OS X El Capitan on Unsupported Macs

os x el capitan (10.11) on unsupported macs

macos extractor , macpostfactor apps guide through patching , installing os x el capitan (10.11), yosemite (10.10), mavericks (10.9), or mountain lion (10.8) on older mac. thread focuses on os x el capitan.

macpostfactor works mountain lion, mavericks, yosemite, , el capitan.
please note older gpu (gma 950, x3100, x1600, x1300, x1900, 7300gt, etc.) graphics acceleration on mavericks, yosemite, , el capitan not supported yet.
installing on these models may cause them have graphical issues stated in these pages. kexts provided little bit.
macos extractor more advanced users , should only used alternative macpostfactor. thread consists of members prominent in these patches can solve issues. please not hesitate post if have questions.

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apple history

os x 10.6 snow leopard first os x version optional support 64-bit kernel, allowing booting either 32-bit or 64-bit kernel. however, apple did not support booting 64-bit kernel in macs shipped efi32 firmware, if had 64-bit processors capable of running 64-bit kernel. when apple dropped 32-bit kernel entirely os x, starting os x 10.8 mountain lion, efi32 macs no longer had apple-supported mechanism boot newer os x versions.
os x 10.11 el capitan includes rootless security. makes sure system file permissions automatically protected, , updated during software updates. repair permissions function no longer available , access system files need use in guide may locked.

fortunately, have found workarounds version of os x. here provide guides in post 1 in support installing os x el capitan on unsupported mac.

this first post updated summarized information, updates, , more solutions.

for have 2006/2007 mac pros, may best suited using mr. zarniwoop's guide here. mcpf , macose projects not affiliated them. not contact them either, that's responsibility. confrontation has occurred both publicly , privately in macrumors, site, , other forms of communications , don't want them , mac models. simple, don't ask mac pro questions people don't have mac pros . post requested moved thread.

prerequisites:
tested macs listed below. here minimum requirements:
- running 10.7 lion
- @ least 2gb of ram
- copy of os x el capitan installer in applications folder (.app file mac app store preferred)
- 15 gb of free space usb or hdd partition serve installer drive.

-macbook2,x
-macbook3,x
-macbook4,x
-macbookpro2,x
-macbookair1,1
-macmini1,x c2d
-macmini2,x
-imac4,x c2d
-imac5,x

-macpro1,x
-macpro2,x

don't assist hackintosh. private messages/emails involving installing os x on non-apple hardware redirected support team.

guide installing os x el capitan on unsupported macs

any harm or damage caused guide happened under own responsibility!

sure have root privileges (administrator password) os x prompt on stage.


a: preparing installation drive

1. make backup of system if can.
2. macos extractor has need patch os x (there numerous other sources can help).
3. get os x el capitan installer app (recommended mac app store)
4. make sure mac meets minimum requirement above
5. a usb or secondary partition put patched installer (a installation drive reference)

b: start patching

1. install macos extractor.
2. a new drive might appear on desktop called ‘os x install esd’. don’t worry that. autopatch tool unmount when it's done.
   
3. go applications/os x hackers patch files , run autopatch package.
   
4. during autopatch installation. select usb or partition (installation drive) want installer. (no, not mac os x install esd) warning: not select current partition (i.e macintosh hd)
   
5. (for non 64 bit macs) unlock , replace boot.efi files located in /system/library/coreservices , /usr/standalone/i386 copy provided in /applications/os x hackers patch files/boot efi/ or here . unlock it, use terminal app in applications/utilities/ , enter command:
   code:

   sudo chflags nouchg /volumes/[installation drive name]/system/library/coreservices/boot.efi


   (if receive error, go directory , find boot.efi. in terminal, enter 'sudo chflags nouchg ' , drag old boot.efi in window. press enter)
6. now lock new boot.efi file. (for non 64 bit macs) lock new boot.efi command:


7. code:

   sudo chflags uchg /volumes/[installation drive name]/system/library/coreservices/boot.efi


c: installation

1. reboot mac holding option (alt) key
2. select installation drive "os x base system" (and press enter)
3. if installation drive boots main partition, try blessing drive terminal app:
   
   code:

   sudo bless --folder /volumes/[installation drive name] --file /volumes/[installation drive name]/boot --setboot

4. when booted click install/continue until reach disk selection menu, select main drive (probably macintosh hd) if sure it, else select empty drive (at least 15gb testing/bigger if should secondary system)
5. after installation, open terminal in menu bar , launch postinst.sh script patch partition installed os x

code:

sudo ./postinst.sh

d: if reboot fails

if mac not reboot el capitan desktop, boot installation drive again , perform following.
boot el capitan install partition, open terminal @ top menu bar or boot single user mode (hold command-s after turning on) enter:

code:

sudo rm /volumes/[main drive name]/system/library/coreservices/platformsupport.plist

e: installing 64bit-kexts kexts folder macos extractor
(these better graphics little not have graphics acceleration. still in beta may not work well)

1. ensure system integrity protection disabled
   
2. navigate in finder , go 'os x hackers patch files' folder in applications folder
3. open 'kexts' folder
4. choose graphics card kext installer , launch it.
5. select partition or hard drive using patched os x.install it. (admin privileges required)
6. restart mac

if macbook can't wake sleep:

because of lack of working graphics acceleration. macbook may not able wake display sleep

if macbook can't wake sleep:

because of lack of working graphics acceleration. macbook may not able wake display sleep

install nosleep extension
set preferences never sleep on ac adapter , battery
check 'start nosleep utility on system startup' setting
macbook screen never turn off unless shut down macbook.

congratulations!!!

method 2 - macpostfactor​

el capitan install experimental. try on secondary partition.

el capitan can installed on computer mac pros upgraded graphics card can use graphics acceleration of now!

requirements macpostfactor work

• a mac core 2 duo or xeon processor.
• os x 10.6 or later
• 2gb ram @ least
• at least 20gb of hdd space (8gb usb)
• install os x el capitan.app beta 1 or later in application folder
• read our instructions on macrumors @ least twice

friendly reminder.

we're not responsible if screw system. technically, won't happen can go lion, mountain lion, mavericks or yosemite


instructions — installing directly on computer

1. make sure have install os x el capitan.app in application folder
2. select "on computer" on main mcpf window. then, choose partition want install el capitan on.
3. click install , prompt password.
4. click reboot. computer should reboot osxhackers logo.
5. once booted, click continue, agree , choose partition showed.
6. click reboot when see "installation succeeded!".
7. enjoy!

instructions — installing via usb

1. make sure have install os x el capitan.app in application folder
2. select "on external drive" on main mcpf window. then, choose disk want install el capitan installer on.
3. click install , prompt password.
4. click exit. boot computer want install el capitan on 'alt' held , select usb drive.
5. once booted, click continue, agree , choose partition want install el capitan on.
6. click reboot when see "installation succeeded !".
7. enjoy!

os x recovery patch

• go applications/os x hackers patch files/recovery patcher/
• install 'recovery patcher' pkg (not working el capitan)

os x software updates

• go applications/os x hackers patch files/software update patch/
• install 'software update patch' pkg
• (efi32 mac only) using pike's boot.efi, install efi daemon patch.

animation disabler

don't have graphics acceleration, right? don't need excess animation slowing down system.

• go applications/os x hackers patch files/animation disabler/
• install 'disable graphical animations' pkg

airdrop

• go applications/os x hackers patch files/airdrop enabler/
• open 'enable airdrop' shell script in terminal
• restart

can send file airdrop other macs only. newer macs can't find model.

method 3 v3 - @skyfly555's method​

try method on external hdd. the method has been updated v3 , tested on mb 2,x, mb3,x , mbp 2,x. can work on other efi32/efi64 unsupported macs if have kexts need, although method 3 v3 recommended efi32 macs; , method 3 v2 in post #926 recommended efi64 macs.
note: can find method 3 v1 in post #892 of same thread, it's obsolet


prerequisites: computer el capitan installed , sip disabled (or computer yosemite , -no_compat_check kext-dev-mode=1 boot flags in /library/preferences/systemconfiguration/com.apple.boot.plist), , external hdd.

1- first of all, need external 2,5” hdd or ssd. has guid hfs+ formatted. if format el capitan, formats hard disk in way default. suppose name "capitann". create hfs+ partition , efi partition automatically.

2- using computer el capitan/yosemite installed, clone partition have el capitan external hdd, 1 have formatted on step 1. source computer can real mac, or hackintosh. can use carbon copy clone (ccc) or superduper! have used both of them , worked well.
if use el capitan, need sip disabled. that, boot el capitan mac recovery partition, go utilities, open terminal, , write csrutil disable , reboot. you need next steps el capitan sip disabled. yosemite doesn't need this, because doesn't have sip.

3- boot.efi need. there 2 possibilities:
if have efi64 unsupported mac (like mb4,1, example), can use efi64 boot.efi el capitan has got default. should follow, mentioned, method 3 v2.

if have efi32 mac, need this boot.efi, designed disable sip, created @skyfly555 , taking base boot.efi created @vsbalint70 , created boot.efi modifying code pike r alpha original boot.efi.

once downloaded, need change flags. terminal (remember i'm supposing capitan partition called "capitann"):

code:

cd /volumes/capitann/system/library/coreservices/ sudo chflags nouchg boot.efi cd /volumes/capitann/usr/standalone/i386/ sudo chflags nouchg boot.efi

4- finder, use "go" menu , select "go folder..."
open /volumes/capitann/system/library/coreservices/ , copy there efi32 boot.efi have (probably downloads folder).
important: if find here file called firmware.scap, must delete , empty trash.
open /volumes/capitann/usr/standalone/i386/ , same.
important: if find here file called firmware.scap, too, must delete , empty trash.

assign correct owner them. terminal:

code:

cd /volumes/capitann/system/library/coreservices/ sudo chown root:wheel boot.efi cd /volumes/capitann/usr/standalone/i386/ sudo chown root:wheel boot.efi

5- need kexts. using tones of kext tmrjij - os x hackers. make things easy, have them zipped here (all kexts come os x hackers). download it, unzip file, folders , 1 kext, copy kexts need (ec-base-kexts mandatory, legacyusbinjector.kext optional , used if have known usb issues, copy graphical kexts need folder) /volumes/capitann/system/library/extensions/.

note 1: if have cloned hackintosh, check kexts /volumes/capitann/system/library/extensions/ , /volumes/capitann/library/extensions/. maybe have things don't need. of them can give problems, example, appleacpips2nub.kext, appleps2controller.kext, fakesmc.kext, nullcpupowermanagement.kext or hdaenablerx.kext or whatever, "very hackintosh". if have these kexts in these folders, remove them now.
note 2: if have ati graphics card, 128 mb of ram recognised, have go /volumes/capitann/system/library/extensions/ , delete file: amdsupport.kext

6- before doing step 7, need sure have important folder, not cloned.

open in finder /volumes/capitann/system/library/caches/ have com.apple.kext.caches/ folder?
if not, open /system/library/caches/ in window of finder, , drag , drop com.apple.kext.caches/ /system/library/caches/ /volumes/capitann/system/library/caches/.

after that, open terminal and:

code:

cd /volumes/capitann/system/library/caches/ sudo chown -r root:wheel *.*

note: if don't have com.apple.kext.caches/, in step 9 can message like:
can't create /volumes/capitann/system/library/caches/com.apple.kext.caches/startup/kernelcache.l9a9 - no such file or directory , el capitan won't boot.

7- set boot flags , use them every time boot. terminal:

code:

cd /volumes/capitann//library/preferences/systemconfiguration/ sudo nano com.apple.boot.plist

you see:
<key>kernel flags</key>
<string></string>

want have:
<key>kernel flags</key>
<string>-no_compat_check kext-dev-mode=1 mbasd=1</string>

or, if want verbose mode, too, add -v flag:
<key>kernel flags</key>
<string>-no_compat_check kext-dev-mode=1 mbasd=1 -v</string>

note: need these flags, mandatory have kexts loaded, excepting mbasd=1, required mbairs.

go out nano editor, ctrl+x , "y".

8- want have our kexts permissions in condition. terminal:

code:

cd /volumes/capitann/system/library/extensions/ sudo chown -r root:wheel *.* sudo chmod -r 755 *.* 

note: these commands fail. check them typing

code:

ls -l

terminal , sure see root:wheel everywhere. if that's not cause, need go finder, select external hdd, and tick/untick option "ignore ownership on volume" (right click on volume > read info > option below permissions) - if it's ticked, untick it; it's unticked, ticked it. although when permissions changed root:wheel, need the "ignore ownership on volume" option unticked.

9- going build prelinked kernel , kernelcache:

code:

sudo kextcache -prelinked-kernel /volumes/capitann/system/library/caches/com.apple.kext.caches/startup/kernelcache -k /volumes/capitann/system/library/kernels/kernel /volumes/capitann/system/library/extensions /volumes/capitann/library/extensions

the terminal should give messages these:
/volumes/capitann locked; waiting lock.
lock acquired; proceeding.
kext-dev-mode allowing invalid signature -67054 0xfffffffffffefa12 kext iousbhostfamily.kext
(...)
kext-dev-mode allowing invalid signature -67054 0xfffffffffffefa12 kext applestoragedrivers.kext
kext-dev-mode allowing invalid signature -67050 0xfffffffffffefa16 kext appleintelintegratedframebuffer.kext
kext-dev-mode allowing invalid signature -67061 0xfffffffffffefa0b kext appleintelgma950.kext
(...)
appledatasetmanagement.kext - dependency com.apple.iokit.ioahciblockstorage lacks valid osbundlecompatibleversion.
appledatasetmanagement.kext missing dependencies (including anyway; dependencies may available elsewhere)
created mkext archive /volumes/capitann/system/library/caches/com.apple.kext.caches/startup/extensions.mkext.
note 1: appledatasetmanagement.kext messages shown if have ssd , trim enabled.
note 2: if messages saying permissions not correct, or omitting... repeat steps 5, 6 , 8 until these messages saying "kext-dev-mode allowing invalid signature..". sure doing steps (especially terminal commands) correct, , in correct order. if have ati, , have deleted amdsupport.kext, "omitting prelinked..." messages, it's ok.
note 3: if message saying "can't create...", step 6 again, hasn't been done.

note 4: if on hackintosh, can messages like:
softraid.kext has incorrect permissions; omitting.
(...)
acs6x.kext has incorrect permissions; omitting.
some of these kexts hackintosh , not needed. other ones, handsoff.kext, can app have installed. sure not omitting important, kexts prior command has loaded (applehda.kext or similar), , don't care rest.

10- can change flags boot.efi, , protect again. terminal:

code:

cd /volumes/capitann/system/library/coreservices/ sudo chflags uchg boot.efi cd /volumes/capitann/usr/standalone/i386/ sudo chflags uchg boot.efi

11- el capitan can boot , should boot sip disabled, have sure there's no firmware.scap efi folder on our capitann partition. if case, el cap won't boot @ (and kernel panic).
go terminal, type diskutil list, , check name of efi partition. if it's internal, it's called disk0s1; if it's external, can called disk1s1 or disk2s1. if see several efi partitions, step of them. i'll disk0s1 example. can same several times changing name of disk diskxs1.
so, mount efi partition of our internal hdd (it's called disk0s1). name "esp".
terminal:

code:

 mkdir /volumes/esp sudo mount -t msdos /dev/disk0s1 /volumes/esp 

now go /volumes/esp finder (maybe called efi on finder sidebar). go folder called efi. delete inside efi folder (/volumes/esp/efi/) , empty trash. if see apple folder, have firmware.scap there, must delete it!

usb issue: the usb kexts using give trouble, depending on machine have. 1 usb not recognised, check usb ports using usb memory stick after booting el cap first time know if affected issue. if case, try leaving usb stick in not recognised port, reboot again, , check if, after rebooting, usb stick recognised. if it's recognised, have boot el cap usb device connected on usb port when booting have working el cap (not time, while booting). can try installing legacyusbinjector.kext, maybe can you.
brightness adjustment: shady app can you. it's included in os x hackers graphical kexts installers.

12- boot mac, pressing "alt" key" , select capitann partition. if have followed steps, boot.

13- final check.
once booted el cap on unsupported mac, open terminal , type:

code:

 csrutil status 

you should message: system integrity protection status: disabled.
, last check, terminal, let's rebuild caches:

code:

 sudo kextcache -i / 

you should see same output got when did step 9.
great. got it. welcome ec.

important notes updating-upgrading , cloning:
1- if major upgrade, example, el cap 10.11.5 10.11.6 or similar, kexts added /system/library/extensions in step 5 deleted, boot.efi deleted, firmware.scap file reappear everywhere... so, recommend having bootable backup on external hdd before upgrading anything, , sure boots correctly; so, after upgrade, can boot there , repeat process, steps 3 12.
3 goals: reinstalling correct boot.efi, reinstalling kexts correct kext cache , prelinked kernel rebuilding, , deleting firmware.scap system again.
so, , basically, repeat m3v2, not machine, yours.
2- when clone el cap partition internal hdd, el cap may not boot. if case, steps 6 , 9 booting external drive. then, internal el cap boot.


support

feel free post questions, concerns, or success stories in thread. if can’t post because usable device bricked, skype @ tmrjij, mlforall, or email @ support@osxhackers.net. we'll try respond within 3-5 days.
there should great support applications use you.

sure thank our awesome developers have contributed greatly.

support documentation (construction)

docs macos extractor:

• no sound fix
• installation failed
• updating macos extractor
• disabling animations (mavericks , yosemite)
• enabling airdrop
• os x software updates
• recovery patch

docs macpostfactor:

• error code references
• error code 3 - partition issue
• graphics lag
• re-patching
• enabling airdrop
  
• disabling animations (mavericks , yosemite)

downloads/files patching

macos extractor v1.42 mountain lion, mavericks, yosemite, el capitan, , sierra [may 31, 2017]:
download link
view release notes

macpostfactor 2.0.1 [july 8, 2016]:
download link


boot.efi support el capitan (os x 10.11) unsupported mac hardware 32-bit efi [by pike r. alpha]:
download link

os x hackers not affiliated apple inc. mac os ten (x), mac, ios, iphone, ipad, , other apple product names trademarks or registered trademarks of apple inc. other company , product names trademarks or registered trademarks of respective companies.
macpostfactor made wayne wong (@wayne_819) , kelian dumarais (@mlforall)

guide , osxh site/app designed isiah johnson (@tmrjij) , robby sharpero , provided johnson network.​

developers/contributors:

liem mai, birtha Åbel, wayne wong, kelian dumarais, nolen johnson, mr. zarniwoop, tiamo, pike r. alpha, oem, atvusr, jesse samluk, mike hennessie​

terms , conditions
os x hackers site
facebook page
donate

successful?​

support sharing our guide others. let know older macs not obsolete yet. thank developers helped make possible. developers appreciate donations make site/app better.​

other threads:

macos high sierra (10.13)
macos high sierra (10.13) unsupported macs thread - foxlet

macos sierra (10.12)
macos 10.12 sierra unsupported macs thread - redheeler
2006/2007 mac pro (1,1/2,1) , macos sierra - mr, zarniwoop

os x el capitan (10.11):
os x el capitan on unsupported macs - tmrjij
2006/2007 mac pro (1,1/2,1) , el capitan - mr. zarniwoop

os x yosemite (10.10):
os x yosemite on unsupported macs - tmrjij
2006/2007 mac pro (1,1/2,1) , os x yosemite - mr. zarniwoop

os x mavericks (10.9):
[guide] installing 10.9 mavericks on older macs. - hackerwayne
mac pro 2,1 , os x mavericks -5050

os x mountain lion (10.8):
success! install 10.8 on old unsupported mac - hackerwayne

​

 

i can hope, mp 5.1 (2012) not appear on "unsupported macs list"!

 

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