10.5.6 [Tutorial] How to enable four finger gestures on early 2008 MBP/MBA natively

GA84 · 04:59 PM

Remember, this only works for early 2008 MBP's [edit: and early 2008 MBA's]. These are the ones that already support "multi-touch" (three finger swipe, pinch zoom, rotate).

Step 1 - Update to 10.5.6

Step 2 - Download and unzip the modified kext file attached to this post

Step 3 - Delete the AppleUSBMultitouch.kext file in System/Library/Extensions (this should require the administrators password)

Step 4 - Put the modified kext file you downloaded at Step 2 in System/Library/Extensions (this should also require the administrators password)

Step 5 - Open Disk Utility in your Utilities folder and Repair Disk Permissions of your startup disk (this may take a couple of minutes)

Step 6 - Restart your Mac

I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do

HiFiGuy528 · Dec 16, 2008, 09:51 AM

Too bad I don't have a MBP. Great job!

Kleivonen · 03:46 PM

I just did it. I can attest this works on my Early-2008 Penryn MBP Classic.

amoda · Dec 16, 2008, 10:17 AM

Even though I don't really need it hats off to you.

You did what Apple couldn't (or wouldn't) and in 24 hours. Bravo!

drewsof07 · Dec 16, 2008, 10:29 AM

Great work! I'm sure loads of people will be excited about this! Although I don't find the 4-finger swipe very useful, there are many who do.
+1 gold star for you

HiFiGuy528 · Dec 16, 2008, 10:31 AM

Similar instructions were posted for MB Air rev. A.
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=617181

It required some Terminal changes. I don't know why. Does yours? I am afraid to mess around in Terminal. Thanks!

Kleivonen · Dec 16, 2008, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DjAmTraX

Similar instructions were posted for MB Air rev. A.
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=617181

It required some Terminal changes. I don't know why. Does yours? I am afraid to mess around in Terminal. Thanks!

I didn't touch Terminal while doing this.

drichards · Dec 16, 2008, 10:40 AM

Great thread. Probably will see some digg'n. Or diggs. Or whatever they call it.

GA84 · Dec 16, 2008, 10:51 AM

Thanks for the comments guys!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DjAmTraX

Similar instructions were posted for MB Air rev. A.
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=617181

It required some Terminal changes. I don't know why. Does yours? I am afraid to mess around in Terminal. Thanks!

It doesn't require any messing around in Terminal. You only have to follow the steps in my first post. It's as easy as that.

Killyp · Dec 16, 2008, 10:54 AM

Any chances of this working on a 2.2 GHz MacBook Pro (the series before the early '08 generation)? Are the trackpads too different?

HiFiGuy528 · Dec 16, 2008, 10:55 AM

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5G77 Safari/525.20)

We should ask to have this sticky.

drichards · Dec 16, 2008, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killyp

Any chances of this working on a 2.2 GHz MacBook Pro (the series before the early '08 generation)? Are the trackpads too different?

The santarosa macbook pro's won't work with this according to earlier reports. It can't hurt to try it if you back the old file up, tho.

TheSVD · Dec 16, 2008, 11:08 AM

Ive just got my new MBP today, but frickin kudos for acheiving that

I think this should be on the front page tbh!
Who else votes for it for the front page

Eddyisgreat · Dec 16, 2008, 11:11 AM

Finally something in this sub-forum that doesn't suck or ends up asking a repetitive question.

beardboy · Dec 16, 2008, 11:15 AM

Is this likely to work on an Early 2008 MacBook 2.2SR?

Ironic · Dec 16, 2008, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drewsof07

Great work! I'm sure loads of people will be excited about this! Although I don't find the 4-finger swipe very useful, there are many who do.
+1 gold star for you

I also find no use for it, and everyone seems to want it so bad.

lauph · Dec 16, 2008, 11:25 AM

From which new mac did the kext come from?

Or was it modified off a Early 2008 MBP?

mattyb240 · Dec 16, 2008, 11:27 AM

Does this have any side effects? Or will it be effected by future updates?

jmxp69 · Dec 16, 2008, 11:29 AM

I can confirm that this works for me as well. Thanks OP.

I didn't repair permissions as suggested, and this caused a bit of a problem. After rebooting, no keyboard, no mouse.

I booted from my external HD and repaired permissions by hand.
Basically, I had to change ownership to root:wheel and I had to remove all the extended attributes (xattr -d com.xxx.xxx) for each file and directory in the .kext

After doing that, I got my keyboard and mouse back w/4 finger!

Way to go OP! I love forums....

lauph · Dec 16, 2008, 11:31 AM

though the trackpad is slightly too small for four fingers...

mox123 · Dec 16, 2008, 11:33 AM

The hack works marvellously on my 2.4GHz classic Penryn! I followed every step of the instruction and rebooted. Thanks OP for the great job!

nick9191 · Dec 16, 2008, 11:33 AM

+1 for Front Page and Sticky.

topher2889 · Dec 16, 2008, 11:34 AM

Why won't apple give people the option for this officially and stop trying to make it seem like only the new glass trackpad can do this? This just made my day. I hated having to press Fn - F11 in my case or some another combo shortcut to hid windows.

Thanks

jmxp69 · Dec 16, 2008, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lauph

though the trackpad is slightly too small for four fingers...

disagree. works great.

rwill80 · Dec 16, 2008, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beardboy

Is this likely to work on an Early 2008 MacBook 2.2SR?

Not sure about yours specifically, but I can confirm this does not work on my early 2008 Blackbook 2.4
Oh well... I don't have much of a need for it, but thought it would be cool to try. No biggie for me.

Nice find, however!

Dec 16, 2008, 09:51 AM	#2
HiFiGuy528 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2008	Too bad I don't have a MBP. Great job! __________________ ~Humans make Music, Music makes Miracles ~
	0

Dec 16, 2008, 10:15 AM	#3
Kleivonen macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2008	I just did it. I can attest this works on my Early-2008 Penryn MBP Classic. __________________ 15.4" Macbook Pro, 2.5GHz, 2GB Ram, 250 GB HDD ; 30 GB iPod Video Last edited by Mitthrawnuruodo; Dec 16, 2008 at 03:46 PM. Reason: [timg]'ed, click for full size...
	0

Dec 16, 2008, 10:31 AM	#6
HiFiGuy528 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2008	Similar instructions were posted for MB Air rev. A. http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=617181 It required some Terminal changes. I don't know why. Does yours? I am afraid to mess around in Terminal. Thanks! __________________ ~Humans make Music, Music makes Miracles ~
	0

Dec 16, 2008, 10:40 AM	#8
drichards macrumors 6502a Join Date: Nov 2008	Great thread. Probably will see some digg'n. Or diggs. Or whatever they call it. __________________ New MBP 2.53 ● Apple TV ● iPod Touch ● BlackBerry Pearl ● XM Radio Be Green ♺
	0

Dec 16, 2008, 10:55 AM	#11
HiFiGuy528 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2008	Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5G77 Safari/525.20) We should ask to have this sticky. __________________ ~Humans make Music, Music makes Miracles ~
	0

Dec 16, 2008, 10:17 AM	#4
amoda macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2006	Even though I don't really need it hats off to you. You did what Apple couldn't (or wouldn't) and in 24 hours. Bravo!
	0

Dec 16, 2008, 10:29 AM	#5
drewsof07 macrumors 68000 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ohio	Great work! I'm sure loads of people will be excited about this! Although I don't find the 4-finger swipe very useful, there are many who do. +1 gold star for you
	0

Dec 16, 2008, 10:54 AM	#10
Killyp macrumors 68040 Join Date: Jun 2006	Any chances of this working on a 2.2 GHz MacBook Pro (the series before the early '08 generation)? Are the trackpads too different?
	0

Dec 16, 2008, 11:08 AM	#13
TheSVD macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Jolly Ol' Midlands, England	Ive just got my new MBP today, but frickin kudos for acheiving that I think this should be on the front page tbh! Who else votes for it for the front page __________________ iMac 27" 3.06GHz C2D 4GB RAM 2TB HDD Macbook Pro 17" 2.66GHz C2D 8GB RAM 750GB HDD Canon 550d, Canon 50mm 1.4, Tokina 11-16 32GB iPhone 4S
	0

Dec 16, 2008, 11:11 AM	#14
Eddyisgreat macrumors 601 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Seattle, Wa	Finally something in this sub-forum that doesn't suck or ends up asking a repetitive question. __________________ iCloud Logo Courtesy of : JiP
	0

Dec 16, 2008, 11:15 AM	#15
beardboy macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bath	Is this likely to work on an Early 2008 MacBook 2.2SR? __________________ Mid 2013 13" MacBook Air, 4GB, 128GB SSD Late 2012 27" iMac 3.4Ghz i7, 32GB, 1TB fusion, 2GB 680MX Late 2011 15" MacBook Pro, 2.4Ghz i7, 16GB, 240GB SSD, HiRes AntiGlare iPhone 5 Black 32GB
	0

Dec 16, 2008, 11:25 AM	#17
lauph macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: 30 mins from Cupertino	From which new mac did the kext come from? Or was it modified off a Early 2008 MBP?
	0

Dec 16, 2008, 11:27 AM	#18
mattyb240 macrumors 6502a Join Date: May 2008	Does this have any side effects? Or will it be effected by future updates? __________________ deviantART
	0

Dec 16, 2008, 11:29 AM	#19
jmxp69 macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2008	I can confirm that this works for me as well. Thanks OP. I didn't repair permissions as suggested, and this caused a bit of a problem. After rebooting, no keyboard, no mouse. I booted from my external HD and repaired permissions by hand. Basically, I had to change ownership to root:wheel and I had to remove all the extended attributes (xattr -d com.xxx.xxx) for each file and directory in the .kext After doing that, I got my keyboard and mouse back w/4 finger! Way to go OP! I love forums.... Attached Thumbnails __________________ Daily Driver - 2.3g Ci7 rMBP, 8g, 256gb Travelers 32g iPhone5/iPad4 Server - 2.3g Ci5 Mac Mini, 8g, 500gb/2tb, OSX Server
	0

Dec 16, 2008, 11:31 AM	#20
lauph macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: 30 mins from Cupertino	though the trackpad is slightly too small for four fingers...
	0

Dec 16, 2008, 11:33 AM	#21
mox123 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chicago	The hack works marvellously on my 2.4GHz classic Penryn! I followed every step of the instruction and rebooted. Thanks OP for the great job! __________________ Macbook Pro 15" \| 2.4GHz Core i5 \| 500GB 7200RPM HDD \| 4GB Ram \| 330m 256MB \| High-res Glossy 32GB \| Gen 3 iPod Touch More...Much More Than Meets The Eye!
	0

Dec 16, 2008, 11:33 AM	#22
nick9191 macrumors 68040 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Britain	+1 for Front Page and Sticky.
	0

Dec 16, 2008, 11:34 AM	#23
topher2889 macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wisconsin	Why won't apple give people the option for this officially and stop trying to make it seem like only the new glass trackpad can do this? This just made my day. I hated having to press Fn - F11 in my case or some another combo shortcut to hid windows. Thanks __________________ Hooray Wisconsin!
	0

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