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May 30, 2016
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Motherboard
Ironman_SK
CPU
Intel i3-7100 Kaby Lake
Graphics
Intel HD 620
Mac
  1. Mac mini
Mobile Phone
  1. Android
I pulled my hair out for weeks getting this thing working, primarily because I couldn't find a single piece of existing support for this laptop. This perplexed me, considering the price for the specs and battery life. So, I figured I'd go ahead and make this post to help out anyone else trying to hack this laptop.

UPDATE: This guide works exactly the same for High Sierra. Additionally, previous installations can be updated to High Sierra via App Store with no problems, if sticking with HFS+.

9/28/2018: Due to the now required transition from HFS+ to APFS: updating to Mojave requires updating clover, adding PartitionDxe-64 and ApfsDriverLoader-64, and replacing OsxAptioFix2Drv with AptioMemoryFix. Do not boot from anything with the word "Preboot" in it. If, after two reboots, the system restarts before the Apple logo glitches, then you've got Clover configured wrong.

10/22/2018: MacOS Mojave breaks HDMI support. When using it, the video output becomes very laggy, and it disables the laptop's internal display. Video still works fine without HDMI, though.

Compatibility status:

  • Clover UEFI – Working

  • Clover Legacy – Untested, Should Work

  • Chameleon/Enoch – Untested

  • Boot – Working with FakeCPUID

  • Install – Working with AHCIPortInjector and sata-100-series-unsupported

  • Keyboard – Working with VoodooPS2Controller

  • Touchpad – Working with VoodooPS2Controller and ApplePS2SmartTouchpad

  • Video Acceleration – Working with IntelGraphicsFixup, Clover devices patch and RehabMan’s Laptop Intel HD 620 config

  • HDMI – Working on High Sierra and below

  • Brightness Control – Stuck on generic setting, use Brightness Slider from the App Store

  • Power Status – Working with ACPIBatteryManager

  • Audio (Speakers and Microphone) – Working with VoodooHDA and AppleHDADisabler

  • Audio (Headphones) – Working with VoodooHDA and AppleHDADisabler (Settings change required, see bottom)

  • Audio (HDMI) – Working with VoodooHDA and AppleHDADisabler

  • Automatic audio source switching: Not working, must be switched manually from the Finder Bar

  • Wireless LAN – Working with FakePCIID, BrcmFirmwareData, BrcmPatchRAM2, and Clover Devices patch

  • Bluetooth – Working with FakePCIID, BrcmFirmwareData, BrcmPatchRAM2 and Clover Devices patch

  • Webcam – Working

  • USB 3.0 Ports – Working

  • USB 2.0 Port – Working

  • Sleep – Working with DSDT Patch (no Powernap)

  • Disc reader – Working

  • SD Card Slot – Not working


What you need:

  • An internet connection

  • An existing Macintosh or Hackintosh

  • An 8+ GB USB thumb drive

  • (Optional) A Windows 10 Install disc or USB drive

  • Broadcom BCM94352Z Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Card (The stock Atheros QCA9377 is unsupported and WILL NOT work).

  • Patience, Time, and maybe some Google-Fu


Before you start:

  • Backup any important data on your system; you will need to completely erase the hard drive during the install process.

  • (Optional) Prepare a Windows 10 Install disc or USB drive. You will need it if you want to run Windows and MacOS side by side.

  • Replace the internal QCA9377 Wireless card with your new BCM94352Z. This requires fully removing the disc reader and bottom plate, not just the maintenance panel.


Installing MacOS:

  • Follow steps 1 and 2 of Tonymacx86’s Unibeast guide: https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/...ierra-on-any-supported-intel-based-pc.200564/. Due to the locked-down nature of the UEFI BIOS on this laptop, we will mostly need to work around the existing settings, rather than change them. Do make sure, though, that “Secure Boot” is disabled (if available). You can access the BIOS settings by pressing F2 at boot.

  • I have provided at the bottom of this guide a download link for my Clover config.plist, Drivers64UEFI folder, and kexts folder. Open the EFI partition on your Unibeast drive, and copy config.plist to EFI/Clover on the thumb drive. Also add the contents of Drivers64UEFI to the folder of the same name, and add all of the kexts in the “Kexts” folder to EFI/Clover/Kexts/Other. If at any point you are prompted to replace a file, just hit yes and move on.
    • Optional: I replaced VboxHFS.efi in Drivers64UEFI with HFSPlus.efi (download not provided). You don't have to do this, but you might want to anyway, just to be safe.
  • Go back to the Unibeast guide, and follow step 4 to install MacOS (Press F12 at boot to choose boot device).

  • Shutdown, and boot once again from your USB drive. When the clover boot screen comes up, choose “Boot MacOS from [Your Hard Drive Name]”. Finish setting up the system like normal (some kexts may need to be installed from within MacOS, see below).
  • Using MaciASL, apply the USB _PWR 0x6D Skylake Instant Wake patch to fix sleep mode.
Installing Clover on your hard drive:

  • Download Multibeast from Tonymacx86. Open it, and use it to install Clover.

  • Download Clover Configurator, and use it to mount the EFI partitions on both your hard drive and your USB drive. Copy the entire EFI/Clover folder from your USB drive to the EFI folder on your hard drive. When prompted if you would like to replace existing files, say yes.


Remove your USB drive and reboot. If all went well, Clover should come up shortly after the Acer logo, and you should be able to boot MacOS with everything working. If you’ll be installing Windows, keep your USB drive handy; you’ll need it to fix the bootloader later.



If Wi-Fi doesn’t work, then use KextBeast, Kext Wizard, or some other utility to install BrcmFirmwareData.kext, BrcmPatchRAM2.kext, FakePCIID.kext, and FakePCIID_Broadcom_Wifi.kext in /System/Library/Extensions. Rebuild the Kext Cache and reboot. If power status isn’t working properly, then use the same method install ACPIBatteryManager.kext. If audio isn't working, then install both VoodooHDA.kext and AppleHDADisabler.kext.



(Optional) Re-installing Windows:

  • Open Disk Utility on MacOS, and create a new partition to install Windows on. Don’t make it too big or too small, because you can’t easily change it later.
  • Insert your Windows install disc or USB drive, and boot from it.

  • Choose “Custom” when you reach the installation process. Select the blank partition you created, and then click on “New” near the bottom of the window. The installer will create some new partitions. Continue with the installation process like normal until Windows is fully installed and configured.

  • Follow this guide to make sure that the clocks in Windows and MacOS don’t conflict with each other: https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/fix-incorrect-time-in-windows-osx-dual-boot.133719/
With Windows installed, you will no longer be able to boot to Clover. Here’s how to fix that:



  • Boot from your Unibeast USB drive, and choose to boot MacOS from your internal hard drive.

  • From MacOS, open Clover Configurator and mount your hard drive’s EFI partition.

  • Open your EFI Partition, and go to EFI/Microsoft/Boot.

  • Rename “Bootmgfw.efi” to “Bootmgfw-orig.efi”.

  • Remove your USB drive and reboot. You should enter the clover bootloader.


You can now boot MacOS from your hard drive, and you can boot Windows by selecting “Microsoft EFI”.

Note that the next time you boot Windows, it may try to do disk checking. Make sure you skip this, or else Windows may try to overwrite Clover again.

I’ll be happy to answer any specific questions you may have about any of this. Please don’t ask a question without at least trying to find the answer on your own first.

Additionally, if anybody spots any mistakes in this guide, or finds a way to get backlight, AppleHDA, or SD Reader working, please let me know so I can make the appropriate changes.

EDIT: I found an easy fix for the weird audio on the headphones. Open Audio MIDI Setup, and choose "Headphones (Black Front)" on the left. Over on the right side, simply turn channel 2 down all the way, leaving channel 1 as is. You will only hear the left audio channel, but it will be played as mono and sound normal. If you want to hear both channels as mono, go to Settings > Accessibility > Sound, and choose "Play stereo audio as mono".
The underlying problem here is that VoodooHDA tries to play both audio channels through both the left and right headphones, but it plays them out of sync, and it struggles with decoding both of them at the same time. Switching to mono audio this way allows it to synchronize both tracks properly.
 

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Last edited:
Please do a video tutorial, thank you very much! ! !
 
Please do a video tutorial, thank you very much! ! !

I really don't have the time to put one of those together, with how involved this whole thing is. I also really don't want to redo the whole process just for a video.

I've tried my best to be as clear as possible in the guide. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
 
I use utility to install BrcmFirmwareData.kext, BrcmPatchRAM2.kext, FakePCIID.kext, and FakePCIID_Broadcom_Wifi.kext in /System/Library/Extensions.but my wifi can't work。How can you solve it?
 
I use utility to install BrcmFirmwareData.kext, BrcmPatchRAM2.kext, FakePCIID.kext, and FakePCIID_Broadcom_Wifi.kext in /System/Library/Extensions.but my wifi can't work。How can you solve it?

Did you replace the Wi-Fi card?
This laptop requires you to use the EXACT card listed. The one that it comes with DOES NOT work.

You're looking for a BCM94352Z. I found one on ebay for around $30, or Newegg sells them for $49. It's an easy thing to replace, just takes a screwdriver and some precision. It's under the bottom panel, right at the edge where the hinge is.

If you've done that and it still isn't working, make sure you're using those kexts AND the clover config.plist from my first post.
 
Did you replace the Wi-Fi card?
This laptop requires you to use the EXACT card listed. The one that it comes with DOES NOT work.

You're looking for a BCM94352Z. I found one on ebay for around $30, or Newegg sells them for $49. It's an easy thing to replace, just takes a screwdriver and some precision. It's under the bottom panel, right at the edge where the hinge is.

If you've done that and it still isn't working, make sure you're using those kexts AND the clover config.plist from my first post.

Thank you, I know. I did not change my WiFi card
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi, i have this same laptop and i followed the guide step by step, but when I chose to install Sierra, the installer stopped. I attach an image.
Someone help me !!!!!!!!
 

Attachments

  • acer aspire1.JPG
    acer aspire1.JPG
    2.8 MB · Views: 321
Hi, i have this same laptop and i followed the guide step by step, but when I chose to install Sierra, the installer stopped. I attach an image.
Someone help me !!!!!!!!
Was there any other text on screen before this?
 
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