Mavericks on M17xR2

OS X Mavericks has just been released… for free. That means you can get it from the App Store and install it, as long as you already have OS X installed.
So, even if you’re running an hackintosh, you can download it from the App Store and avoid looking for it somewhere else.
But if you try to install it, you’ll find out that it just doesn’t work. It prepares for installation, then reboots on your old system as usual.

This guide will show you how I upgraded my iAtkos ML2 installation to 10.9 Mavericks using vanilla system files. You’ll need a spare USB drive (at least 8Gb). Installing from USB is easier, faster and cheaper (you don’t have to buy a DL-DVD for a one-time use).

  1. Download Mavericks from App Store. That’s simple, just open the App Store, reach the Updates tab and you’ll find the option to upgrade there. Once downloaded, it will try to install: let it do that, it’s extracting some files we’ll need later! After that, your computer will reboot on Lion.
  2. Download myHack. It’s a simple tool that allows you to put the OS X installer on the USB drive and boot from it.
  3. Download Multibeast. (requires registration, but it’s free). Multibeast will replace some system kexts and will apply some patches and fixes to make your system fully working again. After installing OS X, you’ll have vanilla files which won’t work as expected with non-Apple hardware.
    We’re downloading that NOW because network card may not work right after the upgrade.
  4. Run myHack. It will ask for your root password. After that, select the option to create an OS X install, then select 10.9; now select the volume you want to be the installer (probably the USB drive).Now it asks you to find the installation source: click on “Browse Manually”, then surf to /OSX Install Data/ and select InstallESD.dmg.Now just wait. The process is going to take a while, there might also be graphics issues (mine went to 104%), but it will eventually work. At the end, it will ask you if you want to apply the MBR patch. I use a GPT partition system so didn’t bother about that, but, as far as I know, the patch is not working on Mavericks yet.
  5. Reboot from the USB. Let Chameleon (or Chimera) boot the installer, then wait. This may cause troubles: some commands may help.
    Booting with -v uses the Verbose Mode, so you can see what’s wrong with the booting system.
    -x runs the Safe Mode (mine didn’t boot with -x).
    GraphicsEnabler=No disables some graphics functions. It’s needed on some new ATI cards. If you manage to go past the Apple screen with this command but are stuck in a white-gray screen with only the cursor, you have to reboot to OS X and delete some kext from the USB drive. My PC has an ATI HD5870 and I got it booting by deleting /System/Library/Extensions/AMD5000Controller.kext from the USB drive. Then run myHack again and select the “Remove problematic extensions” option. This will rebuild the kernel cache and avoid issues on boot.
    Install as usual on the drive where iAtkos is already installed. At the end of the installation, some pop-ups will ask to replace some system files. I answered YES to everything except the nVidia one (if you have an nVidia card you may want to replace this one as well). Then, reboot.
  6. OS X Mavericks should boot. Mine was on VESA resolution, but everything was working well. Of course I don’t know about your PC, but that’s what why we downloaded Multibeast. Open Multibeast and select options according to your hardware (and what you know was working on Lion and now it’s not). I made it also install Chimera, but i’m sure Chameleon can boot Mavericks flawlessy too.
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