Starting up Mac OS X for the first time on your Hackintosh can be a very tricky process, which often requires you to set special boot options through the use of boot flags. For those of you who don't know, boot flags are "arguments" (pieces of data that you enter) to change the way that your bootloader runs. The bootloader is the program that boots Mac OS X. Boot flags can set the boot options for iBoot, Chimera, Chameleon, and any other boot CD or bootloader for Hackintoshes. Read past the break to learn how to use boot flags.
There are two ways to apply a boot flag: either by typing it into the bootloader before starting up Mac OS X, or by typing it into org.Chameleon.boot.plist, the settings file used by the bootloader.
When your Hackintosh is in a tough situation and can't boot properly, you'll have to type boot flags straight from the Hackintosh's bootscreen itself. To enter boot flags into the bootloader from the bootscreen, just start typing. Once you think you've got the right boot flags, press Enter.
Once you've managed to boot into your Hackintosh, you can make those boot flags permanent, so that they'll automatically be entered into the bootloader every time you start Mac OS X. To do so, go to /Extra in your hard drive and open the file "org.Chameleon.boot.plist" with TextEdit. Under the <key>Kernel Flags</key> sections, enter any boot flags that you think you'll need.
That's all you need to do to apply a boot flag for your Hackintosh. If you need help finding the right boot flags for your Hackintosh, check out my list of common boot flags.
Man my I've installed chameleon v 2.1 but doesn't giving me bootloader option
ReplyDeletehere is my pc's configuration zotac gtforce 240 ddr3 1Gb graphics card, intel core i3 bundle... still not working properly what would be the reason.. please I'm very tired of inserting disk often ...:(
Very useful information, thanks alots
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome ^^
ReplyDeleteHey there,
ReplyDeleteI have a feature request. :-)
Is there a command available that makes Chimera ignore the org.Chameleon.boot.plist file? I was using the ASEREBLN 1.1.9 bootloader which I believe didn't use the org.Chamelon.boot.plist file at all. I believe I had an incorrect string in the boot.plist file, likely an EFI string.
The machine wouldn't boot, but I fixed the issue by booting to CD, and deleting the org.Chamleon.boot.plist file. Now it's working great with Chimera, but if there was a boot option (maybe I overlooked something) to ignore that file, it would work for others.
BTW- When I deleted that file, the computer ran, I didn't have to enter a slew of boot flags to get it to work; it just booted. :-) Hooray. I'm using Chimera from now on.
Hi
ReplyDeleteI have completed the installation of iAtkos ML2 on my PC and it asks for restart then i boot the -v flag and printing a few of lines , lot more than few lines I would say and stops after printing the last line
HFS: Vol : iAtkos ML2 Memory Warning : Freeblks: xxxxx(some numbers) Warning limits xxxxxx(some numbers)
I reinstalled it a few times the problem remains same.
Suggest me what is this problem and what is the solution of this problem.
A quick question is it necessary to boot using flag for the fresh installation.
Thanks and Regards
Deepak Khiwani
where to put the boot flags after the instalation
ReplyDeleteMaybe a little late but you should have an option to "hit any key" when your bootloader tries to boot. Once you do that you should be able to just start typing your boot flags. Hope that helps.
Delete