macOS 10.12 Sierra Unsupported Macs Thread

[j4k3]

Still no luck with the freshly downloaded installer and patcher. I can't even get this to work on my other Macs (there should be no trouble to run on supported Macs, right?) How can I check if my my USB drive is borked? Its an almost new Sandisk drive that I recently used to install Sierra from - and not much more than that, so I don't think its broken, but I'm out of ideas on what else to try.

 

[coasterOneEightThree]

Just out of curiosity: Does anybody know, how combo update files can be patched?

I mean combo update files like this: https://support.apple.com/kb/dl1900

 

[fischersd]

Did you have any issues with the disk utility? I can't figure out why my IMac does.

Yeah, I think that's the Utilities Launcher that @dosdude1 put on the newer versions of the USB installer (likely to get around the issue we were seeing with the regular menu bar not showing up randomly).
I wasn't able to manipulate the disks at all with the 4.2.2 version of the USB, but I still had a 4.0.8 version kicking around - booted from it and the disk utility was fully functional.
As such, I did an upgrade over the in-place installation (which was also 10.12.2, but build 16C67).
[doublepost=1482948918][/doublepost]

Still no luck with the freshly downloaded installer and patcher. I can't even get this to work on my other Macs (there should be no trouble to run on supported Macs, right?) How can I check if my my USB drive is borked? Its an almost new Sandisk drive that I recently used to install Sierra from - and not much more than that, so I don't think its broken, but I'm out of ideas on what else to try.

Yes, I actually make the USB installer on my supported mac (2012 mini), then use it for loading up my MacBooks, which are unsupported.
We've seen a few people have issues with USB flash drives...all you can do it pick up a couple others and give them a try (the 16GB ones seem to be pretty cheap these days).
[doublepost=1482949113][/doublepost]

Just out of curiosity: Does anybody know, how combo update files can be patched?

I mean combo update files like this: https://support.apple.com/kb/dl1900

Huh? Why would you need to "patch" the update? (if you use foxlet's AUSEnabler, you'll see the 10.12.2 update show up in your Mac App Store) - no actual patching of the updates are required. We haven't seen one yet change the files that we're using to keep these mac's running with Sierra.

 

[j4k3]

We've seen a few people have issues with USB flash drives...all you can do it pick up a couple others and give them a try (the 16GB ones seem to be pretty cheap these days).

Thanks. That, indeed, resolved it. I just bought a new thumb drive and was able to boot from the thing, no problems at all. Thing is, the old was was not cheap nor fishy, and Sandisk is a manufacturer I somewhat trusted up until now. 3 hours wasted. Lesson learned. Never put sensible data, or stuff you care about even the least bit, on effing thumb drives.

 

[dosdude1]

Can you install that launch agent into /Library instead of /System/Library and the program into /usr/local/sbin instead? I prefer to avoid these locations, just for transparency. I also experimented with ‘csrutil enable --without kext’ to keep most of the SIP restrictions intact, except kext signing, which means that I could not disable that launch agent myself.

Also, I found that some of the items that are installed still have some extended attributes. For example, PlatformSupport.plist has a quarantine flag. Perhaps you can add a ‘xattr -c’ to the operation whenever you place a file somewhere. The Info.plist file in LegacyUSBInjector.kext is made executable, but should be read-only.

Thanks for the info; I'll add those changes in the next release of the tool.

 

[L Caputo]

Just out of curiosity: Does anybody know, how combo update files can be patched?

I mean combo update files like this: https://support.apple.com/kb/dl1900

[doublepost=1483001206][/doublepost]From an earlier post, this refers to the 10.2.1 standalone update, but you can use the procedure to install the 10.12.2 combo update, just change the text accordingly. Ignore step 1 as it will download an earlier update, download the 10.12.2 Combo from Apple Downloads Support site.

#3773
↑
#3725
↑




1. I download update here: https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1897?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US. -> Build 16B2657

2. Extract package: pkgutil --expand ~/Downloads/macOSUpd10.12.1.pkg/ ~/Downloads/tmp/macOSUpd10.12.1.unpkg

3. Modifiy Distribution file (TextWrangler): ~/Downloads/tmp/macOSUpd10.12.1.unpkg/Distribution
3.1. var boardIds = (add your board id here, in my case that is 'Mac-F42C88C8'). If you don't know your board id, you can check that IORegistryExplorer.app
3.2 var nonSupportedModels = (remove your model, in my case that is 'MacPro3,1')

4. Repackage:
pkgutil --flatten ~/Downloads/tmp/macOSUpd10.12.1.unpkg ~/Downloads/tmp/macOSUpd10.12.1.pkg

5. run update


Once I had saved the modified distribution file it was saved as a .xml file. I used the Terminal command chmod +x (drag and drop the .xml file) press enter, once the command has been run go to Finder and remove the files .xml extension, click remove when asked and the files icon should now be the Unix Executable icon. Proceed to stage 4 to repackage, and all should be well.

 

[Czo]

I have a runtime patcher for softwareupdate/pkgutil: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/96tg06ys1pyem8v/AAAw0Gc4nlxK2OmXn4zFG-H6a?dl=0 It's simply overrides the hardware detection part. It's simply load with DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES so it can be usable with pkgutil/installer to install packages, and can be added to com.apple.softwareupdated.plist to works with original apple seed. The published version works with SIP disabled only, but developers can sign it, to works with enabled SIP.

 

[Walknbos]

Hi All - Long time lurker and reader of these 160 informative pages. Just wanted to give a Shout-out to DosDude1 for all his great work on this project - just updated my MacBook Pro 5.1 (late 2008 updated with 8megs of memory and an SSD) with no issues at all to OS Sierra 10.12.2. My only comment would be to add the disable SIP instructions, to his excellent install page, other then that WELL Done - this is a great community and really like how everyone is helping in a positive way!!

 

[Gusev]

Hi all,

I had a perfectly working iMac 8,1 (early 2008) with a newer version WiFi card under 10.12.1.
I upgraded to 10.12.2 with AUSEnabler activated, but now my audio is gone weird. The controls on the keyboard 'seem' to work, because I get a feedback on the screen, but they actually don't do anytime. The audio is really loud en cracks.

What would be the best way to fix this? Is it possible to overwrite the existing audio kext or something? Or do I have to make a new USB installer with patcher version 4.2.2?

Thanks!

 

[fischersd]

Hi all,

I had a perfectly working iMac 8,1 (early 2008) with a newer version WiFi card under 10.12.1.
I upgraded to 10.12.2 with AUSEnabler activated, but now my audio is gone weird. The controls on the keyboard 'seem' to work, because I get a feedback on the screen, but they actually don't do anytime. The audio is really loud en cracks.

What would be the best way to fix this? Is it possible to overwrite the existing audio kext or something? Or do I have to make a new USB installer with patcher version 4.2.2?

Thanks!

It sounds like you may have re-enabled SIP and anything that was patched to fix your sound was overwritten in the 10.12.2 update.
(to confirm you can type csrutil status at a command prompt in Terminal - if enabled, you need to disable again).

IF you still have the USB Installer you used to install in the first place, you can use it to fix your system (no need to make a new one). Boot into it, go to a terminal prompt and type csrutil disable (to disable SIP), then reboot to it again and run the post install program to re-patch your system. Obviously, if SIP isn't enabled, you can skip the first part.

 

[Gusev]

It sounds like you may have re-enabled SIP and anything that was patched to fix your sound was overwritten in the 10.12.2 update.
(to confirm you can type csrutil status at a command prompt in Terminal - if enabled, you need to disable again).

IF you still have the USB Installer you used to install in the first place, you can use it to fix your system (no need to make a new one). Boot into it, go to a terminal prompt and type csrutil disable (to disable SIP), then reboot to it again and run the post install program to re-patch your system. Obviously, if SIP isn't enabled, you can skip the first part.

Thanks for your reply, but SIP is disabled...

iMac-van-Gusev:~ gusev$ csrutil status
System Integrity Protection status: disabled.

 

[dosdude1]

Thanks for your reply, but SIP is disabled...

iMac-van-Gusev:~ gusev$ csrutil status
System Integrity Protection status: disabled.

Re-run the post-install patch, and select the Volume Control Patch... This patch gets wiped with every OS update.

 

[Gusev]

Re-run the post-install patch, and select the Volume Control Patch... This patch gets wiped with every OS update.

Thanks for the reply! Should I only select the Volume Control patch or also leave the other 'default' checks selected for my model?

 

[dosdude1]

Thanks for the reply! Should I only select the Volume Control patch or also leave the other 'default' checks selected for my model?

Yeah, that should do fine. If it doesn't work initially, run it again, but select "Force cache rebuild" before rebooting.

 

[whitedb]

Any suggestions for getting WiFi to work on a Mac Pro Early 2008?

I have just used dosdude1's great patcher to install Sierra on my MacPro 3,1. Everything went smoothly except for no wifi and the following "learnings":

- I downloaded the latest 10.12.2 installer on a supported mac and it worked fine with the tool
- I needed to disable SIP (I was moving from Yosemite but had previously tried El Captan on a a spare disc
that had enabled it)
- Whilst I was able to do the install with the Sierra Test disc in an external USB caddy, it would not boot from it.
- I had to install the Sierra disc in one of the internal drive bays when it worked fine and I can boot.

Whilst I have connectivity via ethernet the Wifi card is not seen. This is not a problem except Siri needs it for location services.

I know there are problems with some airport cards but from dosdude1's instructions I thought it would work. The details of my card are as follows:

Card Type: AirPort Extreme (0x14E4, 0x88)
Firmware Version: Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0
(5.10.131.36.16)

The card type is not on his list of NOT supported so I was hoping it would work. Am I just out of luck or is there something I can do? Does anybody know of a UK source for the latest WiFi/Bluetooth card that will support continuity and removes the compatibility problems.

Thanks for you help.
(sorry if this is a double post, I seem to have initially posted in the wrong thread)

 

[Czo]

Any suggestions for getting WiFi to work on a Mac Pro Early 2008?

I have just used dosdude1's great patcher to install Sierra on my MacPro 3,1. Everything went smoothly except for no wifi and the following "learnings":

- I downloaded the latest 10.12.2 installer on a supported mac and it worked fine with the tool
- I needed to disable SIP (I was moving from Yosemite but had previously tried El Captan on a a spare disc
that had enabled it)
- Whilst I was able to do the install with the Sierra Test disc in an external USB caddy, it would not boot from it.
- I had to install the Sierra disc in one of the internal drive bays when it worked fine and I can boot.

Whilst I have connectivity via ethernet the Wifi card is not seen. This is not a problem except Siri needs it for location services.

I know there are problems with some airport cards but from dosdude1's instructions I thought it would work. The details of my card are as follows:

Card Type: AirPort Extreme (0x14E4, 0x88)
Firmware Version: Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0
(5.10.131.36.16)

The card type is not on his list of NOT supported so I was hoping it would work. Am I just out of luck or is there something I can do? Does anybody know of a UK source for the latest WiFi/Bluetooth card that will support continuity and removes the compatibility problems.

Thanks for you help.
(sorry if this is a double post, I seem to have initially posted in the wrong thread)

You have a BCM4321 (if 14e4:0088 is correct). 4321 is listed on the first post and it is not compatible with 10.12.

 

[Dj64Mk7]

My Desktop and Documents folders won't sync through iCloud... the checkbox in System Preferences never stays checked.

 

[MacBookMel]

I'm currently using an Edimax USB wireless adapter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003MTTJOY/ . It's working just fine on my 2008 Mac Pro.

I anticipate that these USB wireless adapters would work on other Mac models.

I did try another wireless adapter which claimed to work in Lion (which I was also using) but it never would. I tried on multiple computers, same lack of functionality. But it would work in El Capitan (but not Sierra).

I can confirm that the Edimax (linked above) works in Sierra, at least for me.

Thank you so much "celadon" for the WiFi Adapter info - I'll give it a try on my early 2009 Macbook, (El Capitan supported but not Sierra).

 

[FilthyMuppetInnuendo]

The iBooks rendering error persists in 10.10.2 (on a 2009 Mac Pro), for anyone else who has the same problem.

 

[StuBFrost]

I have an early 2008 MacBook Pro (4.1) and I have been successfully using Sierra for a couple of weeks.

I updated my wifi card to a supported one so everything works fine except the backlit keyboard keeps failing to work. Every time I run the post install, on reboot the backlight works but when I turn off the laptop and turn it on again next day it no longer works.

The only thing I can sort of think of is that I don't have a battery installed. Is this why I keep losing the keyboard backlight ?

Thanks

Stu

 

[Gusev]

Yeah, that should do fine. If it doesn't work initially, run it again, but select "Force cache rebuild" before rebooting.

I rerun the patch tool and left all the 'default' checkboxes for my model selected. Eventually, I had to use the Force cache rebuild option.

My audio is now working great again. Many thanks!

 

[m343]

Wanted to express my thanks to @dosdude1, @foxlet, and other contributors whose hard work and patience have allowed me to successfully move to macOS 10.12 Sierra.

My stats:
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009) 5,5
Upgraded existing installation of 10.11.6 using @dosdude1's Patch tool (version 4.2.2), the macOS Sierra Installer App linked to in the Patch tool's instruction page, and a USB drive.
After a few successful boots, used @foxlet's AUSEnabler to update to 10.12.2 successfully.
Thus far, I have encountered no issues with running 10.12.2 on the MacBook Pro 5,5.

Notes:
I did want to add something that I might have missed but has been already posted in one of the pages on this thread (I read many, but not all, sorry if this is a repeat): During the initial installation of 10.12, after Step 7 in the instructions, "Install macOS normally on the volume..." I was initially unsure if I was supposed to let the installation try to reboot into macOS 10.12 (if that was part of the installation process), or if I was supposed to preemptively boot into the USB to run the macOS Post Install application.

My questions were answered by simply letting the install run, as I encountered a screen with text reporting something to the effect of "This version of Mac OS X is not supported on this hardware." Note that I always verbose boot via

sudo nvram boot-args="-v"

The screen/message looked similar to this: (photo credit to leonardoc on TonyMacx86 forums), but I don't think there was an error code on mine. After waiting about 10 seconds, my Mac shut itself down.

I figured this was the point where I perform step 8, booting back into the patched USB and running the post-installation application, and the following steps went as depicted in the screen shots in @dosdude1's instructions.

I just wanted to add this note because I hadn't seen that screen described or depicted in this thread, and it worried me that the installation had been unsuccessful. If you encounter that screen at the end of step 7, I would suggest waiting about 30 seconds before considering a hard shutdown.

Please let me know if I can provide any additional information to help with this. Again, I had a smooth, successful installation, but that screen/message caught me a bit off guard, as I hadn't read anywhere to expect it. Also, sorry for not taking a screenshot.

Thanks again to everyone passionate about this project for helping me extend the life of my MBP 5,5.

 

[bmue5]

I've installed Sierra on my MacPro early 2008 with dosdudes patch 4.08 without problems. After that I used foxlets AppStore patch to update to 10.12.1 and .2 - I don't know since when, but I can't boot from a recovery partition and also not from a new patched usb stick (4.22) anymore. If I do so, there is a grey picture like a no-parking sign (instead off an apple) and after a few seconds the mac goes off. - I can work with sierra without problems - everything is fine, wifi, bluetooth, even unlocking the MacPro with the Apple Watch. But's a little disturbing to have no recovery partition and can not use a usb stick to boot. Maybe anyone has an idea?

 

[captaintatters]

Thank you so much @dosdude1 and all of the contributors that helped with this procedure for unsupported macs.

I am currently running 10.12.2 on a MacPro 3,1. However, I had been using a GTX 970 for quite some time and could not get it to work in Sierra even with the most current drivers. I switched over to my original video card and everything works, but I would really love to get this GTX 970 up and running. I browsed this thread quite a bit but didn't find a solution or at least something I recognized as one. Currently, when booting up 10.12.2 on the GTX 970, I hear the chimes and my fans are running (same as always) but it seems to get caught and eventually turns itself off.

Does anyone have ideas how to fix this or also have a similar issue with using a non EFI video card?

 

[Sedulous]

I've installed Sierra on my MacPro early 2008 with dosdudes patch 4.08 without problems. After that I used foxlets AppStore patch to update to 10.12.1 and .2 - I don't know since when, but I can't boot from a recovery partition and also not from a new patched usb stick (4.22) anymore. If I do so, there is a grey picture like a no-parking sign (instead off an apple) and after a few seconds the mac goes off. - I can work with sierra without problems - everything is fine, wifi, bluetooth, even unlocking the MacPro with the Apple Watch. But's a little disturbing to have no recovery partition and can not use a usb stick to boot. Maybe anyone has an idea?

Boot from the patched USB media, select post-install. Be sure to select "patch recovery volume".