BenQ P52 Laptop Family

[Taisto]

BenQ P52 :

If you think of Mac OS X, and have BenQ P52 laptop - you`re lucky, it`s 99% compatible in a very easy way So here`s your cheap - not so bad looking - MacBook Pro substitute. Actually the only thing that does not work ( at least right now - working on it ) is the headphones output in sound card.

I thought i`ll share my kexts - for all those who use BenQ P52 laptop ( the exact model doesnt matter, it was checked on the Turion and the Sempron one ( tested on total number of 3 laptops ) ). So if you have this hardware and want to install leopard, here are kexts for you :

Kext Pack :

(...) - 1st Package : GFX Card & PCI Express
(...) - 2nd Package : PS2 & PowerManagement Package

GFX Card :

Card : 1002 71C5 Mobility Radeon X1600
Supports :
- Resolution changing
- QE, CI, QGL
- Fully working dual display
- For Mac OS X 10.5.6.
- If you`re interested in kexts for Mac OS X 10.5.1 to 10.5.4 please contact me.

How :
- Install iPC with no graphics driver selected
- Boot with -x, configure the welcome screen, log in, go to /System/Library/Extensions/
- Delete ATINDRV.kext, ATTOExpressPCIPlus.kext, IONDRVSupport.kext
- Install ATINDRV.kext, ATTOExpressPCIPlus.kext, IONDRVSupport.kext, ATIinject.kext from the pack included in the 1st Package.
- Reboot and enjoy full support

SOUND Card :

- Use Azalia. ALC262 does not work properly atm on BenQ P52. It works only once, after installation, and in next boot - it stops, and needs another reboot and installing anew. Will include sound kexts when i`ll get them working. If by any chance you have ALC262 working, please contact me

CHIPSET & Wi-Fi :

- Both working out of box with iPC 10.5.6 PPF2 or the final release.

Others :

- For working PS2 ( if the one from iPC install wont work ) install PS2 kexts from 2nd Package.
- For working Battery Manager ( if the one from iPC install wont work ) install Battery Manager from 2nd Package.
- Boot with -X for the first time to pass the configuration screen!
- Remove those kexts : AppleCPUThermo.kext, AppleIntelCPU*.kext and AppleThermal.kext, so your laptop wont heat up so much, and will be much more quiet.
- You might face problems with DVD drive. If it doesn`t work, you may try different chipset drivers. I`ll soon post a solution to this problem.

Best Working release for P52 : iPC 10.5.6 Release with minimum PPF2 patch.
Anyway, i came into conclusion that BenQ P52 could be recommended as a MacBook Pro substitute - it works with all hardware enabled.

Hope it`ll help

[Shiru]

After struggling and trying a ton of different things, I finally tried your kexts, and to my surprise they WORKED. Thanks a ton for posting these, they were a lifesaver!!

What I did was delete ATI* from the /system/library/extensions directory (after making a backup of course), and then copied your kexts over the ones that currently existed. (Of course, I went through the whole process of chmod and chowning the files, and removing extensions.mkext)

After that, I had things working but with no 3D acceleration, so I reinstalled the ATIRadeonX1000* files back into the extensions folder, and the ATIRadeonGLDriver.bundle as well, and everything started working perfectly then.

I'm running the iPC 10.5.6 release on an AMD Turion 64 2.2ghz, with an ATI Mobility Radeon x1600.

[S@lwos]

Hi!
I have an Acer Aspire 5673WLMi ... mount an Ati X1600 71c5.
Which kext should I use?

[Taisto]

You can try to follow the instructions i wrote in guide, it`s 71c5 so it might work...still, i`m not sure if it will work actually...

Anyway, if you`re going to try those - please give your feedback. I`m curious about the results.

[Wickie]

First of all, thank you for your effort making this guide.

I tried to install OS X on my P52 (TL-50), but now it just freezes at startup after a firewire safe mode error. On top of that, when I re-insert the iPC disc in my P52 now, it hangs at the Apple startup screen. So I can't re-install.

Do you have any idea how to solve this, and could you please tell me exactly what to choose from the installation menu. I'm sorry to ask, but I'm a complete noob at this hole iPC thing.

Thanks in advance,

Wickie

[Taisto]

Im aware of that sometimes it doesnt want to boot the dvd - my p52 sometimes doesnt boot the installer dvd aswell. Just try few times, sometimes it passes the "Root device" problem, sometimes not ( the install which im using now booted at fifth attempt ). Still i dont know what could be the case here.

As for the installation, you should choose ( if i remember correctly ) :

- Voodoo kernel
- Seatbelt.kext
- PS2 Keyboard
- Azalia Audio
- SB Chipsets Support
- NO video drivers
- NO power management kexts
- Some app, as you like.

First boot should be with -X or it wont go further to the configuration screen.

That should be ok. If you have any questions feel free to ask, i`ll try to help.

[dig]

Hi! I'm glad that here's people with p52 laptops
I've tried to install Mac OS a lot, but every time I stuck with same errors.
Everything installs correctly but at first boot (I used -x and -v few times) I get this:

Fire-wire is unable to determine security-mode; defaulting to the full-secure
...it hangs for about 3 mins and then reports:
Still waiting for root device
Still waiting for root device
Still waiting for root device
...

How can get this fixed? Have you ever met this bug?

Thanks.

[Taisto]

What distro are u using ? Of course ive met this bug, it was my biggest nightmare at the beginning - my problem was the chipset support, and in most cases it`s caused by that. Are u sure you`ve selected SB/VIA support during customization ?

[dig]

Originally Posted by Taisto What distro are u using ? Of course ive met this bug, it was my biggest nightmare at the beginning - my problem was the chipset support, and in most cases it`s caused by that. Are u sure you`ve selected SB/VIA support during customization ?

I'm using iPC PPF5 Final. After I googled a bit I found out that everybody met this nasty bug at least once I'll try to install it one more time and report asap

[dig]

Oh, I don't know why but now it boots fine. Thanks!