If you remember correctly, last time we did a guide on How To Install Leopard on PC. That guide was done with the easy USB method. However, if you want to install Leopard on your PC and also want to boot Windows 7, or Windows Vista on it then this method is for you.
Note: Please backup all of your important files for safety precautions.
What you need?:
- · OSX86 Project (some popular ones include iPC, iATKOS, Kalyway, iDeneb)
In our opinion, you should download iPC as it is the best one, as near as to perfection as it could get. Most Important thing you should check for is your Hardware compatibility List over here: OSX86 wiki.
Instructions:
Step One:
The very first step involved is to download the OSX86 10.5.x, to download this you will need to go to some download site, or should I say, your favorite torrent site and find your favorite flavor among the listed ones.
Now once you have downloaded the file, use PowerISO (recommended)/ Magic ISO or any other burning software, and burn the .ISO file to a DVD.
The second step is fairly easy, all you have to do is create partition so that we can keep the Leopard there and be able to boot it as well as keeping the current OS safe, and being able to boot that also. To make a partition in Windows 7 OR Vista:
Right-Click My Computer > Choose Manage and click Disk Management. Over here, create a primary partition with at least 8GB of space in it. Although, personally I would recommend giving it at least 15GB of space. Once the partition is made, you can right click the partition and mark it as Active.
Now, insert the DVD onto which you burned the OSX to, and reboot with the DVD inserted. You should be able to see the Darwin Screen.
Step Two:
As the countdown from 10 starts, press F8 key and you will be shown more options. Type:
- -v and press Enter
You will now enter VERBOSE mode. This is the mode in which you will be able to see any error that occurs.
Note: In case the screen freezes for than 10 minutes, than note down the last lines and Google to find a solution.
If everything goes as planned, and successfully, the installation screen will appear in the next 15-30 minutes.
In case, you want to skip all those booting errors, please use the below code on: Boot: prompt
- -cpus=1, -cpus=2
Step 3:
Once the booting is complete, you will enter the GUI and you will now be able to see a top-down menu. From the menu, choose Click Utilities > Disk Utilities.
From here, choose the destination drive where you want to install MAC OSX. This is the same place which we created earlier [the partition].
Now, click on ERASE which you can see at the right-hand side under the format option and select “MAC OSX Journaled Extended”, and click Erase. The disk will be erased and mounted. Close the disk Utility program and agree to the Terms and Agreement, then select partition which you erased recently.
Step 4:
Now comes an important, yet easy task. All you have to do is install the matching OSx86 flavor for your MAC now. Just go over to the wiki section of OSx86, and navigate to the HARDWARE section and choose your version (10.5.x) and computer type (Portable/Desktop). Over here, you can find the hardware that have been tested with it, and so you can see which one you have and can choose accordingly.
If you are having problems, visit Insanelymac.com forums.
Steps 5:
Now, once the above step is done your disk (DVD) will be checked for consistency, then the installation begins. It will take 20-45 minutes, which will depend on how good and fast your hardware is. Once the installation is complete, it will ask for a reboot. Remove the DVD after it has been rebooted.
Now, you will be automatically be able to boot OS X at this time.
Step 6:
Now the OS X has been setup. All that is left, is to make sure dual boot is activated, and that the previous OS is also working alongside the MAC OS X one. To do this, we shall use the Windows boot loader rather than use the chameleon boot loader built-in to OS X.
Put in your Windows 7 or Vista disk, and boot from it. When installation starts, it will prompt you for “Recovery”. Select it. When you are prompted to choose the tool available for recovery, choose the “command-line” option.
DISKPART> list disk // displays the available HDD
DISKPART> select disk n // select the disk which has windows installation
DISKPART> list partition // list partitions on the selected disk
DISKPART> select partition n // select the partition number where windows was previously installed.
DISKPART> active //sets partition active
DISKPART> exit
REBOOT.
Another method is that when you insert the Windows DVD, and it prompts you for “Recovery” choose the automatic recovery of boot area, and Windows should automatically repair the boot for you.
Now, we have Mac OSx86 installed on your PC. Now, it is actually possible to install Snow Leopard on your PC and use it alongside your current OS [in dual-boot mode].