Synergy plus is a free and (mostly) platform independent solution to share your keyboard and mouse between multiple computers.

It is completely free and very easy to put in place.

via synergy-plus – Project Hosting on Google Code.

This video tutorial gives you the basics for creating a custom DSDT file that matches your configuration (eee PC model, amount of RAM and BIOS version).

The version of DSDT SE that goes with the tutorial can be downloaded here.

This is for advanced users only, so you’ve been warned if you shoot your install…

On your arrival you’ll find it overheated in your bag, without juice left for this terribly important presentation (and no power outlet in sight) and in the worst case with harddisk heads that have gotten to know the surface of the disks themselves – all data lost (believe me if I tell you that I had this happen twice to me)…

This video shows in less than one minute how to avoid your MacBook waking up when the lid is opened.

This is  the first video tutorial in our series “Hacks 4 Noobs” which will visually walk you through hacks and small modifications that improve the usability of your tech gear.

Please refer to the first part for comments, installation notes and news on compatibility.

Comments are closed and moved to part 1.

This video is the second and last part of the two part video tutorials on how to install OSX Snow Leopard 10.6.1 on the Asus EEE PC 1000HE.
This should work similarly for the other models of the eee family.

WARNING: Even though I don’t experience any problems, there are some reports that the graphics performance under SnowLeopard may be quite slow for some installs (around 30% of Leopard).

You can follow this topic here.

UPDATE: I just updated the Video for Part 2, because there was an small error in it (thanks prmpfbubub). But lost the comment when deleting and re-uploading the vid.

The install package can be downloaded here.

This should work similarly for the other models of the eee family.

Watch part 2

The new install package can be downloaded here.

Update: New installation package

Fixed:

• Sleep should work now
• Brightness fix
• Bluetoth fix
• Ethernet fix

Existing users just replace /Extra folder with the new one.

Notes

USB boot problems

AFAIK, if you only get a blinking cursor (no boot0 or boot1 failed) then the boot0 file has not been correctly written.

Otherwise it is probably the boot1h file.

• Make sure that you are in the right directory.
  Type “ls -l” and make sure that you have a bunch bootXX files in the list
• Make sure that you got the right disk ID (you’ll need the one that has the capacity of your USB drive)

(and no, a 4GB stick will NOT work, but it was the only one lying around to illustrate the problem)

• Make sure you type : sudo fdisk -f boot0 -u -y /dev/rdiskXXX AND replace the XXX with the ID of your USB stick
  Make sure that you type your password at this moment
  There is no message after you do that (even if it fails)
• Make sure you type: sudo dd if=boot1h of=/dev/rdiskXXXs2 AND replace the XXX with the ID of your USB stick
  There you should get a message on several lines saying something about “XXX bytes transferred….”
• Make sure you have a file named boot in your root
• Check with “ls -l /” –> you must have a file named “boot” in this list

That should do it.

Post Installation problems

Wrong screen resolution, no sleep, … don’t panic:

• Open a terminal
• Type:

cd /Extra
mv Extensions.mkext Extensions_COPY.mkext
sudo ./eee-mkext-create.sh

• then type your password.
• Check that a new Extensions.mkext file has been created.
• Reboot

Wifi

There are two types of Wifi cards that are used to build the 1000HE:

• The NE766 : You’ll have to get the OSX drivers from the Ralink homepage
• The NE771 : It seems that this card is working out of the box (tested by Paolo)

I swapped my Wifi card just in the beginning for a compatible Airport device (Broadcom BCM 94321MC 802.11n), so unfortunately I cannot test this.

Graphics

Works

At the moment the brightness adjustment is not working.

I’m looking into this…

WARNING: Even though I don’t experience any problems, there are some reports that the graphics performance under SnowLeopard may be quite slow for some installs (around 30% of Leopard).

You can follow this topic here.

Ethernet

Working

At the moment the ethernet port is not working.

I’m looking into this…

Bluetooth

Working

Not tested

Suddenly no more sound… Lost the WIFI connection. No panic, just reconnect, but to my big surprise there are no more hotspots detected (there are more than 10 in my office space).

The basic troubleshooting begins:

• Reboot
• Reset PVRAM
• Creation of a WIFI hotspot on the MBP (Create Network) and nothing detected by my iPhone or my Dell PC.

To no avail.

I have to jump the shark and call Apple Care (I’ve been in the IT business for more than 20 years, so this is kind of humiliating ) for the first time.

I get a very nice and knowledgeble lady on the phone who walks me through the basic steps:

Reset PVRAM (yay, been there already)

Create test user

Hold Left Shift-Alt-Cmd when switched off and press the on button (nothing seems to happen) wait at least 5 seconds, then do the reset PVRAM thingy 3 times in a row.
This was quite interesting, as I never heard about this one. Must be some sort of super-reset

So in the end she (has to, it’s a hardware fault) has to give up and tells me how to get a appointment with a Genius at the Geneva Apple Store.
Unfortunately the next slot is for monday afternoon but I take it…

Comes monday I go to the Apple Store with mixed feelings, as I’m sure they will have to keep the MBP for some days to fix the problem.
So I get to talk to the Genius at 16:03 (I had the appointment at 16:00 – hats off Apple) and he does the same stuff that I already did and indeed concludes that it is a hardware problem…

“Repair will take some days…” and ” Have you made a backup?”

After “No, no backup” (lying only so slightly ) and some minor whining on my part we get to:

“OK, I have the piece to replace in the back (the airport card in fact was grilled), come back in 30 minutes”

So I went to have a coffe, came back and five minutes later and went home with my repaired MacBook, working perfectly.

Why am I writing this?

Because as a switcher (in fact I did switch officially 3 months ago, if you don’t count my hackintosh adventures) I always found Apple products extremely sexy and well built, but terribly expensive.

Now if you look at my experience with the iPhone(s) and the MacBook and the service that goes with it I’m a very happy camper tonight and I would switch again if I had to.

Update: You can find a video tutorials on how to manipulate DSDT files
on our new partner site technow.cc.

As a lot of my readers have observed there are some problems when using certain dsdt.aml files with certain RAM configurations.

It seems that when you export/generate dsdt.aml files from the real existing BIOS, the resulting export is not strictly identical and thus playing havoc with your configuration.

The dsdt files contained in my packages (for the 1000H and the 1000HE) have both been generated with 2GB of memory, so there will be problems with eee PC that have not been upgraded with more RAM.

Attention – technical stuff:

It seems that there is one line in the decompiled dsdt.dsl file that differs:

For the 1GB:

…

Name (SMBS, 0×0400)

OperationRegion (BIOS, SystemMemory, 0x3F7AE064, 0xFF)

Field (BIOS, ByteAcc, NoLock, Preserve)

{

…

For the 2GB:

…

Name (SMBS, 0×0400)

OperationRegion (BIOS, SystemMemory, 0x7F7AE064, 0xFF)

Field (BIOS, ByteAcc, NoLock, Preserve)

{

…

I included the needed files in a zip file here, and I’m updating the packages now.The 1GB 1000H files are courtesy of elParker.

Update: You can find new video tutorials on how to install SnowLeopard here.

I finally got OSX 10.5.7 to install on my new eee 1000HE.

This guide is quite basic, again you’ll have to enable your brain at a certain moment

Thanks go to Greg, slither2007, pentiumpc, Thireus,strongesthylian, comatron and all the other fine people at ipis-osx.

Update: I just had to reinstall the OS after I lost keyboard and mouse after changing to 2GB of RAM – strange…
I followed my own steps and I couldn’t get it installed properly, so I had to do some modifications:

• No wifi driver : there is no WIFI driver for the integrated Atheros card (didn’t check this as I swapped it before installing) – thanks desertman
• Update to 10.5.7 should be done in the end
• Update to 10.5.7 should be done with the iDeneb.Combo.Upgrade.KIT.1057
• The cpus=1 install option is not needed anymore (at least for me)
• Provided the latest dsdt.aml file that works on my 1000HE (I redid the whole patching thing)
• New chapter for goodies

Update: I uploaded a new version of the package that should fix the problems with dsdt files for 1GB or 2GB PCs. See this post.

The new bundle is MY_BUNDLE_1000HE_V0.1.2.zip

To begin with…

Get my install pack here (I compiled a configuration that worked for me. I take no credit at all for this. Guys like paul over here did the lions share of the work).

Unzip the downloaded file (usually it unzips to the same folder)

For each chapter, the files needed are in a nicely labeled folder that contains everything you need (including the download links for the components that I can’t provide freely).

1) BIOS Update to fix ACPI Problems

It seems that it is not absolutely necessary to flash a custom BIOS, but for me it was the only way to get it working.

Let me be very clear:

I DO NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY BRICKED 1000HE.

FLASHING THE BIOS IS ALWAYS A RISK (even if it’s a very small one)!!!

I did flash from 0605 to my modified 0802 and back at lease 20 times and everything went well.
The modified BIOS has been made by me based on the original 0802.

There are two flavors:

• BIOS_1000HE_ENIK_CPU_ONLY: Fixes only the long boot times (corrects the CPU ALIAS)
• BIOS_1000HE_ENIK_BOOTLOGO_AND_CPU: Fixes only the long boot times and changes the boot screen to the grey apple logo

To flash the BIOS:

• Make sure the the ROM file is named to whatever the name of your comp model is, in my case 1000HE.ROM
• Put it alone on a USB drive and insert it into your computer. Reboot, hit F2
• Under the Boot tab of BIOS settings, change priority boot device to USB drive
• Go to exit, select exit + save changes
• This will cause the comp to reboot again, so as soon as you see it start up, HOLD DOWN alt + F2
• This will go into EZ-FLASH and update your BIOS
• Reboot, hit F2, double check that BIOS is working

2) Partition your Harddisk

I kept a dualboot configuration with XP/Win7 and OSX on my 1000HE. In order to accomplish this you’ll have to do some light changes in your partition scheme. I’ll recommend you do a complete backup of your harddisk before continuing!!! You can use programs like Acronis TrueImage to do so.

• Right click on “My Computer” on your desktop and select “Manage”
• Then click on “Disk Management”

• Delete the second partition by right clicking on the second partition of Disk0 and selecting “Delete Partition”.

• Create a new unformatted primary partition

3) Installation

3.1) Preparation – Downloads

• Download the iPC distribution from the usual sources (this is somewhat illegal even if you own a Leopard license, as I do) :
  • iPC_OSx86 Universal 10.5.6 or iPC-X DL 10.5.6
• Burn it to a DVD
• Download the 10.5.7 Combo Update from Apple
• Download the iDeneb.Combo.Upgrade.KIT.1057.dmg from here or here

3.2) BIOS Settings

There was no need whatsoever to change the BIOS settings

If you encounter problems try disabling “QuickBoot”

3.3) Installing OSX

• Put the OSX DVD in your external DVD drive and boot from it (Hit ESC at the gray boot screen and select your DVD drive in the blue/yellow list)
• Hit F8 when the boot text appears and enter (just to be sure – I don’t needed it on my system after reinstalling):cpus=1
• The boot may take a while (5-10 minutes depending on your DVD drive)

• Just click through until you come to this screen

• Run “Disk Utility”

• Select the second partition that you have created in step 1 and format it by selecting “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)”, naming it (OSX in my case) and hit “Erase”

–

• To be sure you can select the drive and select “Partition”. Press Options and you should see that the drive is partitioned as MBR

• If you go back now you should see something like this.
• Select the drive and click “continue”

• On the “Install Summary” Screen click “Customize”

• Now you’ll have to enable your brain as you’ll have to select the install options. Those options are not always present and/or named in the same way. You’ll have to install:
  • The option for ICHx Fixed
  • The option for FireWire Remove
  • CPUS=1 or One Core Fix
  • Video/Intel and check GMA950
  • PS/2 Keyboard Fix or PS2Fix Keyboard or similar
  • Don’t select any optional Kernel !!!!
• If you have the option to install some tools I’d recommend (if present):
  • Kext Helper
  • OSx86 Tools
  • Pacifist
  • Universal OSX86 Installer
• Hit “Done” and “Install”
• Go have a coffee or two, install takes around 25 – 40 minutes.

3.4) Post-Install

After first boot you’ll have to answer some questions from Apple.

Don’t forget to define a password, we’ll need it later!

There is no guarantee that all the kexts in this bundle do work with your eee PC. There are simply too many different hardware revisions out there (even on the 1000HE it seems that there are at least 3 different brands of the camera used – some work, some don’t).

So if you install the kexts:

• Do so by following the guide (unless you know what you’re doing) as it makes it easier to spot an offending kext.
• Install them using kextHelper (it sets the corrects rights and stuff and makes a backup of your replaced kexts).

If ever a kext has your system crashing/not booting/unstable do the following:

• Boot into “single user mode” by specifying -s at the boot prompt
• Then type: /sbin/fsck -fy /sbin/mount -uw / (don’t forget the / at the end!!)
• Then erase the offending kext(s) with the backup(s) (example of AppleIntelGMA950 kext) cp -R /Backup Extensions/AppleIntelGMA950.kext/ /System/Library/Extensions/ rm /System/Library/Extensions.mkext
• Reboot with the -f option

3.4.1) Fixing “About this Mac”

• Install the “About this Mac” package. Just click through it

3.4.2) DSDT file

The DSDT file can be used with the latest Chameleon bootloader.

• Launch the Univeral OSX86 Installer Application (ignore the errors, I only included the needed stuff) and install the bootloader to your OSX partition (beware to not choose any other partition!!!)

• Copy the corresponding dsdt.aml file to your root directory.

Attention there are two flavours: one for 1GB (original) 1000HEs and one for updated 2GB ones!!!

Attention the provided dsdt file only works with the 1000HE!!!

For more information see this thread.

The DSDT file will handle and correct the following stuff :

• Brightness Control (wake fix, no need for AppleIntelIntegratedFramebuffer.kext)
• Power Button Fix
• Lid close goes to sleep (no need for Clamshell.kext)

And on a more technical level:

• VGA fix (no need for Natit.kext)
• CPU Alias
• HPET fixed
• RTC fixed

Note: This things are not fixed by the modified BIOS that you have flashed – so you must use the DSDT file in order to enable all those fixes

3.4.3) Installing kexts

• Run “Kext Helper”

• Drag all kexts in the “3.4.3_InstallingKexts_10.5.6″ folder onto the “Kext Helper” application .

• Type your password, click “Easy Install” and follow the dialogs
• Reboot

Update: For those having problems with missing or double battery icons, read this

This is a known problem on some configurations.

For me on my 1000HE it worked like a charm but you might have to delete the existing ACPIBattery.kext because I got two battery indicators.

3.4.4) Install WLAN Driver

if you stayed with the original Ralink card, I didn’t but had to completely open up the 1000HE in order to change the WIFI card (see here for some help)

• Download here
• Use specific application to control WLAN
• I for my part installed a Apple Airport mini PCI WLAN card – BroadCom BCM 94321MC 802.11n (search for BCM94321MC on eBay – around 20$-30$) which works out of the box and is recognized as Airport card.

I didn’t test this but apparently there is no driver for the integrated Atheros card.

You’ll have to change it to a compatible one or buy a USB WIFI adapter.

3.4.5) Speedstep

The speedstep support has already been installed with the above kexts.

You can launch the GenericCPUPowerManagement Application from the “3.4.7_Speedstep” folder to check if the throttling is working.

3.4.6) HotKeys

This step is optional:

• Install Spark
• Launch Spark
• Import the Spark configuration (File/Revert to Spark Library Backup)

You’ll get (this is just a list of examples to get you started):

• Ctrl-F11/12  – Volume up/down
• Ctrl-F10  – Mute
• Ctrl-F2  – Sleep
• AppleKey/Option T – Terminal
• AppleKey/Option F – Firefox
• AppleKey/Option W – TextEdit
• Ctrl/Alt7Delete – Opens/Closes Activity Monitor

3.4.7) Update to 10.5.7

• Mount (double click) the iDeneb.Combo.Upgrade.KIT.1057.dmg
• Use iDeneb.MacOSx86UpdCombo10.5.7.pkg to update your system
  
• I didn’t use iDeneb.Tool.rev1.mpkg
• Reboot
  

3.4.8) Install the kexts for 10.5.7

• After reboot you’re back to 800×600 resoultion
• Run “Kext Helper”
• Drag all kexts in the “3.4.7_InstallingKexts_10.5.7″ folder onto the “Kext Helper” application .
• Type your password, click “Easy Install” and follow the dialogs
• Reboot

3.4.9) Misc Fixes

This directory contains fixes for potential problems (always, and I mean ALWAYS make backups of your kexts before trying those fixes):

External USB to Ethernet : Provides the kexts for an external USB to Ethernet adapter

Time Machine Fix : Provides a known fix if your TimeMachine is not working as advertised

Bluetooth Fix : Fix for erratic Bluetooth (may or may not work with 10.5.6 – try it out)

Keyboard : Provides a fix for the Swiss French keyboard layout with a hacked kext. You can use the Ukulele app to create your own keyboard layouts.

3.4.10)Goodies

Under StartupSound you’ll find a preference pane and two original eNik sounds that let you define startup and shutdown sounds… Thanks to woolmonkey for the tip.

That’s it…

What works:

- System running with EFI, vanilla and Quartz extreme support

- Stock Kernel : working with EFI

- GMA950 : working with QE & GL

- Sleep Mode : working

- Wlan : working (if you change the WIFI card)

- Camera: : working

- Multitouch : 2 finger scrolling, 3 finger control, 2 finger doubletab

- SD Slot

- External USB to Ethernet adapter for the MacBook Air

- Time Machine

- Sound input/output

- Brightness control

- Speedstep

- Ethernet

All the information in this post comes from the following sites and from hours of trial and error work from my eee PCs:

http://forum.eeepcnews.de/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=7381&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a (German)

http://smallcomputing.net/2009/02/25/how-to-install-os-x-on-asus-eee-pc-1000he-netbook/

http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?act=idx

http://ipis-osx.wikidot.com/

http://www.maceee.com/

http://eeepc-osx.wikispaces.com/901

http://wiki.taruga.net/

save

save

save

save

It seems that it is beyond repair and I got a 1000HE instead.

I love the new keyboard and the battery life is pretty amazing (and I got it in black which is more “manly” than the previous white one).

I already installed Windows 7 on it and it works like a charm.

I started hacking away with OSX and I’ll keep you posted how it goes in an upcoming post.

Update: you can find new video tutorials on how to install SnowLeopard on our new partner site technow.cc.

I just upgraded to version 10.5.7 of Leopard on my 1000H.

I did this by downloading the Combo Update directly from Apple (just to be sure…) and executing it on the eee PC.

Everything went fine, I just had to:

• reinstall the modified graphics kexts in version 10.5.7
• reinstall the Bluetooth kext from the Fixes folder
• and strangely the PS2 kexts and to reapply the AboutThisMac.pkg

All of those kexts can be found in the 10.5.7 folder from the Install Package in this eNik article.

Update: You can find new video tutorials on how to install SnowLeopard here.

I finally got the time to update my article on how to install OSX 10.5.5 on your eee 1000h.

The procedure is pretty much the same but I tried to add the cool stuff that has been discovered lately, mainly over at ipis-osx.

I tried to keep this guide more basic than the one before, so no iDeneb, iPC or Kalyway specific installation instructions, you’ll have to enable your brain at a certain moment

If you would like to install with the original OSX DVD see the excellent tutorial by Gregory Cohen.

Thanks go to Greg, slither2007, pentiumpc, Thireus,strongesthylian, comatron and all the other fine people at ipis-osx.

Update: I re-tested the guide on iDeneb 1.4 and had to change the install order:

When installing the GMA950 kexts before the DSDT fix boot process will most probably hang with a blue screen. –> changed the order of installation and uploaded a new zip package.

Update: Updated the chapter 3.4.5) Fix Power Manage for those who get double or missing battery icons.

Update: Modified the Tutorial to integrate Thireus’ VoodooHDA.kext for Sound input (Mic working) and the Attansic kext for a working Ethernet port (new Install Package – V0.9.3).

Update: Modified the Tutorial and Package (new Install Package – V0.9.4) to integrate:

• Thireus’ latest VoodooHDA.kext
• The latest Attansic kext for a working Ethernet
• The latest BIOS and DSDT (1902 for 1000H) file from alex_l
• Trackpad kexts in the 10.5.7 folder after my 10.5.7 upgrade
• Graphics kexts in the 10.5.7 folder after my 10.5.7 upgrade
• Chameleon 2 RC package for the adventurous among my visitors

Update: I uploaded a new version of the package that should fix the problems with dsdt files for 1GB or 2GB PCs. See this post.

The new bundle is MY_BUNDLE_V0.9.4.2.zip.

To begin with…

Get my install pack here (I compiled a configuration that worked for me. I take no credit at all for this. Guys like paul over here did the lions share of the work).

Unzip the downloaded file (usually it unzips to the same folder)

For each chapter, the files needed are in a nicely labeled folder that contains everything you need (including the download links for the components that I can’t provide freely).

1) BIOS Update to fix ACPI Problems

In order to avoid some very annoying quirks (like bootup taking 20-40 minutes…) you’ll should flash the custom BIOS. If you can wait out the loooooong boot time, you might just use the DSDT method described in chapter 3.4.8).

alex_l provided us with a new version of the 1902 BIOS and DSDT for the 1000h (XP friendly version).

It can be found in the BIOS_1000H_ALEX_L folder.

The modified BIOS has been made by pentiumpc over at ipis-osx. Check out his thread.

There are two flavors:

• 1000H-Basic-Patched-B3 : Recommended XP friendly without the PowerButton fix (this can be achieved with the DSDT fix from chapter 3.4.8)
• 1000H-Basic-Patched-B3a : OSX only. Not recommended for dual boot setups or people who want to go back (in which case you’ll have to reflash another XP friendly BIOS)

To flash the BIOS:

• Make sure the the ROM file is named to whatever the name of your comp model is, in my case 1000H.ROM (or 901.ROM)
• Put it alone on a USB drive and insert it into your computer. Reboot, hit F2
• Under the Boot tab of BIOS settings, change priority boot device to USB drive
• Go to exit, select exit + save changes
• This will cause the comp to reboot again, so as soon as you see it start up, HOLD DOWN alt + F2
• This will go into EZ-FLASH and update your BIOS
• Reboot, hit F2, double check that BIOS is working

2) Partition your Harddisk

I kept a dualboot configuration with XP and OSX on my 1000h. In order to accomplish this you’ll have to do some light changes in your partition scheme. I’ll recommend you do a complete backup of your harddisk before continuing!!! You can use programs like Acronis TrueImage to do so.

• Right click on “My Computer” on your desktop and select “Manage”
• Then click on “Disk Management”

• Delete the second partition by right clicking on the second partition of Disk0 and selecting “Delete Partition”.

• Create a new unformatted primary partition

3) Installation

3.1) Preparation – Downloads

• Download your preferred distribution from the usual sources (this is somewhat illegal even if you own a Leopard license, as I do) . I recommend:
  • iDeneb 1.4 10.5.6
  • iPC_OSx86 Universal 10.5.6 or iPC-X DL 10.5.6
• Burn it to a DVD

3.2) BIOS Settings

Enter BIOS Settings by pressing F2 at the gray boot screen

• Go to Advanced - Onboard Device Configuration
  • Onboard LAN: Disable
  • Onboard Camera: Enable
  • Onboard Wlan: Enable
  • Onboard Bluetooth: Enable
• Advanced – CPU settings
  • Max CPUID Value Limit: Disable
  • Hyper threading: Disable (If you have it in the BIOS – mainly for 901 users)
  • Intel Speedstep Enable (If you have it in the BIOS – mainly for 901 users)
• Save & Exit

3.3) Installing OSX

• Put the OSX DVD in your external DVD drive and boot from it (Hit ESC at the gray boot screen and select your DVD drive in the blue/yellow list)
• The boot may take a while (5-10 minutes depending on your DVD drive)

• Just click through until you come to this screen

• Run “Disk Utility”

• Select the second partition that you have created in step 1 and format it by selecting “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)”, naming it (OSX in my case) and hit “Erase”

–

• To be sure you can select the drive and select “Partition”. Press Options and you should see that the drive is partitioned as MBR

• If you go back now you should see something like this.
• Select the drive and click “continue”

• On the “Install Summary” Screen click “Customize”

• Now you’ll have to enable your brain as you’ll have to select the install options. Those options are not always present and/or named in the same way. You’ll have to install:
  • The option for ICHx Fixed or Intel ICHx SATA Driver or something similar
  • The option for FireWire Remove or similar
  • Video/Intel and check GMA950
  • PS/2 Keyboard Fix or PS2Fix Keyboard or similar
  • CPUS=1 or One Core Fix
  • Don’t select any optional Kernel !!!!
• If you have the option to install some tools I’d recommend (if present):
  • Kext Helper
  • OSx86 Tools
  • Pacifist
  • Universal OSX86 Installer

Example for iDeneb 1.4

• iDeneb Essential System
• Patches 10.5.6 Ready / Alternative Essential Patch / PS2 Fix for ACPI kext 10.5.6 / PS2 Fix Keyboard
• Chipset / ICHx Fixed
• Fix / AppleSMBIOS / AppleSMBIOS 667
• Fix / FireWire Remove
• Fix / Battery Manager
• Fix / PowerOff_OpenHaltRestart
• Video / Intel / IntelGMA950
• And the recommended Apps

• Hit “Done” and “Install”
• Go have a coffee or two, install takes around 25 – 40 minutes.

3.4) Post-Install

After first boot you’ll have to answer some questions from Apple.

Don’t forget to define a password, we’ll need it later!

There is no guarantee that all the kexts in this bundle do work with your eee PC. There are simply too many different hardware revisions out there (even on the 1000h it seems that there are at least 3 different brands of the camera used – some work, some don’t).

So if you install the kexts:

• Do so by following the guide (unless you know what you’re doing) as it makes it easier to spot an offending kext.
• Install them using kextHelper (it sets the corrects rights and stuff and makes a backup of your replaced kexts).

If ever a kext has your system crashing/not booting/unstable do the following:

• Boot into “single user mode” by specifying -s at the boot prompt
• Then type: /sbin/fsck -fy /sbin/mount -uw / (don’t forget the / at the end!!)
• Then erase the offending kext(s) with the backup(s) (example of AppleIntelGMA950 kext) cp -R /Backup Extensions/AppleIntelGMA950.kext/ /System/Library/Extensions/ rm /System/Library/Extensions.mkext
• Reboot with the -f option

3.4.1) Fixing “About this Mac”

• Install the “About this Mac” package. Just click through it

3.4.2) DSDT file

The DSDT file can be used with the latest Chameleon bootloader.

• Launch the Univeral OSX86 Installer Application (ignore the errors, I only included the needed stuff) and install the bootloader to your OSX partition (beware to not choose any other partition!!!)

• Copy the corresponding dsdt.aml file to your root directory.

Attention there are two flavours: one for 1GB (original) 1000Hs and one for updated 2GB ones!!!

Attention the provided dsdt file only works with the 1000h!!!

For more information see this thread.

The DSDT file will handle and correct the following stuff :

• Brightness Control (wake fix, no need for AppleIntelIntegratedFramebuffer.kext)
• Power Button Fix
• Lid close goes to sleep (no need for Clamshell.kext)

And on a more technical level:

• VGA fix (no need for Natit.kext)
• CPU Alias
• Mute fix
• _T_0 fix
• HPET fixed
• RTC fixed

Note: This things are already partially fixed by the modified BIOS that you have flashed – so basically you should be able to go back to the latest vanilla BIOS from ASUS, but I prefer to be sure, in case I mess up my DSDT file

3.4.3) Installing kexts

• Run “Kext Helper”

• Drag all kexts in the “3.4.2_InstallingKexts” folder onto the “Kext Helper” application (The SMBIOS kext might not be needed for iDeneb).

• Type your password, click “Easy Install” and follow the dialogs
• Reboot

3.4.4) Fixing the resolution

• You may have a strange 800×600 resolution. Don’t worry, we’ll fix that.
• Install “SwitchResX”

• Launch “SwitchResX” property panel

• Go to “Custom” and click on the plus sign “+”

• Create a custom resolution. Only change the “Pixel Clock “to 60 and the Horizontal resolution to 1024 and hit OK.

• Click “Apply”
• Launch “OSx86 Tool”
• Select “Enable/Disable Quartz GL”
• Click on “Enable Quartz GL”

• Reboot

3.4.5) Fix Power Management

• Delete the “PowerManagement.bundle” in System/Library/SystemConfiguration by dragging it to the Trash (it might be a good idea to make a copy first . You’ll have to enter your password to proceed.

• Now install the new “PowerManagement.bundle” by dragging it to System/Library/SystemConfiguration. Again you’ll have to enter your password to proceed.

• Launch “OSx86 Tool”
• Select “Repair Permissions” and “Clear Extensions Cache”
• Click on “Run Selected Tasks”. You’ll have to enter your password to proceed.

• Wait (this may take some time – 5 to 10 minutes)
• Reboot

Update: For those having problems with missing or double battery icons, read this:

This is a known problem on some configurations.

Could also be that it conflichts with the installed PowerManagement.bundle.

For me on my 1000h it worked like a charm but I had to delete the existing ACPIBattery.kext because I got two battery indicators.

If you have no icon, try the ACPIBattery.kext from my 10.5.5 postinstall pack here.

3.4.6) Install WLAN Driver

if you stayed with the original Ralink card

• Download here
• Use specific application to control WLAN
• I for my part installed a Apple Airport mini PCI WLAN card – BroadCom BCM 94321MC 802.11n (search for BCM94321MC on eBay – around 20$-30$) which works out of the box and is recognized as Airport card.

3.4.7) Fix sound

There is no need for the Audeee solution anymore. The VoodooHDA.kext resolves the problems (though only one Microphone is working – mono).

I’ve included the latest VoodooHDA.kext compiled and adapted to the eee by Thireus (22/04/09: v.3).

Check back often over at ipis-osx in order to get the latest versions, as I’m not able to update very often lately.

Optional:

• Install Spark
• Launch Spark
• Select “File/New Hotkey/System”
• Select the actions “Mute” and assign each a key combination under “Shortcut” (I’d suggest something like Ctrl-F10 – FN key does NOT work, they are not captured by OSX but by the BIOS directly!)
• Check “Display confirm Dialog” (this makes for a nice OSD)
• Hit “create”
• Repeat for “Volume Up” and “Volume Down”

Normally you should now have sound on boot, on wake from sleep, keyboard control for Volume and Mute and the possibility to select the input in the SystemPreferences. The Output (Speaker/Headphones) is switching automatically when plugging a headphone in.

3.4.8) Speedstep

The speedstep support has already been installed with the above kexts.

You can launch the GenericCPUPowerManagement Application from the “3.4.7_Speedstep” folder to check if the throttling is working.

3.4.9) Misc Fixes

This directory contains fixes for potential problems (always, and I mean ALWAYS make backups of your kexts before trying those fixes):

External USB to Ethernet : Provides the kexts for an external USB to Ethernet adapter

Time Machine Fix : Provides a known fix if your TimeMachine is not working as advertised Attention might break the RalinkDriver!!!

Bluetooth Fix : Fix for erratic Bluetooth (may or may not work with 10.5.6 – try it out)

Keyboard : Provides a fix for the Swiss French keyboard layout with a hacked kext. You can use the Ukulele app to create your own keyboard layouts.

Trackpad Fix: I had to install/reinstall those two kexts after my 10.5.7 upgrade.

That’s it…

What works:

- System running with EFI, vanilla and Quartz extreme support

- Stock Kernel : working with EFI

- GMA950 : working with QE & GL

- Sleep Mode : working (With wakeup by pressing power button)

- Wlan : working (After Start and wake on Powersaving a manual switch off/on is needed on original Ralink Card)

- Camera: : working

- Multitouch : 2 finger scrolling, 3 finger control, 2 finger doubletab

- SD Slot

- External USB to Ethernet adapter for the MacBook Air

- Time Machine

- Sound output working

- Brightness control

- Speedstep

- Sound input

- Ethernet

What does not work yet:

- Sound input

- Ethernet

All the information in this post comes from the following sites and from hours of trial and error work from my eee PCs:

http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?act=idx

http://ipis-osx.wikidot.com/

http://www.maceee.com/

http://eeepc-osx.wikispaces.com/901

http://wiki.taruga.net/

What you get when you hook-up:

• HP w2216 22′ Monitor
• eeeBox B202
• Apple Keyboard

A fully functional Hackintosh- see previous post for installation instructions.

Important: you’ll need a Monitor with DVI input in order to make this work correctly.

If you have a VGA input you might encounter the following problem which is extremely annoying.

1) BIOS Update to fix ACPI Problems

1a) Update from XP

The simplest way to do a BIOS Update – use Asus Windows Tool and Run update from file
BIOS Update is always a risk – for me, all went fine and the long boot time was fixed!

• Get modified Bios from: osrom.net
• Run ASUSUpdate

• Select “Update BIOS from File”

• Select the downloaded file
• Follow the steps to update your BIOS

1a) Update natively

To flash the BIOS,

• Downlaod the ROM file and put it on a USB drive and insert it into your computer.
• Reboot and on start up, HOLD DOWN alt + F2.
  This will go into EZ-FLASH
• Select the downlaoded fiel and update your BIOS.
  Reboot, hit F2, double check that BIOS is working.

2) Partition your Harddisk

I kept a dualboot configuration with XP and OSX on my eeeBox.

In order to accomplish this you’ll have to do some light changes in your partition scheme.

I’ll recommend you do a complete backup of your harddisk before continuing!!!
You can use programs like Acronis TrueImage to do so.

• Right click on “My Computer” on your desktop and select “Manage”
• Then click on “Disk Management”

• Delete the second partition by right clicking on the second partition of Disk0 and selecting “Delete Partition”.

• Create a new unformatted primary partition

3) Installation

3.1) Preparation – Downloads
• Download iPC OSx86 (this is a 10.5.6 version, iDeneb 1.3 10.5.5 should also work) from the usual sources (this is somewhat illegal even if you own a Leopard licence, as I do)
• Burn it to a DVD

3.2) BIOS Settings

• I didn’t have to change my BIOS settings, but your mileage may vary – let me know….

3.3) Installing OSX

• Put the iPC OSX86 DVD in your external DVD drive and boot from it (Hit F8 at the black boot screen and select your DVD drive in the blue/yellow list)
  

  If the boot hangs/crashes try to boot with the cpus=1 option.

• The boot may take a while (5-10 minutes depending on your DVD drive)

• Just click through until you come to this screen

• Run “Disk Utility”

• Select the second partition that you have created in step 1 and format it by selecting “Mac OS Extended (Journaled)”, naming it (OSX in my case) and hit “Erase”

-

• To be sure you can select the drive and select “Partition”. Press Options and you should see that the drive is partitioned as MBR

• If you go back now you should see something like this.
• Select the drive and click “continue”

• On the “Install Summary” Screen click “Customize”

• Select the following options:
  • Drivers
  • Drivers/Video Drivers/Intel – Check the box for GMA950
  • Drivers/Chipset Drivers – Check the box for GMA950
  • Fixes
  • Fixes and Patches – Check the box for CPUS=1 One Core Fix
  • Fixes and Patches – Check the box for FireWire mount Fix

• I recommend you install some useful (and needed) tools:

• Hit “Done” and “Install”
• Go have a coffee or two, install takes around 25 – 40 minutes.

3.4) Post-Install

• After first boot you’ll have to answer some questions to Apple. Don’t forget to define a password, we’ll need it later!
• Get my eeeBox post install pack here (I compiled a configuration that worked for me. I take no credit at all for this. Guys like paul over here did the lions share of the work).
• Unzip the downloaded file (normally it unzips to the same folder)
  

  There is no guarantee that all the kexts in this bundle
  do work with your eee PC.
  There are simply too many different hardware revisions
  out there(even on the 1000h it seems that there are
  at least 3 differentbrands of the camera used
  - some work, some don't).
  
  So if you install the kexts:
   - Do so by following the guide (unless you know
  what you're doing)
  as it makes it easier to spot an offending kext.
   - Install them using kextHelper (it sets the
  corrects rights and
  stuff and makes a backup of your replaced kexts).
  
  If ever a kext has your system crashing/not
  booting/unstable do the following:
  
  - Boot into "single user mode" by specifying -s
  at the boot prompt
  - Then type:
        /sbin/fsck -fy
        /sbin/mount -uw /
              (don't forget the / at the end!!)
  
  - Then erase the offending kext(s) with the backup(s)
  (example of AppleIntelGMA950 kext)
        cp -R /Backup Extensions/AppleIntelGMA950.kext/ /System/Library/Extensions/
        rm /System/Library/Extensions.mkext
  
  - Reboot with the -f option

• 3.4.1) Fixing “About this Mac”
• Install the “About this Mac” package. Just click through it

• 3.4.2) Installing kexts
• Run “Kext Helper”

• Drag all kexts in the “kexts” folder onto the “Kext Helper” application

• Type your password, click “Easy Install” and follow the dialogs
• Reboot
• 3.4.4) Installing DSDT
• Installing the DSDT gives you more security for future upgrades and for ACPI support.
• Create DSDT File
• Run DSDT Patcher with the following selections:

• This creates a dsdt.aml file in the DSDT application Session directory

• Install latest EFI
• Run UniversalOSXInstaller
• Select the correct HardDrive (!!!!)
• Checking “Install PC_EFI v9…”

• Hit “Install”
• Create and install the plugin
• Open the “UOI Plugin Generator” in UniversalOSXInstaller

• Check “Add DSDT Dump” and Browse for the dsdt.aml file that you just created
• And give the plugin an intelligent name

• Click “Generate Plugin”
• Copy the plugin from the Desktop to the Applications/UInstaller/Motherboards directory

• Select the motherboard package, click “Apply DSDT patch” and hit Install

• EFI Strings
• You might want to apply the EFI String for the Time Machine Fix as well as set the Native Boot
  Resolution to the appropriate values for you Screen.

• 3.4.4) Fixing the resolution (might not be needed on some models)
• You’ll probably have a strange 800×600 resolution. Don’t worry, we’ll fix that.
• Install “SwitchResX”

• Launch “SwitchResX” property panel

• Go to “Custom” and click on the plus sign “+”

• Create the custom resolution corresponding to your display and hit OK.

• Click “Apply”
• Launch “OSx86 Tool” (this step might not be needed)
• Select “Enable/Disable Quartz GL”
• Click on “Enable Quartz GL”

• Reboot

• 3.4.5) Install WLAN Driver if you stayed with the original Ralink card
• Download here

• 3.4.6) Fix sound
• Download package here.
• Install the AzaliaAudio package. Only the rear output is working.

That’s it…

What works:
- System running with EFI, vanilla and Quartz extreme support
- Stock Kernel : working with EFI
- GMA950 : working with QE & GL
- Ethernet
- Sound output working (only rear)
- Wlan : working
- SD Slot
- Time Machine

What does not work yet:
- Sound input (microphones) not working
- Sleep Mode

All the information in this post comes from the following sites and from hours of trial and error work from my eee PCs:

http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?act=idx

http://ipis-osx.wikidot.com/

http://www.maceee.com/

http://eeepc-osx.wikispaces.com/901

http://wiki.taruga.net/

It’s a program that locks your screen with a password when activated.

But then it tracks:

• If the mouse is moved
• If a key is pressed
• If the PowerSupply is detached
• If a USB device is detached
• If the Computer is moved (only on real Macs, eee don’t have movement sensors)

So if someone tries to steal your Hackintosh an alarm goes of and it sends the picture of the iSight cam to a personal email address.

So when you’re working in the Library or somewhere public, just activate Lockdown and you’re reasonably sure that you’ll hear when someone tries to get off with your beloved eee.

It’s basically a good idea to hook it up to a power supply to activate as this works like a virtual Kensington Lock…

And the best… It’s free…

That would mean that we should get a bit more than 2.5 days of sleep out of a fully charged battery, which is not bad.

But this still seems a bit low to me – I was under the impression that under Windows it’s more.

Please comment…

Only thing still missing is microphone input for Skype but I think we’ll get there one day.

Enjoy.

Update: Sorry for my English, I was only half awake when I did the recording

I have tested it and it works like a charm.

See for yourself but beware it is still quite technical.

Update: Sound works on headphones as well – still very technical

At first it is not recognized by OSX (it seems that it is a problem for Kalyway and iDeneb – and probably others too) as there are two kexts missing (AppleUSBEthernet.kext and AppleUSBGigEthernet.kext).

I found this information on the invaluable Insanely Mac Forum.

You can get them here and install with Kext Helper and after that it works like a charm.

Just a link to a video of my 1000h booting
OSX Leopard 10.5.5.