Post-Install, No Boot, I'm Stupid: iAtkos v7 on Dell Dimension 8400

[Castanova]

Please help! Here's what I've done so far:

- Reformatted the HD, first partition is for OSX and the second partition is for XP.
- Installed XP on the second partition, it works.
- Installed iAtkos v7 on the first partition. The installer seemed to work fine, no issues. I tried two times: first time I selected specific drivers that I thought I would need, the second time I just did a default install.

Where I am now:

The computer boots to Chameleon v2 successfully and it gives me the option of OSX or XP. If I choose XP, it boots and everything works perfectly fine there (thankfully). If I choose OSX, it says: "Darwin loading" for a few seconds then it flashes something like "Loading Darwin osx/86" or something along those lines - I don't have enough time to read it though because as soon as that text pops, the computer reboots.

I have two questions, one easy and one hard:

Stupid question: I've read a million posts and everyone suggests things like booting OSX with -v and -x and such and such. However, I never get a chance to enter these options. As soon as I select OSX from the bootloader, the computer resets within seconds. Pressing F8 does nothing. How the hell do I get to the "F8" screen where I can boot up with these special options??? If I boot the installer from the DVD, I can enter these options but that's for the installer, not for booting the OS. The bootloader has two screens: the first where it automatically selects OSX and has a countdown and it says something like "press any key to select which one to boot" and then if i press a key, I get a screen where I can pick between OSX and XP but there seems to be no way to enter options.

Hard question: any ideas how to fix the problem? Is it even possible to get this working on a Dell Dimension 8400? It's a pretty old computer.

Thanks!

[Imkantus]

Welcome to InfiniteMac Community.

First of all, I recommend you to add your system specifications to your signature.

I googled an read through some Linux boards, so I guess you are running a P4 and a mainboard with ICH6 chipset. According to that you cannot boot the OS X default Kernel ("Vanilla") and will need a patched Kernel try one out the two Voodoo [based] Kernel avaible on iAtkos v7. Furthermore you would need to have "Intel IDE / SATA" driver to boot properly.

[Castanova]

Thanks! I'll give that a try.

[Castanova]

I reinstalled with the Voodoo kernel plus the Intel IDE / SATA driver selected. I also chose the PS/2 Mouse and Keyboard and the Broadcom Network driver (BCM5751) since that seems to match what my hardware is.

Now OSX actually boots but it just gets to the gray screen with the Apple logo and the circular "thinking" graphic. After 5-10 seconds, the thinking graphic freezes and then everything is frozen.

Is there any way I can get this loading screen into "verbose" mode or whatever? Any ideas on next steps?

[Castanova]

OK, I reinstalled with the following changes: switched to Chameleon v1 and removed the Broadcom driver from the initial install. Now OSX booted successfully! It automatically configured my Wireless adapter, too, so I had internet right out of the box.

Now I just need to figure out how to change the damn resolution!!!

Thanks for your help.

[Imkantus]

Well there is not much clearly declared info about your computer on the web, so if you would tell us, what graphics card is used in your setup, you will for sure recieve help with this. :)

As I wrote above - adding some little details about hardware to the signature is convenient. ;)

[Castanova]

Hah, sorry. I keep writing to these boards from the office so I'd have to put in my specs off the top of my head.

I've got a Dell Dimension 8400
ATI Radeon X800 XL
A Linksys wireless card
Everything else is stock from the original Dell

Anyway, the wireless worked out of the box so that's fine. I used the Callisto kexts and now the resolution problem is fixed too. I have to say the graphics feel a little slow (animations aren't smooth on window minimization, for example) but I guess that's not a shock when I'm using such an old computer.

I haven't heard any sounds yet but I don't know if the OS itself has any built-in sounds. I'm gonna try going to YouTube when I get home, I guess.

Only remaining problem I noticed is that when I try to wake up the computer from sleep mode the computer starts going but the monitor never wakes up. Not a huge one though since I don't plan on having the computer idle in this OS.

Again, thanks for all your help!

[Imkantus]

Well yes your gfx card is way to old to be supported by Leopard. I would tend to pick up some 6**0- or 7*00-Series GeForce card on ebay. Having fully graphic accerlation on OS X is worth that. ;)

iAtkos v7 installs the VoodooHDA driver for Audio by default, but according to that you have an ICH6 Family chipset, you should have no High Definition Audio, but AC'97. So if you installed it with iAtkos, you will have to remove VoodooHDA first of all - delete /System/Library/Extensions/VoodooHDA.kext - delete /System/Library/Extensions.mkext & delete VoodooHDA from /Library/PreferencesPanes - once done install the package I attached and you should have working Sound after next reboot.

Good luck. :)