Any successfull installs on Dell Inspiron 8600 w/ Centrino or the like?

[loudog3114]

I have tried a few times to get 8f1099 and 8f1111 on here with different patches and never been able to. 10.4.1 installed flawlessly... anyone managed to get a newer build on one of these machines? if so can you give me specific details as to how to get it done?

 

I have the 1.4mhz banias processor with sse2, sse, and mmx. 400mhz front side bus, i855pm northbridge and 82801db southbridge. Video card is an ATI mobility 9600 pro.

Edited January 11, 2006 by loudog3114

[loudog3114]

bump?

[justice]

I have Dell 8600 w ATI MObility 9600, Broadcomm wifi.

 

Here are my instructions on how to set up properly.

 

Install Jas 10.4.6 and click customize button during installation. Make sure the partition you are using is marked "Active". If you don't do this you'll get the dreaded b0 error. You can stick the HDD in a windows box, zap everything, create a pertition, MARK IT ACTIVE, but don't format it. There are other ways to create an active partition, that's the the way I did it.

 

During installation you'll see a Customize button -- click it. you should have a list of things to install or not. Click on the bottom little arrow next to the checbox to expand the choices. Select Wireless Networking, Intel SSE2, and 10.4.6 base package. Leave everything AMD related unselected. DO NOT install ATI mobility drivers, they didn't work for me.

 

The following is off the top of my head so may have typos or whatnot, but you can find tons more info in the forums:

 

Once you finished the install, you'll boot up in 1024x768. Click the apple on the top left of your screen, select "About this Mac" and select "More Info". Click "Graphics" and you should see the stats for your graphics adapter -- Quartz Express and Core Image should be supported.

 

If you have a higher resolution than 1280x800, you can adjust the resolution to be higher

 

Open Applications->Utilities -> Terminal an start a shell, and type

sudo vi /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist

(enter your passeword)

 

and add the following if you have a WUXGA screen:

<key>Graphic Mode</key> (<--- or is it Graphics mode? (with an "s") ? Check around forums for confirmation

<string>1600X1200X32@60</string>

 

or if you have a 1680x1050 screen:

<string>1280X1024X32@60</string>

 

If you don't know how to use vi use nano:

sudo nano /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist

 

 

Restart your computer and go into the bios, and DISABLE screen stretch. Exit BIOS, boot into OSX

 

 

For me, sound works, Wired and Wireless LAN works, 1600x1200 works, OpenGL works, QE and CI works, keyboard and trackpad works. USB mouse works. Volume and Mute buttons on top of the keyboard works.

 

Sleep-on-close-panel doesn't work yet, haven't gotten around to check for the battery monitor, but there is a post in the forum of a guy that made it work. Haven't heard of anyone who got native widescreen to work properly (except with callisto drivers), but then these are quite experimental, didn't work for me, and prevents you from using accelerated 3D (opengl).

 

All in all I'm happy.

[WestCon]

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Edited February 7, 2007 by WestCon

[barchetta]

Hi all,

 

This is my first post here and my third day of running OSX on my Inspiron 8600.

 

My iDell iNspiron 8600 has the following configuration:

 

Pentium M 1.5

512 Mb ram

40 Gb harddrive

CD/DVD combo-drive

nVidia GeForce FX Go5650 graphics w/ 128Mb

1920x1200 15.4" widescreen

Intel Wireless 2100 (together with the Pentium M this is the 'Centrino' configuration)

Broadcom 440X ethernet

Factory installed Bluetooth

Built-in sound

 

What amazed me the most (apart from the fact that it all runs anyway) is the support of my native resolution of 1920x1200! It's like an Apple HD Cinema display, just a little smaller

 

Unfortunately no QE or CI. I tried the MacVidia driver the other day and it wouldn't boot anymore (after the gray Apple logo, there was a window that said that I should reboot... kinda like a BSOD?)

It correctly recognizes the hardware, saying Go5650, manufacturer nVidia (0x10de), device ID 0x031b and revision ID 0x00a1.

 

Sound is working, the built-in mike seems to work to (I tapped on it and the slider moved), bluetooth is recognized (haven't actually tried it) and power management is working after a patch (my 3 year old laptop can still run 1.45 hours on it's battery). I yanked the Touchpad kext and now tapping is working aswell. CD-burning is also supported. It was a fiddle to understand how this goes on a Mac, but no so much to operate. CD could be read back on a PC. DVD's are recognized but the DVD-player app isn't working right.

 

I had some trouble with my networking though. I installed a pre-10.4.8 Broadcom 440X driver and I boot with my nic (and then press esc) and now it is working (pant pant sigh, fortunately I know a bit of unix to get the owner and mods right).

My wireless isn't working but I've ordered a TrueMobility 1450 on eBay. I hope I can just install it. Will the hardware automatically recognize it or should I (re)install something?

 

Finally, it's reporting an en0 built-in ethernet and en1 external (?) nic. Apparently this can be swapped? I haven't quite found the right thread yet. (pointers appriciated)

 

The most fun I had was installing Parallels Desktop and XP! Of course it defeats the whole purpose of installing XP on a Dell running OSX, but it's fun anyway!

 

 

Oh man, it's soo uber-cool! Went on apple.com and Quicktime movies run straight away . Document files in pdf? In an instant. I'm thinking of buying a miniMac for my desktop-computing needs!

 

Marc

Edited February 13, 2007 by barchetta

[wisebyte]

Hi barchetta,

 

How are you? I am glad to see that you have your Inspiron 8600 working. I am envious. I have the Inspiron 8200 and am having a hard time getting the graphics to work properly. I have installed both the MacVidia 1.0.8 and 1.0.81, but they both just gave me the press the power button and try again screen (like you said ...kinda like BSOD). I am using the JaS 10.4.8 SSE2 SSE3 ISO.

 

Could you please tell me what video driver you are using and how I can find it? I would appreciate any help!

 

WiseByte

[starodub]

I have the Inspiron 8200 and am having a hard time getting the graphics to work properly. I have installed both the MacVidia 1.0.8 and 1.0.81, but they both just gave me the press the power button and try again screen (like you said ...kinda like BSOD). I am using the JaS 10.4.8 SSE2 SSE3 ISO.

I have the same laptop and I'm downloading a JaS 10.4.8 SSE2 SSE3 with & ppf1 ppf2 ISO right now. What is your dell's video card - gf2 of gf4? Did you have any other issues in installation process?