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Guide to Installing Lion on HP Probook

RehabMan

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Joined
May 2, 2012
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Motherboard
Intel DH67BL
CPU
i7-2600K
Graphics
HD 3000
Mac
  1. MacBook Air
Mobile Phone
  1. iOS
Please Note

If you have an issue with this guide, please post a reply in this thread and I will try to address it with an edit (and then delete your post).

If you have an issue with your laptop after following this guide, please DO NOT reply to this thread. I do not want this thread to be one of those 25-page threads with a bunch of random questions in it. So, open a new thread for your issue, or resolve your issue by reading the FAQ or doing a search.

Installation

Installing Lion on the HP Probook 4x30s series laptops is actually pretty easy (compared to other hacks you may attempt). This is mostly thanks to the fact that the hardware is very generic and well supported by current versions of Mac OS and to all who have contributed to the process including tonymac, MacMan, blueking, tegezee, Mieze, Zenith432, kozlek, bcc9, BigDonkey, philip_petev, Mac4Mat, RehabMan and others who spend many hours messing with the technical details to make things run smoothly.

Here is what you will need:
- A legal purchased "Install Mac OS X Lion.app" from the Mac App Store
- philip_petev's HP ProBook Installer from here: http://www.tonymacx86.com/hp-probook/87816-hp-probook-installer-6-1-4x30s-4x40s-support.html
- The latest Unibeast from here: http://www.tonymacx86.com/downloads.php?do=cat&id=3
- Access to an OS X install, where the "Install Mac OS X Lion.app" is. Whether this is Lion or Snow Leopard, or Leopard, hackintosh or Mac, it doesn't matter.
- A flash drive that can be formatted, anything 8 GB or bigger is fine.
- For computers with high resolution displays (1600x900 or greater), a "mini SSDT" from here: https://github.com/RehabMan/HP-ProBook-4x30s-DSDT-Patch/raw/master/Mini-SSDT-DualLink.aml
- For ProBook Installer v6.1.1: If you're starting with a version of Lion that is not the latest, gather the "combo" update from here: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1582, and place it on a USB stick or other media.

1. Go to the Mac where "Install Mac OS X Lion.app" downloaded from the Mac App Store is. Your "Install Mac OS X Lion.app" must be present in the Applications folder before running Unibeast (prior versions allowed you to mount InstallESD.dmg, but not the latest version). Make sure you download the Unibeast intended for Lion.

2. Insert your flash drive, and open disk utility. Format it as Mac OS X Extended (Journaled) with a MBR partition map. Name it Installer. Note: If your flash drive is larger than 8GB, create a partition that is 8GB instead of the full size of the drive.

3. Exit Disk Utility, and run Unibeast, installing to that flash drive. When installing, be sure to select "Laptop Support." Then select your flash drive to install it to. Let it finish to create your Unibeast USB flash drive.

4. Copy the latest HP Probook Installer to the flash drive. You will need it later.

4a. If you have upgraded your screen from the standard 1366x768 screen in the 45x0s to either 1920x1080 or to 1600x900, or you have a Probook 47x0s with a 1920x1080 or 1600x900 screen, you must copy a "mini SSDT" to the Unibeast flash drive as /Extra/ssdt.aml. So, copy the Mini-SSDT-DualLink.aml from your Downloads to the clipboard, navigate to the Unibeast drive's /Extra folder, and paste it. Then rename it to ssdt.aml. You may have to show hidden files or navigate to /Volumes/Installer/Extra directly via Finder's Go -> Go to Folder.. option. Having this /Extra/ssdt.aml on your Unibeast drive will enable you to have a working screen during installation.

5. Now we are moving on to the laptop. If you have discrete graphics card (switchable graphics) other than the Intel HD 3000, disable it in BIOS now. It currently does not work in OS X. If your laptop has an i5 or i7 processor, be sure to disable "Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O" in BIOS. If you can't boot for some reason, set all BIOS settings to default, and then try again, again making sure any other graphics cards are disabled, and "Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O" is disabled.

6. Insert the flash drive in one of the USB ports on the right (you want a USB2 port, not USB3).

7. Upon boot-up, hit Esc, and F9. Then, select the USB hard drive. Select the Flash Drive, called Installer, and hit enter. Let it load.

8. Now you should be at the Installer screen. Hit continue to select your language.

9. Along the top, click Utilities. Then select Disk Utility.

10. Select your hard drive, and format it in however many partitions you want, with a GUID partition map.

11. Hit Alt+Q to return to the installer after you have finished. Finish the install process like normal, selecting the partition you just made.

12. After it restarts, you will need to once again hit Esc then F9. Then select the USB hard drive again. This time, select the partition you just installed Lion on, and hit enter. Make sure you leave the flash drive plugged in.

12a. It will now say you need to use a keyboard. Plug it in on the other USB port on the right, and after the stupid prompt goes away, you can unplug it.

13. Finish the setup process like normal. After you get to the desktop, open the flash drive (it's called Installer in Finder) and copy the HP Probook installer to your desktop.

13b. For ProBook Installer v6.1.1 and greater: If you installed a version of Lion other than the latest (eg. latest is 10.7.5, but you installed 10.7.3), you must update to the latest using the 'combo update' downloaded from apple.com. This is because the ProBook Installer v6.1.1 only supports the latest of each major OS X release. Update using the combo update PKG and DO NOT RESTART.

14. Run the installer, and select:

- From "OS X support kexts," select only the version that matches your laptop (4x30s) the version of OS X you just installed.
- From "DSDT generator/patcher" select your "ProBook model," a "Fan behavior" that matches your preferences, and your "Display type." If you have an Atheros 9285 WiFi mini PCIe card installed, choose the 9285 patch under "Optional patches." Note: you must select one option from each of the first three groups to generate a patched DSDT. In addition, you must have no DSDT present in /Extra/dsdt.aml at the time you run this option. If you wish to regenerate a DSDT later, you must remove /Extra/dsdt.aml, reboot, and then run the ProBook Installer using your desired DSDT options.
- Check the option for "SSDT" generator.
- From "System definitions," select ONE system definition which matches closest your laptop.
- Chameleon: This allows you to boot from your main HDD/SSD
- From "Optional hardware-specific fixes,"
- "AHCI 3rd party kext," You can apply this option later if it turns out your DVD drive is not recognized by the system. It is not needed on every laptop.
- "Graphic Glitch Fix," You probably won't need this, because you will have a custom patched DSDT, but you can try without and see if you experience random blocks/lines on the display. This option can help sometimes.
- "EDID generator" Recommended.
- From "Misc OS X fixes"
- "Color profiles," Recommended.
- "Sleep fix," If you have SSD, "Sleep image fix" is recommended. This disables OS X version of "hybrid sleep" where upon entering sleep, a "hibernation image" is written to the boot drive. For SSD, you don't really want to write this file every time your laptop goes to sleep.
- "blinkscreen" This option works around an issue where 1) all the screen brightness levels are not available before the first display sleep, and 2) the screen brightness is not restored on a fresh boot (still... currently only fixed if you're using the Chameleon boot loader). This option will very quickly "blink" the screen when you login, fixing the brightness issue.
- "Screen brightness fix" Select an option here if you would like your screen brightness changed automatically each time the laptop starts.
- "Extra tools" All optional. Select the ones you want.

15. Shutdown the computer, unplug the USB flash drive and attempt to boot from the hard drive. If it does not work (you don't see the Chimera boot loader), it is very likely you have a 4k/AF (advanced format) HDD. If that is the case, see this link for more information (start at solution 1 step 4, or solution 2 step 2): http://www.tonymacx86.com/25-boot0-error-official-guide.html.

16. At this point everything should be working (WiFi, Audio, keyboard, trackpad, ethernet, etc.). Note for WiFi: You must have Atheros for it to work. If you don't you should consider replacing the mini-PCI card that provides WiFi.

Updates

10.7.0 to 10.7.1

1. Download and install the update from here: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1437. DO NOT RESTART.

2. Run philip_petev's Probook Installer again, selecting only the Mac OS X 10.7.1 option


10.7.1 to 10.7.2

1. Download and install the update from here: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1458. DO NOT RESTART.

2. Run philip_petev's Probook Installer again, selecting only the Mac OS X 10.7.2 option


10.7.2 to 10.7.3

1. Download and install the update from here: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1484. DO NOT RESTART.

2. Run philip_petev's Probook Installer again, selecting only the Mac OS X 10.7.3 option


10.7.3 to 10.7.4

1. Download and install the update from here: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1525. DO NOT RESTART.

2. Run philip_petev's Probook Installer again, selecting only the Mac OS X 10.7.4 option

3. Note: If you previously did not use this guide to install Lion, then be sure to visit step 14 above to be sure you have all the required files for later versions. In particular, SSDT was not required until 10.7.4 and later.


10.7.4 to 10.7.5

1. Download and install the update from here: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1582. DO NOT RESTART.

2. Run philip_petev's Probook Installer again, selecting only the Mac OS X 10.7.5 option

3. Note: If you previously did not use this guide to install Lion, then be sure to visit step 14 above to be sure you have all the required files for later versions. *In particular, SSDT was not required until 10.7.4 and later.


10.7.5 Supplemental Update

1. Apply it through Software Update or from here: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1599. This one is safe.


Other Updates

When new updates come out it is best to wait until someone here has analysed what is in the update and if any additional patches or rollbacks are required. And with all updates it is wise to create a backup before performing the update, because you never know what is going to happen.

If you want to understand more, get Pacifist so you can look inside PKG installers...


BIOS updates/hardware upgrades

If you ever make a hardware change or update the BIOS, you should re-patch your DSDT. See this thread: DSDT patch: http://www.tonymacx86.com/hp-probook/70490-hp-probook-4x30s-4330-4430-4530-4730-patches-updated.html and this thread for a guide using MacIASL: http://www.tonymacx86.com/hp-probook/83573-patching-your-dsdt-probook-4x30s-using-maciasl.html

You can also re-patch your DSDT using the ProBook Installer. Follow these instructions

1. Remove /Extra/dsdt.aml. If you have a high-resolution screen, install Mini-SSDT-DualLink.aml to /Extra/ssdt-1.aml. Then reboot. After reboot, you are running without a DSDT (no audio, WiFi, battery, etc)
2. Run ProBook Installer and select only the DSDT options you did before in step 14.
3. Allow the ProBook Installer to create your DSDT, then reboot.


Optional Optimizations:

A number of the kexts that are in the installer are under active development. If you want, you can update to these kexts as they are updated.

- Battery Manager: http://www.tonymacx86.com/hp-probook/69472-battery-manager-fix-boot-without-batteries.html
- Keyboard/Trackpad: http://www.tonymacx86.com/hp-probook/75649-new-voodoops2controller-keyboard-trackpad.html
- Fan Control: http://www.tonymacx86.com/hp-probook/72043-new-fan-control-dsdt-silent-fan-higher-temps.html


FAQ: Please see this post for common questions/issues: http://www.tonymacx86.com/hp-probook-4530s/77496-faq-lion-hp-probook.html


*** This guide adapted by RehabMan from blueking's original guide for Lion.
 
where can I find an older version of unibeast.

I want to just use installESD.dmg instead of the install mac os x lion app

because I dont have the install mac os x lion app, I only have the esd.dmg

I don't think they are available anymore. This was done to reduce the incidents of piracy.
If you legitimately purchased Lion from the Mac App Store, you can always re-download it.
 
Updated to use ProBook Installer v6.1 (currently in beta, but stable).
 
Hello, so I've been running 10.7.3 smoothly for a long time and I feel like it's time to upgrade to ML though I can't find any specific guides on upgrading my 4530s from Lion to ML, what's exactly the method to follow?
Thanks a lot!
 
Hello, so I've been running 10.7.3 smoothly for a long time and I feel like it's time to upgrade to ML though I can't find any specific guides on upgrading my 4530s from Lion to ML, what's exactly the method to follow?
Thanks a lot!

You (almost) just replied to it -- You install per the ML guide: see sticky guide on ML ProBook forum.
I do not recommend 'upgrading' only clean install.
 
Ah, so It's just making a backup and clean installing then, right?
Thanks again
 
Ah, so It's just making a backup and clean installing then, right?
Thanks again

Pretty much. Make backup of your important files. Install fresh, then copy your important files, re-install apps...

An upgrade might work, but it also might have little issues that bite later, so I don't see the point... With a fresh install, you know what you have.
 
This guide will work with a Probook 4520S (with a Celeron P4500)?

Thanks in advance
 
This guide will work with a Probook 4520S (with a Celeron P4500)?

Thanks in advance

I don't think so. Although the 4x20s DSDT may have some something in common with the 4x30s...
 
Just a few tips for noobs like me:

In step 2 to check whether your format has "an mbr partition map" Go to: disk utility, partition tab, select the number of partitions that you want, and under options you can set 'master boot record (set by default).

In step 3 make you sure you select the os you want to install AND click laptop support. In my case it was mountain lion.

In step 14, IF you're installing a dual-boot, Click chameleon otherwise you may get the same thing that happened to me: It wouldn't show the boot menu and kept going straight into windows.
 
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