Testing kext replacement with iMac 7,1 running Yosemite (OS X 10.10.1)
Thanks to @barryburek for spelling it out on this thread (and all those who have gone before him), I was able to install the 10.6.2 (ATI) kext files for my ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT 128 MB card on my mid-2007 20" iMac running Yosemite.
I have the same specs as @barryburek:
iMac 7,1
20-inch, Mid 2007
Graphics ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT 128 MB
Except that I am running OS X 10.10.1.
Here is what I did to update my kext files (following @barryburek):
1. Created folder on desktop called kext bu.
2. Copied System > Library > Extensions files AMD2400Controller.kext, AMDFramebuffer.kext, AMDSupport.kext and pasted them there.
3. Deleted originals.
4. Downloaded and opened the 10.6.2 kext files from
http://blog.krzysztof-turek.com/apple-imac-freeze-solution-en/ (this takes a while to open in your browser - be patient!)
5. Downloaded and opened KextDrop.
6. Had to give permission in Security and Privacy since the program is from "unknown developer"
7. Dropped in ATI2400Controller.kext, ATIFramebuffer.kext, ATISupport.kext.
8. Clicked Install. Closed KextDrop and restarted.
At this point, after I rebooted my machine, I noticed that the graphics response was VERY slow. When I ran kextstat | egrep 'ATI|AMD' only the com.apple.ATIRadeonX2000 (10.0.0) came up. The other 10.6.2 ATI kexts I had previously installed were not loading.
So, after you reboot your iMac (if you are running Yosemite), this is what you need to do:
8. From Terminal, run: sudo nvram boot-args="kext-dev-mode=1" Enter your password when prompted.
9. Reboot your machine.
At this point, your 10.6.2 ATI drivers should load. Here is what I now show when I run the kextstat | egrep 'ATI|AMD' command in Terminal:
122 2 0xffffff7f8246c000 0x45000 0x45000 com.apple.kext.ATISupport (6.0.6) <81 12 11 7 5 4 3 1>
123 0 0xffffff7f824b1000 0xca000 0xca000 com.apple.kext.ATI2400Controller (6.0.6) <122 81 12 11 5 4 3 1>
124 0 0xffffff7f81a9f000 0x233000 0x233000 com.apple.ATIRadeonX2000 (10.0.0) <81 12 7 6 5 4 3 1>
126 0 0xffffff7f8257b000 0x12000 0x12000 com.apple.kext.ATIFramebuffer (6.0.6) <122 81 12 11 7 5 4 3 1>
Of course, since I just recently stumbled upon this thread tonight after living with iMac freeze issues for several months (if not the last year or two), I do not yet know if I am freeze free. But already I feel as though my system is both booting up and responding much more quickly than it did before.
Here's to hope!
G. Pasarescu