Three simple questions

[stan123]

Hello guys,

First of all - great work all of you.

I got 3 simple questions to start with - right before installing the OSx86 (iATKOS v5i on Vista 64 SP1)

1 - My previous experience with such installions tells me that sometimes it just doesn't work. Especially for me... :) like when it says "from the utilities menu select advanced" and there is no advanced option or no utilities menu... You then turn to formus and people there reply - I got that option / that menu... I don't know - it happened to me a lot.
So my question regarding to that - is the entire process reversible? After I'll format the second HD partition to the OSx86 (called HFS if I'm not mistaken) and it won't work - could I restore the partition for Vista? or will that part of my HD be gone forever?
Is there a manual how to delete OSx86 and restore Vista?

2 - I got an ATI Radeon 4650 HD card (Sapphire). Is that compatible with iATKOS v5i? I also got Intel G45 motherboard so there's an extra DVI plug. But switching the plug everytime I'm booting to a different OS will be kind of annoying I think...

3 - I saw somewhere that easyBCD (v 1.7.2) does not work with v5i of iATKOS - http://www.hackint0sh.org/forum/f184/65668.htm (in the remark towards the end of the post). So, what do you recommend? maually change the chain0 file like suggested here - http://www.infinitemac.com/f19/how-to-dual-boot-windows-and-os-x-t1803/ (frankly this guide seems quite short... too short?), change using easyBCD, or change using OSx86's darwin bootloader (http://ihackintosh.blogspot.com/2008/09/mac-osx86-leopard-kalyway-iatkos.html)?

Which way is better?


Many thanks!

Josh.

[Bettarg]

Hello,

to 1.:

No OS can "Destroy" a HDD, in most cases :) When u format a HDD to HFS u can simple delete the Partion and format it in NTFS or whatever u want.

So, should the OSX installation fails, u can boot from your Vista CD and install Vista, deleting your crap´t OSX. Just so simple :)

to 2.: I dont have a ATI, but i see kext for the 4600 HD card. So i would say Yes, it will work.

to 3.: Dont make it so complicate :) Install Chamalion Bootloader, and u can boot from as many OS as u like.

I can recommend IdenebV1.4 10.5.6 a great and very Simple Distro. Or IPC 10.5.6
But for a beginner i think Ideneb is a bit easier.

[stan123]

Hi,
Thanks for the reply.

First of all, I understand that if it fails I'm gonna need to reformat everything, and partition it again - so I'll have to delete all the data. Or is it possible to just reformat that partition?

BTW - is the OSx86 partition made by vista has to be activated (marked as primary)?
I've seen one guide that say it should be unallocated, and another saying it should be allocated.

You said to download Chamaleon Bootloader - I tried to google it, and couldn't find such a software... dunno... I already downloaded iATKOS v5i - it took a loooong time, so I guess I'll stick with it :)

Cheers,
Josh.

[Taisto]

Well, it is possible to just reformat the partition if anything fails, so you dont have to worry about your data stored on the other one.

Umm, partition doesnt need to be marked as active i guess. OSX installer will do it.

And about the chameleon - it`s the first hit in google ;) You must have missed it :

http://chameleon.osx86.hu/

[stan123]

Many thanks for the fast reply.

Sorry for nudging about it - I just want to make it clear for myself:
You are saying that it is possible to reformat only the 'bad' partition - namely the partition with a bad OSx86 installation. As that partition will be in HSF (or HFS don't recall) format for Mac, will it be an easy process for Vista's NTFS? Will it be a straightforward formatting? or just one with few twists? in that case, is there a guide for that? I'm not asking that out of panic, just want to be prepared for everything.

And about chameleon (I guess I didn't find it because of bad spelling) - I saw it's a Mac program. So it means I first install the iATKOS DVD regualrly, and once it is installed I run Chameleon from Leopard? The bootloader managing is done through OSX?
And is it really that straightforward for dual booting? I hope it keeps Vista as the default one...

Thanks again,

Josh.

[Taisto]

Well, to install OSX you have to prepare a partition for it, because the installer cannot create a partition, it can only partition whole disk to as many partitions as you want. So if you alread have Vista installed on C, prepare next partition in any file systems you want ( Fat, ntfs etc. ) which you will reformat inside the installer to HFS+ system. It can erase just the one partition and use it for OSX. If anything goes wrong, you can always reformat it again for windows.

About chameleon, if you`ll use relese like iPC or any new releases, you really dont have to bug yourself with bootloader - it will install it automaticly, mark active partition etc. but OSX will be set as a default OS ( you`ll be able to change that later ). Umm, dont know if i answered the exact question. Well, if something`s up, ask.

[stan123]

OK. Thanks for the reply.

So what I understood from you is that if I'm downloading the 10.5.6 of iPC I'll be able to dual boot easily w/o additional software.

I'm downloading the iPC (as we speak...) - but it's a (+live) version of 6.5 gigs. My CD burner can only burn single layers, so I guess I'll have to put the iso file on disk-on-key (USB) or external HD.
In that case, what has to be done? is that straightforward as DVD installation? Are there adaptations that have to be done? Other than maybe changing the BIOS to boot primarily from USB/external HD

Thanks,
Josh.

[Bettarg]

Mh, there is a live Version of iPC ? Dont know ^^

Yes it should be possible to boot from USB, and when this is realy a Live Version it should work.

Another way is to simply download the "normal" Version of iPC and Burn it to a DVD.

[stan123]

Thanks.

OK - I've seen that the package of the iPC I'm downloading already contains chameleon v 1.0.something. It means that the dual boot issue (Vista and OSX) will be solved REALLY easily?

Josh.

[Taisto]

Yes, if you have Vista on partition 1 and partition 2 left for OSX, iPC release will do everything for you - after installation is done you can choose your OS, it never failed for me and believe me i did it many times :)

Oh, and there is iPC Live release, there`s thread here on forum somewhere.

[stan123]

Thanks!

I know about the live iPC - I'm downloading that as well. But it just crawls... and it's 6.5 gigs - will the image run from flesh as smooth as it runs from a DVD?

BTW - what's the advantages of LIVE version if I intend to install the OS anyways?

Thanks,
Josh.

[Taisto]

Hmm, not sure but running it from usb flash drive seems to be the best option as the image will fit only on DL-dvd, and i remember some ppl had problems with that anyway. I`d say it runs better from flash drive, at least on mine hardware.

And what are the advantages ? well, you can use it to test your hardware before making any changes to your drive and previous OS, you can use it to repair stuff if your existing OS messes up, etc. It`s very useful.

[stan123]

OK. so just to copy the iso file to the USB flash drive and run the OS from the flash drive? or are any further modifications necessary? come to think of it, copy is more reliable than burning...

Thanks,

Josh.

[Taisto]

If u have running Mac OS it`s very easy, just open Disk Utilities, select the iso you want to use and restore it to the flash drive, after that just install Chameleon. If you dont have Mac OS, you can do this with for example Ubuntu Live CD, or windows with proper software. Just "burn" the image to the usb drive, mark partition active and install Chameleon manually. It should work fine.

[stan123]

I don't have a live CD.
So, I 'burn' the iso using ImgBurn to the flash?

Then, install chameleon to the to-be-OSX partition under (using) Vista. Is that possible? It comes as a package, I thought only OSX/Linux can install such a thing. So how can I install that when all I have is a vista?
Or - are you saying to install the chameleon that is on the image OSX on the flash drive (after booting from that device)?

I know that these questions are terribly trivial, I'm just getting confused... :)

Cheers,
Josh.