*)

Edited March 19, 2025 by SevenTheAppleKitty

[SevenTheAppleKitty]

Unrelated, but I honestly don't see why people don't install older versions of OS X when they have the opportunity, it runs faster, same case with windows, except people actually run older versions

[Cyberdevs]

14 hours ago, SevenTheAppleKitty said:

Unrelated, but I honestly don't see why people don't install older versions of OS X when they have the opportunity, it runs faster, same case with windows, except people actually run older versions

I guess you are new to the Apple world and hackintosh scene, Generally when there is a new OS there are tons of new features that are not simply available in older OSes, you can only use apps for older macOS versions up to a point, for instance Chrome/Safari won't update on macOS Catalina and older versions beyond a certain version (which I don't recall the exact version and it really doesn't matter) so, many features and security updates won't be available which leaves you vulnerable to attacks and hacks and same goes for the OS itself and many other apps as well.

 

In a nut shell it's best to use the latest OS and updates available simply because it is better but it does not apply to maOS versions that are still receiving active updates. I'm still using Monterey and Ventura as my daily driver, Haven't upgraded to Sonoma or Sequoia but that's me, many people want to use the latest OS because they want to stay up to date and take advantage on all the new features and stay more secure or simply because they can.

 

So why crawl when you can run?

[SevenTheAppleKitty]

I just think crawling is more fun : P

 

so... is there really no real way to hackintosh this thing? I feel like this laptop just really doesn't like OSx86

[SevenTheAppleKitty]

15 minutes ago, eSaF said:

Even if it is possible, I feel as you're somewhat a newbie it will be an up hill battle.

But as they say .....'Nothing ventured nothing gain'.....Which doesn't really work in the Hack game. 

dang : /

Unless someone can give a different suggestion, I guess my only real bet is just cheating (and replacing linux mint with windows XP, which is eugh)

[Slice]

My computer #4 in the signature is still useful no matter what dortania may say.

4. GA 965P-S1, E6300 Conroe, Radeon HD5570, ALC888, OS⌘ 10.11.6 (15G22010), Clover 4928.

[Slice]

1. Take ElCapitan iso anywhere.

2. Take Clover EFI even latest. https://cloud.mail.ru/public/BCqj/geU7Z93wP or other

3. Read manual about tuning and about ACPI https://github.com/CloverHackyColor/CloverBootloader/releases/download/5160/Clover_Of_Khaki_Color_5160-en.pdf

4. Try to install the macOS ElCapitan

5. Make preboot.log, debug.log, screenshots and add your observations what is wrong.

[SevenTheAppleKitty]

8 hours ago, Slice said:

1. Take ElCapitan iso anywhere.

2. Take Clover EFI even latest. https://cloud.mail.ru/public/BCqj/geU7Z93wP or other

3. Read manual about tuning and about ACPI https://github.com/CloverHackyColor/CloverBootloader/releases/download/5160/Clover_Of_Khaki_Color_5160-en.pdf

4. Try to install the macOS ElCapitan

5. Make preboot.log, debug.log, screenshots and add your observations what is wrong.

Already installed winXP instead ._. maybe I'll do it eventually since I don't actually really have a good reason to have XP installed

8 hours ago, Slice said:

macOS ElCapitan

ew

[SevenTheAppleKitty]

On 3/22/2025 at 3:09 PM, Slice said:

Read manual about tuning and about ACPI https://github.com/CloverHackyColor/CloverBootloader/releases/download/5160/Clover_Of_Khaki_Color_5160-en.pdf

i tried reading this... It's an information overload. they keep in details that simply aren't needed and therefore causes my brain to explode, also couldn't find mentions on how to install mac os with windows already installed (or atleast, i couldn't find any through the noise. seriously meant it when i said it was an information overload) (love the outdated screenshots though, could probably get an older OS X version working assuming clover hasn't dropped support)

Edited April 6, 2025 by SevenTheAppleKitty

[Slice]

Clover hasn't dropped support.

The brief instructions are here

On 3/22/2025 at 10:09 AM, Slice said:

1. Take ElCapitan iso anywhere.

2. Take Clover EFI even latest. https://cloud.mail.ru/public/BCqj/geU7Z93wP or other

3. Read manual about tuning and about ACPI https://github.com/CloverHackyColor/CloverBootloader/releases/download/5160/Clover_Of_Khaki_Color_5160-en.pdf

4. Try to install the macOS ElCapitan

5. Make preboot.log, debug.log, screenshots and add your observations what is wrong.

 

[SevenTheAppleKitty]

On 4/6/2025 at 8:08 PM, Slice said:

Clover hasn't dropped support.

The brief instructions are here

 

again, i've tried looking at the instructions and the manual you linked is an information overload.

[Mac Hosehead]

My first hack was a Clover install and was so long ago that I don't remember much. It worked but was a little funky as I recall. My next one was an OpenCore mod to a MacPro that my company was recycling. I put in a new GPU and got it to run Catalina. It still runs today and overall is pretty solid. It helps with other things such as preparing hard drives for other hackintosh installs. Putting MacOS on old hardware is always an additional challenge. Many talented people here can achieve it but it will take extra effort. The end result may not be as good as you want. I like Cinnamon and would choose over XP anyways.

[SevenTheAppleKitty]

On 4/9/2025 at 2:13 AM, Mac Hosehead said:

Putting MacOS on old hardware is always an additional challenge. Many talented people here can achieve it but it will take extra effort. The end result may not be as good as you want. I like Cinnamon and would choose over XP anyways.

Then I guess I should use chameleon as that's basically as old as this laptop and the version of OS X I'm wanting to run? XD
That assumes chameleon accepts a OS X install disk that's not in the DVD drive as I don't have a physical OS X install disk.. does it?

Edited April 10, 2025 by SevenTheAppleKitty

[Mac Hosehead]

Chameleon? Wow, something else I might have played around with long ago but I don't remember much. I guess it is still around. I've had better success with install DVDs on old hardware. In your case maybe Sierra or High Sierra.

[SevenTheAppleKitty]

4 minutes ago, Mac Hosehead said:

Chameleon? Wow, something else I might have played around with long ago but I don't remember much. I guess it is still around. I've had better success with install DVDs on old hardware. In your case maybe Sierra or High Sierra.

I think Lion or ML would fit better with the time period on this thing (I also just don't like the yosemite+ UI but that's an opinion), so I'll test that out first
honestly, I think the main hiccup would be getting the OS X VM set up so I can actually set up the USB flash drive

[Shaneee]

A legacy OpenCore USB should work in theory. You can create the USB on Windows rather than messing around with a VM, https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Install-Guide/installer-guide/windows-install.html  That'll work for Lion onwards.

[SevenTheAppleKitty]

38 minutes ago, Shaneee said:

A legacy OpenCore USB should work in theory. You can create the USB on Windows rather than messing around with a VM, https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Install-Guide/installer-guide/windows-install.html  That'll work for Lion onwards.

I've already failed to use opencore multiple times, so I'll pass unless I'm out of options (if chameleon doesn't work, i'll still have a working VM to mess around with in the meantime)

[Slice]

Opencore or Chameleon? Do you know there is one more bootloader named Clover?

[SevenTheAppleKitty]

6 minutes ago, Slice said:

Opencore or Chameleon? Do you know there is one more bootloader named Clover?

again, the clover manual is a complete mess. I'm not using clover.

[deeveedee]

@SevenTheAppleKitty I like both Clover and Open Core and see the value in each.  The Clover and Open Core manuals look similar to me, but I can see how a beginner would be intimidated by the manuals.  If manuals aren't your thing, start by reviewing the numerous hackintosh examples posted by others.  An internet search engine is your friend.  Or if that's too old-school for you, try ChatGPT, Grok, Gemini or your favorite AI assistant.

Edited April 10, 2025 by deeveedee