I Tried Installing macOS on My Windows PC

Summary

In this video, the creator embarks on a detailed journey of installing macOS on a Windows PC, breaking through Apple's restrictions. From understanding complex components like EFI and OpenCore to configuring USB mapping and tweaking BIOS settings, they navigate the challenges of creating a custom bootloader. Using tools like OpenCore Simplify and USB Toolbox, the creator manages to run macOS Tahoe on hardware not officially supported by Apple. The end result? A stable, dual-boot system with both Windows and macOS, showing that even Apple's operating system can be made to work on non-Apple machines.

Takeaways

• 😀 Installing MacOS on a non-Apple PC (Hackintosh) is complex but achievable with the right tools and knowledge.
• 🖥️ A custom EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface) is essential to boot MacOS on a PC, as MacOS uses its own hardware-specific EFI.
• 🔧 OpenCore is a bootloader that helps bridge the gap between MacOS and non-Apple hardware, enabling the OS to run on PCs.
• 💻 The OpenCore Simplify tool automates a lot of the EFI creation process, making it easier for users to set up a Hackintosh.
• 🖼️ OpenCore Simplify generates a hardware report to determine the compatibility of your PC’s components with MacOS.
• 💾 USB mapping is critical to make sure MacOS recognizes USB devices on your PC. Tools like USB Toolbox help map and configure the USB ports.
• 🔄 Configuration files for OpenCore need to be modified manually to ensure the correct drivers (like USB drivers) are loaded on startup.
• 📦 OpenCore PKG includes utilities like Mac Recovery, which are necessary to download and install the MacOS recovery environment.
• 💡 Rufus is used to create a bootable USB drive for installing MacOS. It’s essential to select the right partition scheme and file system.
• 🔧 BIOS configuration must be adjusted to disable Secure Boot and Smart Access Memory to ensure MacOS will boot successfully.
• 🔑 Once MacOS is installed, you need to copy the EFI folder from the USB drive to your hard drive for proper boot functionality.

Q & A

What is the main issue the author is trying to solve in the script?

The author is attempting to install macOS on a Windows PC, a process that Apple does not officially support, often referred to as creating a 'Hackintosh'.

What is an EFI and why is it important for installing macOS on a PC?

An EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface) is a critical component that acts as a bridge between the computer’s hardware and its operating system, ensuring compatibility. When installing macOS on a PC, a custom EFI is needed to make macOS work with the PC's hardware.

What is OpenCore and what role does it play in the installation process?

OpenCore is a bootloader that allows macOS to load on non-Apple hardware. Without OpenCore, macOS wouldn’t be able to boot on a PC, making it essential for the Hackintosh process.

Why did the author use the OpenCore Simplify tool?

The author used OpenCore Simplify to automate much of the process of creating a custom EFI, as manually creating an EFI is highly complex and prone to error.

What is a 'text' in the context of the macOS installation process?

A 'text' is a kernel extension (kext) that allows macOS to interact with specific hardware components. The OpenCore Simplify tool automatically selected the necessary kexts based on the author's hardware.

What issue did the author face regarding USB mapping, and how was it resolved?

The author encountered a problem where macOS wouldn’t recognize USB ports. The solution involved using the USB Toolbox tool to map the USB ports and create a compatible file for macOS to recognize them.

What is the significance of modifying the configuration file with OC Auxiliary Tools?

The modification of the configuration file is essential for informing OpenCore which drivers to load, ensuring that USB ports and other components work correctly when macOS is booted on the PC.

How did the author manage to get macOS Tahoe on the computer despite documentation challenges?

The author faced challenges with missing documentation for macOS Tahoe. However, by searching through GitHub repositories, they found the correct recovery URL and were able to successfully download the Tahoe recovery environment.

What tool did the author use to make the USB drive bootable, and what settings were necessary?

The author used Rufus to make the USB drive bootable. They selected the GPT partition scheme, FAT32 file system, and ensured the drive was formatted to work with macOS.

Why was it necessary to make changes in the BIOS before booting macOS from the USB drive?

The BIOS settings had to be adjusted to disable secure boot and the resizable bar feature, both of which could interfere with macOS. Additionally, the boot order had to be changed to prioritize booting from the USB drive.