Any working OSx86 loader for NVIDIA nForce 780a Chipsets?

[BigBadBruno]

I have the ASUS M3N-HT Deluxe NVIDIA nForce 780a SLI MOBO and have not been successful loading OSx86 on my system. I have tried iAtkos 4a, Zephyroth for Phenom, Kalyway 10.5.2, and Leo4All Version5 (Server Retail). I get the furthest with iAtkos, but still no success. Please inform me of your setup if similar and what you did to get it up and running. Thanks!!!!!

[drdotbernal]

my new phenom system has a ASUS M3N-HT Deluxe with the nForce 480a chip. I have tried to install LawLessPPCPhenomLeo10.5.4

after load darwing without problems the system enter a loop trying to access to the hard drive displaying this mesage "Still waiting for root Device", in the bios configuration the HDD is set as SATA in IDE mode, the problem shuld be solved changing to a Legacy IDE MODE instead, however this option is not in the bios setup.

I think that the easiest solution is to install an IDE HDD to jump the "Still waiting..." message and install the lawlessPPC release.... I have not triyed this step yet, but you can find more info in the following link.

http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/Still_waiting_for_root_device

[BigBadBruno]

I ended up buying an IDE HDD to try for these disc, but at the time, this LawlessPPC was not out. So my rig is set up to try. I am downloading now and will try as soon as it's done. I'll keep you posted here. Thanks.

[BigBadBruno]

So I Have the same motherboard as you. I downloaded the LawlwssPPCPhenom .ISO. I Unplugged all of my SATA Hard drives and plugged the IDE drive in as slave, and then the DVD drive in as master. All the kexts load and it still gets the "Still waiting for root device" loop. It is also getting hung up on my USB ports plugged into my mobo. So I tried unplugging those. Still no luck. LEt me know what you think. You are the first person I've come across who has my motherboard. Let's work together on this.

One thought I have is using the kexts for the phenom from the LawlessPPC and putting them in the iAtkos4A install. That install disc has gotten the furthest for me. It sees the disc, and installs. It just does not boot after the install. Just a thought. I would not know where to begin doing such a thing but it's a thought.

[nfoav8or]

how are you booting the drive? any boot flags? I would boot using "-f -x -v" to try to lighten the need for everything to be supported (ie. network, full graphics, etc.) and to allow you to see where it is hanging.

-f : forced Extensions folder load
-x : safe mode
-v : verbose mode

Lawless made a great distro and it supports a ton of systems. Have you tried it via SATA connections? have you gone into the BIOS to edit any configurations? sometimes those can be tricky.

[BigBadBruno]

I will try as soon as I get home from work. Thanks for the advice.

I have tried a SATA drive. Definitely does not work. I don't even have a settings in my BIOS to make it show up as IDE. And as far as boot flags, I'm not sure what those are. Everything "seems" to be going fine except the "still waiting for root device" deal.

I report back as soon as I try after work. Thanks again.

[nfoav8or]

boot flags are placed at the boot prompt before executing the com.apple.boot.plist file to start OS X and give the system a "heads-up" to know how you want to start up... when your computer is showing a countdown (right after your BIOS logo screen) press any key (or f8 or whatever it says when booting up a DVD/CD) and then simply input that string of "-f -x -v"

By messing with the BIOS, you aren't looking to make the system think a SATA connection is an IDE connection... we are trying to look into AHCI issues. also, by making your system boot in any legacy mode (at least for starters until we get things installed).

Best of luck

[BigBadBruno]

So there are no settings in MY bios for AHCI settings or legacy settings that I could find. I looked through ever page and sub-page in my bios. Could these be named anything else?

So I booted the cd with the prompts "-f -x -v" and now I do not get the "still waiting for root device" but it just hangs after a bunch of text. There are a bunch of crazy numbers and then it says-

Backtrace continues...

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task

Mac OS version:
Not yet set

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 9.4.0: Mon June 9 19:30:53 PDT 2008; root:xnu-1228.5.20~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: System Product Name

then I get nothing. I need help. I'm running 10.5.5 on my MSI wind and love it and NEED it on my rig at home. Ugh. Thanks for everything so far though.

-BBBruno

[BigBadBruno]

I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place here. Any other help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!!

[Ztardust]

I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place here. Any other help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!!

Take a picture of the text, when you got kernel panic, and upload it here. Then perhaps somebody can help you with this problem.

[xx66stangxx]

Hey guys, you do have the option to boot in AHCI mode. Go in the BIOS and go to the second tab then go to setting configurations... ( this is from the top of my head) then highlight the second option it is for the SATA configuration you can choose from AHCI, IDE, and RAID. AHCI mode only works to get past the "still waiting for root device" however PATA hdd's aren't showing up at install, which I need it to because I want to install OSX86 on my PATA hdd. We are getting this close to work guys.

[xx66stangxx]

ok guys I have Lawless working now. Like I said before switch to AHCI mode and install on sata hdd. I am working on to get sound working.

[xx66stangxx]

Just got Voodoo working too, works great! If anyone needs help I can assist.

[xx66stangxx]

url for onboard sound to work: http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=34831

just click on the zip file. Run the installer and reboot. Sound will work after that.

[LawlessPPC]

Hey guys, you do have the option to boot in AHCI mode. Go in the BIOS and go to the second tab then go to setting configurations... ( this is from the top of my head) then highlight the second option it is for the SATA configuration you can choose from AHCI, IDE, and RAID. AHCI mode only works to get past the "still waiting for root device" however PATA hdd's aren't showing up at install, which I need it to because I want to install OSX86 on my PATA hdd. We are getting this close to work guys.

great piece of help for ppl shame they couldnt have given a follow up post!!

[BigBadBruno]

I wrote the original post a long time ago with no response and forgot about it. It wasn't until recently that I check and saw this discovery. I will try the tips suggested by xxStag66xx and report back. Thank you by the way!

[bigweeve]

I am really glad to see that someone has got the m3n-ht working, because I am still trying. I have tried so many versions and frequently get the "still waiting for root device" thing as the dvd is loading. I have tried so many different ways I am getting really frustrated. Lawless PPC 10.5.4 gives "still waiting for root device". I have tried a SATA drive set to AHCI and an IDE drive and both give identical messages:

ERROR: Firewire unable to determine security mode: defaulting to full-secure.
Still waiting for root device.

I downloaded the iATKOS v7 10.5.7 Intel/AMD disk this morning and that does not have this problem - I can get right through to the installation screens - but it hangs during installation.!

It is so difficult as a newbie to all this to work out what to choose from such a long list. If anyone who has succeeded in loading any version onto a M3N-HT could post a detailed description of A) Bios settings and B) Set-up choices I would be forever grateful!

PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME!!!

Steve

[BigBadBruno]

@bigweeve-

I have been trying with what I've found from 66stang's settings on here and have NOT gotten an install to work on my MOBO. I have tried to get in touch with him through PMs on here and other forums that I discovered him on. No luck. Basically I am in the same boat as you. Please keep me informed as soon as you get any further! Thank you!!!

[bigweeve]

Hi.

Good news everyone! The iATKOS v7 actually does work on the M3N-HT it just looks like it is hanging - it's not - leave it alone and it installs like a dream.

Just trying now to get my 7600gs graphics cards working above 1024x768 now - otherwise it seems really stable.

Might try enabling the onboard graphics when I get home and see if that makes any difference.

[BigBadBruno]

Ok then, if it does work I need your help then. I downloaded it and I cannot get past a grey screen with the color wheel turning and turning. I even went to bed and woke up and still nothing. Here's what I need to know, PLEASE!

1. BIOS Setting
2. Whether or not you are using a SATA hard drive or IDE
3. Is your DVD drive SATA or IDE
4. Are you running through Onboard Graphix or through a Video Card?

Please help, and thanks in advance.

[bigweeve]

Hiya,

The most important change in the bios is to change Onboard Device Configuration > MCP storage config > SATA Operation Mode to AHCI and to use a SATA hard drive. I tried IDE and got no joy at all.

Beware if you are dual booting that this will make Windows XP blue-screen until you add extra drivers to it (which I haven't done yet) Vista I believe is fine.

I am using an IDE DVD drive because my SATA one disappears when I change to AHCI mode.

I have currently been trying to get it going with my 2x Nvidia 7600gs PCIe cards - but I am going to experiment with onboard graphics later and see if I can solve the resoludion problem.

I also did a very plain install following the guidelines on the disk and made few changes other than to select the Voodoo 9.5 Kernel.

Hope this helps.

[BigBadBruno]

For whatever reason, I get a kernel panic when I try and install in AHCI mode. I am going to reset my BIOS completely and change it only to AHCI mode and see what happens then.

One more thing, so when you try and boot into the OS X drive do you have to go into BIOS and switch it to AHCI mode every time you want to boot? Or once it's installed can you switch it back to IDE mode and boot from it wither way?

Thanks.

[BigBadBruno]

So I reset my BIOS and changed nothing but the mode to ACHI. I even went into GParted Live CD and formatted the one and only IDE drive I have to HFS+. I even unplugged all of my SATA drives just to eliminate any possibilities of problems. I start up my machine, hit F8 and run the disc with iATKOS 7 from my slave IDE dvd drive. I hit F8 and then run the disk under -V so I can see where the problem is.

It seems as though it cannot mount the disk. Thats the last thing written in the dagnostics. Then it goes into the grey screen with the color spin wheel and never stops....forever. I can't get past that screen.

WTF!!!

[bigweeve]

It really is a frustrating process isn't it - what seems to work for one fails for someone else - I can't begin to count the number of DVD's I have turned into coasters in the last week trying to get a system to load and I just seem to have hit lucky with the iATKOS v7 disk. You could have knocked me over with a feather when it all booted up.

To answer your first question I cannot get it to boot in IDE mode at all - has to be AHCI.

[thorazine74]

So I reset my BIOS and changed nothing but the mode to ACHI. I even went into GParted Live CD and formatted the one and only IDE drive I have to HFS+. I even unplugged all of my SATA drives just to eliminate any possibilities of problems. I start up my machine, hit F8 and run the disc with iATKOS 7 from my slave IDE dvd drive. I hit F8 and then run the disk under -V so I can see where the problem is.

It seems as though it cannot mount the disk. Thats the last thing written in the dagnostics. Then it goes into the grey screen with the color spin wheel and never stops....forever. I can't get past that screen.

WTF!!!

AHCI only affects SATA ports, so using it would not help if you are using an IDE disk.

[bonfilio]

Set SATA to AHCI. Boot 132 w/ Voodoo kernel (9.5 or 9.7) works perfectly with retail. Using AMD w/ 750a chipset.

[Kuka]

Hello I know this forum is about the m3n-ht. I have the crosshair II formula which is the difference. If anyone can help this would be awesome. I get Idened 10.5.6 to install, but the second it restarts i go into a restart loop. I get the Apple with spinning wheel for about a sec and system reboots.Darwin boot menu work fine. I have tried different commands and no go. IPC 10.5 PPF will not even load the install for the cd. Thanks for your time on reading.

Spec
MB:Crosshair II Formula
Memory: 8gb Ocz Fetal1ty
HDD: Seagate Sata on achi mode with two partitions. Vista on one fully running.
Processor: AMD 955 phenom x4

[warhammer68m]

Hi.

Good news everyone! The iATKOS v7 actually does work on the M3N-HT it just looks like it is hanging - it's not - leave it alone and it installs like a dream.

Just trying now to get my 7600gs graphics cards working above 1024x768 now - otherwise it seems really stable.

Might try enabling the onboard graphics when I get home and see if that makes any difference.

Hi bigweeve,

I got the exact same motherboard as yours, I can install the iAtkos v7 till completion (still have to enter busratio=17, I have a phenom II 965@3400 Mhz at stock speed, to get past the kernel panic screen, at DVD boot or HDD boot after install)
I would like to know which packages, kernel, fixes that you chose from the customization panel, to get it working.

My specs:

ASUS M3N-HT deluxe MOBO with 2904 bios
Kingston HyperX 4 gig PC6400 @ 800 mhz in dual channel mode
2x evga 9800 GTX+ vid cards
onboard sound
my usb keyboard and mouse are working with the DVD, so they are not an issue

Tried the voodoo 9.7, 9.5, modbin (no kernel panic with this one) any of the 2 chamaleon bootloader, and also the one that gives a BootCamp look (nice one and it works, I can boot into windows 7 with it, have to choose the "System Reserved" partition, since the win7 bootmgr is on that partition)

would appreciate your help, and it would be really appreciated for other with same board too
thanks in advance!
EDIT: Figured out the problem, OSX86 does not work well with 2 vid cards plugged in!
now it works perfectly, just put out one of my 2 9800 GTX+ and everything is going well. Added NVenabler in my install and everytihng is working!

Thanx to everyone on all those forums and web sites that gave me a lot of hint to get it sorted out!

Tomorrow I will install World Of Warcraft and will post the result here!

And by the way i'm writing this post from my new hackintosh AMD M3N-HT computer!

[warhammer68m]

Ok Guys everything is still Working, for those who want to know all the steps taken, go to this guide, scroll down the list (http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/HCL_10.5.8#Asus), I've added the M3N-HT in the list of compatibilities, so now it will be accounted as another working AMD Hackintosh.
There is information on what to do if you get kernel panic at DVD boot or Darwin boot.

@Bigweeve: forget about installing a dual setup, it is not supported by MacOSX. Just put one card out, and you'll be fine. You may have to reinstall all the OS, NVInject should work with that vid card.

Hope that my little guide on the osx86 wiki web site will help a lot of people here.
Those who have a M4N82 should follow the same guide, since those board are pretty much the same as the M3N-HT