[guruuno]

I did the Runcore USB install method for my A90 with 10.5.x and it's flawless.
Reading on the different threads, I see various install methods, but none as to how to upgrade the existing install to the latest OS (Snow Leopard 10.6.X).
Without multiple and varying information, is there any 1-2-3 method, or do I need to start from Zero?

[LeeG23]

I had the question- I did the same as you- Vostro A 90 with runcore, upgraded with USB method.

I would be willing to take the SSD out, and install Snow Leopard via USB again if that is the best method, but I havent seen that talked about much.

I have been reading the long threads and havent seen a good answer yet either-

[guruuno]

So? Anyone?

[Sep102]

I just finished upgrading my Mini 9 to 10.6 with a RunCore drive.

I basically just followed the instructions for when I first installed 10.5 on it over USB on my Mac.

I hooked it up to my Mac via USB, mounted it as a drive, then started the 10.6 installer for that drive. It restarted, let it boot into the drive and finish the install, restart again, did the Software Update for 10.6.1, upgraded some other stuff, restarted again. I then ran NetbookInstaller (while it was still hooked up to the Mac, like with DellEFI before) and let install all defaults other than generating the dsdt.aml.

Then I let it reboot one last time and shut down the Mac and disconnected my drive from it (and broke the damn solder free from the USB interface taking the crappy cable off of it, luckily everything was still alright). I installed it back into my Mini and let it boot up, re-ran NetbookInstaller and generated dsdt.aml.

And, that's about it. So, basically the same thing for installing 10.5 from a Mac.

[LeeG23]

But does your audio work?? Also which NBI did you use 082?

The usb connectors are notorious for breaking off- my buddy broke his also...

[Sep102]

Originally Posted by LeeG23

But does your audio work?? Also which NBI did you use 082?

The usb connectors are notorious for breaking off- my buddy broke his also...

Of course my audio doesn't work, NBI (I used 0.8.2) doesn't support it yet. I'm currently in the process of getting it working with VoodooHDA.

Luckily, I don't think I damaged the actual connection of the usb connector, just the solder holding it tight to the board. I read in another thread someone broke their's off and managed to keep it working with a paper clip or something holding it to the board and that was what I figured I'd do if I needed to connect it again.

[LeeG23]

OK. So i bit the bullet last night, and upgraded with the Runcore method - here's how it went:

I downloaded NBI 0.83 to my netbook runcore drive, then shutdown the machine.

I pulled the drive and hooked it up to my imac via microUSB. I mounted the drive and made a .dmg backup image.

I loaded the snow leopard install dvd and ran it, and upgraded the runcore drive to 10.6.

I restarted the imac, booting to the runcore drive. I ran software update, and updated everything, up to 10.6.1, drivers, everything.

I ran NBI 0.83, with all defaults checked, but UNCHECKED generate dsdt.aml

I shut down the imac, unhooked the drive, and rebooted the imac to my regular boot drive.

I reinstalled the runcore into the Vostro A90, and booted up Snow Leopard. I re-ran NBI 0.83, and this time checked generate dsdt. Rebooted again, made sure to Disable USB legacy and USB wake in the BIOS settings.

I was still left with a problem waking from sleep. If i closed the lid, I could not wake from sleep. I have temporarily remedied this with a free prefpane called "smartsleep" (google is your friend), and switch to "sleep only" on that pref pane - it removes hibernation (which I am told doesnt work anyway with NBI), and all is GOOD....