Archive for August 2012

A Simple and Complete SMBIOS guide for your iAtkos

The smbios.plist is a text file you can use to trick the system profiler about your hardware.

The effect is the same you will obtain using a SMBIOS injector( AppleSMBIOSEFI, AppleSMBIOSResolver) or a patched AppleSMBIOS. In order to use a smbios.plist you need Chameleon 2.0RCx. The file must be placed in /Extra.

By the way, SMBIOS stands for: System Management BIOS (SMBIOS) Specification. The SMBIOS Specification addresses how motherboard and system vendors present management information about their products in a standard format by extending the BIOS interface on x86 architecture systems.

The information is intended to allow generic instrumentation to deliver this information to management applications that use DMI, CIM or direct access, eliminating the need for error prone operations like probing system hardware for presence detection. Also, The SMBIOS.plist affects what info will be reported to the system to be used for identification purposes mostly for System Profiler.

Basically you put some info to mimic a specific Mac model close to your system (a MacBook if you have a laptop or a iMac or MacPro in a desktop).

Here is an example:


 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>  


 <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">  

 <plist version="1.0">  
 <dict>  
   <key>SMbiosversion</key>  

dmanufacter</key>  
   <string>Apple Inc.</string>

<string>IM91.88Z.008D.B00.0901142258</string>  
   <key>SMboa
r  
   <key>SMboardproduct</key>  
   <string>Mac-F2218EC8</string>  
   <key>SMexternalclock</key>  

malclock</key>  
   <stri

<string>400</string>  
   <key>SMmanufacter</key>  
   <string>Apple Inc.</string>  
   <key>SMmax
ing>3200</string>  
   <key>SMmemmanufacter_1</key>  
   <string>Kingston</string>  
   <key>SMmemmanufacter_2</key>  

_4</key>  
   <string>Kingston

<string>Kingston</string>  
   <key>SMmemmanufacter_3</key>  
   <string>Kingston</string>  
   <key>SMmemmanufacte
r</string>  
   <key>SMmempart_1</key>  
   <string>99U5316-028.A00LF</string>  
   <key>SMmempart_2</key>  
   <string>KTC1G-UDIMM</string>  

serial_1</key>  
   <string

<key>SMmempart_3</key>  
   <string>99U5316-028.A00LF</string>  
   <key>SMmempart_4</key>  
   <string>KTC1G-UDIMM</string>  
   <key>SMme
m>0x651C52C8h</string>  
   <key>SMmemserial_2</key>  
   <string>0xD51C1E0Ah</string>  
   <key>SMmemserial_3</key>  
   <string>0x651C52C8h</string>  

>19</string>  
   <key>SMprod

<key>SMmemserial_4</key>  
   <string>0xD51C1E0Ah</string>  
   <key>SMmemspeed</key>  
   <string>800</string>  
   <key>SMmemtype</key>  
   <strin
guctname</key>  
   <string>iMac9,1</string>  
   <key>SMserial</key>  
   <string>W87234JHYA4</string>  
   <key>SMsystemversion</key>  
   <string>1.0</string>  
 </dict>  


</plist>

Here is another one :


 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>    


 <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">  

 <plist version="1.0">  
 <dict>  
 <key>SMbiosvendor</key>  
 <string>Apple Inc.</string>  

</key>  
 <string>04/01/200

<key>SMbiosversion</key>  
 <string>MP21.88Z.005C.B01.0608221120</string>  
 <key>SMbiosdat
e8</string>  
 <key>SMboardmanufacturer</key>  
 <string>Apple Computer, Inc.</string>  
 <key>SMboardproduct</key>  

string>Apple Inc.</string>  
 <k

<string>Mac-F4208DC8</string>  
 <key>SMfamily</key>  
 <string>MacBookAir</string>  
 <key>SMmanufacturer</key>  
 
<ey>SMproductname</key>  
 <string>MacBookAir1,1</string>  
 <key>SMserial</key>  
 <string>W88033AKY51</string>  
 <key>SMsystemversion</key>  

>  
 <key>SMmemspeed</k

<string>1.0</string>  
 <key>SMUUID</key>  
 <string>00000000-0000-1000-8000-000000000000</string>  
 <key>SMmemtype</key>  
 <string>24</strin
gey>  
 <string>1600</string>  
 <key>SMmemmanufacter</key>  
 <string>Apple Computer Inc.</string>  
 <key>SMmempart_1</key>  

2D59352020</string>  
   <key>SMmemserial_1</key>  
   <stri

<string>0x48594D503131325336344350362D59352020</string>  
   <key>SMmempart_2</key>  
   <string>0x48594D5031313253363443503
6ng>0x00001020</string>  
   <key>SMmemserial_2</key>  
   <string>0x00003021</string>  
 <key>SMexternalclock</key>  
 <string></string>  
 <key>SMmaximalclock</key>  


<string></string>  
 </dict>  


</plist>

Now, You don’t have to key in all the details , if you wish. For instance if you would like Chameleon to use default memory part number for your RAM. Feel free to remove the entire string and key corresponds to it. Its that simple. Now lets take a look at what these key means and how to get the values.

SMfamily: The Mac Model Family . For instance if you want to emulate as a MacPro , the Family would be “MacPro” (without quotes) , as for a Mac Mini it would be “MacMini” (without quotes)

SMproductname: The model , for instance you can call yours as “MacPro0,1″ , or “MacPro1,5″ or even follow a real Mac Model. Its up to you

SMbiosdate: Date when the firmware was released. This is optional , you could actually skip this.

SMbiosversion: Its used when fakeSMC is not being used. But since we have fakeSMC , you can easily skip this part. Only use this if you plan to stick with dsmos or if you want SMC Version to be like a RealMac SMmanufacter: The manufacturer of the Computer. Default its Apple , but then if you want to put your own OEM branding. Feel free to edit it

SMsystemversion: The boot rom (aka BIOS version). You can take this data from a real mac or from Apple’s site (which I would describe on how to get information on a particular Boot ROM for a particular mac)

SMbiosvendor: As the name suggests it reflects the company who made the BIOS. By default its Apple , but if you want to use any other name or branding. Feel free to adjust it

SMserial: Serial Number of your Hackint0sh

SMexternalclock: Frequency of your FSB (measured in Mhz)

SMmaximalclock: Your computer clock speed (i.e Intel Pentium D 830 is a 3.00Ghz processor) . Therefore it would be 3000 (Measured in Mhz) (whereby 1Ghz = 1000Mhz)

SMmemtype: Memory type. Use 18 for DDR / 19 for DDR2 / 20 for DDR2 FB-DIMM / 24 for DDR3 – You can get the whole list for SMmemtype by reading Chameleon’s documentation or grabbing the source code

SMmemspeed: Memory clock speed (i.e 533Mhz , 667Mhz) . Its measured in Mhz SMmemmanufacter_1: Manufacturer of your RAM (i.e Kingston , Apple , etc)

SMmemserial_1: Serial number of your RAM SMmempart_1: part number of your RAM

SMUUID: Enter your UUID here if you’re having issues with UUID If you have plans on fixing your CPU being recognised as Unknown , then do check out this post on patched version of Chameleon. Generally you’ll be needing it if you want to get certain program such as Silverlight , etc to work properly Well thats about it.

Now you may want to use TextEdit or nano or plist editor to create a new file (or modify my existing SMBIOS.plist above) and call it as SMBIOS.plist. Place it in your /Extra folder.

If you have an EFI partition , then place it in the /Extra folder of your EFI partition. Now as for finding the right values (i.e Product name , BIOS version).

You may get the data directly from Apple’s website . For instance if you wish to mimic a MacMini Early 2006.

Your SMProductName would be “MacMini1,1″ and your SMBiosversion would be “MM11.0055.B08” .

You can find out the generation of Mac by simply looking at EFI Boot ROM version in Apple’s Web site.

Thats how its done.

Save it . Place it in /Extra – Reboot and then check out your system profiler. You should have the correct values !

If you want to deepen your understanding and broaden your knowledge , read the white papers on SMBIOS. Its a complex pdf which gives you better understanding and deeper understanding if you plan to customize yours.

Highly recommended for advanced OSX86 users .

As for CPUID patching In your SMBIOS , add the follow lines


 <key>SMcputype</key>  


 <string> 1281</string>

There are currently three known values for it :-

1281 – Quad-Core Intel Xeon

769 – Intel Core 2 Duo

257 – Intel Core 2 Solo

You may ask why there is not for AMD , Intel Quad Core , Pentium D , Pentium M , Intel Atom.

The reason is simple , Apple only includes list of CPUIDs which they officially support (aka which they officially run on mac). So if you have a quad core , you would go with Quad-Core Intel Xeon. This applies to i7. iF you have an Athlon X2 , then go with Intel Core 2 Duo. To recognize my processor correctly using SMcputype 1793 and it shows up Intel I7 in about this mac .

Credits to Techedze

Bios Settings for a first time Hackintosh Install

For a first time Hackintosh install from the scratch you should make sure you have some BIOS settings right. Follow the steps below,

Go to your BIOS, see your motherboard manual on how to do so  It's mostly F2 or Delete key.

Disable the following technologies if you have it,

a. Speed Step or EIST (Enhanced Intel Speed Step),AMD (cool n quiet) . 

b. Virtualization. 

c. HPET (High precision event timer). 

d. Dynamic Acceleration.

e. Set boot from DVD first option in BIOS.

Note : Enable the above after you install and get a working hackintosh.

Enable the following technologies if you have it,

a. Set the SATA operation mode to AHCI.

Note: You should have the SATA as AHCI only for OSX HDD operation, Windows vista and above support AHCI mode out of box. For Windows XP you should use a special driver if you plan to use it in multiboot with OSX.

Backup Solutions For Your Mac or iAtkos

We've seen many users ask about the best backup solution for their CustoMac. Doing regular system backups of important files and documents can help ensure that you can recover from an unforeseen disaster.

Aside from Apple's iCloud based cloud storage, some still like to do regular backups locally; either to an external USB drive or a local hard disk. I want to highlight a few of the 3rd party backup solutions as well as Apple's own solution that many of our members have stated as working solutions.

Let's start with Apple's own built-in back-up solution, Time Machine.

"Time Machine is the built-in backup that works with your Mac and an external drive (sold separately) or Time Capsule. Connect the drive, assign it to Time Machine, and start enjoying some peace of mind. Time Machine automatically backs up your entire Mac, including system files, applications, accounts, preferences, music, photos, movies, and documents. But what makes Time Machine different from other backup applications is that it not only keeps a spare copy of every file, it remembers how your system looked on any given day—so you can revisit your Mac as it appeared in the past."

Time Machine is pretty simple to configure and use. Instructions on how to configure Time Machine can be found here

Next is Carbon Copy Cloner, otherwise known as "CCC" that is very popular for it's ability to do full bootable clones of your system drive. It used to be free but sadly, the developer Bombich Software Inc. has now made it a commercial product and currently it costs $39.99. It has been updated recently to support OS X 10.8 in version 3.5.1. CCC provides additional enhancements that Time Machine doesn't.

Check out CCC here

"The latest version of SuperDuper! is faster, better, compatible with Mountain Lion (in fact, it's compatible with OS X 10.4.11 and later), and improves many parts of the user experience. Of course, it still includes great features likeBackup on Connect, Eject after Copy, Sparse Bundle support, lets you store a bootable backup alongside Time Machine backups, copy Time Machine backups to other drives, and run scheduled copies on demand. As with every update, we've polished and improved many other aspects as well."

Super Duper can be foundhere

Virtualization software gets updated for Mountain Lion

For those of you that are using virtualization software on your Mac or CustoMac we've got some good news, as VMware and VirtualBox have both been updated with official Mountain Lion support and Parallels 8 with Mountain Lion support is due early next month. Although it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to run Windows virtualized on a Mac or a CustoMac today, virtualization is still a handy tool for those who want to run software in "sandbox" mode, or who develop for various platforms.

First up, VMware has announced the release of Fusion 5 for OS X 10.8 and Windows 8 and claims that they've added over 70 new features for both the OS X and Windows versions. New features for OS X includes supports for AirPlay mirroring to stream programs and apps to large screen displays, USB 3.0 support, retina display support and improved support for large amounts of system RAM. VMware also claims to have improved performance by as much as 40 percent compared to the previous version of VMware. VMware Fusion 5 will be available for $49.99 for the standard version and $99.99 for the professional version directly from VMware.com and if you bought VMware 4 on or after the 25th of July, then you're eligible for a free upgrade to VMware 5.

Freely available VirtualBox has also added official support for OS X 10.8, although the changelog doesn't go into any specific details as to what has been done specifically to support Apple's new operating system. Beyond support for OS X 10.8, the latest release of VirtualBox also includes a range of bug fixes and additions of which most are for Linux.

For those of you that prefer Parallels, the company is preparing a new version that will arrive on the 4th of September, although so far all that is really know is that the company will offer OS X 10.8 support and that if you go ahead and buy Parallels Desktop 7 now, then you'll get a free upgrade to the next version when it arrives.

Source:

VMWare

VirtualBox

Parallels

OS X 10.8.1 Update

Apple released Mac OS X 10.8.1, the first major update to OS X Mountain Lion. At 24 megabytes, this is a much smaller point update than usual, and does not contain any of the normal audio and graphics driver updates. To eliminate any potential issues, we generally recommend to update any supported systems using the standalone installer available from Apple.com, and not the built-in Software Update.

Mac OS X 10.8.1 Update

Be sure to back up any important data, and if possible clone your hard drive before applying the update. If you have any issues post-update, boot using UniBeast.

What we know about 10.8.1 so far...

12.1.0 Darwin kernel
Battery drivers updated for Mac Laptops
USB drivers updated
Thunderbolt drivers updated

The Mac App Store version of 10.8.1 is now out as well, so if you'd like to update the installer drive, you can slipstream this update into UniBeast. Good luck, and let us know how it goes! Report your results here.

UEFI updates for Gigabyte's high-end Z77 boards

We know some of you are having some slight problems with your builds and as we've pointed out in the past, this can be related to the BIOS/UEFI, especially if you're using a new motherboard. Gigabyte's 7-series motherboards have only been out a couple of months and as most of the boards are shipping with an early UEFI release, the company is issuing regular updates and a wide range of boards have received multiple updates in the past couple of weeks, so we thought we'd highlight this once more.

The boards in question are the GA-Z77X-UD5H, GA-Z77X-UP4 TH and GA-Z77X-UP5 TH. In this case the GA-Z77X-UP4 TH was sitting on release F4 for a very long time, but Gigabyte has removed that version entirely from its website, so it's pretty clear that there were some issues with this UEFI update. The latest version is F7 at the time of writing which was released a week ago. The release notes are fairly uninformative, but the F7 release is meant to improve system compatibility whatever that implies.

The GA-Z77X-UP5 TH is already on version F9, although F5 through F7 are missing here. We should also point out that the earlier release for both the GA-Z77X-UP5 TH and GA-ZZ7X-UP4 TH added some improved graphics card compatibility fixes. The slightly older, but more affordable GA-Z77X-UD5H has already reached UEFI revision F14, although here we once again have a gap from F8 all the way to F13. This board should feature the same updates as the previous two models.

Note that Gigabyte's UEFI and BIOS updates come as a self-extracting 7-Zip Windows executable package and as such you need a suitable un-archiver for OS X (

Stuffit Expander

works) if you don't have a dual boot system. The UEFI update needs to be copied onto a FAT32 formatted USB drive and you can then use Gigabyte's Q-Flash updater from within the UEFI itself to update your board. We highly recommend doing this, as it's highly likely to fix issues with your CustoMac, although we haven't had a chance to test the latest releases just yet, so you want to play it safe, you can wait until we've had a chance to do some testing and report back. However, it's always possible to flash back to an older UEFI or BIOS, so it shouldn't be a big deal.

Source: Gigabyte

GA-Z77X-UD5H

GA-Z77X-UP4 TH

GA-Z77X-UP5 TH

How to Burn an iAtkos ISO to an USB [Win]

Microsoft Windows users:

Download and install ImageWriter
Plug the USB drive in one of computer's USB ports
Open ImageWriter and select the USB disk from the list at the bottom

Click on the “Select” button and select the file you have downloaded then press “Copy”

If you can't see the file, enter “*.*” in the “File name” field and press “Open” to see all files, then select the file and press “Open” again

source

Xcode for Lion/Mountain Lion 4.4.1 Mac OSX

Xcode provides everything developers need to create great applications for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Xcode 4 has been streamlined to help you write better apps. It has unified user interface design, coding, testing, and debugging all within a single window. The Xcode IDE analyzes the details of your project to identify mistakes in both syntax and logic, it can even help fix your code for you.

Xcode runs on OS X Mountain Lion and OS X Lion, and includes the Xcode IDE, Instruments, iOS Simulator, the latest Mac OS X and iOS SDKs, and hundreds of powerful features:

Innovative tools to help you create great apps
• Interface Builder is fully integrated as a design canvas within the Xcode IDE
• The Assistant shows files related to what youre editing, such as the header, superclass, or controller
• The Version editor shows a live source code comparison through Git or Subversion history
• Live Issues display errors as you type, and Fix-it can correct the mistakes for you
• Apple LLVM compiler is embedded within the IDE with support for Objective-C, C, and C++
• The new LLDB debugging engine is faster and more memory-efficient than GDB
• Instruments adds System Trace and new iOS instruments including OpenGL ES

Streamlined interface that is faster and easier to use
&