Mac OS X on Intel

[noelie]

Has anyone managed to do it?

How?

I've followed all the instructions that I could find online and I can't get it to work.

I'm using the 'patched' version of Jas 10.4.7 Tiger etc. and I'm using VM Ware 6.

I've tried different hacks and tweaks and I've tried it on different virtual platforms (I even tried it straight up on my Toshiba laptop by booting off the DVD but it just sat there with a blank Mac blue screen).

I've tried the qemu-img convert and the dd transfer and just can't get it to work.

[D-Base]

Why would u need an OS X on PC? Even if you manage to install it'll run damn slow. The OS doesn't actually load it runs via Windows as far as I know. I'll need Windows to run a program which runs the OS X. Anywho, I haven't tried to do this on a PC but I have read some articles about it, maybe u can try this one: http://www.windowsdevcenter.com/pub/...18/PearPC.html

[noelie]

Hi D-Base,

I need to run OS X to do tech support for someone.

VM Ware is an emulator like PearPc and it won't work for me even though loads of people claim to have done it. There was a link to a YouTube video of it working on another thread here and that's where I got the idea from.

I'll try PearPc though - thanks.

[lonestar]

I had MacOS X on my Toshiba Notebook before I switched to Mac. It performed quite well, better than Windows XP on the Celeron M Machine with 256 MB RAM.

But: the Graphic Chip was not supported, so limited to 1024 x 768 (not a problem, since the monitor didn't support more) and the WLAN module was not supported.

The problem of MacOS x on non-macs is that i will probably not support your hardware and there are almost no drivers out there. You might want to search Google for a site showing you, how to build your 400$ PC working perfectly with Mac OS. There you can see what hardware is supported.

[WYSIWYG]

The way this is setup now, you can run windoz on a MAC with bootcamp or Parelles, but it is hard to almost impossib;e to run OS X on a windoz machine. Lonestar is corrrect, if you can do it as he did it will not support your hardware and there are almost no drives for your PC with OS X.

Hope it works out for you so you can do tech support.

[wascallywabbit]

Have you tried looking for help here?

[T-Rexx]

I had MacOS X on my Toshiba Notebook before I switched to Mac. It performed quite well, better than Windows XP on the Celeron M Machine with 256 MB RAM.

But: the Graphic Chip was not supported, so limited to 1024 x 768 (not a problem, since the monitor didn't support more) and the WLAN module was not supported.

The problem of MacOS x on non-macs is that it will probably not support your hardware and there are almost no drivers out there. You might want to search Google for a site showing you, how to build your 400$ PC working perfectly with Mac OS. There you can see what hardware is supported.

I agree with lonestar. You're better off installing OS X for the i386 natively, rather than trying to use VM Ware. You do have to be careful about what hardware you choose, as support for PC hardware is limited in OS X, but it's not as bad as I expected before I did it myself on an AMD motherboard. OS X runs just as fast on a PC as it does on an Intel Mac (an Intel Mac is just a generic PC with limited hardware support, of course). So long as you choose the hardware carefully, you can build an Intel Mac for about a quarter to a third of what Apple charges.

Remember the video?:


You'll need to use GRUB as the boot loader. Since you're not that familiar with GRUB, the easiest way to do that is probably just to install Linux (no, I'm not trying to be parochial about this - most people who claim to be dual-booting OS X and Windows on a PC are actually triple-bootling OS X, Windows, and Linux - they just ignore the Linux partition). I have managed to quadriple-boot Vista, Win XP, OS X, and ubuntu on a plain-jane AMD motherboard. Like lonestar, I was also limited to 1024 x 768 graphics on that board.


If you want to try building a Hackintosh, here are a few sites to give you some ideas. The second link has a list of supported hardware. I've discovered that a lot of hardware not on any of the lists often works just fine, however.:

http://www.faqs.org/docs/Linux-mini/...with-GRUB.html

http://www.uneasysilence.com/archive/2005/08/3937/

http://www.profit42.com/index.php/20...t-on-intelamd/

http://cybernet1.blogspot.com/2006/1...-mac-os-x.html

http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/in...llation_Guides

[JohannBessler]

Is it really worth the trouble? The instructions given, while seemingly complete, are really only in the purvey of computer experts.

It seems easier just to buy a cheap Mac Mini--assuming for a moment tha Mac Minis are Intel-based.

[T-Rexx]

Is it really worth the trouble? The instructions given, while seemingly complete, are really only in the purvey of computer experts.

It seems easier just to buy a cheap Mac Mini--assuming for a moment that Mac Minis are Intel-based.

No, the Mac Mini is not Intel-based. But even a Mac mini is more expensive than building your own (much more powerful) Intel Mac. And noel is an expert.

[wascallywabbit]

No, the Mac Mini is not Intel-based. But even a Mac mini is more expensive than building your own (much more powerful) Intel Mac. And noel is an expert.

The mini's been Intel-based for almost a year now. I don't think Apple sells any PPC-based computers anymore at all.

[JohannBessler]

The thing is, TREXX, that with a MacMini you don't need to buy any more hardware, viz, printer, monitor, etc.

There might be a misunderstanding about the Intel in MacMinis. According to Apple.com, the MacMinis now being sold are equipped with the Intel Core Duo.

[noelie]

Hi guys.

I really appreciate all the feedback (and compliments).

I've been to most of the sites linked in the replies and I've honestly tried just about everything.

PearPC doesn't even begin to do the job for some reason.

With VM Ware I've managed to actually go through the whole install of OS X and get to the 'need to restart' bit but then it keeps coming up with the same OS X screen that says in multiple languages that I need to restart (which I've done and done and done).

AFAIK I have the right hardware (Intel chipsets and Via controllers etc. - even the Realtek NIC) but it just doesn't 'catch' in the end.

I've even tried to make the option to convert the VM Ware file into an img file and then dump it onto the drive - it failed during the process but I'll try again as VM Ware came closest to the job.

I have my laptop dual booting with Ubuntu (Satanic theme thank you ) but I haven't tried the Linux approach to OS X yet so maybe I'll give that a try.

Munch on grassy ass guys - I'm not giving up yet.

[T-Rexx]

The mini's been Intel-based for almost a year now. I don't think Apple sells any PPC-based computers anymore at all.

You're right, rabbit. I just looked it up - the minis are now also Intel-based.


But, *Gasp*, they start at $599! And that's without a monitor, mouse, or keyboard! And you only get 512 MB RAM and a 60 GB hard drive at that price!!

I wonder if Apple has ever found even one person gullible enough to buy such a machine? I had no idea the minis were that expensive!

[wascallywabbit]

You're right, rabbit. I just looked it up - the minis are now also Intel-based.

But, *Gasp*, they start at $599! And that's without a monitor, mouse, or keyboard! And you only get 512 MB RAM and a 60 GB hard drive at that price!!

I wonder if Apple has ever found even one person gullible enough to buy such a machine? I had no idea the minis were that expensive!

Tell me about it. And you get a 5400 rpm drive and integrated graphics. At least they finally bumped them up to core duos. I wish Apple would license OS X. It's a great OS that deserves to be used by more people. But they won't because it would kill their hardware sales. Oh well. The iMac is a better deal than the mini. I'm quite happy with mine, anyway.

[JohannBessler]

TRexx and Wascally--Mac Minis were aimed at the "switchers". Switchers, presumably, already had a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, and printer, scanner, etc.

With that in mind, all you needed was the MacMini.

Keep in mind, too, that Windows can be run natively on these machines. (If you're willing to buy Parallels, you can run Windows and Mac OSX in side-by-side windows!) You really do have two computers in one. I don't think $599 is such a bad buy for this flexibility.

My understanding is that quite a few MacMinis have been sold.

[T-Rexx]

I just discovered that the last three links I posted above (Post #7) are broken (my apologies). Here they are again:

http://www.faqs.org/docs/Linux-mini/...with-GRUB.html

http://www.uneasysilence.com/archive/2005/08/3937/

http://www.profit42.com/index.php/20...t-on-intelamd/

http://cybernet1.blogspot.com/2006/1...-mac-os-x.html

http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/in...llation_Guides


Also, you may also want to take a look at:

http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/964/i...drives_windows

[T-Rexx]

And no offense, Johan, but the mini would be expensive as it comes configured even if Apple sold it for $249. To sell such a machine for $599 is fraudulent.

[noelie]

La la la

Well I got it to run under VM Ware - it's a beautiful OS but slow as a pig on my virtual machine.

Thanks for all the encouragement - TRexx one of your links led me to another page and I got specific Toshiba laptop info that really helped.

In the end it was quite simple (isn't it always). I had given it 32mb of video memory and it should've only had 16 and I had disabled the network and also tried NATing it (per other instructions) but when I fully enabled it then OS X seemed happier to boot and then I disabled it just before registration. I also deselected the Jas patch for everything else except my SSE2 processor (I had previously selected the patch for SATA but forgot that the VM was translating the drive into a regular IDE one).

Now I'm gonna convert the working image into an img file and dd it onto a new drive and see if I can get it to run outside the VM.



Thanks guys

[lonestar]

You're right, rabbit. I just looked it up - the minis are now also Intel-based.


But, *Gasp*, they start at $599! And that's without a monitor, mouse, or keyboard! And you only get 512 MB RAM and a 60 GB hard drive at that price!!

I wonder if Apple has ever found even one person gullible enough to buy such a machine? I had no idea the minis were that expensive!

I had a PPC Macmini with 1 GB. Damn, that thing was slow. Especially when surfing multimedia rich sites. I used it for a week and put it on ebay.

The Intel Mac MInis are not bad, but FAR to expesive for what they provide. If you just need a PC, you get the same hardware at least 100 bucks cheaper.

The only thing in buying a Mac Mini is if you really want to run Mac OS X on Apple hardware and are not willing to buy an iMac.

[noelie]

[wascallywabbit]

congrats!

[wascallywabbit]

TRexx and Wascally--Mac Minis were aimed at the "switchers". Switchers, presumably, already had a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, and printer, scanner, etc.

With that in mind, all you needed was the MacMini.

Keep in mind, too, that Windows can be run natively on these machines. (If you're willing to buy Parallels, you can run Windows and Mac OSX in side-by-side windows!) You really do have two computers in one. I don't think $599 is such a bad buy for this flexibility.

My understanding is that quite a few MacMinis have been sold.

I don't have a problem with the mini not having a keyboard or mouse - USB mice and keyboards are dirt cheap, and a lot of the people buying a mini have their own already anyway. (Actually, I think it was a clever move to leave them out, since it let them put the mini in super compact packaging that really emphasizes just how tiny the thing really is - and as much as some people might scoff at it, form factor is a selling point.) It just bugs me how much they crippled the computer itself to keep it from cannibalizing iMac sales. It's not going to do the platform a lot of good if would-be switchers come away from the mini thinking that all Macs are slow and painful to use, just because their first experience was with deliberately crippled hardware.

[JohannBessler]

Evidently, the Mac Mini did meet some people's needs. To wit:

http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1727

The MacMini would not have been my choice, though; I'd prefer a cherried-out iMac.

TRexx, to be honest, the price consideration hasn't been at the top of my priorities.I don't even know what a generic PC costs. I suspect that for a lot of people, form would come before price.

I still think that buying a Mac is a better choice than trying to port OSX to a Wintel machine, unless one is an expert.

[cozmik]

If I could get OS X to run on my ThinkPad, I'd definitely install it. Somehow, though, I doubt it will support much of my hardware. Especially the Mobility Fire GL graphics it has and the 1400x1050 screen res.

[mike_n_herrin]

noelie that screen cap is SOOOO cool. excellent job i'm glad it worked out for ya!!!

[T-Rexx]

If I could get OS X to run on my ThinkPad, I'd definitely install it. Somehow, though, I doubt it will support much of my hardware. Especially the Mobility Fire GL graphics it has and the 1400x1050 screen res.

I wouldn't rule it out as impossible, cozmik. See:

http://www.lifehacker.com/software/m...pad-151121.php

http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/16/v...on-a-thinkpad/

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewforum.php?f=32




YouTube videos of people running OS X on various thinkpad models:

os x on thinkpad (model not specified):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv4Dr...elated&search=

osx thinkpad t43:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWX9XTTy_CY

os x thinkpad r40:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YozdzOwEY3I

os x thinkpad a31:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ3ogAdgb3o

os x thinkpad x41
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ewNNe2DTdA

[BrandonSBCA]

Teacher was able to run Mac OS X on his laptop, he said the bad thing was that he needed to install the video thing on the program. He used some kind of Emulation program, but when he showed it to us in class he basically ran it, but he fixed the problem where it was maxing out his CPU usage.

[T-Rexx]

Teacher was able to run Mac OS X on his laptop, he said the bad thing was that he needed to install the video thing on the program. He used some kind of Emulation program, but when he showed it to us in class he basically ran it, but he fixed the problem where it was maxing out his CPU usage.

Could somebody please translate this into English for me?

[BrandonSBCA]

Could somebody please translate this into English for me?

He used an Emulator to run Mac OS X on his laptop that was running windows. It ran smoothly with no lags or glitches. Better?

[T-Rexx]

^ Better, thanks!



BTW, the emulator was probably VMWare, same as noel used.

OS X can often run well this way on a PC, but it tends to be rather slow under emulation.

[BrandonSBCA]

^ Better, thanks!



BTW, the emulator was probably VMWare, same as noel used.

OS X can often run well this way on a PC, but it tends to be rather slow under emulation.

Yeah he used VMWare, first on his laptop than on his computer. When he ran it on his computer it was running just as if it was on a Mac, he even played video on iTunes as well.