Installing Chameleon Boot Loader
I’ve assumed you have a Windows 8 /8.1 dvd OR USB and a Lion/ML/Mavericks/Yosemite Installation Media DVD OR USB
Chameleon is a Darwin/XNU boot loader based on Apple's boot-132. Because Chameleon now uses part of GPL V2 licensed code in 2 files, it.must. conform to the most restrictive license that it uses that is the: GPL Version 2 LICENSE Chameleon can thus be (and has to be) freely distributed under the term of the GPL V2 license which prevails, as it is the most restrictive license. Introduction Chameleon is the oldest group bootloader project of the hackintosh scene. It is a legacy bootloader, meaning it doesn't use the more modern boot capabilities of UEFI motherboards. For years we maintained a branch of Chameleon called Chimera. As of El Capitan and new security.
Yosemite Guide
For Windows use Rufus to make windows installer USB
Linux realtek wireless drivers. 1. Install Windows 8.1, while in the install phase, Partition 2 disks, 1 for Windows 8.1 and 1 for Mavericks
Diskpart
list disk
select disk 0 list partition select partition active exit
now close the command prompt and repair the computer(1st option)
diskpart
select partition active
exit
add
Rename Partition”System Reserved” Windows 8.1
Hide Partition”Windows”
once that is done, save it and copy it back to where the original org.chameleon.boot.plist is on. once that is done
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This guide explains how to create CD's and USB drives booting Chameleon 2 with different operating systems. Basic understanding about how Chameleon works is expected. Before creating the boot media, collect the configuration files, kext's and other customizations you will need and organize these files as Chameleon expects them. In short, you should have one Chameleon root folder containing the stage2 bootloader file and the Extra/.. folder with all the other stuff inside. Download Chameleon 2 from here. Also, check out the utilities to create BootCDs made by Chameleon Users (under #References).
The Chameleon Boot CD allows you to install Mac OS X from a retail DVD (not as in 'automagic', but as a tool). After Chameleon is booted, eject the CD, insert the retail OS X DVD and press F5 to rescan the optical drive. Make sure to have Chameleon's 'cdboot' stage2 in Chameleon's root folder (instead of 'boot' which is used for HD-installation), and set the 'Rescan' and 'Instant Menu' keys to 'yes' in com.apple.Boot.plist. The CD can also boot operating systems on the hard drive, an essential asset if you somehow screwed up your installation.
[edit]Mac OS X
1. Make the Chameleon root folder on your Dekstop:
2. Copy stage2 cdboot into /newiso folder, and add the other configuration files into /newiso/Extra
3. Open a Terminal and create the preboot image (also mounts it to your Desktop):
4. Add the kexts to /Extra/Extensions within the Preboot image
5. Unmount the Preboot Volume
6. Create a bootable iso:
3. Burn Chameleon.iso .
[edit]Windows
1. Get the open-source burning tool InfraRecorder
2. Select Data CD and add the Chameleon files (cdboot & Extra folder)
Install Chameleon Bootloader Usb
3. Go to File -> Project Properties -> Boot
4. Add Chameleon's 'cdboot' stage2 and set Emulation Type to 'None'
5. Burn the CD
[edit]Linux
1. Use mkisofs to create a bootable iso. Run the following command from the level containing Chameleon's root folder (newiso):
2. Burn chameleon.iso
Chameleon USB keys can not boot the retail OS X DVD, but they come in handy as rescue tool to boot into a borked installation. Similarly, if you want to play safe, use them to test new kexts and other customizations for compatibility before applying them to your main chameleon installation. For USB drives, the stage2 loaders for HD's must be used ('boot' instead of 'cdboot') in the Chameleon root directory.
[edit]Linux
For simplicity, this example uses a single Fat32 formatted partition and MBR. If you experience problems, try with HFS+ partition and/or GPT layout (remember to use boot1h stage1 loader for HFS+ partitions). A great tool for creating GPT partition tables under linux is gdisk.
0. Partition your media, and make sure it is not mounted
1. Format the Usb stick to F32:
2. Install Chameleon's stage0 boot loader to the usb device:
3. Install Chameleon's stage1 f32 boot loader to the usb partition:
4. Mount the partition:
5. Copy the contents of Chameleon's root folder:
6. Unmount the Usb stick:
[edit]Edit .plist files with Windows
UNIX and Mac OS X use the line feed (LF) character to mark the end of a line of text, Windows uses the carriage return (CR) character. Because .plist files must have linefeed characters at the end of every line to be readable by Mac OS X, editing these files with Windows tools can result in headaches. Use Wordpad instead of Notepad, and to be extra sure convert them with dos2unix after editing.
How To Install Chameleon Bootloader
[edit]Sample com.apple.Boot.plist
[edit]USB key as kext testing ground
Using Chameleon-USB keys to test new kexts is a great way to save yourself trouble. Start with the most minimal set of modifications that will let you install OSx, and then work your way up: Always keep your last working 'main' configuration in sync with the Chameleon USB key, add one kext at a time onto it, and use it to boot into the installed system. If all goes well, add the kext to the main Chameleon install on the HD and move to the next one. That way, you should minimize major panic attacks. Always keep a spare, working ChameleonBoot media (and if this happens to be a CD, LABEL IT).
[edit]Official Chameleon Documentation
[edit]User contributed Content
- Documenatation for Chameleon2 RC by Distemperus
- Howto: Installing OSX without access to a Mac by r0m30
- Lizard, Chameleon management and boot cd creation app by sonotone
- BootCDMaker by Trauma
This page was last modified on 31 January 2010, at 12:21.
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