[virusdoc]

UPDATED Jan 3 2010 to support adding Windows 7 on the second partition of an already functional Snow Leopard install For posterity, the original version of this guide is attached as a text file below.

With this guide I’ve tried to list every single...

Click here to read the entire tutorial

[inverted_2000]

Hey folks,

Got my Dell 10v rolled back to A05 and just updated to 2GB of memory. I've been working at this USB stick thing for a while still and I can't get it right.

First off...I don't have access to a physical Mac...I've got VMWare Workstation running OS X 10.4.7 to try to format my 16gb USB flash disk.

I've tried 2 ways
1st was to boot SYSLinux on 1 USB disk and then mount the 2nd USB disk with a GUID parition. It never sees the 2nd USB disk...so I left that...

2nd try seems newer like this guide states...which I format my 16GB USB disk with MBR Parition and restore the 10.6.1 DMG image to that...so that works...BUT...I still don't have a bootable USB stick.

So here's where I'm stuck...NetbookBootMaker final won't freaking run on this older 10.4.7 VMWare image...the icon just bounces up and down on the dock and then goes away.
I also looked for FDISK EFI from the OSx86 tools...but that doesn't run either...icons just bounce and then they're gone!

Am I starting these applications correctly after I download them because none of them seem to work. I've installed Office 2008 on the VMWare image...so I can do a little bit on this thing...but I need to be able to do all of this without a physical Mac...at least with a recent image.

Thanks everyone for any help!!!

[virusdoc]

Originally Posted by inverted_2000

but I need to be able to do all of this without a physical Mac...at least with a recent image.

Thanks everyone for any help!!!

As I mention above, there is a guide for doing this from a PC:

http://www.mydellmini.com/forum/mac-...ng-system.html

[tysanrio]

So I got up to phase 6 in the guide listed above. I was about to do "7. To fix this error, reboot the system with your W7 USB stick inserted. You’ll enter the W7 installer." so I started up my system and was going to go into the bios to make sure everything was in the correct boot order and then it just froze on the Dell intro screen when I pressed F12. I immediately tried restarting the computer and now nothing pops up. The screen is completely blank even though the power says it is on. Please help. Any suggestions on what to do? I can't seem to access anything and the screen is just blank like I didn't turn it on.

[virusdoc]

Originally Posted by tysanrio

So I got up to phase 6 in the guide listed above. I was about to do "7. To fix this error, reboot the system with your W7 USB stick inserted. You’ll enter the W7 installer." so I started up my system and was going to go into the bios to make sure everything was in the correct boot order and then it just froze on the Dell intro screen when I pressed F12. I immediately tried restarting the computer and now nothing pops up. The screen is completely blank even though the power says it is on. Please help. Any suggestions on what to do? I can't seem to access anything and the screen is just blank like I didn't turn it on.

Something went wrong during the power-on self test it seems. I would try hard restarting by either holding in the power button for 5 seconds to shut the machine down, or unplug the AC adapter and remove the battery. Then attempt a normal restart without USB sticks inserted.

[inverted_2000]

Originally Posted by virusdoc

As I mention above, there is a guide for doing this from a PC:

http://www.mydellmini.com/forum/mac-...ng-system.html

Alright...I'm rocking along and have the image created as instructed on the above links' instruction set...but after I place the 2 USB drives into the Dell Mini 10v and boot...I just get a blinking cursor.


Boot order is:

• Removable Devices
• USB Storage
• CD/DVD
• HDD
• Network

USB BIOS Legacy Support: Enabled
USB Wake from Sleep: Disabled

The other thread is closed so I'll ask here...why do I only see a flashing cursor? If I remove the smaller USB disk with the "C:\NBI_083F.img " installed on it...it states:
boot0: error

but even if I leave if for 30 minutes flashing at the cursor...nothing happens.
Can you explain why the smaller USB stick doesn't boot the larger usb stick with the OSX image?

Thanks again!!!

[virusdoc]

Originally Posted by inverted_2000

Alright...I'm rocking along and have the image created as instructed on the above links' instruction set...but after I place the 2 USB drives into the Dell Mini 10v and boot...I just get a blinking cursor.


Boot order is:

• Removable Devices
• USB Storage
• CD/DVD
• HDD
• Network

USB BIOS Legacy Support: Enabled
USB Wake from Sleep: Disabled

The other thread is closed so I'll ask here...why do I only see a flashing cursor? If I remove the smaller USB disk with the "C:\NBI_083F.img " installed on it...it states:
boot0: error

but even if I leave if for 30 minutes flashing at the cursor...nothing happens.
Can you explain why the smaller USB stick doesn't boot the larger usb stick with the OSX image?

Thanks again!!!

I'm pretty sure that "USB storage" needs to be listed as the first in the boot sequence. Try that.

[tysanrio]

Originally Posted by virusdoc

Something went wrong during the power-on self test it seems. I would try hard restarting by either holding in the power button for 5 seconds to shut the machine down, or unplug the AC adapter and remove the battery. Then attempt a normal restart without USB sticks inserted.

I tried the steps listed and it didnt work. x-x, any other ideas to make it work? I don't even understand why it wouldnt power up to begin with. Thanks

[virusdoc]

Originally Posted by tysanrio

I tried the steps listed and it didnt work. x-x, any other ideas to make it work? I don't even understand why it wouldnt power up to begin with. Thanks

Well, if the BIOS is corrupted (something that typically ONLY happens during a failed BIOS upgrade/downgrade) then the system will not be bootable. The BIOS controls all basic input and output functions between the different components of the hardware until the software-based operating system can be loaded from the hard drive. It sounds like your BIOS is fried. Unfortunately, as far as I know, the only way to fix that is with a new motherboard. BIOS chips used to be installed in a socket and could therefore be replaced. Now they are hard soldered to the motherboard.

There is a way to restore it from a USB floppy for a Mini 10, but no reports of this working for a 10v:

http://www.mydellmini.com/forum/dell...-recovery.html

I wish I had better news. If your 10v is in warranty Dell should swap out the motherboard for you.

[inverted_2000]

Originally Posted by virusdoc

I'm pretty sure that "USB storage" needs to be listed as the first in the boot sequence. Try that.

Hey guys,
Just to be sure before I posted again...I tried it all...got a new DMG of the Retail OS X 10.6...converted it to ISO...shot the ISO to my large USB disk...and even redid the NBI_083F.img on my smaller USB stick and the SD Card so I could verify the same effect.

I boot the Mini, and it reads the NBI_083F.img on the Flash Media...but then it just flashes over and over...never attempting to boot anything or read from the larger flash drive. If I remove the NBI_083F.img Flash Media...it states:
boot0: error

Here when I state: NBI_083F.img I mean image that dd pushed to the flash media...I've gotten pretty good so far with the commands.

Any idea where to go from here?

Thanks!!!

---------- Post added at 08:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:13 PM ----------

Originally Posted by inverted_2000

Hey guys,
Just to be sure before I posted again...I tried it all...got a new DMG of the Retail OS X 10.6...converted it to ISO...shot the ISO to my large USB disk...and even redid the NBI_083F.img on my smaller USB stick and the SD Card so I could verify the same effect.

I boot the Mini, and it reads the NBI_083F.img on the Flash Media...but then it just flashes over and over...never attempting to boot anything or read from the larger flash drive. If I remove the NBI_083F.img Flash Media...it states:
boot0: error

Here when I state: NBI_083F.img I mean image that dd pushed to the flash media...I've gotten pretty good so far with the commands.

Any idea where to go from here?

Thanks!!!

...also...since I have access to a USB CD-RW...might I just burn the DMG/ISO of OSX and install it that way...and then make myself a USB image with the proper NetBookBootMaker files, etc...after I have 10.6 running on the netbook???

Any ideas why that wouldn't be a good way to go?

Thanks again for everything!

[virusdoc]

Originally Posted by inverted_2000

Hey guys,
Any idea where to go from here?

Thanks!!!

---------- Post added at 08:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:13 PM ----------

Are you following the most up to date version of this how-to, on mechdrew's website:

NetbookInstaller 2: USB Mac Installation via Any Operating System | Guides | OS X | mechdrew

I'm sorry that I can't be of much help here. I've never done this process you are attempting. If mechdrew's walkthrough doesn't help you, I would recommend starting a thread in the OSX forum here.

-virusdoc