Stuck at Apple logo screen (with Biostar TP45HP)

[punk_zappa]

I installed iDeneb v1.5 and LITE version and iATKOSv7 on;

Biostar TP45HP
E8400
ASUS HD4850

installed successful but upon boot it is stuck at the logo. For troubleshooting, I tried replacing the video card with an nVIDIA card, tried different kernels, no kernels, no drivers, tried setting to AHCI, IDE compatible and IDE Enhanced in the BIOS but all same result. I successfully installed iDeneb on a DFI P45 JR, which is pretty much the same as the Biostar board so I know the DVD is working. I probably have spent about 15 hours trying to install on it and I am not ready to give up. I tried pressing F8 so I can do -v to start but I can't seem to get to it as the Chameleon Boot screen comes on right away.

TIA.

[tham50]

add a timeout string to the boot.plist then boot with -v

[punk_zappa]

add a timeout string to the boot.plist then boot with -v

Thank you for replying. How do I exactly do that?

[tham50]

open /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist and add a new key named Timeout. type is String and value the timeout you wanna have.

[punk_zappa]

I can't even boot to OSX hence I can't edit com.apple.boot.plist.

[xXrkidXx]

are you dual booting? because If you are, go purchase MacDrive and you will be able to edit it. or Google for HFS+ drivers for windows.

[tham50]

I can't even boot to OSX hence I can't edit com.apple.boot.plist.

boot using the dvd

[punk_zappa]

boot using the dvd

OK. Any instructions after booting with the DVD?

Thanks for helping me out.

[Imkantus]

Well, lunch the Terminal use "mount -uw /Volumes/<name>" command to have r/w access and edit the file using vi Editor. :)
You can also use Transmac for editing from Windows...

[punk_zappa]

I reinstalled iATKOS and chose a different bootloader and I was able to do F8 and -v. Here is where it is stuck,

http://i25.tinypic.com/2dbmcef.jpg

[punk_zappa]

I spent half of my day yesterday trying to install on this rig but it seems it is just incompatible with hackintosh. I've tried installing iATKOS with IDE instead of AHCI in the bios, it will finish installing but upon first boot kernel panic occurs.

[punk_zappa]

I think I made a little progress. With iATKOS v7 Vanilla Kernel, very minimal drivers, if I boot with -v -x cpus=1 it will take me to "no keyboard connected" although keyboard is lit. Maybe a PS/2 kext is the fix. If I boot with -v cpus=1 I could here music but it is stuck somewhere. I guess it is pretty close to have a go.

[punk_zappa]

SUCCESS!!

Reinstalled with Appleps/2.kext, extracted cpus=1 fix from iDeneb and she is working. Finally got it working.

[Imkantus]

extracted cpus=1 fix from iDeneb and she is working. Finally got it working.
This just adds cpus=1 flag to com.apple.boot.plist - I would try to compile a DSDT.aml using fassls GUI and the New HPET option and remove that bootlfag again, I daresay this could fix it, so that you're able to use both Cores. :)

[punk_zappa]

DSDT GUI with New HPET option didn't fix it. I am using a bootloader other than EFI and Chameleon, I wonder if that's why it didn't work. I will try with Chameleon.

[punk_zappa]

Chameleon screwed the install. I can't seem to get F8 to work with Chameleon, I pressed F8 as soon as my mobo logo came on up to boot option GUI but no go. Is there a trick to do it or it is not supported?

I will try the cpus=x next time and see how it goes. So far, I have re-installed and it is working ok.

[punk_zappa]

Both cores are now working. I had to install chameleon first and run the DSDT. CPU speed is not correct though, showing 2.07 but it should be 3 GHZ (E8400).

[punk_zappa]

It is working great except for there are times that I need to reboot/restart the rig 2-3 times to get to desktop. It will show the blue screen a little offset from the middle of the screen which tells me it will not boot to desktop.

Any ideas?

[punk_zappa]

It actually boots to desktop but takes longer. I just let it do its thing and it booted to desktop in maybe 5-7 minutes.

[punk_zappa]

The long boot was actually caused by the ATI HD4850. I replaced the GPU with 7900GS and never had a failed boot again. Unfortunately, after updating the BIOS, iATKOS install was nuked. Reinstalled but it won't work with Chameleon v2bootloader even after selecting bootthink as initial bl and installing Chameleon afterwards. Weird.

I will try v3 later.

[thorazine74]

Try booting with cpus=1 and DSDT=none.aml, maybe your patched dsdt doesnt work with the new bios, if they changed many things, its always advisable to use a patched dsdt based on the same source of your current bios version.

[punk_zappa]

Even without DSDT, after installing Chameleon v2 rc2, it won't boot anymore. I will play with it again sometime today.