Dell Inspiron 2200 - Which Distro?

[newbie2mac]

I've been googling my Dell Inspiron 2200 to see what osx086 distro would be the most painless to get up and running, but most of the comments out there are old, which is no surprise, as my PC is no spring chicken.

Can anybody advise as to the best distro to use for this notebook?





The specs are:

Intel Pentium M 735 (1.7GHz) Processor
512MB PC2700 DDR Memory
40GB 4200rpm Hard Drive
24x CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
14.1" XGA LCD and Intel GMA 900 Integrated Graphics with 128MB Shared Memory
AC'97 Audio
v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11g Wireless
Three USB 2.0 and One Type II PC Card Slot
I'd like to use it on a home network with other Win XP PCs if that's at all possible.

Many thanks.

[Imkantus]

I recommend to use a Leopard Retail DVD for installation using an 132-Boot CD with Voodoo based Kernel.
I'd like to use it on a home network with other Win XP PCs if that's at all possible..OS X supports using Samba - if it's about filesharing...

[newbie2mac]

For your response.

But I really have no idea about Bootloaders and stuff... was hoping to simply put in a dvd and watch it install :D Or am I living in a dream world?

[Imkantus]

Or am I living in a dream world?
This is what many people promise themself from using a prepatched distro...
But it many cases using the prepatched systems default settings doesn't even let OSX boot up for them.
What distros do is to offer a number of packages within customized Setup options, that contain patched stuff, additional kernel extensions, bootloader, etc - http://i41.tinypic.com/r8cl1k.jpg this is for example the list of packages included in iAtkos v7 - you know what you need to select to have a working configuration? I guess you don't. ;)

The way OSx86 work is simple, most of us use a bootloader that emulates the EFI Firmware & number of Kernel Extensions - patched default ones and additional ones, that are used for various purposes to make OS X boot on your Hardware - those of us who don't have a Intel Core- or -Nehalem even use a patched Kernel, as the default one (usually called Vanilla) doesn't work for them.
Newer bootloaders even allow to inject values to the systems default Kernel Extensions, so that you no longer need to edit them. This is also possible by using a patched DSDT table, but thats advanced stuff. ;)

If you build such a system configuration yourself you will learn how this works, what will make it much easier for you to find a solution if you run into problems.
When using a disto you might not know about all modifications done and how they work, so this wouldn't be such easy to use.

If you want a system that runs OS X without grobing your system, getting a Mac is the best way. ;)

[newbie2mac]

Thank you v much for your in-depth response... Really wasn't expecting to receive so much individual attention...

But I would like to give it a shot, non-retail. Is there a distro you can recommend?

[Imkantus]

Most latest Leopard prepatched systems, are made to be universall. I think the one I named above - "iAtkos v7" is one of the best compilations avaible...

I used to take some research about your notebook, as you provide a bit too less infos about it, so my following statements are based on the infos here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=418387
But it seems to match with yours. :)

In generall this options would fit for your hardware:

iATKOS v7 Main System
Chameleon v2
/Extra directory
DSDT
dsmos
9.7.0 Kernel voodoo
Disabler
OHR
Intel SATA/IDE
Apple PS/2 driver
Intel Pro/100 VE
Laptop Battery
Post-Install Actions

The Wifi will work out of the box & for the sound I can upload a specific one - but VoodooHDA should work as well.

Your biggest problem will gonna be the GMA900. It's not supported by OS X natively - so you need patched GMA950 drivers to use it.
The result is that you might run into a plain blue screen without your desktop beeing loaded and / or beeing able to work with an external monitor only.
There are fixed Kernel Extensions to solve this - you just need to install - more infos here:
http://www.infinitemac.com/f19/how-to-intel-gma-900-done-right-full-t1754/

Good Luck - excuse my bad english and feel free to report back if problems emerge. :D ;)

[newbie2mac]

Imkantus - thanks so much! I'm dling Iatkos as we speak! Very grateful for the lengths you went to in finding drivers and info for me.

Who knew people that I've never met could be so kind!

[newbie2mac]

What are your thoughts on iPC instead of iAtkos? It seems to include many more drivers from what I've been reading... I could be wrong...

Any idea where I could locate a specific sound driver?

[Imkantus]

What are your thoughts on iPC instead of iAtkos? It seems to include many more drivers from what I've been reading... I could be wrong...Well the iAtkos release is more up-to-date - for example a lot of the SMBIOS fixing is no longer requiered with using Chameleon v2 & VoodooHDA works on allmost all ALC*** codecs. Things like that are mainly whats making the iPC package-list looking bigger.

But you're right iPC might be a better choice for you, as it already contains a GMA900 driver. :)

On iPC I'd try the following settings:

iPC OSx86 10.5.6 Base System
9.5.0 Voodoo Kernel
Intel GMA900
Intel ICHx SATA Drivers
Intel PRO 100/VE
AppleACPIBatteryManager
Clamshell Display Support
Seatbelt.kext 10.5.5
Shutdown / Restart Fix
PS/2 Keyboard Fix
PS/2 Mouse Fix
Patch DSDT with NewHPET
Chameleon with SMBIOS/DSDT

Any idea where I could locate a specific sound driver?Here (http://rapidshare.com/files/308056617/ICH6_AC97Audio.pkg.zip) you go.

[newbie2mac]

Thank you. I've seen a number of osx86 installation videos on youtube. Are there any specific ones you can recommend? Or any text tutorials that have been written for complete idiots? :)

[newbie2mac]

I saw this here (http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/HCL_10.5.6/Portables#Inspiron_2200)

Inspiron 2200

iDeneb 1.4 (10.5.6)
Install Options

Kernel

9.5.0 Voodoo Kernel

Ideneb Essential System
Networking

Wired

Intel Pro 10/100 VE


Audio

AC97

Video

GMA900

Chipset

ICHx

Fixes

Seatbelt (not sure if needed)
IOPCICard (not sure if needed, or if installed)


More details in forum topic -> [4] (http://redirectingat.com/?id=292X457&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insanelymac.com%2Fforum%2Find ex.php%3Fshowtopic%3D123161%26pid%3D1166665%26mode %3Dthreaded%26start%3D%23entry1166665) .
Does that make more sense than iPC? I'm really after having to do as little tinkering with drivers etc as possible...

[Imkantus]

I saw this here (http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/HCL_10.5.6/Portables#Inspiron_2200)

Does that make more sense than iPC? I'm really after having to do as little tinkering with drivers etc as possible...
It's pretty wayne. The configuration is nearly the same - just that with my iPC selection, you will have more correct system infos beeing displayed, and some little function like Battery-Monitor & beeing able to sleep on screen close.

[newbie2mac]

Thats exactly the sort of stuff I'm hoping the system can do out the box! :) I don't understand anything about Kex editing...

[newbie2mac]

BTW, is there any prepatched Snow Leopard available?

[Imkantus]

BTW, is there any prepatched Snow Leopard available?Well yes one, "SnowOSX Universal 10.6 v3.5" but it's just a collection of the typicall Retailinstallation basics and not suitable for you, as it's for Vanilla Kernel compatible systems, only.

[newbie2mac]

Thanks - do you think of the big prepatched boys will released one, or have they all gone retail-only?

[newbie2mac]

What is the "F8 boot prompt", and when does it appear so I can enter boot flags?