Thread: Dell Optiplex 380 Chameleon boot

Hi there, I have the above mentioned Hackintosh that will boot fine using my Unibeast install usb pen.
Im using Lion 7.4
I installed Chameleon but it hangs on booting up?
I don't have the option to switch ACPI for Sata, is there a way to boot from the hard drive without the sata option?
Here is where my install halts in verbose mode.

Just to add, I have no option in my bios for ahci sata, does this mean I can never boot from my hard drive?

Can anyone shed any light? I really need to be aware if this is possible without my bios option, if so then I will continue trying and searching. If not then would I have a similar problem with snow leopard on this machine?

Is there a legacy mode for the hdd in the bios?
worked for me on my optiplex 745.

I don't have many options at all, no legacy mode no
Tried to install snow leopard using the iboot method but that kernel panics as soon as snow installer starts booting?
I wouldn't even mind getting Snow leopard on this but I know Lion will at least install and run by booting from the unibeast usb lion install method?
Multibeast destroys my installation and then wont even allow booting from the usb pen.
Chameleon causes a halt but will still allow booting via the unibeast usb pen.

Is there something inside your bios called "enhanced" mode. This would be the closest thing to AHCI.

Also, as you have found out, installing anything but kexts/drivers using U-beast or M-beast will almost always brick your system. Just use it to install kexts and that's it.

Do you have the .dmg file of Lion...if so you could try to install Lion or via myHack. You must have a working Lion or SL version to use it though, You could install a virtual machine of Lion using either Vmware player or Virtual box...both are free. VMware workstation is not free. Here is a site that has working images of Lion and ML for both VMware and Virtual box.

Thanks for your help.
I really would like a native running Lion, I have run virtual but need a full booting system really.
I don't see enhanced mode either I'm afraid.
I had a very unsuccessful day of trial with myhack and so far only got anywhere using unibeast.
My system manages to boot without the usb pen and from my hd into chameleon with various themes and even get part way through booting Lion before halting, does this mean my SATA is actually fixed in the bios to AHCI ?

I'm very great full for any advice and help thank you,

Since you don't have any bios option for AHCI or enhanced mode you could try installing Lion onto a USB hdd. I have heard of it working but have never tried it. You will have to wipe everything from that drive though as OS X almost always will make it so. You will probably not be able to just format 1 partition of that drive journaled when you get to the partitioner. The option tab/choice will be greyed out. Usually choose MBR instead of GUID also.

I have been tempted to format my internal drive to mbr instead of GUID (you know the time when your willing to try anything) to see if that would work?
Or does the sata need to be guid?
Worth trying a different sata port inastead of the blue one?
Thanks for the ideas so far.

If you have a spare SATA HDD that is not being used I would try that one first. When you get to the installation screen can you see your internal drive. If so I would recommend choosing MBR over GUID. The reason is that later on when/if you want to install Windows onto it you won't have to change the drive back to MBR. Windows will tell you it will not install onto a drive with the GUID partitioning table. XP will not even see the drive...as if its not even there.