[MacG]

EDITED: I posted the entire 2GB memory upgrade and OS X install in one guide. http://www.mydellmini.com/forum/dell-mini-10-guides/9205-mac-users-view-hackintoshing-mini-10v.html#post75351

Here's what I did today.

1. Picked up my 10v from my shipping center at work.
2. Stopped by Microcenter to get a $17.99 2GB DDR2 667 SO-DIMM
3. Picked up a 8GB USB Flash Drive
4. Used the Dell Mini 10v service manual to get to the system board.
5. Used the lid from the 10v packaging as a screw holder. Labeled each "pit/indention"...made it easy to remember what to put back.

Memory Installation.
1. Removed Battery
2. Removed Wifi Mini Card
3. Removed Keyboard
4. Removed Palmrest
5. Removed Palmrest holder
6. Pulled 2 screws from system board and flipped up the system board to get to the DIMM slot.
7. Follow the directions in the system manual very closely. When it says pull from the left and right sides with your fingers, take the hint.
8. Put everything back together in reverse order.

The whole memory upgrade took 30 mins. I never opened a Dell before, but it's much easier than a PowerBook/iBook G4 hard drive upgrade!

Back to Mac OS X install:
1. No need to Press F2 to change firmware settings, the 10v was all ready set with the correct settings for Mac OS X install.
2. Restored 10.5.0 onto the 8GB Flash drive
3. Removed some optional/developer installs to fit all the Dell Mini hackintosh files and 10.5.7 upgrade
4. Ran DellEFI Bootloader 3.3 (for 2GB models, use 3.2 for 1GB)
5. Pressed F12 to boot off USB Flash Drive
6. Formatted the drives with 2 partitions, 20 GB for Snow Leopard (that's tomorrow) and 91GB for Leopard.
7. Started install. No issues with tabbing to buttons, everything was visible.
**EDITS**
8. Made sure I had named the partition correctly (OSXMINI9). That fixed my spinning indicator issue where the OS would not boot.
9. I used DellEFI 1.2a5 (Worked surprisingly well), no issues since I turned a few things off first (turned off Restore the 10.5.5 keyboard, Remote CD, Disable Hibernate) Turned on: Install Chameleon, Install Dell Mini 9 Drivers, Hide DellEFI files, Generate a system specific dsdt.aml file and Fix bluetooth.
10. Booted back into Mac OS X 10.5.0, upgraded to 10.5.7 from Combo installer.
11. Ran DellEFI 1.2a5 again, same items turned on and off (see #9).
12. Reboot-Turned off Legacy USB support so I can wake from sleep and plug in a USB Mouse.
13. Updated 10v BIOS to A02 (ok, I'm pushing my luck , Grabbed another 1GB USB flash drive, Made it bootable with HP USB boot drive
14. BIOS upgrade went well, no problems.

Fix the WIFI issue:
1. Open Network in the System Preferences
2. Remove everything except Ethernet 2
3. Reboot
4. Open Network again
5. Add AirPort

Now the Menu Item signal strength works, WiFi stays on after reboot and it feels more like a Mac.

Observations on Day 2:
1. Love the feel of the Mini 10v, keyboard is great and I'm already naturally typing. Six-cell battery is getting 5-6 hours of use, recharge in a couple of hours. Battery feels like it's not solidly in place, moves a small amount, but I use it for a handle and keyboard tilt stand.
2. Hate the trackpad. I have to use two hands/two fingers to click on items. I wish they used Apple's no-button trackpad innovation - turn off the area at the bottom of trackpad so it acts like a button.
3. Resolution is fine, I use Terminal and type "defaults write -g AppleDisplayScaleFactor 0.8" (without quotes) to get the windows to automatically resize if I'm having issues viewing anything. I set it back since it makes some of the menu items wonky ("defaults write -g AppleDisplayScaleFactor 1.0")
4. Trying to install Snow Leopard 10A354 later today, it's going to take 2 hours
5. Installed DropBox (2GB free storage)
6. Bluetooth A2DP works great and I can listen to my music on my $25 Kensington bluetooth headset. Make sure you select the Bluetooth menu item, scroll to your headset and choose Use Headphones from the submenu instead of headset. Headset is for single-ear, mono bluetooth devices.

Will be posting my full 2GB install, OS X 10.5.7 install and BIOS upgrade walkthrough after the kids go to sleep tonight. With pictures.
thanks...Lee

[mario65]

Originally Posted by MacG

Here's what I did today.

1. Picked up my 10v from my shipping center at work.
2. Stopped by Microcenter to get a $17.99 2GB DDR2 667 SO-DIMM
3. Picked up a 8GB USB Flash Drive
4. Used the Dell Mini 10v service manual to get to the system board.
5. Used the lid from the 10v packaging as a screw holder. Labeled each "pit/indention"...made it easy to remember what to put back.

Memory Installation.
1. Removed Battery
2. Removed Wifi Mini Card
3. Removed Keyboard
4. Removed Palmrest
5. Removed Palmrest holder
6. Pulled 2 screws from system board and flipped up the system board to get to the DIMM slot.
7. Follow the directions in the system manual very closely. When it says pull from the left and right sides with your fingers, take the hint.
8. Put everything back together in reverse order.

The whole memory upgrade took 30 mins. I never opened a Dell before, but it's much easier than a PowerBook/iBook G4 hard drive upgrade!

Back to Mac OS X install:
1. No need to Press F2 to change firmware settings, the 10v was all ready set with the correct settings for Mac OS X install.
2. Restored 10.5.0 onto the 8GB Flash drive
3. Removed some optional/developer installs to fit all the Dell Mini hackintosh files and 10.5.7 upgrade
4. Ran DellEFI Bootloader 3.3 (for 2GB models, use 3.2 for 1GB)
5. Pressed F12 to boot off USB Flash Drive
6. Formatted the drives with 2 partitions, 20 GB for Snow Leopard (that's tomorrow) and 91GB for Leopard.
7. Started install. No issues with tabbing to buttons, everything was visible.
8. I'm on the Install Failed screen, now will continue with Single-USB Install guide.

thanks...Lee

Hey Lee where did you see the manual for the ram upgrade?

[mario65]

Originally Posted by mario65

Hey Lee where did you see the manual for the ram upgrade?

Disregard found it here
Documentation


The ram upgrade is not for everyone. What is supposed to pop up like the palm rest and system board does come up but will scare you.

There are way too many screws and the ram is under the system board. EVERYTHING comes out. Make sure you remember where each screw goes they are many different sizes and lengths. It took me 30 minutes but I have done this on a few laptops before.

[MacG]

I've got pictures and links. Just need to write it up (I'll do this sometime this weekend). After doing one, I could probably shave 10 mins off the install. Most of the fear came from fitted plastic pieces with tabs. Small computer, small tabs. Also, had to memorize the order I did things, so I wouldn't forget to replug USB or power

thanks...Lee

[minibaby]

Received 10v today.
Took it apart and replaced its RAM with a new 2GB. Managed to do it without breaking any parts.
Replaced the 120HDD with a Runcore 64GB SATA SSD (with OS X 10.5.6 on it already.)
Pretty much everything except for sound works (I haven't had time to check everything)
Ran DellEFI 1.1 and rebooted.
Updated it to 10.5.7.

[MacG]

Originally Posted by mario65

I cant get 0S X to load because the resolution is screwed and I cant get to the enter button its off the screen. Any ideas? Will another monitor work? Can I change the resolution in terminal then finish the install?

I can get the HD reformatted but thats as far as I can go.

thanks

Hey Mario,
I installed OS X 4 times (trying different configs) and not once, I had an issue with the resolution cutting off a window. Is it possible you're in safe mode when installing? You should have enough pixels for an OS X install (I'm installing from retail 10.5.0.)

thanks...

[nounours_2099]

Hi all.

Were you able to use ichat video conference ? I am not able to use the microphone, both internal, or by using an external microphone.

Arnaud

[jeffryscott]

Originally Posted by nounours_2099

Hi all.

Were you able to use ichat video conference ? I am not able to use the microphone, both internal, or by using an external microphone.

Arnaud

I've yet to be able to use the microphone either. It shows up in the system preferences, but is not active. Doing a completely fresh install now ....

[MacG]

Originally Posted by nounours_2099

Hi all.

Were you able to use ichat video conference ? I am not able to use the microphone, both internal, or by using an external microphone.

Arnaud

It seams the RealTek drivers don't support audio in from the 10v hardware. I'll try Bluetooth headset audio.

Update: Bluetooth headset mode works with OS X audio input. It puts changes from A2DP back to mono mode, with all the nice hissing of a 1970's AM radio. But the microphone works.

[jeffryscott]

when I try to iChat, the recipient receives incessant clicking from the 10v, no audio. (the camera works great though). hopefully this will get worked out by the wizards here, otherwise I may go back to a mini 9 ...