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- 2xAMD RX 580 8GB
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This is a complete installation guide to install macOS Sierra 10.12.6 on Acer Aspire VN7-792G. The purpose of this guide is to provide a step-by-step guide to install Sierra using Clover UEFI.
Specifications
Summary
What works?
To create a Bootable media for Sierra, follow the steps below.
1. Insert your USB Flash Drive and open Disk Utility. The Disk Utility is located at /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility
2. Select your USB Flash Drive in the left pane and click on Erase button, at top.
3. A pop-up will appear.
4. Under Name type USB
5. Under Format select Mac OS X Extended (Journaled)
6. Under Scheme select GUID Partition Map, and click on Erase.
7. When done, click on Done.
8. Launch terminal, located at /Applications/Utilities/Terminal.
9. Copy and paste the following sudo command in terminal.
10. Enter your password
11. Press (Y) to confirm and then press enter key and it will start to erase the disk and will create macOS Bootable USB.
Once the process completes, close the terminal. The USB Flash Drive will be renamed as Install macOS Sierra
Note :
Install Clover Bootloader
The next step is to install the Clover Bootloader to your USB Flash Drive.
1. Download Clover EFI Bootloader.
2. Extract the Clover EFI bootloader installer package and right click on the .pkg file and select Open
3. By default, the Clover Bootloader will select the system drive i.e Macintosh HD. Simply click on Change Install Location and select your installation Drive i.e Install macOS Sierra.
4. Click on Customize and configure the following settings.
6. Confirm the above options and click on Install. When promoted, enter your password. The clover bootloader will be installed to your installation drive.
7. Once done, simply click on Close
After installing the Clover bootloader, the EFI partition should be mounted on your Desktop.
Notes :
Now you’ve successfully installed clover and the required drivers on your USB.
Placing required kexts
In order to boot into the installation, you need to place the necessary kexts. Follow the guide below to place the necessary kexts.
Navigate to: EFI/CLOVER/kexts/
Remove all the folders, 10.x, except 'Other'.
Downloads
Notes :
Navigate to /EFI/CLOVER/kexts/Other/ and place all the 3 kexts (FakeSMC.kext, VoodPS2Controller.kext and USBInjectAll.kext)
Preparing Post Installation Tools
The next step is to place the required tools, kexts to the another Flash Drive which will help you in the post installation.
1. Insert your another USB
2. Format the USB with the following parameters
Under Name type Post Install
Under Format select Mac OS X Extended (Journaled)
Under Scheme select GUID Partition Map, and click on Erase.
When done, click on Done.
3. Copy the important tools such as DPCIManager, Clover Configurator, IOReg, MaciASL.
When done, simply eject your second Flash Drive.
Copy the Config.plist
Get the config.plist from Rehabman Github repo: https://github.com/RehabMan/OS-X-Clover-Laptop-Config
1. Download the config.plist file from the above link.
2. Copy config_HD615_620_630_640_650.plist
3. Place it at : EFI/Clover
4. Rename it to config.plist.
5. Open your config.plist using Clover Configurator.
6. Add the following parameters
7. -v in boot args.
8. Navigate to Devices Tab
9. Delete all the values in Add Properties
10. Navigate to Graphics Tab
11. Uncheck Inject ATI and Inject NVIDIA.
12. Save your config.plist file
UEFI Settings
To access your BIOS/UEFI, press and hold F2 on your Keyboard and then set the following.
Follow the steps below for the installation.
1. Turn on your PC
2. Press Esc to enter boot menu.
3. Select your USB Flash Drive with the UEFI prefix and press enter to boot.
4. When at Clover screen, select Boot macOS Install from Install macOS Sierra.
5. It will take couple of minutes to boot into installer screen. Once you reach the installer, select your preferred language and continue.
6. For a fresh installation, you must erase the drive you wish to install on. Follow the steps below to erase the destination drive.
7. On top, click on Utilities and then select Disk Utility.
8. When at Disk Utility, click on View and select Show all Devices.
9. Now select the SSD.
10. Make sure that you don’t select partition, select the Drive and click on Erase button.
Under Name type Macintosh HD.
Under Format select APFS.
Under Scheme select GUID Partition Map, and click on erase button.
Close Disk Utility
11. Select Install macOS and continue with the options.
12. Now select Macintosh HD and click on Install.
13. Upon completion, the system will automatically restart. The system may restart few times to complete the installation.
14. If the system restarts, select Boot macOS Install from Macintosh HD.
15. After installation, boot it using USB, but this time select Macintosh HD.
16. The first boot maybe slower as the caches are not build yet. Once the caches are built, it will boot normally.
17. When you're at the welcome screen, continue with the basics options such as Keyboard setup, Network, Computer Account and Privacy settings.
Now the installation is complete, but the drive isn't bootable yet. You need to configure the Post Installation
Post Installation
Now, configuring the Post Installation
The post installation is required to achieve the fully system functionality.
Typically, the post installation includes enabling boot from the system drive, Graphics, Network, Audio, HDMI Audio, Trackpad, Brightness, Keyboard remap and USB.
Boot from System Drive
This is one of the most important part as it allows to boot it using the system drive without any need of installation USB.
Mount the EFI Partition.
Be sure to mount both the EFI partitions of your Hard Drive and Sierra Bootable USB. Both the EFI partition of your Hard Drive and USB Flash Drive will be mounted on your Desktop.
Assuming that you’ve mounted your EFI Partition, continue the following.
1. Open your EFI Partition of your Hard Drive.
2. Select EFI folder and then move to Trash.
3. Now open your EFI Partition of your macOS Sierra Bootable USB.
4. Now copy the EFI folder to your EFI Partition of your Hard Drive.
By using this method, You’ll able to install Clover Bootloader automatically to your Hard Drive.
Graphics
This Laptop has Intel HD Graphics 520. Graphics works OOTB without any issue. The correct VRAM is recognised and works with Full QE/CI.
Network
The motherboard uses Intel I219-V Ethernet Chipset. All you need to do is to install the kext and reboot the system in order to activate Ethernet. The downloads for Intel Ethernet is available in the downloads section.
DSDT and SSDT Patching
For the DSDT and SSDT patching, i prefer full patched set of DSDT and SSDT. Follow the DSDT and SSDT patching guide: https://www.elitemacx86.com/threads/guide-how-to-patch-laptop-dsdt-and-ssdts.178/
Using the guides, patch all of your DSDT and SSDT.
DSDT
For activating keyboard Brightness/Backlight keys
SSDT
Find the line 1642
Replace:
With this:
Find the line 1646
Replace:
With this:
Find the line 1652
Replace:
With this:
Find the line 1658
Replace:
With this:
Brightness
For activating the Brightness, read here: https://www.elitemacx86.com/threads/guide-how-to-enable-backlight-control-on-laptop.182/
Disabling NVIDIA GeForce 945M
The _INI method is in (SSDT-14).
Apply the following patch
For DSDT, apply the following patch
Place all the patches DSDT and SSDTs to : EFI/ACPI/Patched.
1. Open your config.plist
2. Check "Drop OEM"
3. Under Sorted Order, list all of your DSDT and SSDTs.
The SSDT (SSDT-PNLF.aml) should be added at last.
Audio
The motherboard uses a Realtek ALC255 Audio Codec.
There are several ways to activate audio. I'm using AppleHDA to enable audio on this build.
1. Download the AppleHDA from here
2. Extract the kext
3. Install the kext to S/L/E
4. Open your config.plist
5. Under Acpi patches, add the following patch
6. Use layout ID =13
7. Check "ResetHDA"
HDMI Audio
1. Open your config.plist
2. Navigate to Text Mode
3. Find the Devices properties line i.e 255
4. Uncomment "#" from Device Properties
Note :
The Trackpad is a I2C Trackpad. The trackpad doesn't works straight. For more information, read here: https://voodooi2c.github.io/
Using VoodooI2C, the gestures works and the Multitouch also works.
Battery Meter
The battery meter doesn't works out of the box. You'll need to install ACPIBatteryManager.
1. Download ACPIBatteryManager
2. Install the kext from the Release folder to S/L/E
Power Management
The CPU power management works OOTB. For more information, read here: https://www.elitemacx86.com/threads/guide-enable-native-power-management-on-laptops.187/
WiFi/Bluetooth
The stock card is not fully compatible but it can be made to work. To activate the WiFi and Bluetooth, you'll need to install some kexts and add some patches. For more information, read here:
USB Ports
The ports works OOTB. All the USB ports are activated by default. But you'll need to add the port limit patch
Add USB port limit patch
1. Mount your EFI Partition
2. Open your config.plist file using Clover Configurator
3. Navigate to kernel and kext patches tab and add the following patch in your config.plist.
4. Save your config.plist file
Restart your Laptop
After completing the post installation, restart your laptop.
Miscellaneous
App Store, iMessage, FaceTime, and iCloud
1. Mount your EFI partition
2. Open your config.plist
3. Navigate to SMBIOS Tab
4. Generate a new SMBIOS for "MacBook Pro13,1"
5. Save your config.plist
6. Restart your laptop
7. Login into App Store, iMessage, FaceTime and iCloud.
Conclusion
You should have all the functions as stated above.
Credits:
RehabMan
Mirone
InsanelyDeepak
Specifications
Code:
Laptop: Acer Aspire VN7-792G
CPU: Intel Core i7-6700HQ
RAM: 8GB DDR4 2133MHz
IGPU: Intel HD Graphics 620
SSD: Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB
Optical Drive: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GUE1N
Audio: Realtek ALC255
Display: 15.6" AH-IPS (1920x1080) (AU Optronics B173HAN01.0)
Ethernet: Realtek RTL8111
Wireless/Bluetooth: Qualcomm Atheros QCA61x4A Wireless Network Adapter (Unsupported)
Trackpad: ELAN I2C Trackpad
Camera: VGA UVC WebCam (Chicony Electronics Ltd.)
Ports: 1 x Type-C USB 3.0 (USB 3.1 Gen 1) | 1 x USB 3.0 (Type A) | 1 x USB 3.0 | 2 x USB 2.0 | 1 x HDMI | 1 x SD Card slot | 1 x 3.5mm audio combo jack
Summary
What works?
- Audio ✔
- Graphics ✔
- HDMI Video+HDMI Audio ✔
- Keyboard ✔
- Trackpad (With Gestures) ✔
- Brightness ✔
- Brightness Hotkeys ✔
- Power Management ✔
- iMessage ✔
- FaceTime ✔
- iCloud ✔
- USB 2.0, 3.0, 3.1 and USB Type-C Ports ✔
- Card Reader ✔
- Fingerprint.
To create a Bootable media for Sierra, follow the steps below.
1. Insert your USB Flash Drive and open Disk Utility. The Disk Utility is located at /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility
2. Select your USB Flash Drive in the left pane and click on Erase button, at top.
3. A pop-up will appear.
4. Under Name type USB
5. Under Format select Mac OS X Extended (Journaled)
6. Under Scheme select GUID Partition Map, and click on Erase.
7. When done, click on Done.
8. Launch terminal, located at /Applications/Utilities/Terminal.
9. Copy and paste the following sudo command in terminal.
Code:
sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/USB --applicationpath /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app
11. Press (Y) to confirm and then press enter key and it will start to erase the disk and will create macOS Bootable USB.
Once the process completes, close the terminal. The USB Flash Drive will be renamed as Install macOS Sierra
Note :
- At this point, the bootable USB can be only used to boot Mac only. In order to boot the computer using the USB, follow the steps below.
Install Clover Bootloader
The next step is to install the Clover Bootloader to your USB Flash Drive.
1. Download Clover EFI Bootloader.
2. Extract the Clover EFI bootloader installer package and right click on the .pkg file and select Open
3. By default, the Clover Bootloader will select the system drive i.e Macintosh HD. Simply click on Change Install Location and select your installation Drive i.e Install macOS Sierra.
4. Click on Customize and configure the following settings.
- Install Clover for UEFI booting only
- Install Clover in the ESP
- Themes: Select any
- Drivers64UEFI: EmuVariableUefi-64, AptioMemoryFix-64
6. Confirm the above options and click on Install. When promoted, enter your password. The clover bootloader will be installed to your installation drive.
7. Once done, simply click on Close
After installing the Clover bootloader, the EFI partition should be mounted on your Desktop.
Notes :
- You need two additional drivers. HFSPlus.efi and apfs.efi
- Without HFSPlus, you won't be able to see any HFS+ volumes including your installation drive.
- If you're installing Sierra, the file system will be APFS File System. Without apfs.efi, you won't be able to see any bootable apfs volumes when macOS finishes installing.
- HFSPlus.efi : https://github.com/JrCs/CloverGrowerPro/raw/master/Files/HFSPlus/X64/HFSPlus.efi
- apfs.efi : You can find apfs in your installer. Follow the instructions below
- Mount the Base System.dmg located inside /Applications/Install macOS Sierra.app/Contents/SharedSupport/BaseSystem.dmg
- Navigate to : /usr/standalone/i386/apfs.efi
Now you’ve successfully installed clover and the required drivers on your USB.
Placing required kexts
In order to boot into the installation, you need to place the necessary kexts. Follow the guide below to place the necessary kexts.
Navigate to: EFI/CLOVER/kexts/
Remove all the folders, 10.x, except 'Other'.
Downloads
- FakeSMC.kext : https://github.com/RehabMan/OS-X-FakeSMC-kozlek
- VoodooPS2Controller.kext : https://github.com/RehabMan/OS-X-Voodoo-PS2-Controller
- USBInjectAll.kext : https://github.com/RehabMan/OS-X-USB-Inject-All
Notes :
- Do not download the project files. The pre-built binaries/downloads are available in the README.md section. Make sure you read it carefully.
- Download the latest version for better support.
- Use the kext from Release folder.
Navigate to /EFI/CLOVER/kexts/Other/ and place all the 3 kexts (FakeSMC.kext, VoodPS2Controller.kext and USBInjectAll.kext)
Preparing Post Installation Tools
The next step is to place the required tools, kexts to the another Flash Drive which will help you in the post installation.
1. Insert your another USB
2. Format the USB with the following parameters
Under Name type Post Install
Under Format select Mac OS X Extended (Journaled)
Under Scheme select GUID Partition Map, and click on Erase.
When done, click on Done.
3. Copy the important tools such as DPCIManager, Clover Configurator, IOReg, MaciASL.
When done, simply eject your second Flash Drive.
Copy the Config.plist
Get the config.plist from Rehabman Github repo: https://github.com/RehabMan/OS-X-Clover-Laptop-Config
1. Download the config.plist file from the above link.
2. Copy config_HD615_620_630_640_650.plist
3. Place it at : EFI/Clover
4. Rename it to config.plist.
5. Open your config.plist using Clover Configurator.
6. Add the following parameters
7. -v in boot args.
8. Navigate to Devices Tab
9. Delete all the values in Add Properties
10. Navigate to Graphics Tab
11. Uncheck Inject ATI and Inject NVIDIA.
12. Save your config.plist file
UEFI Settings
To access your BIOS/UEFI, press and hold F2 on your Keyboard and then set the following.
- Set Load Setup Defaults.
- Set F12 Boot Menu to Enabled
- Set Touchpad to Basic
- Set Supervisor Password
- Set Boot Mode to UEFI
- Set Secure Boot to Disabled
- Exit Saving Changes.
Follow the steps below for the installation.
1. Turn on your PC
2. Press Esc to enter boot menu.
3. Select your USB Flash Drive with the UEFI prefix and press enter to boot.
4. When at Clover screen, select Boot macOS Install from Install macOS Sierra.
5. It will take couple of minutes to boot into installer screen. Once you reach the installer, select your preferred language and continue.
6. For a fresh installation, you must erase the drive you wish to install on. Follow the steps below to erase the destination drive.
7. On top, click on Utilities and then select Disk Utility.
8. When at Disk Utility, click on View and select Show all Devices.
9. Now select the SSD.
10. Make sure that you don’t select partition, select the Drive and click on Erase button.
Under Name type Macintosh HD.
Under Format select APFS.
Under Scheme select GUID Partition Map, and click on erase button.
Close Disk Utility
11. Select Install macOS and continue with the options.
12. Now select Macintosh HD and click on Install.
13. Upon completion, the system will automatically restart. The system may restart few times to complete the installation.
14. If the system restarts, select Boot macOS Install from Macintosh HD.
15. After installation, boot it using USB, but this time select Macintosh HD.
16. The first boot maybe slower as the caches are not build yet. Once the caches are built, it will boot normally.
17. When you're at the welcome screen, continue with the basics options such as Keyboard setup, Network, Computer Account and Privacy settings.
Now the installation is complete, but the drive isn't bootable yet. You need to configure the Post Installation
Post Installation
Now, configuring the Post Installation
The post installation is required to achieve the fully system functionality.
Typically, the post installation includes enabling boot from the system drive, Graphics, Network, Audio, HDMI Audio, Trackpad, Brightness, Keyboard remap and USB.
Boot from System Drive
This is one of the most important part as it allows to boot it using the system drive without any need of installation USB.
Mount the EFI Partition.
Be sure to mount both the EFI partitions of your Hard Drive and Sierra Bootable USB. Both the EFI partition of your Hard Drive and USB Flash Drive will be mounted on your Desktop.
Assuming that you’ve mounted your EFI Partition, continue the following.
1. Open your EFI Partition of your Hard Drive.
2. Select EFI folder and then move to Trash.
3. Now open your EFI Partition of your macOS Sierra Bootable USB.
4. Now copy the EFI folder to your EFI Partition of your Hard Drive.
By using this method, You’ll able to install Clover Bootloader automatically to your Hard Drive.
Graphics
This Laptop has Intel HD Graphics 520. Graphics works OOTB without any issue. The correct VRAM is recognised and works with Full QE/CI.
Network
The motherboard uses Intel I219-V Ethernet Chipset. All you need to do is to install the kext and reboot the system in order to activate Ethernet. The downloads for Intel Ethernet is available in the downloads section.
DSDT and SSDT Patching
For the DSDT and SSDT patching, i prefer full patched set of DSDT and SSDT. Follow the DSDT and SSDT patching guide: https://www.elitemacx86.com/threads/guide-how-to-patch-laptop-dsdt-and-ssdts.178/
Using the guides, patch all of your DSDT and SSDT.
DSDT
- Layout id = 13 (0x0D)
- Rename GFX0 to IGPU
- Fix _WAK Arg0 v2
- HPET Fix
- SMBUS Fix
- IRQ Fix
- RTC Fix
- OS Check Fix
- Fix Mutex with non-zero SyncLevel
- USB3_PRW 0x6D Skylake (instant wake)
- ASUS N55SL/VivoBook
For activating keyboard Brightness/Backlight keys
- UP = _Q1D
- Down = _Q1C
Code:
into method label _Q1D replace_content
begin
// Brightness Down\n
Notify (KBD0, 0x20)\n
end;
into method label _Q1C replace_content
begin
// Brightness Up\n
Notify (KBD0, 0x10)\n
end;
SSDT
- Rename GFX0 to IGPU
- Cleanup/Fix Errors (SSDT)
- Remove _PSS placeholders
Find the line 1642
Replace:
Code:
PCAP
Code:
Package {PCAP}
Replace:
Code:
PCAP
Code:
Package {PCAP}
Replace:
Code:
PCAP
Code:
Package {PCAP}
Replace:
Code:
PCAP
Code:
Package {PCAP}
Brightness
For activating the Brightness, read here: https://www.elitemacx86.com/threads/guide-how-to-enable-backlight-control-on-laptop.182/
Disabling NVIDIA GeForce 945M
The _INI method is in (SSDT-14).
Apply the following patch
Code:
into method label _INI parent_label \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP insert
begin
//added to turn nvidia\n
External(\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._OFF, MethodObj)\n
_OFF()\n
end;
Code:
into method label _REG parent_hid PNP0C09 insert
begin
//added to turn nvidia\n
If (LAnd(LEqual(Arg0,3),LEqual(Arg1,1)))\n
{\n
External(\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._OFF, MethodObj)\n
\_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._OFF()\n
}\n
end;
Place all the patches DSDT and SSDTs to : EFI/ACPI/Patched.
1. Open your config.plist
2. Check "Drop OEM"
3. Under Sorted Order, list all of your DSDT and SSDTs.
The SSDT (SSDT-PNLF.aml) should be added at last.
Audio
The motherboard uses a Realtek ALC255 Audio Codec.
There are several ways to activate audio. I'm using AppleHDA to enable audio on this build.
1. Download the AppleHDA from here
2. Extract the kext
3. Install the kext to S/L/E
4. Open your config.plist
5. Under Acpi patches, add the following patch
Code:
Comment: Rename HDAS to HDEF
Find* [HEX]: 48444153
Replace [HEX]: 48444546
7. Check "ResetHDA"
HDMI Audio
1. Open your config.plist
2. Navigate to Text Mode
3. Find the Devices properties line i.e 255
4. Uncomment "#" from Device Properties
Note :
- Use layout id=13 only. If you use any other layout, no Audio output will be there
The Trackpad is a I2C Trackpad. The trackpad doesn't works straight. For more information, read here: https://voodooi2c.github.io/
Using VoodooI2C, the gestures works and the Multitouch also works.
Battery Meter
The battery meter doesn't works out of the box. You'll need to install ACPIBatteryManager.
1. Download ACPIBatteryManager
2. Install the kext from the Release folder to S/L/E
Power Management
The CPU power management works OOTB. For more information, read here: https://www.elitemacx86.com/threads/guide-enable-native-power-management-on-laptops.187/
WiFi/Bluetooth
The stock card is not fully compatible but it can be made to work. To activate the WiFi and Bluetooth, you'll need to install some kexts and add some patches. For more information, read here:
USB Ports
The ports works OOTB. All the USB ports are activated by default. But you'll need to add the port limit patch
Add USB port limit patch
1. Mount your EFI Partition
2. Open your config.plist file using Clover Configurator
3. Navigate to kernel and kext patches tab and add the following patch in your config.plist.
Code:
Name: com.apple.driver.usb.AppleUSBXHCIPCI
Find* [HEX]: 83BD74FF FFFF10
Replace* [HEX]: 83BD74FF FFFF1B
Comment: USB 10.13.6 by PMHeart
MatchOS: 10.12.x
4. Save your config.plist file
Restart your Laptop
After completing the post installation, restart your laptop.
Miscellaneous
App Store, iMessage, FaceTime, and iCloud
1. Mount your EFI partition
2. Open your config.plist
3. Navigate to SMBIOS Tab
4. Generate a new SMBIOS for "MacBook Pro13,1"
5. Save your config.plist
6. Restart your laptop
7. Login into App Store, iMessage, FaceTime and iCloud.
Conclusion
You should have all the functions as stated above.
Credits:
RehabMan
Mirone
InsanelyDeepak