Intel PC running Mac OS X??

[sphoenix77]

Ok so today I saw an ad for an Intel Mac core 2 tower for sale. When I contacted the owner he invited me over to see it. I saw that the case was not typical apple casing (more like a super fancy gaming case) but the operating system was obviously Mac OS X 10.5.7. I clicked and opened programs and everything seemed fine.
However, when I got the computer home and I connected it to my monitor and keyboard, it started booting like a Windows PC. As the process went on, it showed the apple icon and the progress bar then the grey screen. finally, when it got to the part where the "log on" screen or the desktop should pop up.. there was nothing but a blue screen. What happened?? I am so confused. It's like all of the sudden it's a windows computer!
I tried booting it up from my Mac OS X 10.5 disk but it wont read from any mac cd/dvd. It does, however, recognize windows cds and DVDs and will boot from those.
Does anyone have any information on this... or can give me any (serious) advice?

[outphase]

You bought what's known as a "hackintosh." You did not buy Apple hardware and should get a refund if that's what you thought you were buying.

[MacDawg]

Sounds like you bought a Hackintosh... a Windows box with OSX installed

You might want to browse through this thread:
Hackintosh Thread (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=499678)

And check out this Forum:
insanelymac.com forums (http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/)

[baslotto]

Google "hackintosh"...

[sphoenix77]

You bought what's known as a "hackintosh." You did not buy Apple hardware and should get a refund if that's what you thought you were buying.

Yeah I got it off craigslist so a refund is sorta out of the question. :/ I just cant figure out why it can't boot now...

[MacDawg]

Yeah I got it off craigslist so a refund is sorta out of the question. :/ I just cant figure out why it can't boot now...

I don't mean to be doom and gloom, but if you aren't really into this sort of thing, you are in for a world of hurt

A Hackintosh is really a geek's wet dream... something they tinker with and tweak and not something the average user needs to deal with

[pionata]

Well, you make the case for how much "better" and "cheaper" hackintosh are over macs...

[iParis]

Well it booted once before. Maybe you have to do a special boot up sequence. Call the guy and ask him about it. If it still doesn't work, you still have a PC you can put Windows iif in the hackintoshed Leopard doesn't work.

[sphoenix77]

Well it booted once before. Maybe you have to do a special boot up sequence. Call the guy and ask him about it. If it still doesn't work, you still have a PC you can put Windows iif in the hackintoshed Leopard doesn't work.

That's just it.. I contacted him and he is very uncooperative. He keeps saying I must "have dropped it or something". I think he is saying that because it's illegal to sell one of these things.

[kernkraft]

I would try pressing the command key, while starting it again. Or the alt.

[PurrBall]

If you're getting a blue screen, try connecting your monitor to another output on the PC.

[sphoenix77]

I would try pressing the command key, while starting it again. Or the alt.

did that. Doesn't work at all. The computer acts like a PC and nothing happens.

[sphoenix77]

If you're getting a blue screen, try connecting your monitor to another output on the PC.

there is only 1 DV connection for the monitor on the tower.

[PurrBall]

there is only 1 DV connection for the monitor on the tower.

If there's a DVI and a VGA port, try the other. I've seen issues where connecting to the other port and booting it up will work.

[MacHamster68]

dont get me wrong, but did you not know that it is not a real mac , i mean you rarely find someone who would buy a mac and take it apart to put it in a pc case, as it would void any warranty , so if it does not look like a mac it is no mac ,even if its running osx, but i gues you know that now , how to help you ? i dont know i never owned a hackintosh and i guess here are not many users who have hackintoshs at home , so most of us here will not even have a clue what can go wrong on a hackintosh setup
your best source for answers is maybe a forum like http://www.hackint0sh.org/

or

http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/f85.html

but if i would be you i would not go to the hassle now to find out if or how and whatever to do to get mac osx running on the pc, as its not that easy anyway to do a hackintosh , i simply would install linux on it and transform linux into osx lookalike
http://maketecheasier.com/turn-your-ubuntu-intrepid-into-mac-osx-leopard/2009/01/08
i done it its dead simple to do

[patrickdunn]

I'd go back to his house with a threat to take him to small claims court to get your money back. Did he tell you he was selling a Mac? Do you have a copy of the ad still?

[sphoenix77]

I'd go back to his house with a threat to take him to small claims court to get your money back. Did he tell you he was selling a Mac? Do you have a copy of the ad still?

I was thinking the same thing. Fortunately when I buy something off Craigslist, I always save the ad as a PDF. I'll keep you posted on that situation...

[sphoenix77]

I don't mean to be doom and gloom, but if you aren't really into this sort of thing, you are in for a world of hurt

A 'Hackintosh' is really a geek's wet dream... something they tinker with and tweak and not something the average user needs to deal with

Thanks for all the information and responses. I actually just went to the guys house with the police and he gave me my money back ASAP. If I buy a Mac, I want a Mac. The Hackintosh was nothing more than a PC that was trying to be a mac and inherits all the problems of a PC. I really did get the computer thinking the case was just changed to something cooler than the standard Mac tower case but just like Mac Dawg said, it was already a pain in the @$$ after one day.. and the whole reason I like Macs is for their simplicity and "plug n play" features.

[outphase]

I actually just went to the guys house with the police and he gave me my money back ASAP.

Epic win! I am surprised that the police went with you though. It is a civil matter, not criminal. :p

[sphoenix77]

Epic win! I am surprised that the police went with you though. It is a civil matter, not criminal. :p

Actually the police just went with me to "keep the peace" but I told the guy the cops were there with me because it was illegal. The cop didn't deny it and he gave me my money back right away. :D VERY Epic win!

[MMM.PWR]

That's an awesome ending. Don't trust anyone. Especially on Craigslist! Let us know what you get next.

[cocky jeremy]

Craigslist = scams. Nothing more.. and really dirty sex. lol.

[Max(IT)]

Craigslist = scams. Nothing more.. and really dirty sex. lol.

Indeed, and you have another:
hackintosh = crap
;)

I know, now we going to see people coming here to deny the facts and saying that an hackintoshis just like a Mac, if not better... ;)

[MacHamster68]

hmm yes but i know the facts and you need really exact the right hardware to get a hackintosh running, but most times there is no absolute right hardware ,so it needs loads of terminal work to get simple things like graphic cards and sound to work and things like that , its just not like a mac where you put the install disc in and a couple minutes later you got osx running

[300D]

I think he is saying that because it's illegal to sell one of these things.

Bingo. Thank you. You got screwed.

[sphoenix77]

Bingo. Thank you. You got screwed.

Maybe. :) But he got screwed right back... looks like before I gave him back his Hackintosh, I forgot to put back in the RAM. opps...

haha. just kidding

[cwwilson]

I remember long ago I wanted to do a Hacintosh on a PC running 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, and AMD Athlon 64X2 4400+. But as I starting reading the directions, I just said "pass". It's much better to just...you know...Get a Mac.

Glad you got your situation resolved. Would have loved to see the guys face when the cops showed up :p

[ViViDboarder]

Oh man that sucks... But as mentioned a hackintosh isn't for everyone. :)

One CAN build a computer that's just as good or better than a Mac and just as stable and install OSX on it.

I didn't say "You" can because I know it's not really feasible for everyone. It takes a lot of research and a lot of patience to get it all set up. Once you do though there is no difference. Apple doesn't have a special magic blessing they put on all their components to make them work better. A computer is a computer.

I will be building a Hackintosh tower because I don't feel like paying for a Mac Pro when I have half the parts I need for it already (HDD, DVD-RW, keyboard, mouse, cooling fans, cases, etc...).

It's just stupid that people would be bashing hackintoshes and PC's like this. A computer is what you make of it. I love my Mac's (MBP and iMac) and I love my PC's (Thinkpad, EeePC and MidTower that I built). I've never had a problem with ANY of my computers. Windows or Mac. Well, take that back. I had to send in my MPB for logicboard and wifi and my iMac will have to go back because the DVD drive doesn't take any disks.

I'm glad you're happy with your Macs (or will be when you get them) but bashing a hackintosh or a PC is immature.

That's the one thing about these forums that infuriates me. Oh well. /rant

Oh and if you have an Intel chip and get the same components that are in the Mac pro there is very little hacking you have to do. You but Boot 132 on a USB stick. Stick it in, boot up and then boot off the Leopard Retail disk and install. Done.

[computermilk]

That's just it.. I contacted him and he is very uncooperative. He keeps saying I must "have dropped it or something". I think he is saying that because it's illegal to sell one of these things.



Dude it sounds to me like he's scammed you, and my first #1 advice is go straight to your local police and file a police report.

This is of course if he will not give you your money back.

[ViViDboarder]

Dude it sounds to me like he's scammed you, and my first #1 advice is go straight to your local police and file a police report.

This is of course if he will not give you your money back.

My first advice would be the read the rest of the thread. ;)

He actually already went to the police and got his money back. :)

[computermilk]

My first advice would be the read the rest of the thread. ;)

He actually already went to the police and got his money back. :)



I actually just noticed that =) hehe... i was surfing on my Nexus one... and well... let's be honest.. the browsing experience is craptastic...

Android fail :rolleyes:

[patrickdunn]

Glad it all worked out OP! If you are trying to save money, keep an eye on Apple's refurb store, you will have piece of mind in your investment with a 1 year warranty.