Mac OS X 10.4.4 Intel Patch for PCs

MacRumors · 03:25 PM

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Maxxuss has released a patch for Mac OS X 10.4.4 8G1165 (Intel) to allow it to be installed on a generic PC.

Quote:

This is a preliminary release of my Patch Solution for the official Mac OS X on the Intel platform. Ultimately, it would allow you to run this Mac OS X release on a generic x86 computer (SSE2 required).

There's still a lot of work and documentation to do, like support for SSE2-only CPUs, a proper installation procedure and a PPF patch. However, if you like to play around, this will get you started.

The first version, however, requires installation onto a PCU with SSE3 and NX/XD support. The patch includes: A modified mach_kernel system file (can boot under SSE2; required for VMWare), A AppleSMBIOS kernel extension replacement (only required for VMWare), most importantly, the decrypted system files along with an installation shell script. While the previous Mac OS X for Intel developer releases have been similarly hacked, this represents the first hack for the publicly shipping Intel Mac OS X.

These hacks/patches, of course, are targeted at a limited audience. Certainly, future versions of Mac OS X will break these workarounds, but the potential for widespread Mac OS X on Generic PC installs is one of the foreseeable side effects of Apple's transition to the Intel architecture.

whocares · Feb 14, 2006, 02:17 PM

Wonder if Apple will shut this down...

pdpfilms · Feb 14, 2006, 02:17 PM

Wow. i'd like to hear what this runs like... is it an emulation?

Over Achiever · Feb 14, 2006, 02:20 PM

It was only inevitable ... makes me take a second look at the new Sony Vaio SZ series.

MacsRgr8 · Feb 14, 2006, 02:20 PM

Ok.. here we go again.

The dev. builds have all been patched in order to run on most "generic" newer PC's.
Now the final version, too.

I must admit I have done it too, just to find out how well the dev. builds of Tiger worked on a 3.6 GHz Prescott..... and I was amazed. It screamed.

I wonder if 3rd parties are going to make drivers for grfx cards for instance. Or maybe even for SoundBlaster cards....

Thing is, I just hope these patched versions of x86 Tiger only get distributed between the geeks around here (and there), and not become mainstream by some Asian who sells copies of it for around $ 2,- each....

SLCentral · Feb 14, 2006, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdpfilms

Wow. i'd like to hear what this runs like... is it an emulation?

No. Where were you during the Intel switch? It's the same version thats on the iMac Core Duos and the MacBook Pros.

Cooknn · Feb 14, 2006, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdpfilms

Wow. i'd like to hear what this runs like... is it an emulation?

Apparently not.

destroyboredom · Feb 14, 2006, 02:23 PM

Apple legal? At most it will give Windows users what they are used to. Having to fiddle with there OS to get everything working properly. (assuming this has limited compatability)

running · Feb 14, 2006, 02:25 PM

pickle for apple....but good news for us, PC users

1macker1 · Feb 14, 2006, 02:28 PM

Wow, that didn't take very long. But I'd still rather have a Mac to go along with OS X.

radian23 · Feb 14, 2006, 02:34 PM

So does all this mean I can have OS X on my custom AMD 3200+ xp computer?

qevlhma · Feb 14, 2006, 02:35 PM

yes, basically you can install it on any fairly modern pc.

How well it works with the hardware is anyones guess.

tutubibi · Feb 14, 2006, 02:36 PM

Whatever Apple does there will be patch to enable running OSX on generic PC.

However, I don't think such PC would be too usable. First, any upgrade would probably make it unusable. Support for most of the hadrware would not be there (Apple will not write drivers for hardware not shipped in Apple machines).

It is interesting hacker project, nothing more.

pdpfilms · Feb 14, 2006, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLCentral

No. Where were you during the Intel switch? It's the same version thats on the iMac Core Duos and the MacBook Pros.

Actually i was in Uganda during the switch, meditating under a rock.

The OSX being used on the intel core duos is running natively, yes. But its entirely possible that whomever finalized 10.4.4 for generic PCs was unable to get it running at speeds equivalent to the duos. It's obviously not the same version, as the R&D required to get this released would have been unnecessary.

vniow · Feb 14, 2006, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdpfilms

But its entirely possible that whomever finalized 10.4.4 for generic PCs was unable to get it running at speeds equivalent to the duos.

No.

Quote:

It's obviously not the same version

Wrong.

qevlhma · Feb 14, 2006, 02:40 PM

The speed you get is VERY high actually.

In some cases higher than the Duos.

It just depends on what hardware you have.

The big problem is driver support.

If your networking, vid cards, etc are even slightly off your experiance will be terrible.

that is why I would keep buying apple machines even if apple started to sell the OS seperately.

But as to speed.. if you have a super high power machine.. you will get as good if not better speed than the new apple boxes.. remember the Core Duo's are laptop CPU's.. the most modern AMD / Intel desktop CPU's are as fast if not faster than them on the ultra high end.

MacPhreak · Feb 14, 2006, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by running

pickle for apple....but good news for us, PC users

Sorry, but this irritates me. This "all software should be free" mentality is getting far too pervasive.

How long do you expect "good news" if you don't support the company providing it? If you want a Mac, buy a Mac. There are a lot of people who have poured untold YEARS of development time into OS X; the least you could do is support them.

If you don't, and Apple goes under (theoretically speaking, of course), we'll all be stuck with Windows

And no one wants that.

dr_lha · Feb 14, 2006, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radian23

So does all this mean I can have OS X on my custom AMD 3200+ xp computer?

Nope. You need a SSE2 compatible chip to run this.

Sdashiki · Feb 14, 2006, 02:43 PM

This is just proof positive that OSX is the superior operating system.

Otherwise why even make this patch?!

hvfsl · Feb 14, 2006, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radian23

So does all this mean I can have OS X on my custom AMD 3200+ xp computer?

No, you need a SSE3 cpu, which include the latest A64s and P4s. Pre Hypertransport P4s and Newcastle/Winchester/clawhammer A64s only support SSE2.

tutubibi · Feb 14, 2006, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sdashiki

This is just proof positive that OSX is the superior operating system.

Otherwise why even make this patch?!

By the same logic, trying to install Windows on new Intel Macs means that Windows is the superior operating system

milo · Feb 14, 2006, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdpfilms

The OSX being used on the intel core duos is running natively, yes. But its entirely possible that whomever finalized 10.4.4 for generic PCs was unable to get it running at speeds equivalent to the duos. It's obviously not the same version, as the R&D required to get this released would have been unnecessary.

From what I understand, it is the same version. The install comes directly from the Apple install disks that shipped with the imacs. This patch just changes the bits that are specific to the apple hardware and lets it install on any PC (that meets the specs).

This version requires jumping through hoops. But hacks of previous versions eventually had full installers that could be run from a boot DVD, just like the standard apple install. When they're done, this will be something most users could install, not just hackers. I'm sure apple will try and shut down the websites, but there's no way for them to stop propigation of the files other ways.

syklee26 · Feb 14, 2006, 02:48 PM

Apple legal team is marching......

seashellz · Feb 14, 2006, 03:01 PM

I dont understand why APPLE is being so bullheaded about this-the faithfull-and a LOT of newcomers will STILL want to buy a superior Mac Box-and for those who dont-it cant hurt APPLE to sell a few million MORE copies a year of OS X for the PC users who want it...

whocares · Feb 14, 2006, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milo

This version requires jumping through hoops. But hacks of previous versions eventually had full installers that could be run from a boot DVD, just like the standard apple install. When they're done, this will be something most users could install, not just hackers. I'm sure apple will try and shut down the websites, but there's no way for them to stop propigation of the files other ways.

I really hope this doesn't mean that Apple will start using serial numbers and activation... what a pain in the a-double-S that would be

Feb 14, 2006, 02:17 PM	#2
whocares macrumors 68000 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: :noitаɔo˩	Wonder if Apple will shut this down... __________________ InvisiSig™: *"The day Microsoft makes something that doesn't suck is the day they start making vacuum cleaners."* -Unknown *"And it eats 8088s for breakfast."* -Steve Jobs

Feb 14, 2006, 02:20 PM	#4
Over Achiever macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Toledo, OH, formerly Twin Cities, MN	It was only inevitable ... makes me take a second look at the new Sony Vaio SZ series. __________________ "Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment." Sigma DP1 • 2 GHz Blackbook with 20" Dell LCD • Fujifilm S6000fd

Feb 14, 2006, 02:20 PM	#5
MacsRgr8 macrumors 601 Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: The Netherlands	Ok.. here we go again. The dev. builds have all been patched in order to run on most "generic" newer PC's. Now the final version, too. I must admit I have done it too, just to find out how well the dev. builds of Tiger worked on a 3.6 GHz Prescott..... and I was amazed. It screamed. I wonder if 3rd parties are going to make drivers for grfx cards for instance. Or maybe even for SoundBlaster cards.... Thing is, I just hope these patched versions of x86 Tiger only get distributed between the geeks around here (and there), and not become mainstream by some Asian who sells copies of it for around $ 2,- each.... __________________ Drag and Drop for Windows users: DRAG your peecee off your desk, and DROP it in the trash.

Feb 14, 2006, 02:23 PM	#8
destroyboredom macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2002	Apple legal? At most it will give Windows users what they are used to. Having to fiddle with there OS to get everything working properly. (assuming this has limited compatability) __________________ iMac 2.93 w/ 4850 \| 80GB iPod Classic \| 8GB iPhone

Feb 14, 2006, 02:25 PM	#9
running macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2006	oh pickle for apple....but good news for us, PC users

Feb 14, 2006, 02:17 PM	#3
pdpfilms macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Vermontana	Wow. i'd like to hear what this runs like... is it an emulation?

Feb 14, 2006, 02:28 PM	#10
1macker1 Banned Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: A Higher Level	Wow, that didn't take very long. But I'd still rather have a Mac to go along with OS X.

Feb 14, 2006, 02:34 PM	#11
radian23 macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin, USA	Amd? So does all this mean I can have OS X on my custom AMD 3200+ xp computer?

Feb 14, 2006, 02:35 PM	#12
qevlhma macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: http://likely.to/	yes, basically you can install it on any fairly modern pc. How well it works with the hardware is anyones guess.

Feb 14, 2006, 02:36 PM	#13
tutubibi macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: localhost	Whatever Apple does there will be patch to enable running OSX on generic PC. However, I don't think such PC would be too usable. First, any upgrade would probably make it unusable. Support for most of the hadrware would not be there (Apple will not write drivers for hardware not shipped in Apple machines). It is interesting hacker project, nothing more.

Feb 14, 2006, 02:40 PM	#16
qevlhma macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: http://likely.to/	The speed you get is VERY high actually. In some cases higher than the Duos. It just depends on what hardware you have. The big problem is driver support. If your networking, vid cards, etc are even slightly off your experiance will be terrible. that is why I would keep buying apple machines even if apple started to sell the OS seperately. But as to speed.. if you have a super high power machine.. you will get as good if not better speed than the new apple boxes.. remember the Core Duo's are laptop CPU's.. the most modern AMD / Intel desktop CPU's are as fast if not faster than them on the ultra high end.

Feb 14, 2006, 02:43 PM	#19
Sdashiki macrumors 68040 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: 9th Circle most of the time	This is just proof positive that OSX is the superior operating system. Otherwise why even make this patch?!

Feb 14, 2006, 02:48 PM	#23
syklee26 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2005	can you hear it....? Apple legal team is marching......

Feb 14, 2006, 03:01 PM	#24
seashellz macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2004	I dont understand why APPLE is being so bullheaded about this-the faithfull-and a LOT of newcomers will STILL want to buy a superior Mac Box-and for those who dont-it cant hurt APPLE to sell a few million MORE copies a year of OS X for the PC users who want it...

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