Catalina Hackintosh

macOS 10.15, also known as macOS Catalina, is Mac’s most recent—next-generation—operating system. Apple’s macOS Catalina comes with more to offer compared to its predecessors. A few of this operating system’s features include experience-dedicated apps for podcasts, TV, and music. The best part about this OS is that upgrading is easy and free for all Mac users.

Before getting started, you first have to check if your Mac meets Catalina’s hardware requirements so you can proceed to install it. Here is a list of Mac devices and models compatible with macOS Catalina:

A Hackintosh is a non-Apple branded PC that runs the Apple macOS operating system. To do this, you will need a compatible non-apple PC, as well as access to a Mac computer.

  • MacBook 2015 and later
  • MacBook Air 2012 or later
  • MacBook Pro 2012 or later
  • Mac Mini 2012 or later
  • iMac 2012 or later
  • iMac Pro 2017 or later
  • Mac Pro 2013 or later
  • While installing Mac OS X on a PC is a tricky process in itself, updating your “Hackintosh” can be another challenge altogether. Apple rolls out system updates periodically, and if you want.
  • Mac Os Catalina Update Apple Id Settings To automatically install macOS updates, select “Automatically keep my Mac up to date.” To set advanced update options, click Advanced, then do any of the following: To have your Mac check for updates automatically, select “Check for updates.”.
  • APFS BootROM Support: If you have a machine that supports High Sierra natively, you MUST ensure you have the latest version of the system's BootROM installed. If you have NOT previously installed High Sierra, you can download and install this package (if running OS X 10.10 Yosemite or later) to install the latest BootROM version (you MUST reboot after installing the package to apply the.

You can follow these steps to find out the kind of Mac you have:

  1. Navigate to the Apple menu.
  2. Select About This Mac.
  3. The Overview tab will display your Mac from the Overview tab.

Important Information About macOS Catalina

In macOS Catalina, Apple no longer supports any 32-bit apps. Therefore, any apps on your Mac that have not been updated from 32-bit to 64-bit will not function on this OS.

To identify the 32-bit apps on your Mac, follow these steps:

  1. On your screen’s top left corner, click on the Apple icon.
  2. Select About This Mac.
  3. At the bottom of the window, click on the button labeled System Report.
  4. On the window’s left side, click on Applications (under the Software section).
  5. A list of applications will populate.
  6. To find the 64-bitcolumn,move to the right using your cursor. Any 32-bit apps will have No listed in this column.

Before you can upgrade to macOS Catalina, there a few things you have to sort out first, such as:

  • Confirmation of your Mac’s compatibility for macOS Catalina.
  • Creation of a Time Machine backup.
  • Ensuring your Mac has sufficient storage to download, install, and upgrade to macOS Catalina.

Creating a Time Machine Backup

Before upgrading to macOS Catalina, it is crucial to create a Time Machine backup. The reason for the backup is a safety measure for when you find your Mac to be incompatible with the Catalina OS, which means you can erase the upgrade and restore it using the backup you created.

Creating a backup whether upgrading or downgrading your Mac is not only a good idea, but also imperative. Unless you would not mind losing everything, we highly recommend creating a Time Machine backup before upgrading to macOS Catalina. Without the backup, it would take a lot of time to restore your system to its previous OS. You would have to download each program, plug-in, and driver once more.

Follow these steps to format an external hard drive for macOS:

Nvidia
  1. Start Disk Utility, which you can find by navigating to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility.
  2. Choose the hard drive device and then click on Erase (if initiated, the process is irreversible)
  3. Choose a name for your drive (e.g., My Backup) and select the format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled), then click on Erase.

Follow these steps to create a Time Machine backup drive:

  1. Start Time Machine and click on Select Disk.
  2. Connect a drive (reformatted or empty).
  3. Select the drive you have just connected (e.g., My Backup) and click on Use Disk.
  4. Click on the Backup taskbar icon and then select Backup Now.
Laptop

Downloading macOS Catalina

The upgrade to the macOS Catalina process involves two steps: backup and installation. After you have created a backup, the next step is visiting the App Store to download the macOS installer. Depending on your internet speed, the download may take some time. Upon completing the download, you can install the macOS Catalina app that you can find in your Applications folder.

Storage Space Required for the Download

macOS Catalina needs storage of 12.5GB to 18GB for upgrading. Therefore, if you have insufficient space on your Mac, you can make a backup of some files then delete them from your system to avail the storage required.

Upgrading from Mac OS X Older Versions

Any older versions of Mac OS X 10.7-10.10 have to first upgrade to Mac OS X El Capitan 10.11 version before upgrading to macOS Catalina, which you can download from Apple’s Catalina download page.

To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Launch the System Preferences menu, and thenselect Software Update.
  2. Click on the Download or Upgrade Now button to begin the download of the Catalina installer.

Mac Catalina Hackintosh

Installing macOS Catalina

Follow these steps to install macOS Catalina:

  1. After completion of the macOS Catalina installation app download, the installer will automatically launch itself. If not, go to your Mac’s Applications folder and double click the Install macOS Catalina app.
  2. Follow the instructions that appear on-screen to finish the upgrade and start using the OS.
  3. Select an external drive to create an external drive for macOS or an internal drive to upgrade the Mac when prompted.

macOS Catalina’s New Features

Follow these steps to complete installing macOS Catalina’s new features:

  1. After macOS Catalina installs, your Mac will restart.
  2. After it has started, click on the Apple icon and select About This Mac to view the Catalina OS version.

MacOS (Currently Catalina 10.15.6) working on ThinkPad X230

Status: Work In Progress

DISCLAIMER: Read the entire README before you start. I am not responsible for any damages you may cause.

Introduction

My hardware
SpecificationsDetail
Computer modelLenovo ThinkPad X230 (Type: 2325)
ProcessorIntel Core i7-3520M (2C4T, 2.9/3.6Ghz, 4MB)
MemoryCrucial 16GB DDR3L 1867MHz, dual-channel
Hard DiskCrucial BX500 3D-NAND 240GB
Integrated GraphicsIntel HD Graphics 4000
Display12.5' HD (1366x768) TN - B125XW01.V0
AudioRealtek ALC3202 (Layout-id: 18)
EthernetIntel 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection
WIFI+BTAzureWave AW-CB160H (BCM94360HMB)
Keyboard6-row, multimedia Fn keys, LED backlight
DockThinkPad UltraBase Series 3
Hardware compatibility

This EFI will suit any X230 regardless of CPU model, amount of RAM, display resolution, and internal storage.

  1. Optional custom CPU Power Management guide (see below post-install)
  2. Modified
    • 1440p display models should change NVRAM>>Add>>7C436110-AB2A-4BBB-A880-FE41995C9F82>>UIScale: 2
    • X220 7-row keyboard should use : SSDT-X220-KBD.aml
Main software
ComponentVersion
MacOS Catalina10.15.6 (19G2021)
OpenCore0.6.1
Kernel extensions
KextVersion
AirportBrcmFixup2.0.9
AppleALC1.5.2
BrcmPatchRAM2.5.4
EFICheckDisabler0.5.0
IntelMausi1.0.3
Lilu1.4.7
USBPorts
VirtualSMC1.1.6
VoodooPS2Controller2.1.6
WhateverGreen1.4.2
UEFI drivers
DriverVersion
HfsPlus.efiOcBinaryData
OpenRuntime.efiOpenCorePkg 0.6.1

Installation

How to install macOS

To install macOS follow the guides provided by Dortania

Useful tools by CorpNewt and headkaze

Complete EFI is available in the releases page

BIOS settings :100:

A simple method to install a modified BIOS is available here (no external programmer required).

MainSub #1Sub #2Sub #3Setting
ConfigNetworkWake On LanDisabled
Serial ATA (SATA)ModeAHCI
AdvancedSystem Agent (SA) configurationGraphics ConfigurationDVMT Pre-Allocated128MB
DVMT Total Gfx MemMAX
SecuritySecurity ChipDisabled
Memory ProtectionExecution PreventionEnabled
Anti-TheftCurrent SettingDisabled
ComputraceCurrent SettingDisabled
Secure BootDisabled
StartupUEFI/Legacy BootUEFI Only
CSM SupportDisabled

Post-install

Generate your own SMBIOSHackintosh

For setting up the SMBIOS info, use GenSMBIOS

  • Run GenSMBIOS, pick option 1 for downloading MacSerial and Option 3 for selecting out SMBIOS

    • MacBookPro10,2
  • Open Config.plist, find PlatformInfo >> Generic

    • The Serial part gets copied to SystemSerialNumber.

    • The Board Serial part gets copied to MLB.

    • The SmUUID part gets copied to SystemUUID.

Reminder that you want either an invalid serial or valid serial numbers but those not in use, you want to get a message back like: 'Invalid Serial' or 'Purchase Date not Validated'Apple Check Coverage

CPU power management

Recommended additional steps to improve battery life with optimized CPU power management:

  • Open Terminal, copy and paste the following command:

  • A customized SSDT.aml for your specific machine will now be in the directory /Users/yourusername/Library/ssdtPRGen

  • Rename to SSDT-PM.aml , and copy to EFI/OC/ACPI/

  • Open Config.plist, enable ACPI>>Add>>SSDT-PM.aml

  • Reboot

USB ports map

Catalina Hackintosh

If you are using different model and alternative kext from Other folder does not work for you. Try:

Fully functioning multimedia Fn keys
  • Download and install ThinkpadAssistant
  • Open the app and check the launch on login option
Use PrtSc key as Screenshot shortcut
  • Go under SystemPreferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > Screenshots
  • Click on Screenshot and recording options key map
  • Press PrtSc on your keyboard (it should came out as F13)
Mac bootloader GUI
  • Download Binary Resources and OpenCanopy.efi
  • Copy the Resources folder to EFI/OC
  • Add OpenCanopy.efi to EFI/OC/Drivers
  • Make these changes inside config.plist:
    • Misc >> Boot >> PickerMode: External
    • Misc >> Boot >> PickerAttributes:1
    • UEFI >> Drivers and add OpenCanopy.efi

Status

What's working :white_check_mark:
  • Battery Percentage
  • Bluetooth
  • Brightness
  • Camera
  • CPU Power Management
  • Dock Support ThinkPad UltraSeries 3
  • GPU Intel HD 4000 Graphics QE/CI
  • Intel Ethernet
  • Keyboard Volume and brightness hotkeys
  • Sleep/Wake
  • Sound Automatic headphone detection, mute, volume controls fully working
  • Touchpad 1-4 fingers swipe works
  • TrackPoint Works perfectly. Just like on Windows or Linux
  • eGPU (Thanks lese9855 have confirmed it #11)
What's not working :warning:
  • Fingerprint Reader
  • VGA
  • SD Card Reader (Disable with SSDT-SDC.aml)
Bug tracker :heavy_exclamation_mark:
  • Trackpoint not working after wake from sleep

Credits

Apple for macOS

Catalina Hackintosh Nvidia

Acidanthera for all the kexts/utilities that they made

Rehabman and Daliansky for the patches and guides and kexts

George Kushnir for modified BIOS

Dortania for for the OpenCore Install Guide

Catalina Hackintosh Download

MSzturc for ThinkpadAssistant

Catalina Hackintosh

simprecicchiani for inspirational ThinkPad configurations