Jump to content
22 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

Hi,

 

I've searched the forum and found a number of posts about the Dell XPS 410, but nothing about the Dell XPS 420. Has anyone successfully installed and run Leopard on one? It looks like a pretty decent machine from the specs, and the price is reasonable (when on sale).

 

Thanks!

Link to comment
https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/84361-dell-xps-420-as-a-hackintosh/
Share on other sites

sckor,

 

I just got my XPS420 from dell today (refurbished, Q6600, 3G 800MHz, 19-1 media reader w/ bluetooth, ATI 2400 HD pro).

Of course I can't wait to install the KalyWay 10.5.1 on it. This is my first impression. I am still waiting for the XFX Geforce 7900GS and ethernet card.

So I only have 1024x768 on the ACD 23 and no network.

 

Here is how it went so far (without any patch).

 

1. Don't select any video, audio driver during install. If you do that, after installation reboot will freeze at some point.

2. EFI + V kernel.

3. All 1394 port works, all USB port works, media card reader works. Bluetooth works.

4. System report "Mac Pro, 1 Processor, 4 Cores".

5. The overall experience after it comes up feels so smooth like butter. Love it immediately.

6. Logitech Webcam 5000Pro works, mic on webcam works.

7. Integrated ethernet not work, integrated audio not work.

8. All my external USB drive works, NTFS readonly. iPhone works like a charm.

9. CD/DVD burning works.

10. The M$ side show is kinda a waste on Leopard. Don't know how to utilize it.

11. Leopard must did something to my ACD 23, after installation I can't turn it off. Have to unplug/plug power cord to make the power button work again.

12. Leopard must did something to my Logitech MX mouse, reset all the setting I configured in Vista.

13. The CPU shows as "2.4G Unknown", don't know how to fix that "Unknown" part. Saw it somewhere in the forum but don't remember.

 

Anything else? Let me know. Like I said I am waiting for the proper hardware to come. Hate to do research to tweak configurations to make it work. So I just bought stuff from the compatible list. Didn't install any software on it yet.

 

I do hope someone can help me to make the audio work so I don't have to buy the external USB sound card.

Please share your experience if you are installing it on XPS 420.

 

I have a strong feeling that I will dump Vista and use Leopard only.

 

-salado

Thanks! Headrush69,

 

I can't figure out how to make the onboard audio work.

Could you share how to make it work?

 

And, how could I fix the CPU information... mine shows as "2.4GHz Unknown", how could I fix that "Unknown" part?

 

Thanks Thanks Thanks!

I can't figure out how to make the onboard audio work.

Have you read the Targus HDA Patcher thread yet? In it I have posted the right codec needed.

 

And, how could I fix the CPU information... mine shows as "2.4GHz Unknown", how could I fix that "Unknown" part?

This part is just a cometic issue, it doesn't affect how the machine runs.

You can get different text for that and the machine type by using a different AppleSMBIOS.kext, from iAtkos, ToH, EFIv8.

 

You can also edit the text manually. Check aqua-mac's posts. I'm pretty sure he posted a how to or his signature has a link to his web site where he has an easy step by step tutorial.

Hi, Headrush69,

 

I read your posts in the AppleHDAPatcher thread. My understanding is that there is no perfect solution yet (after reboot you have to patch it again). And somehow it's related to the EFI?

Is it still the same situation now? or you have found the permanent solution for integrated sound on XPS 420.

 

For the "2.4GHz Unknown" thing, it's not that important compare to the sound issue. If there is no good solution yet, I am off to buy one USB audio adaptor to get pass it.

 

Thanks again for your help!

  • 2 months later...
Look at my sig.

 

Everything except onboard NIC works perfect.

 

Hi,

 

I have almost identical XPS 420, everything works but Nic and Sound. I got Nic card and trying to get on board sound working. Can you put down steps exactly what you did? I will appreciate it.

 

Thanks in advance!

  • 3 weeks later...
Updating...

 

:-)

 

Replying from the Leopard...

 

Just plugged in the ENCORE ENLGA-1320 Gigabit PC Ethernet Adapter. Works like a charm....

 

I have that exact card

 

it is being reconized however it won't go online or connect to my home network

 

any advice

  • 2 months later...

On my 420, the sleep/shutdown work perfect. Installed Kallaway 10.5.2 with vanilla everything and everything works, minus sound and network. I was surprised it worked without trying anything. I'm using the newest bios A04, so I don't know if that makes any difference.

  • 9 months later...
Has anybody had problems with sleep/shutdown with the vanilla kernel on the XPS 420? If so, how did you sort them out?

 

Thanks

 

I'm using iPC and it worked for the first 2 days but now it doesn't shutdown completely anymore. I have to hold the power button for a few secs to turn it off. It would be nice to get it working again but I don't want to reinstall the whole thing again.

Just installed yesterday and everything is working great except for sound and screen saver. I have to apply the applehdapatcher every time I start up to get audio. When I try to choose the screen saver it gives me an error and closes the system preferences window.

  • 4 months later...

On audio google for "STAC9227.v2". I've had success with there AppleHDA.kext and HDAEnabler.kext.

On LAN you need the Intel82566MM.kext.

 

If you use time machine I'd recommend finding a update for the IONetworkingFamily.kext

 

And I'd watch the ATA kexts when upgrading between versions.

  • 2 weeks later...

Hey guys. Long time Mac OS user, new forum browser :). Ive recently made the switch back to OS X after getting a job as a Web Developer, Coda just kicks ass. I myself also have an XPS 420, however the first thing I did was toss out the standard ATI 2400HD and popped in a nVidia GTX 260. Also, I recently updated the BIOS to A07. I am trying to install Kalyway 10.5.1 and it's like my 4th attempt now. Successfully installed it the first time, when I tried booting from the OSX HD, I was getting a "Please restart your system message". Was like lemme try again, tried again don't remember what exactly happened, but it aint working. So far I am following your setup settings for Kalyway. Did no Audio and Video driver install, both Vanilla and ACPI kernels, no network, and SSE2 support ticked. First install I was using MBR, that gave me the Please restart message. Last install failed to complete, towards the end a message saying OSX could not be installed popped out. I was using GUID settings (HD and install). Could there be a possibility that the problems are occuring due to the updated BIOS(A07)? Maybe the nVidia video adapter? Any help very appreciated. Thanks.

 

Man... I am a fool. Posting from my MacBook Pro.... XPS 420 is in Disk Uttility right now... I just accidentally formatted one of the @#*%&*# drives in my RAID array..... there goes 500 Gb of data.... this better work. Good thing I went and idiot-proofed the process (I know me) by swapping my main HD (the one with all the IMPORTANT docs on it(I hope)) so I can still boot into Win 7.... or atleast I hope so.

  • 2 weeks later...
UPDATE: Installed NVInject drivers... getting the restart message again... jeez. Reinstalling OS X. Anyone know which drivers I should use for a GTX 260?

 

im not an expert at all - this post is really just to give some hope to anyone out there mucking around with an xps 420.

 

Don't know which drivers to use for the gtx 260, but my 8600 gts works fine when using nvinject on the iAtkos 1.6 (10.5.7) install. updates to 10.5.8 using apple software update.

-i think i saw something about the gtx260 on google somewhere. good luck!

 

only changes i've made to the base system:

upgraded ram to 8GB (no probs)

upgraded HDDs (no probs)

installed DLink DWA-552 wireless card (using 32-bit OS X drivers - works great)

installed 8600GTS 256MB (works with any nvidia injector i've tried)

 

sleep is weird - installed sleepenabler.kext and disabler.kext

--hitting sleep puts the system down for a few seconds, but then it wakes back up. i have to hit sleep again immediately from the apple menu to make the system go to sleep and stay asleep.

 

lan never worked for me

 

sound is currently not working, but it used to work.

 

it's been fun hackintoshing.

 

next project: upgrade to snowleopard.

 

next computer: a real mac pro. much less hassle. maybe in a couple years when the 420 dies .. or i get a raise. :-)

  • 2 months later...

I just bought a refurbished XPS 420, unfortunately the specs on the website don't match what came in the box.

 

The ad said DVI and WGA (no WGA) also claimed but missing is composite video and s-video which would have been nice bonuses, but not needed.

 

Now with no VGA, I can't even fire it up to check hardware vs the ad.

Intel 2 core Quad Q6600 2.4GHz, LGA775, 3GB, 500GB SATA, I don't know video info yet.

 

 

Tomorrow I'll run out for a DVI-WGA adapter, a 10 GB thumb drive and a $29 copy of SnowLep, seeing I have 5 other Macs that will want it eventually.

 

I hope 10.6 will install, if not I'll be happy if I can get to 10.5, as all of my current software only asks for 10.4.

 

 

I'm running through the tutorials and running as many searches as I can think of, and how to not be a pest with the questions.

 

kNewton

open apple, closed apple

UPDATE: Written a proper guide. Have a search and you'll find it...

 

to check the hardware, just open the damn thing. dells are usually really easy to open up, everything slides or clicks into place. so open it, look at the bits, and put it all back together. that'll confirm RAM, GFX and HDD.

 

Here's my own personal guide for getting 10.5.8 on my PC, did it last time I needed to redo everything and got annoyed at myself for not writing it all down beforehand... this is MY computer, so don't take it all word for word. you might have different hardware... and I use iPC 10.5.6 to install...

 

This is for:

Dell XPS 420

Bios updated to A07

2.4GHz Quad

8800GT 512 graphics

8GB RAM

500GB HDD x2

Card Reader

2xDVD burning drives

Edimax network card

maudio revolution 5.1 soundcard

 

 

boot from iPC 10.5.6

Format drive as Mac OS Extended (Journaled) with GUID partition scheme

Customize:

Drivers -> Video Drivers -> NVIDIA -> NVdarwin 512MB

Drivers -> Chipset Drivers -> top 3

Applications -> Kext Helper b7

install and restart

install 10.5.8 combo update, either downloaded or from apple software update

install modded 'IOATAFamily.kext' with Kext helper

restart

delete root/system/library/extensions/NVdarwin.kext

Use OSX86 tools to add EFI graphics string

install 'IOPCCardFamily.kext and 'IOPCIFamliy.kext' via kext helper b7

reboot

Use osx86 tools to enable quartz

install chameleon bootloader 2 rc 2

copy and replace boot file to root folder

reboot

shutdown

install soundcard

boot

install envy soundcard drivers

shutdown

install edimax network card

boot

instal edimax drivers

reboot

set up ethernet. if not work, reboot again

use Jack OSX to setup surround sound

run software update and update other software

 

sorry if an of that's unclear. if you don't get anything or can't find the right files online, PM me

thanks for the info.

i am currently trying iATKOS 7, because it was the first to download and iPC says it will be 3 days.

 

my set up

Dell XPS 420

vista home prem. pack 1

Bios is A04 to update would i go to dell?

2.4GHz Quad

ATI Radeon HD 3650

3GB RAM

500GB HDD

DVD burning drive

intel 82566DC Gigabit network card

 

i would like to dual boot, do you think i should have separate pc / mac drives? i do video/ animation and save all my work on external drives.

 

kNewton

open apple closed apple

×
×
  • Create New...