10.6 on Dell XPS

[rayray519]

Hello - I have tried to install 10.5 on this system but found trouble with getting the display to be more than 1024x768, no network and intermittent sound issues.

Can someone recommend a specific OSX version? will 10.6 run with the following hardware? (Can't find anything online to compare to).

OEM Specs:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dimxpsg4/sm/miller_i.htm#wp1052939

My Current Specs according to Ubuntu Linux:

CPU INFORMATION
GenuineIntel, Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.40GHz
Number of CPUs: 2
CPU clock currently at 3391.567 MHz with 1024 KB cache
Numbering: family(15) model(3) stepping(4)
Bogomips: 6783.13

MEMORY INFORMATION
Total memory: 2011 MB

STORAGE INFORMATION
SCSI device - scsi0
Vendor: SONY
Model: DVD-ROM DDU1615

SCSI device - scsi0
Vendor: SONY
Model: DVD RW DRU-830A

SCSI device - scsi2
Vendor: ATA
Model: WDC WD740GD-00FL

SCSI device - scsi2
Vendor: ATA
Model: ST3160023AS


MOTHERBOARD
Host bridge
Intel Corporation 82925X/XE Memory Controller Hub (rev 04)
Subsystem: Dell Device 0176

PCI bridge(s)
Intel Corporation 82925X/XE PCI Express Root Port (rev 04)
Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 03)
Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 03)
Intel Corporation 82801 PCI Bridge (rev d3) (prog-if 01)

USB controller(s)

Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #1 (rev 03)
Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #2 (rev 03)
Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #3 (rev 03)
Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB UHCI #4 (rev 03)
Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 03) (prog-if 20)


ISA bridge
Intel Corporation 82801FB/FR (ICH6/ICH6R) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 03)

IDE interface
Intel Corporation 82801FB/FBM/FR/FW/FRW (ICH6 Family) IDE Controller (rev 03) (prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP])
Subsystem: Dell Device 0176

GRAPHIC CARD
nVidia Corporation GT215 [GeForce GT 240] (rev a2)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device 8326

SOUND CARD
Multimedia controller
Creative Labs SB Audigy (rev 04)
Subsystem: Creative Labs Device 2006

NETWORK
Ethernet controller
Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM5751 Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express (rev 01)
Subsystem: Dell Device 0176

Modem
Intel Corporation FA82537EP 56K V.92 Data/Fax Modem PCI (rev 04)
Subsystem: Dell Device 1000

NVIDIA GRAPHIC CARD INFORMATION
Model name: GeForce GT 240
Card Type: PCI-E 16x
Video RAM: 1024 MB
GPU Frequency: 135 MHz
Driver version: NVIDIA UNIX x86 Kernel Module 195.36.24 Thu Apr 22 09:18:20 PDT 2010

[scififan68]

Of course 10.6 will run, I have a Dell Otiplex GX620, just a bit newer and with a pentium 4 2.8GHz and it runs pretty good. Have you tried the 10.6 Hazard distro?

[rayray519]

Hi scifian68 - no i haven't tried, but willing to give it a shot. Just worried about drivers. :S I'll give it a try and post my results asap.
Thanks,

[scififan68]

And don't forget to select ichx drivers with your ich6 device id added to them otherwise it won't boot. :)

[rayray519]

Thanks - by chance do you know how I do that? (sorry for the stupid question). I have the Hazard distro now - going to try the install tonight.

[scififan68]

there's many options you'll need to select like legacy kernel and Appleichx options(not sure its name exactly) for your computer to atleast boot.

[rayray519]

Alright thanks - I already got kernel panics (see image)

I'll keep trying till I can get it to boot.

[scififan68]

It seems you need to select the option "IOATAFamily Fix" and "LegacyAppleIntelPIIXATA Fixed" both under System Support

[rayray519]

Alright I will give that try and re-post results tomorrow - thanks again!!

[rayray519]

so after using the install defaults and only choosing IOATAFamily Fix and LegacyAppleIntelPIIXATA Fixed, I got the following error on Boot up (see image)

I tried this http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=22844 but still no luck. Still get the same boot errors.

Any thoughts?

[scififan68]

What is your sata settings? or are you trying to install onto a ide HDD? Try changing it to auto if you can.

[rayray519]

Drives are setup in BIOS as: "RAID Autodetect / AHCI mode". The drive is a SATA WD Raptor HD. Infact there are 2 identical drives there. I am NOT running RAID array right now (as I have disabled RAID in BIOS). From what I have been reading the drives need to be setup for AHCI mode?

Will this be ok still?

[scififan68]

Ahci will cause that boot0 error you see. So set it to "RAID Autodetect" (legacy ide mode)

[rayray519]

Ok, I'll try that tonight and re-post results. Thanks again.

[rayray519]

So did what you suggested, but was still left with the boot:0 error. What I am going to do tonight is make sure that my DVD drives are setup with the correct jumper settings. From what I have been reading the DVD should be Primary master, and the HDD should be Primary slave. I will put my last DVD drive as Secondary Master then?

I will disable the 3.5 floppy in bios (to eliminate other problems just incase) and play with the different ATA modes to see which one works.

[scififan68]

If it still doesn't work out maybe you should consider a Retail install. only thing you would need is a patched kernel and ahci or intel ata kexts both with device id's of your ich6.