SSD’s have come down in prices for a bit that it made sense for me to upgrade the Hackint0sh main drive to use one.  The dilemma I had was that I didn’t want to start all over again on the install.  After a bit of googling, I found this blog entry.  I used SuperDuper to clone the drive, and followed the advise to use the Chameleon Package Installer even though I actually used Rc3…but I encountered a KP upon first boot.  So what I did differently this time after cloning via SuperDuper was to follow my own directions on making the drive bootable.  I took a step further and updated the Disk UUID and recreated the Extensions kext bundle using the Kext Utility.

And Voila! I am now typing this on my SSD-fortified Hackint0sh.

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If you used this guide to update to 10.6.3, then updating to 10.6.4 is a cinch:

• Delete SleepEnabler.kext
• Delete AppleHPET.kext
• Save AppleHDA.kext
• Upgrade to 10.6.4
• Reboot
• Download and install the latest SleepEnabler.kext
• Restore AppleHDA.kext
• Repair permissions
• Reboot

At this point, everything should be fine and dandy.  I’ve read somewhere that USB issues on wakeup from sleep has been addressed, so I re-enabled sleep on my system.  I’ll update this post on my findings.

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If you think you need this huge chunk of ugly to use your Magic Mouse, you are using it the wrong way.

BTW, regarding sleep, bluetooth, Magic Mouse and Hackint0sh…I think I got it, but it’s not an elegant solution yet.

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I was able to update to 10.6.3 without KPs, but I lost audio.  Apparently I need to mess with some kexts to get it working again…I will update this post once I restore audio.

To update to 10.6.3:

• Delete 10.6.2 SleepEnabler.kext
• Update to 10.6.3
• Reboot
• Delete AppleHPET.kext from /System/Library/Extensions to re-enable Firewire
• Copy the new SleepEnabler.kext
• Reboot with -f option
• Restore AppleHDA 10.6.2 version
• Install VoodooHDA
• Copy ALC883.kext to /Extra/Extensions folder then remove LegacyHDAPlatformDriver.kext and LegacyAppleHDAHardwareConfigDriver.kext files
• Rebuild extensions.kext using Kext Utility
• Repair Disk Permissions using Disk Utility
• Reboot normally (i.e., without -f option)
• Start saving money for a real MacPro

Again, at this point…audio is still borked.

Update: Audio restored.  I learned from this thread that the new AppleHDA kext doesn’t work very well with the ALC 883 sound hardware.  You will need to restore the 10.6.2 version and install the VoodooHDA from MultiBeast.  You may also need the ALC883 kext (put it under /Extra folder) However, I read somewhere that this is a temporary fix…eh…well…whatever.

Update 2 (April 4): I got KP twice since the first update yesterday afternoon.  I’m not sure what’s causing it…yet.  It’s kind of annoying because I never had these KP problems prior to the 10.6.3 update…so it’s either the Sleepenabler or that VoodoHDA kext…or the ALC883 kext… (Upgrade steps updated)

Update 3 (April 6): I started to isolate the cause of the KPs in my Hackint0sh.  I removed LegacyHDAPlatformDriver.kext and LegacyAppleHDAHardwareConfigDriver.kext from my /Extra/Extensions folder and rebuilt my Extensions.kext (using Kext Utility) and rebuilt Permissions using the Disk Utility.  I also removed my BT dongle thinking it’s causing the KPs.  So far, so good.   I’m re-plugging the Targus Bluetooth and use my Magic Mouse again and monitor the stability of the system.  Can somebody please send me money so I can buy a MacPro?   (Upgrade steps updated)

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I broke down and decided to buy a Magic Mouse today.

And just when you thought Bluetooth would just work in Hackint0sh…think again. I have an old D-Link DBT-120 Rev. B4 which is not readily supported by Snow Leopard unless you update the firmware to 1.2. Sounds simple, no? But I learned it…the hard way:

• Attached the D-Link BT dongle without updating firmware. Crashes every other application whenever I try to pair anything.
• Googled. Found out that you need to install updater Apple Bluetooth Firmware 1.2.  Without reading, of course, I just installed the thing on my Hackint0sh…cannot update dongle firmware…made everything worse…reboot…BLAM!  Kernel Panic!  Can’t boot.  AAAARRRGGggghh!!
• I booted using my USB Snow Leopard Installer…launched terminal, and replaced the one on my Hackint0sh volume /Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist with the one from the USB SL installer
• Booted successfully again (Relief!).  Bluetooth Firmware 1.2 apparently only works on PowerPC.  Dusted off my Powerbook G4 and installed the Firmware updater
• Successfully updated the firmware on dongle (Yes!)

Magic Mouse works wonderfully…however…The “Allow Bluetooth Devices to wake this computer” is STILL grayed out…when the Apple support page specifically says my BT dongle supports it!  I have also bought the bluetooth keyboard…now I’m having second thoughts opening it…if I can’t wake up using the bluetooth devices…it would kind of suck.

I can update to 1.2.1 but I keep reading reports that it stops working with Snow Leopard.  I need to search for more answers for this…

Update: Leopared on PowerPC is not even allowing 1.2.1 to install.  After reading through this thread, a poster by the name of kmare mentions that Targus ACB10US works with the wake from BT works (i.e., not grayed out)…He did mention that Apple now recommends this over the D-Link brand for OS X 10.6 and above.  So I’ll have to pay a visit to my local Staples and buy one…will update if it works.

Update 2: Apparently, the Targus Bluetooth Dongle that Staples is selling is the version 2 model–i.e., the much smaller black one…which is NOT the same chipset as the larger silver v1 model.  I read reports that the v2 is not fully compatible with OS X.  I ended up ordering this at OutletPC.com as recommended by the same insanelymac.com thread poster.  I’ll update this post once I get the dongle and confirm if everything works including wake from sleep.

Update 3: I got the Targus Bluetooth Dongole (the ugly v1 Silver model) and confirmed that everything is working including wake from sleep.  Based on my experience, I would advise NOT using the D-Link brand at all.  Two problems with the D-Link: 1. I’m getting stuttering with the MM, which gets very unnerving; 2. I’m getting occasional Kernel Panics…now I’m not exactly sure if this has something to do with the D-Link dongle…but suffice to say after I switched to the Targus dongle, the problem went away.

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I added a Firewire card to my hackint0sh and just when I thought everything would just work, It didn’t.  OS X (10.6.2) cannot detect the Firewire ports.  But bless those folks at InsanelyMac, it turns out that I just need to delete AppleHPET.kext from /System/Library/Extensions, and voila!  Firewire works.  Apparently, this driver conflicts with the Firewire PCI driver…or something to that effect…I don’t care…as long as my Firewire works!

Up next: Add a new HDD.  I also replaced my 250GB storage disk with a 1TB.

–

Aperture 3 is finally out!  YAY.

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If you followed this guide on creating your Hackint0sh, you are probably greeted with a Kernel Panic once you update to 10.6.2.

This is because the SleepEnabler.kext–the driver that makes the Hackint0sh sleep upon inactivity–is not 10.6.2 compatible. You will need to delete the driver in order to boot properly:

• Boot using the Leopard DVD or the Leopard Hackint0sh USB if you still have it.
• Select the DVD/USB on boot prompt
• Instead of continuing with the installation (duh), open a Terminal from the Utilities menu.
• cd to /Volumes/{YourHackint0shVolume}/Extras/Extensions then delete the SleepEnabler.kext by issuing a “rm -r SleepEnabler.kext/”
• Reboot

There is an updated SleepEnabler but I haven’t tried it yet.  I will update this post once I have. Update: the 10.6.2-friendly SleepEnabler works!

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Introduction

As promised to my ever-shrinking blog readership, here is my small contribution to the Hackint0sh community: building your own Hackint0sh HOWTO.

Please note that–barring a few exceptions–the steps outlined here are guaranteed only work with the hardware listed here (provided the they are followed correctly).

(more…)

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I have completed my Hackint0sh. Network, sound, booting by itself…everything!

I will be working on the step-by-step HOWTO sometime today.

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SUCCESS!!

Well, for the most part.

I am now writing this blog entry using my new Hackint0sh (I have network)!  I am not yet totally done.  I still have to make the SL drive bootable by itself (I’m still booting from the thumbdrive) and I still need to muck around with the drivers to enable audio.  AND make sure that Software Update works.

Once I have everything in order, I will be writing an article about the experience to hopefully help somebody out there who would want to have an OS X box, but not exactly have a lot of money to blow.

Update 1: That was easy! I have managed to make the HDD bootable by itself now. I’ll mess with the drivers later. It’s hard to think while gloating.

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