iATKOS v1.0i r2 Blinking Cursor Fix

[joneslee85]

All right, I know that heaps of posts discussing about the blinking cursor bug that is eventually a problem of Darwin Bootloader. To sum up, I think it's the best to make a new topic to consult everyone on how to fix this.

 

 

This is my machine spec:

Dell Dimension 9150

 

I downloaded iATKOS v1.0i r2 (yes, 2nd releases version), burned to DVD, booted with it.

I use Disk Utility and created a single partition, yes, it's single boot system, no dual boot or whatever

Then I choose Customize and chose:

+ Darwin x86 Bootloader

 

(I skip the Darwin EFI Emulation and Stock Kernel option because it keep restart on startup - dun know the reason why)

 

Alright, have a cup of coffee, sit down and wait for the setup finishes. When it start up, all I get is a blinking cursor. Nothing more, nothing less. However, I can still boot into my Mactel using iATKOS DVD (leave the timer count down elapsed and it boot)

 

 

My question is:

1. Do I have to choose the EFI emulation option in installation?

2. Can someone tell me what is the reason behind the cursor blinking and how to fix this bug?

 

Thank you so so so so much.

[ejlax]

All right, I know that heaps of posts discussing about the blinking cursor bug that is eventually a problem of Darwin Bootloader. To sum up, I think it's the best to make a new topic to consult everyone on how to fix this.

 

 

This is my machine spec:

Dell Dimension 9150

 

I downloaded iATKOS v1.0i r2 (yes, 2nd releases version), burned to DVD, booted with it.

I use Disk Utility and created a single partition, yes, it's single boot system, no dual boot or whatever

Then I choose Customize and chose:

+ Darwin x86 Bootloader

 

(I skip the Darwin EFI Emulation and Stock Kernel option because it keep restart on startup - dun know the reason why)

 

Alright, have a cup of coffee, sit down and wait for the setup finishes. When it start up, all I get is a blinking cursor. Nothing more, nothing less. However, I can still boot into my Mactel using iATKOS DVD (leave the timer count down elapsed and it boot)

 

 

My question is:

1. Do I have to choose the EFI emulation option in installation?

2. Can someone tell me what is the reason behind the cursor blinking and how to fix this bug?

 

Thank you so so so so much.

 

Try this....

 

reboot with the iATKOS DVD in...then hit F8

 

-s

 

it will run some scripts as it loads up the command line

once it is finished type

 

fdisk -e /dev/rdisk0

flag 1 (assuming that you are using the first partition)

write

update

quit

reboot

then it should be all ready to boot.

[Undead Surfer]

Does booting with -s run some extra post-installation stuff? If not then doing the stuff in fdisk doesn't work either and results in the same blinking cursor stuffs.

[Digginator]

that didnt work for me

[tuxx-home.at]

Hi folks!

 

I'm new to this whole stuff but I stumbled upon this very issue after installing iATKOS v1.0ir2 on my notebook.

Fortunately I found an article about fixing the GUID bootloader and with small modifications, it fixed the problem you mentioned above for me too, so you should definetly give it a whirl.

 

The original idea is from [here].

 

To make it fix the Darwin x86 loader, use the following commands:

 

1. Boot with the DVD

2. Press F8, then type "-s" (this will start some kind of a rescue shell)

3. type "cd /usr/standalone/i386"

4. type "dd if=boot1h of=/dev/rdiskXsY bs=512 count=1" (where X is the disk number and Y is the partition number on which you installed Leo, in your case it should read /dev/rdisk0s1)

5. type "dd if=boot0 of=/dev/diskX bs=400 count=1 (where X is again the disknumber, in your case: /dev/disk0)

6. type "reboot" and take out the DVD, your system should now be able to boot from the hard disk.

[einhornchen]

For all of those who use the method posted above without any success, do the following:

 

Boot to DVD. Open Terminal from utilities menu

 

type "cp /mach_kernel /Volumes/Your_MAC_partition_name"

 

After copying the file, use the method listed above once more, and it should work out for you.

 

For some reason, not sure if it's just my box or the dvd copy i have, mach_kernel did not copy to the HDD.

[grrantry]

none of these worked for me

[steenamaroo]

tuxx,,,thank you very much for posting that..

 

i ran into a few problems of this nature with my iatkos v1.0i,,and this was the only solution.

 

 

out of interest,,do you, or does anyone know why this problem arises?

 

 

thanks again amigo.

[Konner]

How do we prevent this {censored}. this really annoys me.

[Josh2010]

hi all,

Just installed Iaktos 2.0i - exact same problem.

After fresh install cursor was blinking.

So I reboot with DVD in and typed:

rd=disk0s2

 

boot went ok - to Leopard.

 

Then applied every possible technique described here,

first from blinking turned to "b0 error".

 

Now, no matter what solution I do - nothing helps.

Only booting with DVD.

 

I cannot believe, people release drivers, and heavy coding stuff - and nobody comes to fix "booting" problem, the fundamentals.

Any other solution?

 

ps. Yes I did try with disk0s1 swithces and disk0s2 etc.etc.

cheers

[francola]

I rejoiced the day that I found this fix!! It has worked for me on multiple machines. It installs a new EFI boot loader and fixes the dreaded "Blinking cursor" for me every time!!! I did not write it and am sorry, but I don't remember who did either. I have revised the original instructions to make it a little clearer (for me anyway). I hope it can save someone else's butt as much as it has saved mine! Let me know if it works for you.

bootefi.zip

[Kudige]

Folks,

 

I faced a lot of problems installing iATKOS v1.0 r2 on my Dell Dimension 9150.

Finally managed to install it (well almost ... audio driver is stubbornly refusing to co-operate) but I have rest of the stuff working ... I even installed iPhone SDK and built an iphone app!

 

Okay so this is what I did:

 

*** Partitioning ****

 

My Dell came with C: and D: drives. I resized D: and created extra partition and then installed Leopard on it. After everything done, reboot and blinking cursor

 

This is WRONG. Why ? Because the partition was created as an "extended partition" and darwin seems to boot only on primary partition.

 

Solution: Booted with a sysrescuecd, ran gparted, resized the "extended partition", moved it down and created a new primary partition. Everything went well. This time I couldnt even install Leopard.

 

WHY ? Well when the partition was moved around, the volume labels were out of order and Leopard is very fussy about this.

 

Solution: Booted back with the sysrescuecd, ran fdisk. Type 'x' for advanced options. Type 'f' to 'fix partition table order' . Sounds scary, but it worked.

 

This time I installed Leopard (Dont forget to choose ox86 bool loader option) , everything went well, but then blinking cursor.

 

NOW WHAT ???

 

Well this is what I did AFTER installing Leopard next which did the magic - boot into sysrescuecd, run fdisk and toggle off the bootable flag from all partitions except my primary windows partition (C:). Toggle C: on (use command 'a')

 

Now, I was able to boot into my windows. Verify all data was still intact.

Copy the CHAIN0 file from the iATKOS CD to C:\

Append this line into the C:\boot.ini

C:\CHAIN0=Leopard

and change timeout to 30 secs - believe me, you will need that much time

Reboot, cross fingers.

 

This time when booting, I selected Leopard from the boot menu ... and press F8 in the next screen. Now I was offered all the partitions to choose from. Choose the one where you installed Leopard. And press enter ... viola - brand new shiny Leopard on the baby.

 

Cheers,

/CK

[discostu668]

i'm trying to run iatkos on my dimension 9150 as well. it does not recognize any hd within the disk utility. what should my bios settings be? how should i set up my hd?

 

it should be noted that i am trying to put this onto a separate internal sata hd, not the volume i have windows installed on.

 

thanks!

[EnVmyZ]

Doesn't this have to do with setting your hard drive "Master Boot Record" instead of GUID?

 

I've had to hook my hard drive up via USB cable and format it with another computer to get it back in the disc utility.

[mondial]

After Time Machine restored my hole Disk I had the blinking cursor issue.

I read that a windows boot disk can fix the MBR...

So after booting with XP64 i chose the REPAIR option. Due to no disk could be found (HPS+ formatted)

the command prompt appeared. I typed FIXMBR to the commandline and agreed for writing to disk.

So the mbr was okay and I could boot by leo4all-disk to HDD...

No I have to repair the partition... (I hope with fdisk it will work)

 

greets MONDI