The Definitive OS X x86 Inspiron 9300 Thread

This is my variation of and expansion upon the guide found here. It is my attempt to compile the simplest yet most comprehensive guide to installing OS X 10.4.3 possible.

This guide should work on most computers provided that they have at least an SSE2-capable CPU (use CPU-Z to check), a Windows XP installation and possibly a USB mouse and keyboard (with the possible exception of laptops).

Before we begin, it is important that you understand that Mac OS X was not meant to run on any x86 PCs other than Apple's own Intel-based Macs. More than likely, a few - if not many - things will not work efficiently - or at all - on your computer running OS X. You have been warned!

That said, I have found OS X to run quite acceptably on the handful of computers to which I have installed it. Whether or not is is suitable replacement for your current OS is a choice only you can make

Creating the Mac OS X Tiger 10.4.3 Install DVD

You will need:

• macosx_10.4.3_8f1111_for_dtk_userdvd.dmg
• UltraISO
• JaS 1111a Generic Patch v4.2b
• PPF-O-Matic 3.0 (included in JaS's patch)
• One blank DVD+/-R (though I have had success with DVD+RW, myself) and your burning software of choice...

What you do:

1. Convert the .dmg to .iso with UltraISO.
2. Apply JaS's patch with PPF-O-Matic 3.0.
3. Burn the .iso (I suggest burning at around 1/2 of your drive's maximum burning speed).

Installing Mac OS X Tiger 10.4.3

You will need:

• Patched Mac OS X Install DVD
• PartitionMagic

What you do:

1. Create at least 6GB of unallocated space with PartitionMagic.
2. Go to Start > Run... > diskpart
   Type:

   list disk
   select disk [# of your disk]
   create partition primary id=af

3. Set the new partition as active with PartitionMagic.
4. Put the Mac OS X Install DVD in your drive and reboot.
5. Boot from the DVD.
6. Proceed with the installation.
7. When you get to Select Destination, go to Utilities > Disk Utility
8. Erase the disk0s2 volume and proceed with the installation.

Darwin Boot Loader (If you want your computer to boot into OS X unless otherwise specified):

1. Go to the Terminal:

   sudo su

   Enter your password when prompted and then type:

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

2. Add the following <dict>:

   <key>Timeout</key>
   <string>10</string> (10 can be changed to any number of seconds you'd prefer)

3. Hit Ctrl+X and then Y.

Windows Boot Loader (If you want your computer to boot into Windows unless otherwise specified. ATTENTION: You MUST complete the previous instructions for the Darwin boot loader in order to successfully use the Windows boot loader to boot OS X!):

1. Once in OS X, go to System Preferences in the Dock, select Startup Disk, choose your Windows partition and click Restart...
2. Once in Windows, copy the chain0 file from usr\standalone\i386 on the Mac OS X Install DVD to C:\ and add this line to your boot.ini:

   C:\chain0="Mac OS X"

Note: If you did not heed my warning and the Windows boot loader just flashes black for a second when you select Mac OS X instead of starting the OS, choose it again and quickly hit F8 to get to the Darwin prompt. If it just tries to start Windows Safe Mode, then reboot and try again. Then complete the previous instructions for the Darwin boot loader.

Enjoy! I am looking forward to 10.4.4 and any upcoming MacVidia drivers. :P

I have had success on the following systems:

Dell Dimension E310/3100:

Working:
Intel Extreme Graphics 2 (GMA 900) with Core Image and Quartz Extreme supported
iTunes with 6.0.2 update
Linksys Wireless-G PCI Adapter (WMP54G v4) with Ralink RT2500 chipset beta driver
Built-in Ethernet

Not Working:
SigmaTel Audio (Device ID 7690)
DVD Player
DVD playback with VLC is green and purple
Dell Inspiron 9300:

Working:
Broadcom 440x 10/100 ethernet
Bluetooth

Not Working:
NVIDIA GeForce Go 6800 with Quartz Extreme and Core Image not supported
Intel PRO/Wireless 2000BG
Alps Touch Pad (minimal functions)----------------------OLD------------------------

Welcome! My goal in creating this thread is to compile a complete, centralized resource containing everything useful and informative regarding OS X x86 running on the Inspiron 9300. Hopefully, most - if not all - of this information should apply to the XPS 2 as well.

Distributions

• Deadmoo's Image (aka tiger-x86.tar.bz2, tiger-x86-flat.img)

This is the only release I have tried thus far. You can find a complete, step-by-step tutorial with pictures and links to everything you need to download

here. This is the tutorial that I followed entirely with success, with the only exception being that I used "sda" whenever "hda" was specified. ATTENTION: Be very careful when you are copying the image to your OS X partition in VMware! The tutorial specifies "hda2" ("sda2" in our case) as the OS X partition the image is to be copied to; however, on most 9300s there is a small diagnostics partition and possibly a recovery partition that this tutorial does not take into account. My OS X partition was actually "sda3". DO NOT OVERWRITE YOUR PRIMARY NTFS PARTITION BY MISTAKE!

• Marklar DVD (aka Apple.OS.X.x86.Developer.Kit.Install.DVD-pheNIX, Marklar-Tiger.dmg)

I have not yet tried this distribution, but I plan to give it the old college try in a couple of days. You can find more information on patching and installing it

here. This native install method seems preferable to using Deadmoo's image for a variety of reasons, including unlimited partition size and just overall dictation of OS X in general.

I hope to eventually compose a complete, step-by-step tutorial for installing this distribution starting from the very first steps of patching and installing the image and partitioning the harddrive.Patches

• Maxxuss-SSE3-to-SSE2_v0.4

Seeing as how our 9300s are only equipped with processors sporting SSE2, this patch is necessary to run applications that require SSE3 such as Safari and iTunes. Download it

here.Quick Fixes

• Shut Down/Restart/Spotlight Hang

Hit Fn+F2 to disable Bluetooth/WiFi.

• Working USB Devices

Delete AppleFPMemDriver.kext in the /System/Library/Extensions/ folder. This enabled my USB mouse, and I have heard reports of it working for other devices such as digital cameras.

Tips and Tricks

• Video Resolution

You can edit the Boot.plist to have OS X automatically start in any resolution listed when you type '?video' at the boot: prompt. However, at the time being 1280x1024x32 is the highest resolution I have heard of anyone with the 9300 having success with. This possibly only applies to those of us with WUXGA screens, so let me know if you find out something to the contrary. Before you try this, I suggest you type '"Graphics Mode"="1280x1024x32"' at the boot: prompt to see if OS X starts properly . If it doesn't, I obviously advise you not to attempt the following:

Open the Terminal and type 'sudo chmod 777 /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist'.

Then, type 'sudo nano /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist'.

Next, edit the file to include:

&lt;key&gt;Graphics Mode&lt;/key&gt;
&lt;string&gt;1280x1024x32&lt;/string&gt;

Finally, exit and save the file when prompted.

Problems

• Video Drivers

Or the lack thereof, rather. Fortunately for us NVIDIA users, a group has already been assembled, and they are currently attempting to work something out. You can find them

here.

• Wireless Internet

Still no dice on wireless, as far as I'm aware.

• Clock

The clock is whacked for me.

Thanks to everyone at 360hacker.net, OSx86 Project, and, of course, Notebookforums.com for diving into and hacking away at this very interesting prospect and being kind enough to share the knowledge.

More to come!

Thanks a lot, guys.

Can you go into more detail about disabling Bluetooth through the keyboard shortcuts, Kinseek? I disable it by hitting Fn+F2 to fix the shutdown/restart hang and spotlight bugs, but I forgot to mention it in the post. Is that the keyboard shortcut you're speaking of, or is it something in OS X? My clock technically works, but it is just set at an incorrect time.

It is possible that removing AppleTPMACPI.kext is what allowed me to boot into 1280x1024x32. It's in the System/Library/Extensions folder. Can anyone test it to confirm this theory?

Edit: People seem to be having success with wireless using usb dongles: http://forum.osx86project.org/index....wireless&st=80

This is a fair question. Honestly, as a long time PC/Windows user I did not imagine that I would find OS X nearly as appealing as I do. Right now, in its current state, it really is just something geeky and fun to play around with.

Whether or not I'm going to seriously use OS X in the long term really depends upon whether or not I can expect any sort of lifespan for it after release. If it gets as hacked as this leak has, including working video drivers and wireless, I absolutely see myself using OS X as my primary operating system in the future. I'll still dual boot with XP, though.

I just patched my Marklar DVD image, and, if all goes well, I should be attempting to burn and install it tonight or tomorrow. I will try to write a tutorial in the process.