[Guide] Dell Inspiron 15 7548 UHD - macOS 10.14.3 - Full Hotpatch

PacMan · Feb 18, 2019

Specifications

Dell Inspiron 15 7548
Display: 15,6" 4K Truelife Touchscreen panel (3480x2160)
Processor: Intel Core i7-5500U
Memory: 16GB DDR3
Hard drive: 256GB SSD
Video: Intel HD 5500 / AMD R7 260 (disabled)
Audio: ALC3234 (ALC255)
Wireless: Dell DW1560
Ports: 2 USB 3.0 • 1 USB 2.0 • 1 HDMI • Headphone jack • SD Card slot
Camera: Integrated webcam
Operating system: macOS 10.14.3

What works

Battery status
Brightness w/brightness keys
USB ports (USB3/2, webcam, SD Card)
Wifi / Bluetooth (Handoff, AirDrop, AirPlay not tested)
Audio (HDMI, internal speakers, headphones and microphone)
Power Management (with AMD graphics disabled)
Trackpad/Touchscreen Gestures (4 finger gesture not supported on trackpad)

What doesn't work

Full 4K resolution on built-in display (1840x1035@60 HiDPI max) and through HDMI (1920x1080@60 non-HiDPI max)
Sleep, you might get a black screen or freeze at wake sometimes

Installation Guide

0. BIOS settings

Virtualization: [Disabled]
SATA Operation: [AHCI]
Boot List Option: [UEFI]
Secure Boot: [Disabled]
LoadLegacy Option Rom (CSM): [Enabled]

Note: the default DVMT prealloc for this laptopt is 64MB so no BIOS patching is needed. Changing to a higher setting and patching the framebuffer to match the value didn't seem to solve the resolution issue. The BIOS used in this laptop is A08.

1. Building the macOS Installer

Partitioning the USB
Use a 16GB USB2 partitioned as GPT (hidden EFI partition automatically created).
With the USB pluged in, determine its identifier with 'diskutil' command, in Terminal:

Code:

diskutil list

Repartition the USB, for example /dev/disk2:

Code:

# repartition /dev/disk2 GPT, one partition
# EFI will be created automatically
# second partition, "install_macos", HFS+J, remainder
diskutil partitionDisk /dev/disk2 1 GPT HFS+J "install_macos" R

Building the Installer
Download macOS Mojave from AppStore.
Use the same mechanism you would use to create a USB installer for a real Mac (createinstallmedia), in Terminal:

Code:

# copy installer image
sudo "/Applications/Install macOS Mojave.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia" --volume  /Volumes/install_macos --nointeraction

# rename
sudo diskutil rename "Install macOS Mojave" install_macos

Installing Clover
Download Clover Installer from RehabMan fork: https://github.com/RehabMan/Clover
Run the Clover Installer package (Clover UEFI on GPT):

select the target of the install to "install_macos" using "Change Install Location"
select "Customize" (the default is Legacy)
check "Install for UEFI booting only", "Install Clover in the ESP" will automatically select
check "BGM" from Themes
the defaults for Drivers64UEFI are recommended

After making your selections you can continue to "Install" the Clover bootloader to your USB.
Add HFSPlus.efi to EFI/Clover/drivers64UEFI (not included in the Clover installer): https://github.com/JrCs/CloverGrowerPro/raw/master/Files/HFSPlus/X64/HFSPlus.efi

Preparing essential kexts
Download and copy to EFI/CLOVER/kexts/Other the essential kexts listed below.

AirportBrcmFixup.kext: https://github.com/acidanthera/AirportBrcmFixup
FakeSMC.kext: https://github.com/RehabMan/OS-X-FakeSMC-kozlek
Lilu.kext: https://github.com/acidanthera/Lilu
USBInjectAll.kext: https://github.com/RehabMan/OS-X-USB-Inject-All
VoodooPS2Controller.kext: https://github.com/RehabMan/OS-X-Voodoo-PS2-Controller
WhateverGreen.kext: https://github.com/acidanthera/WhateverGreen

Choosing a config.plist
Download config_HD5300_5500_6000.plist from: https://github.com/RehabMan/OS-X-Clover-Laptop-Config/archive/master.zip

comment framebuffer patch on Devices/Properties/PciRoot(0)/Pci(0x02,0)
set DellSIMBIOSPatch to YES on KernelAndKextPatches
rename it to config.plist and replace in EFI/CLOVER.

2. Using the macOS Installer

Note: The SSD must be previously formated by Windows or Disk Utility.

Boot your computer to the USB.
Clover bootloader screen shows up, select "install_macos" (boot verbose).
Use Disk Utility to partition your drive as GPT, create a APFS partition and install macOS to your formatted partition.
Clover bootloader screen shows up (it can happen many times), select "Boot macOS from YourPartition". "YourPartition" will be named depending on what you chose in Disk Utility in step 3.
If everything goes well you'll arrive at the macOS desktop.

Note: If the installer finishes and you get a black/gray screen that looks garbled when you use keyboard, find a way to get to System Preferences -> Displays -> set Resolution to Scaled -> change Scale to a larger text.

Note: If you can't reach System Preferences to scale down resolution, boot with ivalid ig-platform-id, install some VNC viewer and control the Macbook from another device.

3. Basic Post Installation

Installing Clover to SSD
The Clover installation to the SSD is the same as installing it to the USB, except that the install targer will be your macOS system volume.
To mount the EFI partition containing Clover, in Terminal:

Code:

# determine EFI partition identifier
diskutil list

# make mounting directory
sudo mkdir /Volumes/efi

# mount the EFI partition
sudo mount -t msdos /dev/disk0s1 /Volumes/efi

An easier way to do this is directly with 'diskutil' command (only having EFI partition labeled as 'EFI'), in Terminal:

Code:

sudo diskutil mount EFI

Select on BIOS/BOOT add UEFI boot entry option, and search for the partition containing Clover and select CLOVERX64.efi. Put the boot option at the top so it'll boot first.

Note: the IONetworkingFamily.kext patch found on KernelAndKextPatches/KextToPatch must be removed now that we have a running system.

Installing Kexts
Install kexts from Clover and those needeed to L/E from Terminal:

Code:

sudo cp -R KextToInstall.kext /Library/Extensions

Note that once you install a kext with incorrect permissions or wrong location, you must remove it first:

Code:

sudo rm -Rf /Library/Extensions/KextToRemove.kext

And to rebuild cache:

Code:

sudo kextcache -i /

Problem Reporting
Download the install_tools.sh from https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/tool-generate-proper-problem-reporting-files.235953/, and run in Terminal:

Code:

chmod a+x ~/Downloads/install_tools.sh
~/Downloads/install_tools.sh

#tu run it
gen_debug

Original Post
RehabMan's complete install guide https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/guide-booting-the-os-x-installer-on-laptops-with-clover.148093/

PacMan · Feb 18, 2019

Post Installation Guide

0. Patching Laptop DSDT/SSDT

Extracting native ACPI files
At the main Clover bootloader screen, press F4 and Clover will dump the native ACPI files to EFI/Clover/ACPI/origin. You can then access them after you boot macOS to disassemble and patch them.

Preparing tools for disassembly
You need the iasl compiler, which is run from Terminal, download it from: https://bitbucket.org/RehabMan/acpica/downloads/
Copy it to /usr/bin, in Terminal:

Code:

sudo cp ~/Downloads/iasl /usr/bin

Disassembling ACPI files
Disassemble in macOS Terminal:

Code:

cd "to directory where you placed all SSDT/DSDT"
iasl -da -dl DSDT.aml SSDT*.aml

From this point, work only with the resulting *.dsl and once the patching is finished, save them as "ACPI Machine Language Binary" in Clover/ACPI/patched.

Fixing Errors
Even by disassembling all at once the native files still have errors. Must patch so they compile without errors (warnings are ok) using MaciASL. Download link: https://github.com/RehabMan/OS-X-MaciASL-patchmatic
Once al DSDT/SSDT compile without errors we can start patching.

Hotpatch
Download and save the hotpatch folder from: https://github.com/RehabMan/OS-X-Clover-Laptop-Config/archive/master.zip, we'll edit those necessary for the fixes.

Note: all the modified .dsl files created in this guide are attached in this post. It's strongly recommended to make your own patches to avoid problems due to hardware/software compatibility.

1. Power Management
Run on Terminal:

Code:

sudo pmset -a hibernatemode 0
sudo rm /var/vm/sleepimage
sudo mkdir /var/vm/sleepimage
sudo pmset -a standby 0
sudo pmset -a autopoweroff 0

Always check your hibernatemode after updates and disable it. System updates tend to re-enable it, although the trick above (making sleepimage a directory) tends to help.

2. Brightness
Save SSDT-PNLF.dsl and SSDT-ALS0.dsl (found in hotpatch folder) as .aml in CLOVER/ACPI/patched.
Backlight level is properly stored between restarts.

3. Disable AMD Graphics Card
Open SSDT-DDGPU.dsl and:

remove all entries from the _SB.PCI0.PEGP.DGFX path
change PEG0 to RP05 on all _SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP entries
save as .aml and replace on CLOVER/ACPI/patched.

4. USB
Download SSDT-UIAC-ALL.dsl from https://github.com/RehabMan/OS-X-USB-Inject-All and patch it.

package is 8086_9cb1 as per IOreg, remove all the other entries
remove unused ports
change the UsbConnector values to match the type of port (USB2 = 0, USB3 = 3, internal = 255)
save as SSDT-UIAC.aml to CLOVER/ACPI/patched
save SSDT-DEH01.dsl as .aml to CLOVER/ACPI/patched

Ports used:
HS01/SS01: USB3 Left - HS02/SS02: USB3 Right - HS03: USB2 Right - HS04: SD Card
HS05: Webcam - HS06: Touchscreen - HS07: Bluetooth

5. Battery Status
Download and install ACPIBatteryManager.kext from: https://github.com/RehabMan/OS-X-ACPI-Battery-Driver

save SSDT-XOSI.dsl (from hotpatch) and SSDT-BATT.dsl as .aml in CLOVER/ACPI/patched
enable _OSI -> XOSI and add _BST -> XBST and _BIF -> XBIF patches to config.plist (under ACPI/DSDT/Patches)

Code:

change _BST -> XBST
    <5f425354>
    <58425354>

change _BIF -> XBIF
    <5f424946>
    <58424946>

6. Audio
Download and install AppleALC.kext from: https://github.com/acidanthera/AppleALC
Reboot and check if there is a IRQ conflict caused by HPET, in Terminal:

Code:

kextstat | grep 'Lilu\|AppleALC\|AppleHDA'

If there is no AppleHDA apply FixHPET otherwise omit that fix.

On the config.plist:

set to YES FixHPET on ACPI/DSDT/Fixes
uncomment layout-id on Devices/Properties/PciRoot(0)/Pci(0x1b,0) and PciRoot(0)/Pci(0x03,0)
try each possible layout (30 worked)

ALC3234 (ALC255) has 10 posible layouts 3, 13, 17, 18, 21, 27, 28, 30, 31 and 99.

7. HDMI
As seen in IOreg under IGPU, framebuffer 1 is used when display is connected through HDMI port.
On config.plist under Devices/Properties/PciRoot(0)/Pci(0x02,0):

uncomment framebuffer-patch-enable, framebuffer-con1-enable and framebuffer-con1-type
uncomment framebuffer-con2-enable
add framebuffer-con2-alldata and set <ff000000 01000000 40000000> to completely disable con2 (fixes sleep issues)

8. Touchpad/Touchscreen Gestures
Download and install VoodooI2C.kext and VoodooI2CHID.kext from: https://github.com/alexandred/VoodooI2C

make sure that SSDT-XOSI.aml is in CLOVER/ACPI/patched and _OSI -> XOSI patch applied (done for battery status fix)
remove VoodooPS2Mouse and VoodooPS2Trackpad from /L/E/VoodooPS2Controller/Contents/PlugIns
rebuild cache

9. Bluetooth
WiFi hardware has a built-in bluetooth controller that connects to the USB bus, patch USB correctly and install:
BT4LEContiunityFixup.kext: https://github.com/acidanthera/BT4LEContiunityFixup (handoff/continuity features)
BrcPatchRAM2.kext/BrcmFirmwareRepo.kext: https://github.com/RehabMan/OS-X-BrcmPatchRAM

10. Keyboard
The SSDT-KBD.dsl has the brightnes keys patches and also for the Fn+PrtScr that messed with the Wifi. It has also a remapping for PS2 keys PrtScr, Fn+PrtScr and Fn+(right)Ctrl to F13, F16 and F17 respectively.

Detect the ACPI events generated by the keys with ACPIDebug.kext, and adding to the DSDT "Add DSDT Debug Methods" and "Instrument EC Queries" patches. Monitor Console.app which codes are generated (_Q81 and _Q80 for brightness and _Q9F for Fn+PrtScr) and:

save SSDT-KBD.dsl as .aml in CLOVER/ACPI/patched
add _Q80 -> XQ80, _Q81 -> XQ81 and _Q9F -> XQ9F patches to config.plist (under ACPI/DSDT/Patches)

Code:

change _Q80 -> XQ80 (brightness up)
    <5f513830>
    <58513830>

change _Q81 -> XQ81 (brightness down)
    <5f513831>
    <58513831>

change _Q9F -> XQ9F (Fn+PrtScr)
    <5f513946>
    <58513946>

11. Sleep
This patch prevents "instant wake" when entering on sleep. For the proper function of sleep it's mandatory to patch the entire system.

save SSDT-GPRW.dsl (modified) as .aml in CLOVER/ACPI/patched
add (GPRW,2,N) -> XPRW patch to config.plist (under ACPI/DSDT/Patches)

Code:

change (GPRW,2,N) -> XPRW
   <47505257 02>
   <58505257 02>

Note: there are still some issues with sleep, will update as soon it's fixed.

12. Max Resolution
As the max resolution possible for 4K display is non standard (1840x1035 HiDPI), we'll create a file fo adding it to the Display menu. VendorID: 4c83, ProductId: 4c46.

Create directory for the plist file (if it doesn't exist):

Code:

sudo mkdir /System/Library/Displays/Contents/Resources/Overrides/DisplayVendorID-4c83

Create DisplayProductID-4c46.plist file in desktop (if its found on Overrides folder, modify existing file), and copy:

XML:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>DisplayProductName</key>
    <string>Dell UHD Display</string>
    <key>DisplayProductID</key>
    <integer>19526</integer>
    <key>DisplayVendorID</key>
    <integer>19587</integer>
    <key>scale-resolutions</key>
    <array>
        <data>AAAOYAAACBY=</data>
        <data>AAAHMAAABAs=</data>
    </array>
</dict>
</plist>

Save the file and copy it to the final directory (without the plist extension):

Code:

sudo cp Desktop/DisplayProductID-4c46.plist /System/Library/Displays/Contents/Resources/Overrides/DisplayVendorID-4c83/DisplayProductID-4c46

Restart computer and the new resolution will appear on System Preferences -> Displays (click scaled while pressing option if resolution isn't there).

Original Posts
Special thanks to @RehabMan and all the people from tonymacx86 community.

0. Patching Laptop DSDT/SSDT: https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/guide-patching-laptop-dsdt-ssdts.152573/
1. Power Management: https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/guide-native-power-management-for-laptops.175801/
2. Brightness: https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/guide-laptop-backlight-control-using-applebacklightfixup-kext.218222/
3. Disabling Discrete Graphics: https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/guide-disabling-discrete-graphics-in-dual-gpu-laptops.163772/unread
4. USB: https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/guide-creating-a-custom-ssdt-for-usbinjectall-kext.211311/unread
5. Battery Status: https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/guide-how-to-patch-dsdt-for-working-battery-status.116102/unread
6. Audio / 7. HDMI: https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/guide-intel-igpu-hdmi-dp-audio-all-sandy-bridge-kaby-lake-and-likely-later.189495/
8. Touchpad/Touchscreen: https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/voodooi2c-help-and-support.243378/
9. Bluetooth: https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/faq-read-first-laptop-frequent-questions.164990/
10. Keyboard: https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/guide-patching-dsdt-ssdt-for-laptop-backlight-control.152659/
12. Max Resolutions: https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/adding-using-hidpi-custom-resolutions.133254/
Hotpatching ACPI: https://www.tonymacx86.com/threads/guide-using-clover-to-hotpatch-acpi.200137/

shael · Feb 20, 2019

why did you disable the amd card? does it not work?

Feartech · Feb 20, 2019

shael said:
why did you disable the amd card? does it not work?

dual gpu's don't work on laptops

best to disable the amd card for battery saving

shael · Feb 20, 2019

Feartech said:
dual gpu's don't work on laptops

best to disable the amd card for battery saving

i thought it was just optimus that doesnt work?

Feartech · Feb 20, 2019

shael said:
i thought it was just optimus that doesnt work?

pretty much what i was saying

shael · Feb 21, 2019

Feartech said:
pretty much what i was saying

i thought optimus was nvidia only?

Feartech · Feb 21, 2019

shael said:
i thought optimus was nvidia only?

AMD calls it Xconnect but it is the same basis

slagdemon · May 15, 2019

Trying this with Mojave, same laptop you have except with the slightly lower resolution touch screen. I can boot to the clover usb screen, but when I go to install, the screen goes black and eventually, if you hit a key, the laptop reboots. Kind of at a loss since you can't see anything on screen. I followed the directions in the first post to a "T", so I should have had similar results to you.

slagdemon · May 21, 2019

I got the install working finally and can boot into Mojave, but no battery, no audio.

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[Guide] Dell Inspiron 15 7548 UHD - macOS 10.14.3 - Full Hotpatch

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