Troubleshooting Boot Loop Issue on Hackintosh Workstation after Power Loss

Introduction:

• Explain the situation where the Hackintosh workstation stopped booting into macOS after a power loss, resulting in BIOS settings being wiped out.
• Assure users that the issue can likely be resolved with proper troubleshooting steps.

Check BIOS Settings:

• Explain the importance of BIOS settings for Hackintosh systems and how they may affect the boot process.
• Guide users to enter the BIOS setup utility and verify that the settings are configured correctly, especially those related to CPU, memory, storage, and boot options.

Restore Default BIOS Settings:

• Recommend resetting the BIOS settings to their default values if they have been wiped out.
• Provide instructions on how to reset BIOS settings to default using the BIOS setup utility.

Configure BIOS Settings for Hackintosh:

• Educate users about specific BIOS settings required for Hackintosh systems, such as VT-d, CFG Lock, Secure Boot, and others.
• Provide guidance on how to enable/disable these settings based on Hackintosh compatibility guides or community recommendations.

Check Boot Drive Configuration:

• Ensure that the boot drive containing macOS is properly detected and configured in the BIOS settings.
• Instruct users to check the boot priority order and ensure that the macOS boot drive is set as the primary boot device.

Verify Hardware Compatibility:

• Remind users to double-check the compatibility of their hardware components with macOS, especially the motherboard, CPU, GPU, and other peripherals.
• Recommend referring to Hackintosh compatibility lists or forums to confirm compatibility and identify any potential issues.

Attempt Safe Boot:

• Advise users to try booting into macOS using the safe boot mode to bypass any potential conflicts or issues.
• Instruct users on how to access safe boot mode and boot into macOS with minimal system resources and drivers loaded.

Inspect for Hardware Damage:

• Suggest inspecting the hardware components for any signs of physical damage or malfunction, such as loose connections or damaged components.
• If any hardware issues are identified, recommend addressing them accordingly, either through repair or replacement.

Contact Original System Administrator:

• Encourage users to reach out to the original system administrator or IT support personnel for assistance, especially if they are unfamiliar with Hackintosh systems or BIOS settings.
• Provide guidance on how to contact the system administrator or seek professional support for resolving the issue.

Conclusion:

• Summarize the troubleshooting steps provided and encourage users to follow them systematically to resolve the boot loop issue on their Hackintosh workstation.
• Reassure users that with proper troubleshooting and configuration, the Hackintosh system should be able to boot into macOS successfully again.