iPhoto crashing Hackintosh

iPhoto frequently crashes the computer, bringing up the shutdown dialog but then it just crashes within a second or two, shutting down. Could be that the temperature is rising too high, and self-protection cuts in.

Installed CoolBookController again to monitor temperature.

Opened it up. Cleaned out loads of dust, and it runs about 20C cooler now.

Another, better display mirroring solution

http://www.fabiancanas.com/Projects/MirrorDisplays/

Put that in Utilities, use Spotlight to find it if the display gets garbled, you're away.

Potential help on 10.5.8 upgrade

http://www.hutsby.net/2009/09/msi-wind-updating-to-1058-on.html

Basically looks like video drivers get hosed, so need to reinstall the kernel extensions.

Projectors in os x on Advent

I found that when I connected a projector, display went all garbled. Found suggestions that this was the 'mirrored display' mode of OS X, which is known to be broken in the graphics drivers on the Wind/Advent 4211.

There was a suggestion to enable the "show display settings in menu bar" or somesuch, which I did, and then hover the mouse button over the icon when plugging a projector in, press down twice, then enter. That disables mirror mode, which seems to be enabled by default when a projector is plugged in.

Did that. It works.

Then had to use DisplayConfigX to remove the 100Hz settings that the monitor didn't like, reboot, mac says it's now at 1024x768 60 Hz, projector says 1280x768 (it is 1280x800 native), everything looks about right in terms of aspect ratio.

VoodooHDA drivers for OS X

Some activity says that microphone-enabling drivers may be available:

http://forums.msiwind.net/osx-drivers/almost-fully-working-voodoohda-speakers-headphone-ext-mic-t10871.html

"system-library-extension; if you have applehda.kext/appleazaliaaudio,kext/voodoohda.kext back them up somewhere and then delete them, then download the voodoo kext. next step launch kext helper and add the kext to the box, enter your password, reboot and then try skype or audacity.

for further help, use the search box. all of these answers are in the forums somewhere. in fact if you go look at the original voodoo posting i think they posted directions in there. if you installed os x to your wind firsthand then im sure you used kext helper at some point. "

Then there is a "new version" that includes preference panels (but looks like pref panel is only update and is a separate file).
http://forum.voodooprojects.org/index.php/topic,139.0.htm

However, people reported problems with the new version and waking from sleep.

Power management on Advent 4211

Found what looks like an updated power management kernel extension that specially fixes the iTunes choppiness and hopefully crashes, VoodooPower. Found it in this forum topic, which seems to have several suggested post-install instructions.

So far no choppiness in iTunes, and it hasn't crashed, but then I only just installed it.

Voodoo power management to replace coolbook

Somewhere along the way Coolbook, which I paid for, has stopped working. I checked and there are kexts that allow the speedstep functionality to work without CoolBook.

http://forums.msiwind.net/osx-software/working-speed-step-quick-and-fast-more-coolbook-t6075-20.html

The kexts changed their names to VoodooBattery.kext and VoodooPower.kext, but I downloaded and tried them to see if they stopped the fan going a lot, kept the temperature down and extended the battery life.

Edit:

Found more in dept discussion here:

http://forums.msiwind.net/osx-software/good-news-speedstep-form-superhai-now-work-oob-t4932.html?sid=52f81bd75ff3b7220c6d35ddad4062c0

Have had a couple of crashes since, on both AC and battery power. Maybe need to change plist file referred to in first forum topic.

Noted a few problems: Dvorak keyboard needs to be re-added after crash, I have two battery icons on the task bar, and (this is weird) when on Dvorak keyboard the Ctrl key combination now works on the Dvorak key (like in Windows) not the qwerty key (as it used to). But now realise there are two Dvorak keyboards - the one that says (option key symbol) Qwerty is different and that explain the difference.

Helpful post:

you can add the bootflag via osx86-tool, which you find here: http://pcwizcomputer.com/osx86tools/
download it, start it, click on "add efi strings / boot flag", fill "FSB=133 memoryType=19 memorySpeed=677" (without the " of course ^^) in the top left text-field (should be empty), then on apply changes at the bottom.

Found a person in the second forum page 7 i think that says that it doesn't work with msiwindosx, which IIRC is what I installed - gives stuttering iTunes and kernel panics. This is what I have seen. Time to uninstall? I'm pretty sure that the problem only happens on battery power.

Found that edowar on that forum is recommending the GenericCPU ??? .kext over the Voodoo ones. Tried to uninstall the Voodoo ones and try that instead, but ended up uninstalling it too because it also caused stuttering when on battery power. There are two versions at least listed, tried this one:

http://www.mediafire.com/?m79y9mxmi0m

Found an article that gave me an idea how to fix bluetooth being turned off - remove Personal Area Networking (PAN) from BT facilities of the mobile phone pairing. Tried this to see if it worked, and it seems to be. I posted info on the forum:

http://forums.msiwind.net/post83961.html#p83961

Bluetooth turns off strangely

The bluetooth icon went all greyed out, and the menu showed that it was off but the option to turn it on (in the bluetooth preferences pane) was greyed out.

The suggestion to run Bluetooth File Exchange which would offer to turn BT on, worked, from the following page:

http://forums.msiwind.net/mac/bluetooth-woes-osx-t4102.html

Successful BIOS update to 1.0A

Followed instructions from Cantisque on July 4th 2008. Basically download HP's disk tool and win98 files from files.extremeoverclocking.com, and use the MSI 1.0A utility. But I actually used the Advent 1.0A BIOS file from my previous blog entry, by changing the .BAT file to refer to the Advent BIOS image not the MSI one.

Seems my BIOS 1.08 is the reason my page up and down keys don't work - but now they do go!

Update went smoothly, page up and down now work, thankfully. And Home and End.

Failed attempt to update BIOS to 1.0A

Using the 1.0A file at:

http://support.thetechguys.com/4211BIOS

I used the technique here, but put on an SD card:

http://forums.msiwind.net/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=5906

1. Prepare pendrive with working BIOS version. You only have to copy file with BIOS on your pendrive and change file extention to "rom". Nothing more. So if you have EN011IMS.109, rename it to EN011IMS.ROM.
2. Insert prepared pendrive in to USB port
3. Remove the battery and disconnect power cord.
4. Press and hold power button
5. Connect power cord.
6. Release power button.
7. Press power button twice
8. Press "Del" to enter BIOS setup
9. Go to "Recovery" tab
10. Select "Proceed with flash update" and press Enter
11. Update process will begin. DO NOT PRESS ANY KEY OR REMOVE POWER CORD!
12. After process is finished, press Enter and turn off your Wind (you can remove your power cord now).
13. Insert battery and connect power cord.
14. Start your Wind, go to BIOS setup and load default settings ("Load setup defaults"). Save and exit BIOS.

Unfortunately the BIOS doesn't seem to have the Recovery tab :-(

Dvorak keyboard layout for Advent 4211

Ukelele is a keyboard layout program. Download and run it from Desktop, seems to be able to do everything to do with keyboard layouts. This is the Apple kb document for the .keylayout files.

Could use Keyboard & Mouse/Keyboard preference pane to set Ctrl key to act as Cmd, which means that shortcut keys act when I press Ctrl, just like Windows. In Ukelele now when I press Ctrl it detects it as Cmd. So I need to set Cmd-Left and Cmd-Right to act as Word Left and Word Right. If possible.

Looking around, I think that it might not be possible by changing the layout file. The layout file doesn't really specify which command is done when Cmd is pressed - this seems to be in a key bindings file. But if that's the case then there is another way to do it, which works only for programs built on standard Cocoa text controls. That page also references a page for firefox key bindings which operate similarly.

I made the following key binding file for my system, which operates how I would like (with Cmd/Ctrl swapped so shortcuts are done with the physical Ctrl key):

{
/* Note that this file is also designed to work when Ctrl and Cmd are
swapped in keyboard preferences, so that pressing Ctrl key will
be seen as Cmd (@) here. */

/* home */
"\UF729" = "moveToBeginningOfLine:";
"$\UF729" = "moveToBeginningOfLineAndModifySelection:";
"@\UF729" = "moveToBeginningOfDocument:";
"@$\UF729" = "moveToBeginningOfDocumentAndModifySelection:";

/* end */
"\UF72B" = "moveToEndOfLine:";
"$\UF72B" = "moveToEndOfLineAndModifySelection:";
"@\UF72B" = "moveToEndOfDocument:";
"@$\UF72B" = "moveToEndOfDocumentAndModifySelection:";

/* page up/down */
"\UF72C" = "pageUp:";
"\UF72D" = "pageDown:";

/* up and down */
"$\UF700" = "moveUpAndModifySelection:";
"$\UF701" = "moveDownAndModifySelection:";
"@\UF700" = "pageUp:";
"@\UF701" = "pageDown:";
/* the ideal behaviour here would to move selection to bottom of
the paragraph, but that isn't supported. Instead, move selection
down a line, which is better than the native behaviour of
selecting to the end of the document.*/
"@$\UF700" = "moveUpAndModifySelection:";
"@$\UF701" = "moveDownAndModifySelection:";

/* left and right */
"@\UF702" = "moveWordLeft:";
"@\UF703" = "moveWordRight:";
"@$\UF702" = "moveWordLeftAndModifySelection:";
"@$\UF703" = "moveWordRightAndModifySelection:";
}

When I just created this myself and put it in ~/Library/KeyBindings/DefaultKeyBinding.dict, it didn't work. I had to use the KeyFixer script/app and then edit that file, to get it to work. Don't understand why. There were two files with apparently the same name there after running their script.

You can use 'pl -input filename' to check the property list file, it sort of compiles it.

This Windows kb article explains how to remap keys in Windows, looks like it would be possible to swap Ctrl and Alt there. But that's tricky and requires rebooting, so instead AutoHotkey is an option.

Download the AutoHotkey installer and use this script, with Cmd/Ctrl swapped in keyboard and mouse, and Ctrl, Alt and Windows keys work as they should do under Windows:

Ctrl::Alt
LWin::Ctrl
Alt::LWin

UK keyboard layout for Advent 4211

Paul @ Modaco made a keyboard layout that has the correct position of the @ and other keys, i.e. that matches what is actually printed on the keys. It's available here, and installed by following these instructions:

47. FIXING KEYBOARD MAP (UK keyboard layouts only): Change to the 'kaylayout' directory on my Wind driver and utility pack, and copy 'Advent 4211.keylayout' to '\Library\Keyboard Layouts'. Run 'System Preferences' -> 'International', and click 'Input Menu'. SCroll down the list until you see 'Advent 4211'. Click the checkbox, and you will see a flag appear in your menu bar. Click this to select the Advent layout.

Hibernate/sleep in OS X on Advent

Found I could change the HDD sleep time to 3 minutes using this command:

sudo pmset -b disksleep 3

Don't know if it works though.

10.5.5 update woes

Now the Advent 4211 won't boot after accepting Apple's update patch from 10.5.4 to 10.5.5. It goes to a blue screen with a mouse cursor, but flashes back to a terminal window every 10s with sometimes an error message, mostly blank.

There is some info in this forum topic that suggests various kernel extensions (kexts) need to be reinstalled:

http://forums.msiwind.net/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=3722&view=next

However, that is mainly for video display issues - seems that special MSI display kexts get nuked by the update. This one is for exactly my problem:

http://forums.msiwind.net/mac/blue-screen-after-update-t4018.html

I deleted AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement.kext folder from /System/Library/Extensions because I found that it in this post, from Biohead (at the bottom of page):

http://forums.msiwind.net/mac/released-t3551.html

You have to make the disk writeable first:

/sbin/fsck -fy
/sbin/mount -uw /

The first one does a filesystem check, the second actually makes the disk writeable. I tried this several times but it didn't seem to work (using rm -r to remove the .kext directory) - turns out you need to 'exit' rather than just turn off the computer by holding down the power button for a long time. It must flush a cache then.

However, this didn't change anything.

Second post above seems to suggest downloading a pile of kernel extensions and installing over the ones that are there, after someone had the exact same problem as me. Also on this page, grantonstar also says to reinstall all kexts. Will track down what that means exactly!

The download is for a whole lot of kexts and other things required for a fresh install, and requires running kexthelper.app, which is clearly impossible. Looking for other ways, I figure I could just copy the kexts.

Need to mount the USB stick:

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20030714194313542

I am moving all the relevant kexts that are going to be replaced to /Users/michaelfielding/. Natit.kext and ACPIBattery.kext don't exist on the Advent yet.

Now I exit, and instead of going back to another terminal-like thing, it actually boots OS X! Hooray! And the right screen resolution too!

Sorting out Dvorak keyboard layouts on OS X and parallels

I'm getting annoyed that the shortcut keys I'm used to on Windows, for navigating text and for Ctrl-key combinations, are different on the Mac. And different again on the Parallels VM.

I would like it to be like Windows:

Ctrl-arrows = word left or right
Alt-arrows = navigate forward and backward in browser
Shift = select text
Home/End = beginning/end of line
Ctrl-key = shortcut, where key is what it would be labelled if it was a Dvorak keyboard

Interestingly, os x applies the face letter of the key as a shortcut. On Windows you press Ctrl-B I think to get Ctrl-X; on OS-X it's actually Cmd-X.

In OS X, with Control and Command keys swapped in System Preferences - > Keyboard & Mouse -> Keyboard ->Modifier keys, I get this behaviour:

Ctrl-arrows = nothing
Alt-arrows = nothing
Command-arrows (Windows key) = word left/right
Ctrl-key = shortcut
Command-key = alternative character

Also, the Fn arrow keys should, according to the keyboard's labels, function as Home and End, but they don't. I can't get that functionality that I can see.

Alt = command key (funny cross thing)
Ctrl = ctrl key
Windows = option key

This page has a very good article from Apple's KB:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304270

It links to the MS keyboard layout creator tool:

http://www.microsoft.com/globaldev/tools/msklc.mspx

But now some people seem to have worked on the Home/End key problem:

http://www.starryhope.com/tech/2006/mac-os-x-home-and-end-keys/

The crux of the problem is that I want to press the Ctrl key and get left and right, but also get shortcuts. But while I can switch the Ctrl key to be the Option key (which on the Mac does the word-skipping), then I can't use it to be the command key (which on the mac does the commands). Worse, when I go to Windows, it interprets the Ctrl key as the Alt key (of course), and opens the menu bar. So Ctrl arrows doesn't work there.

Some help might be available here:

http://lists.apple.com/archives/projectbuilder-users/2002/May/msg00474.html

This gives information on the key bindings file and some actions and keys that you can use in it.

Using Parallels Transporter

I tried VMware's Converter and, after I ran it from the Windows XP install (had to swap HDD back in) it did create a virtual disk on the FAT32 partition I created at the end of the Leopard-installed HDD (now in the USB drive). But in looking around for instructions on exactly which of the three options for the VMware file type I should use I found Parallels has their own Transporter.

http://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/features/transporter/

And it's a free download, coming in Linux and Windows flavours. I downloaded and installed it. I actually had to install it twice (uninstall and reboot in between) because the first time it didn't work. Probably something to do with running the Tech Guys Recovery Backup on the same reboot (now have backup on 2Gb Memory Stick which somehow turned up once at work and nobody claimed - finally found a use for it). It was pretty straightforward to select the options and use Transporter to make an image of the Windows install. Even while writing this.

Scratch that, it has bombed out three times while around 20-30%.

I tried an import of the VMware image, back in OS X using Transport, choosing the file with the fewest characters! (I guess it's split to avoid any 2GB file size limit problems.) It progresses well, and at the end boots up and brings up a cmd window telling you what to do - cancel all the PnP New Hardware Wizards and deny the reboot request. The cmd windows says to press and key and reboot. That happens and, lo, I have my 'old' windows running!

Getting Advent 4211's original disk moved over

The original disk image has XP Home on it, and there's a COA on the base. I tried to install XP Pro and unsurprisingly it didn't like the key from the COA for XP Home (also XP Pro is SP2, whereas XP Home is for SP3, don't know if it makes any difference).

Interestingly the MSI forum is full of people having problems with the backup of the restore partition. The Advent box comes with instructions on how to back up this partition, which I'll need to do one way or another.

I copied everything from the XP partition to the HDD of the Mac, but then can't get it into a Parallels virtual disk because you don't seem to be able to just create one. Probably it wouldn't work anyway. Then I found this post:

http://www.tuaw.com/2007/06/24/parallels-virtual-disk-dance-of-pain/

You have to create a disk image using VMware's free Converter tool, then use the Parallels Transporter to 'migrate' the image. Here goes...

Oh, it's a Windows program. But maybe you can run it on itself. Looks like you can, but maybe not on XP Home. Will swap HDD tomorrow and try it out.

Display resolution problems

The screen keeps coming up as 800x600!

This post tries to solve this display resolution problem, which everyone seems to be having:

http://forums.msiwind.net/mac/help-nagging-800x600-screen-resolution-bug-cold-boot-t2383.html

Installing Leopard on Advent 4211

I got MSIWindOSX86.iso off bittorrent (searched on The Pirate Bay). Download took two days, much longer than it should have.

Youtube video by OneTrack who made it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS7yFH_I3NI&feature=related

And post about it:


This post for the alternative (but seemingly not as good) Kalyway version suggests that you need firmware 1.05+, which is available from thetechguys which is PC World's tech support site.

http://www.modaco.com/content/asus-eee-pc-http-www-eeeasy-com/270099/pauls-complete-guide-to-installing-osx-leopard-on-your-msi-wind-advent-4211/

Bios update 1.08:

http://support.thetechguys.com/4211bios

I got the ISO onto a DVD and it booted up, but the screen resolution wasn't what it should be according to the youtube vid (my install was running over to the LHS, whereas on the video it runs right across the screen.

Rather than proceed like that I thought it best to update the BIOS to 1.08 (it's 1.06) before proceeding. Ran it, interestingly the keyboard doesn't work after the reflash but you turn it off and unplug and wait 10s and then it goes again.

Now when I boot the same ISO it has a slightly different message. And when Windows had started it Found New Hardware (SMBUS stuff). So the BIOS update must have done something.

Then I also add 1Gb of RAM and put the 320 Gb HDD in :-) Couldn't get the HDD out so used this help:

http://www.laptopmag.com/Advice/how-to/msi-wind-hard-drive.aspx

Booted up, formatted whole 320Gb as HFS+ in Disc Utility.

During the install when you reach the Install Summary page (after selecting drive to install on) you have to select Customise -> Patches -> Kernel and uncheck it.

Install - everything works and it's nice!