[gadgetlover]

Originally Posted by Mac Migs

Ok, so I was able to figure out a way to swap the OS install file without using Terminal and Unix commands. I downloaded a program called iTweakX. It allows you to tweak preferences and a lot of other things in OS X, but most importantly, it allows you to "see" hidden files. When I installed it and launched on my MacBook I set it up to "show hidden files and folders. When I plugged in my USB stick to my MacBook and opened up the OS X install disc image, there were about 27 files / folders being shown now, as opposed to the original 3 with all the other files being hidden. I can now navigate to the file path that is listed in the instructions and swap the OSInstall file:
System//Library/PrivateFrameworks/Install.framework/Frameworks/OSInstall.framework/Versions/A/OSInstall

You don't have to use the iTweakX program to view hidden files on the Mac. I think there's actually a terminal command for it, but you'd have to Google it to find out what it is.

I don't know when I'm going to be able to try this XP / OS X Snow Leopard install again since my girlfriend is more than happy with just having OSX on her 10v. I just want to be able to try it again cause it's driving me nuts.... LOL

Wow, that's great. You're awesome! I did a Google search for the terminal command and it worked. I replaced the OSInstall file in the directory path specified.

The terminal commands can be found here: Mac OS X – Show / Hide Hidden Files in Finder | Brooks Andrus

I should get my 10V on Monday, so I'll try using EASEUS to shrink the existing XP partition, leave the new one unformatted, and use the newly modified USB drive to install OS X on the unformatted partition.

Will definitely let you know how it goes. Wishing for success!

Thanks again Mac Migs! This at least gives me a shot to get my desired XP/SL dual boot and confirm as a 3rd data point that this process works.

One question: Do you know what "Regenerate a system specific DSDT.aml file" means? Maybe it will be evident once I run Netbookinstaller, but it doesn't seem obvious to me right now. Thanks.

[Mac Migs]

Originally Posted by gadgetlover

Wow, that's great. You're awesome! I did a Google search for the terminal command and it worked. I replaced the OSInstall file in the directory path specified.

The terminal commands can be found here: Mac OS X – Show / Hide Hidden Files in Finder | Brooks Andrus

I should get my 10V on Monday, so I'll try using EASEUS to shrink the existing XP partition, leave the new one unformatted, and use the newly modified USB drive to install OS X on the unformatted partition.

Will definitely let you know how it goes. Wishing for success!

By the way, is the NetbookInstaller executable even required to run? I downloaded it, but it sounds like with Snow Leopard, you can just run Software Update.

Thanks again Mac Migs! This at least gives me a shot to get my desired XP/SL dual boot and confirm as a 3rd data point that this process works.

Congratulations on getting the OSInstall file swapped using terminal. I guess we found 2 different solutions to the same problem. Would've been nice if the instructions in the initial post were more clear about how to go about replacing the OSInstall file.... oh well. Trial and error I guess.

Please report back here with your results when you get your 10v and you try doing your install.

As far as the NetbookInstaller... It'll be in the root folder. When you get to your desktop screen in OSX, you'll see your hard drive icon in the upper right-hand corner of the desktop. Double-click on it and you should see a folder named "Extras". The NetbookInstaller app should be in there. Run it (by double-clicking on it) BEFORE you do your Apple Software Update. If I remember correctly, you'll need to run the Apple Software Update a couple of times, each time it'll give you different Apple apps or other things that will need to be updated. After everything is updated... run the NetbookInstaller again. I believe you shouldn't have to run it anymore after the second time. The NetbookInstaller installs drivers, kext files, and extensions to make everything work properly... trackpad, sleep / wake functions, etc...

Let us know how it all works out for you. Good Luck

[gadgetlover]

Originally Posted by Mac Migs

Congratulations on getting the OSInstall file swapped using terminal. I guess we found 2 different solutions to the same problem. Would've been nice if the instructions in the initial post were more clear about how to go about replacing the OSInstall file.... oh well. Trial and error I guess.

Please report back here with your results when you get your 10v and you try doing your install.

As far as the NetbookInstaller... It'll be in the root folder. When you get to your desktop screen in OSX, you'll see your hard drive icon in the upper right-hand corner of the desktop. Double-click on it and you should see a folder named "Extras". The NetbookInstaller app should be in there. Run it (by double-clicking on it) BEFORE you do your Apple Software Update. If I remember correctly, you'll need to run the Apple Software Update a couple of times, each time it'll give you different Apple apps or other things that will need to be updated. After everything is updated... run the NetbookInstaller again. I believe you shouldn't have to run it anymore after the second time. The NetbookInstaller installs drivers, kext files, and extensions to make everything work properly... trackpad, sleep / wake functions, etc...

Let us know how it all works out for you. Good Luck

Thanks again. Agree that it would have been nice to have more instructions in initial post, but if it all works out in the end, I'll just be glad he made the initial post so there was some framework to start with. I guess it makes life a little more interesting for us "followers" - like missing pieces in a puzzle.

Regarding Netbookinstaller, are you pretty sure about the sequence of doing Netbookinstaller before the Software Update? Mechdrew's NetbookInstaller guide (NetbookInstaller 1: USB Installation via Mac | Guides | OS X | mechdrew) says to run Software Update first, then Netbookinstaller. Initial post doesn't mention Netbookinstaller or Software Update at all! Yigbo said he ran Netbookinstaller first like you said, but he didn't mention Software Update. Grr.

When it comes to installing OS's and especially dual-booting, ambiguity kind of sucks. I'd hate to get 95% done, do things in the wrong sequence, and have to start all over again. But hopefully the sequence of these last 2 steps are not critical.

[Mac Migs]

Originally Posted by gadgetlover

Thanks again. Agree that it would have been nice to have more instructions in initial post, but if it all works out in the end, I'll just be glad he made the initial post so there was some framework to start with. I guess it makes life a little more interesting for us "followers" - like missing pieces in a puzzle.

Regarding Netbookinstaller, are you pretty sure about the sequence of doing Netbookinstaller before the Software Update? Mechdrew's NetbookInstaller guide (NetbookInstaller 1: USB Installation via Mac | Guides | OS X | mechdrew) says to run Software Update first, then Netbookinstaller. Initial post doesn't mention Netbookinstaller or Software Update at all! Yigbo said he ran Netbookinstaller first like you said, but he didn't mention Software Update. Grr.

When it comes to installing OS's and especially dual-booting, ambiguity kind of sucks. I'd hate to get 95% done, do things in the wrong sequence, and have to start all over again. But hopefully the sequence of these last 2 steps are not critical.

I've read guides that say to run Netbookinstaller before, and some guides that say to run it after. I did it before AND after without any problems. I think you'd be safe to go ahead and just run it AFTER all your software updates. The Apple Software Update DOES need to be run. One of the updates is the COMBO update which will take you to the current version of OS X which is 10.6.2.

I've noticed there are waaay too many "guides", some kinda old and outdated. It gets really confusing for newbies like myself but I guess that's all part of the hobby right ? Asking questions, trying different things.

[gadgetlover]

Originally Posted by Mac Migs

I've read guides that say to run Netbookinstaller before, and some guides that say to run it after. I did it before AND after without any problems. I think you'd be safe to go ahead and just run it AFTER all your software updates. The Apple Software Update DOES need to be run. One of the updates is the COMBO update which will take you to the current version of OS X which is 10.6.2.

I've noticed there are waaay too many "guides", some kinda old and outdated. It gets really confusing for newbies like myself but I guess that's all part of the hobby right ? Asking questions, trying different things.

We'll see what happens.

BTW, once I get all done with the OS X side (assuming I do), then when I power down and start up my PC again, I guess there's something that will prompt me for which OS I want to boot up? So many questions, guess I'll find out.

[Mac Migs]

Originally Posted by gadgetlover

We'll see what happens.

BTW, once I get all done with the OS X side (assuming I do), then when I power down and start up my PC again, I guess there's something that will prompt me for which OS I want to boot up? So many questions, guess I'll find out.

I'm not what kind of method of choice will show up when you startup your 10v after you get everything installed.

On the Mac OS X side... if you have another operating system to boot into, you would hold down the "option" key while booting up the Mac. Then you're presented with whichever operating system that are bootable on that machine.

I guess that's just another thing you're going to have to report back to us about.

[gadgetlover]

Originally Posted by Mac Migs

I'm not what kind of method of choice will show up when you startup your 10v after you get everything installed.

On the Mac OS X side... if you have another operating system to boot into, you would hold down the "option" key while booting up the Mac. Then you're presented with whichever operating system that are bootable on that machine.

I guess that's just another thing you're going to have to report back to us about.

Which key on 10V maps to option key? Since you have OS X on your GF's mini, you probably know this one already.

Thanks for all the advice/feedback. I'll report what I find and then hopefully compile a master list of what I did to hopefully get a successful outcome.

Primary objectives for me:
1) Don't brick my new 10V
2) Don't ruin the XP OS (don't have an external CD drive to reinstall)
3) Get OS X on there successfully
4) Write guide for this thread (I'm a little surprised there are so few people desiring to do this based on lack of traffic on this thread - guess most have moved on to Win 7 for dual-boot)
5) Figure out how to get the Apple logo onto the cover

I have plenty of Apple stickers, but it might look too cheesy. No way I'm going to cut a hole and attempt to get the LED backlight to shine through. Someone spray-painted a plastic logo cutout silver and superglued it over the Dell logo - that has potential. Using a SGP carbon fiber skin on my Ubuntu Mini 9 - it's really nice but doesn't solve the logo problem. But I'm getting way off topic here. . .

Another off-topic question: How do you/your GF find the trackpad? Seems like lots of people complaining about it - wondering how it is after the OS X install.

[schnide]

Originally Posted by gadgetlover

Ah, I see. Well I'm sure if you sent a forum member with Mac a USB key and SL disk, someone would be willing to make the modified USB boot up drive for you.

Thanks for the suggestion.. but where's the fun in that?

[Mac Migs]

Originally Posted by gadgetlover

Which key on 10V maps to option key? Since you have OS X on your GF's mini, you probably know this one already.

My girlfriend is away on business right now, that's why I got her the 10v. I believe the option key would be the alt key.

5) Figure out how to get the Apple logo onto the cover

I have plenty of Apple stickers, but it might look too cheesy. No way I'm going to cut a hole and attempt to get the LED backlight to shine through. Someone spray-painted a plastic logo cutout silver and superglued it over the Dell logo - that has potential. Using a SGP carbon fiber skin on my Ubuntu Mini 9 - it's really nice but doesn't solve the logo problem. But I'm getting way off topic here. . .

I bought a glossy black plain hard shell case for my gf's 10v on Ebay made by mCover and then just took one of my Apple stickers and put it on the top cover.

Another off-topic question: How do you/your GF find the trackpad? Seems like lots of people complaining about it - wondering how it is after the OS X install.

The trackpad could've been designed a little better but it's not too bad. I was impressed with being able to 2-finger scroll in OS X. My gf ended up buying a small usb mouse to make it a little easier for her but the trackpad is MORE than useable and functional. The built in buttons on the bottom of the trackpad can be a bit of a pain in the a$$ sometimes though. You'll see what I mean when you get yours.

[minimalpc]

It doesn't hurt to run NBI again just before the update to 10.6.2, but it may not be necessary--depending on the circumstances. The key is that you MUST run NBI 0.8.3 RC4 or newer with the "Install bootloader" option checked at least once before you get a major update such as 10.6.2. The requisite one time could have been when you first installed OS X (as long as you used NBI 0.8.3 RC4 or newer). The special Chameleon bootloader in the newer versions of NBI patches the 10.6.2 kernel on the fly to re-enable support for the Intel Atom processor (which Apple removed from the official 10.6.2 update). As long as the special Chameleon bootloader is still in place whenever you decide to update to 10.6.2, you should be good. You must, however, always run NBI again after the update has been applied and the system reboots. Once you run NBI, reboot again. Until you do this post-update NBI, audio will not work.