Blog | OSX | mechdrew

The current guide will now lead you through the installation process from scratch to a fully-functional 10.6.4 installation. There are a few subtle differences throughout the guide. An important note is that there currently isn’t a 10.6.4 friendly version of NetbookBootMaker, so I had to include the newer NetbookInstaller app that meklort released in the package. Just follow the guide, it will help tell you what needs to happen.

You may notice there is a slight naming and style change with the this guide. I’m trying to trim out all of the useless fluff, especially since I can’t write a one-size-fits-all-netbooks guide without going into too much detail. I’m also preparing to convert the guide over to a wiki format so that other users can pitch in with corrections and handy articles without my intervention. That part is still in the works, but for now this will do.

The donation page has been updated, I’m not taking PayPal donations anymore but I do have some other ways to payback, check the page for details. I decided that with the neglect this site has been under I shouldn’t accept money donations until there is substantial work done here again.

And for anyone wondering how the 1012 handles OS X: it works, but… meh. I still prefer the 10v experience. The 1012 could get better soon with meklort’s further development, but for now the 10v is better.

It had better work for everyone this time.

dylar at MyDellMini pointed me to Image Writer, which is way better than the dd command that I’ve been using in the guide forever. Plus, it shortened down the instructions quite a bit. Since the whole Windows section has changed, you’ll want to reread it through if you were having trouble before. And as always, leave a comment or send a message about how it worked.

Title says it all. Turns out that the previous version’s instructions (which were deleted in the last update) weren’t completely inaccurate, they just needed some additions! I can verify that the files DO work, so there is nothing wrong with the guide itself. I still need to investigate the Linux side, but everything else should be just fine.

Please make sure to follow every warning and detail, and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not attempt to contact me if you are using a dowloaded/torrented/pirated/illegitimate version of Mac OS X, it wastes time for both of us and I will eventually find out since they don’t work with my guides.

I’ve finished the 1.0 version of NetbookCD, now updated for the new 0.8.3 RC3 version of NetbookInstaller/BootMaker. Links can be found on the Downloads page and in the NetbookInstaller 3 guide.

Thanks to a lot of prodding and reminding from some viewers (thanks Stephen!) I finally finished my major overhaul of the Advanced 2 guide. And when I say major, I mean MAJOR! It drained me to think of all the complexities involved in the process. A lot of the work that has been accomplished in the process is thanks to the NetbookInstaller/BootMaker 0.8.3 RC2 release, which incorporates some multi-boot tools. But man, I am so tired from it. The old version has been preserved in the older methods section of the Guides page.

Also, there have been some updates to the site layout. There is a new FAQ page, which is basically just some of the technical documents that were formerly on the guides page.

And NetbookCD 1.0 Final should be out by Wednesday this week. I’ll fix a few of the known bugs and include any updates that are released before then.

One thing holding back a DVD guide is my boot CD attempt, NetbookCD. I’ve compiled a new release tonight based on the new 0.8.3 RC2 version of NetbookInstaller/BootMaker. Most everything should work fine, check http://www.mydellmini.com/forum/mac-os-x-development/11945-netbookcd-chameleon-boot-cd-netbooks-testing-4.html#post106553 for download links and information.

There’s been a lot of behind-the-scenes work here. Most people don’t know about this site, so they may be wondering, “Why is the first blog post in July?” I’ve had this in mind since May, and had started my work in July, but a lot of things happened (and didn’t happen) in between. I’ve moved, started working again, and NetbookInstaller is still in alpha stage. Meanwhile, progress has been made on getting the Mini 10v driver-complete (which still isn’t finished) and Apple released a very disruptive update for Mac OS X, breaking a lot of things.

So please feel free to poke around, I’m making this public as soon as I finish the first method guide, but don’t be surprised to find a broken link here and there.