Steps to Troubleshoot USB Boot Issue

Here are some steps to troubleshoot and resolve the issue of being unable to boot from the USB, potentially seeing Kernel Panic s or the system reverting to booting into Windows:

Steps to Troubleshoot USB Boot Issue

1. Boot in Verbose Mode:

   • Restart your computer and enter the bootloader.
   • At the boot options screen, press the appropriate key (e.g., F8 or Enter) and type -v to boot in verbose mode. This will display diagnostic messages that can help pinpoint the issue​​.

2. Check for Kernel Panic :

   • If you see a Kernel Panic (screen stops with errors), it could be due to:
     • Incompatible kexts.
     • Incorrect BIOS settings.
     • Unsupported hardware​​.

3. Verify BIOS Settings:

   • Enable AHCI: Ensure AHCI is enabled in your BIOS under storage settings​​.
   • USB Configuration: Verify that the USB drive is set as the first boot device and is detected in the BIOS​.

4. Kexts and Drivers:

   • Ensure all required kexts for your hardware (e.g., USB, chipset) are present in the EFI partition of your USB. Use a tool like Clover Configurator to confirm​​.

5. Bootloader Configuration:

   • Verify that your config.plist is configured correctly. Common issues include:
     • Incorrect SMBIOS configuration.
     • Missing or incorrect boot arguments​​.
   • Try adding dart=0 or npci=0x3000 to the boot arguments.

6. Rebuild the Kext Cache:

   • On the USB, rebuild the kext cache using commands:

     bash
     Copy code
     sudo kextcache -i /
     

   • This ensures that all required drivers are properly cached for booting​​.

7. Check Boot Disk Identification:

   • Use the rd=diskXsY parameter to specify the correct boot disk. Replace X and Y with the disk and partition numbers of your USB drive​​.

8. Hardware Compatibility:

   • Double-check your hardware's compatibility with macOS. Unsupported GPUs, chipsets, or peripherals can cause issues​​.

9. Test with Another Bootloader:

   • If the issue persists, try using an alternative bootloader like OpenCore or a different version of Clover tailored for your hardware​​.

If these steps do not resolve your issue, provide specific error messages or screenshots for a more targeted solution. Additionally, share details about your hardware configuration and the macOS version you are attempting to install.