OSX install disk utility (alpha testers needed)

ritalin · #1 11-30-2008, 02:50 PM

Make backup copies of your OSX install disk.
Basically an app that lets you update a OSX retail disk with the latest combo update, plus shrinks the D/L DVD onto a S/L DVD. So far only tested on my PPC PowerBook and a couple of hackintoshes. The Intel Mac parts of the app are untested, but should in theory work.

Hexley 0.1 pre-alpha released 28/10/08
Hexley 0.2 pre-alpha released 18/11/08
Hexley 0.3 pre-alpha released 24/11/08
Hexley 0.4 pre-alphareleased 30/11/08
Hexley 0.5 pre-alpha released 07/12/08
wiki pre-alpha definition

Overview of how the app works:

The app creates disk image (dmg), this is like a virtual hard disk held on file within the real hard drive.
The app then installs a stock OSX system on the dmg from the retail disk.
Any modification required is then performed on the stock system held in the dmg.
That stock system is then wrapped up in a package (pkg) and saved on you real hard drive.
The stock system held in the dmg is now converted to small installer system to be used as the DVD.
The pkg is then added to the small installer system.
The dmg now holds the content of a OSX install DVD, the app converts the dmg into a DVD image (iso/cdr) and makes it bootable for the target hardware (PPC/Intel Mac or Hack)

Disclamer:
You have to remember this is alpha and if something can go wrong then it probably will. The app is quite verbose if there is an error copy and paste the whole output and send it to me. If you would like more info on what the app is doing try launching Console.app in your utilities folder and watch the All Messages section, this should give you an idea of what is going on/wrong.

Thanks goes to anyone willing to help with testing this app. If you want to try the app, I would suggest you try making a backup DVD first. If that works then try making an updated backup DVD. If that works then try making a PC compatible DVD.

Remember this is alpha software. It shouldn't set fire to your house and kill your family, but then again it might.

The app is just a simple GUI wrapper for a shellscript. If you look inside the app you can view the script in any text editor (I recommend Xcode). If you like you can run the script in terminal to aid debugging.

Feel free to modify the script as you wish.

The PC compatibility comes from the pkgs held in four folders labeled:
chipsetCompatibilityPkgs
compatibilityPkgs
gfxCompatibilityPkgs
networkCompatibilityPkgs
These folders can be found in "/Library/Application\ Support/HexleySupport"

Add any pkg to these folders and it will be presented as a choice in the appropriate section of the app.

LawlessPPC · #2 11-30-2008, 03:59 PM

nice work of great use

nfoav8or · #3 11-30-2008, 08:05 PM

agreed, now if only there was a way to make a windows app that would do this for people we wouldn't need to make distros anymore... everyone could just create their own from both platforms then. Of course, we don't want to make it too easy.

I'm at work right now but when I get home I plan to test this using both my Intel Macbook and my AMD Hacintosh. (specs below)

EDIT: what bootloader is used during the final write?

ritalin · #4 11-30-2008, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nfoav8or

agreed, now if only there was a way to make a windows app that would do this for people we wouldn't need to make distros anymore... everyone could just create their own from both platforms then. Of course, we don't want to make it too easy.

I'm at work right now but when I get home I plan to test this using both my Intel Macbook and my AMD Hacintosh. (specs below)

EDIT: what bootloader is used during the final write?

Boot loader is Chameleon-1.0.11 for a hack, Open Firmware on the ppc Mac, and EFI on a Intel Mac.

Instead of a windows app, how about a Darwin live CD? I haven't a clue how you would port this to linux never mind windows, but a Darwin port should be feasible.

nfoav8or · #5 11-30-2008, 10:22 PM

could this app be run from an OS X Live DVD as long as it is dragged over to a HD and run? in other words, does it have to be on the root drive? can the temp directory and image be placed and directly worked on a drive other than root? This would allow people without OS X on their system (ie the windows and linux users to not need to install anything extra) to create the install DVD cuztomized to their system right from the start and see exactly what is needed from the Live DVD.

ritalin · #6 11-30-2008, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nfoav8or

could this app be run from an OS X Live DVD as long as it is dragged over to a HD and run? in other words, does it have to be on the root drive? can the temp directory and image be placed and directly worked on a drive other than root? This would allow people without OS X on their system (ie the windows and linux users to not need to install anything extra) to create the install DVD cuztomized to their system right from the start and see exactly what is needed from the Live DVD.

I don't see any reason why the images would need to be on the root HD. The script requires somewhere in the region of 15GB of free space to create the required disk images. I imagine some cleverer than myself might be able to squeeze that down somewhat, but I don't think you could do it in RAM anyway. Maybe you could have the live DVD partition and format a HD for use by the script. It's not something that I have given a lot of thought. It all a bit crazy anyway, if you are going to download a live DVD to make an install DVD, then why not download a pre made install DVD? Apparently I'm knitting with one needle as it is, so perhaps I should stay clear of these crazy ideas.

nfoav8or · #7 12-01-2008, 12:06 AM

oh I know... just crazy thoughts. I was creating the Live DVD to try and allow people to try out OS X without actually installing anything to their hard drive and thought "hmm, interesting"

I have to stop having those moments.

nfoav8or · #8 12-01-2008, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ritalin

The PC compatibility comes from the pkgs held in four folders labeled:
chipsetCompatibilityPkgs
compatibilityPkgs
gfxCompatibilityPkgs
networkCompatibilityPkgs
These folders can be found in "/Library/Application\ Support/HexleySupport"

Add any pkg to these folders and it will be presented as a choice in the appropriate section of the app.

Hmm. ok... nm. I guess I didn't put two and two together.

nfoav8or · #9 12-01-2008, 12:28 AM

Forcedeth caused a Kernel Panic after mounting the DMG it created of my install disk on my Hacintosh. I'm removing it and retrying.

EDIT: I figured out what it was... the kernel panic was caused by forcedeth during the loading of iTunes and trying to connect to the iTunes Store. Why does this load iTunes to play music during this step? If I want to listen to music while it's working I'll open iTunes myself.

EDIT 2: Success running a B/U with retail and B/U with update on the Intel Macbook in my specs... now on to the PC compatible version.

ritalin · #10 12-01-2008, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nfoav8or

Forcedeth caused a Kernel Panic after mounting the DMG it created of my install disk on my Hacintosh. I'm removing it and retrying.

EDIT: I figured out what it was... the kernel panic was caused by forcedeth during the loading of iTunes and trying to connect to the iTunes Store. Why does this load iTunes to play music during this step? If I want to listen to music while it's working I'll open iTunes myself.

EDIT 2: Success running a B/U with retail and B/U with update on the Intel Macbook in my specs... now on to the PC compatible version.

The script takes like an hour to run on my hardware, I was using iTunes as an alarm to get my attention so I would go back to the PC. To stop it from doing that, just comment out the two calls to play music:
playMp3 "${mp3one}" # Play some music
playMp3 "${mp3two}" # Play some music
When Hexley is installed you can find the script here:
/Applications/Hexley.app/Contents/Resources/script
I should have done that myself before posting it on MediaFire.

Does the backup + update DVD for the Macbook boot okay? I've never had access to a real Intel Mac to test my method of making a real Mac efi bootable disk. You don't have to install from the DVD, just see if it boots. If the DVD boots it is safe to assume the install would work okay.