[kingskel]

Hi:

Having had some issues on my FW drive recently, I am tired of re-installing. Couple of questions in this vein:

1. Anyone know if the "checkforosx" hack still works w/Jag CD's? That is, can I hack the Jag upgrade Cds that came w/my iMac to full installers like the 10.1 cds were able?

2. Is it possible - I vaguely remember reading such - to hack the jag cd to install a full 10.2.4 rather than 10.2?

Any info appreciated.

[CharlesS]

Well, this isn't really my question as I make "rescue" CD's that boot to the Finder and let you run disk utilities, rather than hacked installation CD's. I also don't have one of the upgrade CD's, so I can't help you there. You could give it a try and see what happens, probably.

I can help with no. 2, though. Here's what you need to do to make a 10.2.4 install CD:

1. Burn a read-write image of the 10.2 install CD.

2. Download the 10.2.4 combo update and any other updates necessary and put them in System/Installation/Packages on the CD image (the only problem with this is whether the files will fit. If they don't, deleting some of the localized "welcome" files may help).

3. Open this file on the CD image with PropertyListEditor:

System/Installation/Packages/OSInstall.mpkg/Contents/Info.plist

4. In PLE, expand the array with the key "IFPkgFlagPackageList". Add a new dictionary; inside the dictionary you create, add a string whose key is "IFPkgFlagPackageLocation" and whose text is the name of the package you've added. Repeat this step for all packages you add.

5. Re-burn. You should be good to go, although I haven't tried this myself, so I can't really guarantee anything. Still, it should work as long as you can get the files to fit on the CD.

One thing to note: Please do not use this method to pirate the operating system. If you do this, you'll go to hell, and do you really want to spend eternity with Bill Gates?

[AKcrab]

Originally posted by CharlesS:
One thing to note: Please do not use this method to pirate the operating system. If you do this, you'll go to hell, and do you really want to spend eternity with Bill Gates?

[kingskel]

Hi Charles:

Well, it looks like you were the right person to ask after all! I'll try the method you suggested, and follow up here.

BTW, I am not interested in pirating anything - especially the MacOS. As I noted, I simply want to quickly re-install. As it is, I've had to install 10.1, upgrade to 10.2 (I have a 17" imac which came with only the Jag upgrade, not the install) , upgrade to 10.2.3, install Dev tools, bring over folders, reinstall USB overdrive, other apps...etc. I had to do this procedure more than once - and once was enough - as the Firewire was acting up (I/O errors - I'm thinking of returning it.) I actually lost data, which I discovered the other day.

Anyyyway, thanks again!

[CharlesS]

Originally posted by kingskel:
Hi Charles:

Well, it looks like you were the right person to ask after all! I'll try the method you suggested, and follow up here.

BTW, I am not interested in pirating anything - especially the MacOS. As I noted, I simply want to quickly re-install. As it is, I've had to install 10.1, upgrade to 10.2 (I have a 17" imac which came with only the Jag upgrade, not the install) , upgrade to 10.2.3, install Dev tools, bring over folders, reinstall USB overdrive, other apps...etc. I had to do this procedure more than once - and once was enough - as the Firewire was acting up (I/O errors - I'm thinking of returning it.) I actually lost data, which I discovered the other day.

Anyyyway, thanks again!

Yep, that's what I figured you were doing. I just wanted to add that last line to tell people not to misuse my instructions, and to get the Bill Gates joke in there.

[kingskel]

Well, four coasters later....

It's looking to me like the "checkforosx" hack doesn't work anymore. The CD just hangs at the grey apple - seems to search for something for a minute, then just sits there. Reading the "BootCD" comments on VT, there was mention of a long boot process, so I went to get groceries. Half an hour later, it's still grey apple city.

First, I tried the all-in-one hack: remove check for osx, add extra packages, etc. No go. Then I tried burning the mounted image with Toast - wouldn't even boot from that. Finally, I simply used Disk Copy to make an image from the Update Cd, mounted it, deleted CheckforOSX, then burned back to CD. This was the grey apple forever deal.

At this point, (heh heh) it looks like I'm already out the time I would have saved by simply using my original install process. I'm always interested in a hack-type way to do things, but maybe I'll just buy a Jag install (rather than Update) cd and mod that...

Any further suggestions re: checkforosx? Anyone...? Regardless, thanks for the info all - it's been an adventure!