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Mac OS X 10.4.4 Intel Patch for PCs

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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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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.

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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2006/02/14/mac-os-x-10-4-4-intel-patch-for-pcs/
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.... :rolleyes:
 
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)
 
yes, basically you can install it on any fairly modern pc.

How well it works with the hardware is anyones guess.
 
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.
 
SLCentral said:
No. Where were you during the Intel switch? It's the same version thats on the iMac Core Duos and the MacBook Pros.
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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.
 
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.
 
running said:
pickle for apple....but good news for us, PC users
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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 :eek: And no one wants that. :D
 
radian23 said:
So does all this mean I can have OS X on my custom AMD 3200+ xp computer?
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No, you need a SSE3 cpu, which include the latest A64s and P4s. Pre Hypertransport P4s and Newcastle/Winchester/clawhammer A64s only support SSE2.
 
Sdashiki said:
This is just proof positive that OSX is the superior operating system.

Otherwise why even make this patch?!
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By the same logic, trying to install Windows on new Intel Macs means that Windows is the superior operating system :p
 
pdpfilms said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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...
 
milo said:
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.
Click to expand...

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 :mad:
 
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