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NEWS: As of the 10.10.5 driver there are no longer the checks in the distribution file for system profile and if the hardware is installed. It only checks for the OS X build number. This makes problems 1 and 3 obsolete.
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This is a guide to help solve issues when trying to install the NVIDIA web drivers for the first time. There are various reasons why they won't install due to checks in the package file. This also covers a few issues where the drivers won't load after an OS update or the boot results in a black screen.
Misconceptions:
You must use a MacPro3,1/4,1/5,1 profile to use the drivers - While the package does a check for those three systems, the drivers will run just fine on any system definition (iMac15,1 iMac17, and MacPro6,1 are a special case, see problem #4). iMac14,2 is generally the most compatible with modern systems.
CUDA is the same as the Web Driver - CUDA and the Web Driver are not the same thing and have very different functions. CUDA is a graphics library to enable computation or rendering in certain software using the GPU. Installing CUDA will not make a Maxwell card work, you must install the Web Driver to make it work. CUDA can be installed and used on ANY mac with an NVIDIA GPU even if the Web Drivers are not installed.
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Problem 1: Computer not supported error
This is caused by the system definition not being MacPro3,1/4,1/5,1.
Fix: Edit the "Distribution" file within the package using the Flat Package Editor.
- Download the Flat Package Editor (FPE) from Apple: https://developer.apple.com/downloads/index.action
- Login and search for "Auxillary Tools"
- Download the "Late July 2012" dmg
- Mount the dmg and right click Package Maker to show the package contents
- Browse to /Contents/Resources and copy the FPE to your Applications or Utilities folder
- Open the NVIDIA Web Driver package using the Flat Package Editor
- Drag the Distribution file to your desktop
- Open the Distribution file using TextEdit
- Scroll down to the line: var system_models = ["MacPro3,1", "MacPro4,1", "MacPro5,1"];
- Add your system ID.
- Make sure that you don't use smart quotes which look like italicized quotation marks.
- Save the Distribution file
- Go back to FPE and delete the Distribution file from that window
- Drag the edited Distribution file to the FPE window and save the package, command+S
- Run the package and you shouldn't get the error.
NOTE: Once the drivers are installed this doesn't matter anymore and you can use any system definition you like and it will update fine.
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Problem 2: This version OS X is not supported
This is caused by having the wrong driver for your installed build of OS X.
Fix: Find out your build number and then get the right driver.
- Open up About This Mac
- Click where it says 10.10.2 or 10.10.1, etc.
- This will display your build number
- Download the right driver for your build:
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Problem 3: Have to install the web drivers without the NVIDIA GPU installed
Sometimes the system won't boot when the GPU is installed but there aren't any drivers so you have to use the integrated graphics. The problem is the drivers won't install when there isn't a NVIDIA GPU installed.
Fix: Modify the package to remove the GPU hardware check
- Obtain the Flat Package Editor (FPE) as described in Problem 1 fix steps 1-5
- Open the driver package using FPE
- Drag the Distribution file from FPE to your desktop
- Open the Distribution file using TextEdit
- Find this line and change the 0 to a 1
View attachment 133181
- Save the Distribution file
- In the FPE window, delete the Distribution file inside the package
- Drag the modified Distribution file from the desktop to the FPE window
- Save the package
- Launch the package and it should let you install the driver without the GPU installed
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Problem 4: Monitor goes to sleep at the end of the boot sequence when using iMac15,1 or iMac17,1 or MacPro 6,1 system definition
Fix: modify the AppleGraphicsDevicePolicy.kext as pointed out by PikeRAlpha
here. We have two options, using Clover's built in kext patching (preferred) or manually editing the kext. Using Clover to patch the kext on the fly is preferred because it does not get over written after each OS X update. If you do it manually you will have to make the edits after each update.
Method 1:
- Open your Clover config.plist using text edit and scroll till you see <key>KernelAndKextPatches</key>
- In that section you will want to add the following:
<key>KextsToPatch</key>
<array>
<dict>
<key>Comment</key>
<string>(c)Pike R. Alpha</string>
<key>Find</key>
<data>
Ym9hcmQtaWQ=
</data>
<key>Name</key>
<string>AppleGraphicsDevicePolicy</string>
<key>Replace</key>
<data>
Ym9hcmQtaXg=
</data>
</dict>
- Save your config and now your kext will be patched when you boot by changing board-id to board-ix.
Method 2:
- Open Terminal
- Enter this command (it is one line)
sudo nano /System/Library/Extensions/AppleGraphicsControl.kext/Contents/PlugIns/AppleGraphicsDevicePolicy.kext/Contents/Info.plist
- Arrow down to where you see <key>ConfigMap</key>
- For the iMac15,1 locate the board-id "Mac-42FD25EABCABB274" and change string below it from "Config2" to "none". For the MacPro6,1 you will do the same thing but for the board-id "Mac-F60DEB81FF30ACF6". For the iMac17,1 you'll have to see which board-id is declared in your config.plist SMBIOS: "Mac-B809C3757DA9BB8D" or "Mac-65CE76090165799A" or "Mac-DB15BD556843C820" and change the appropriate entry to "none".
- Save the file by pressing Ctrl+O, then enter.
- Exit by pressing Ctrl+X
- Rebuild the kernel cache using the following two commands in terminal:
sudo kextcache -system-prelinked-kernel
sudo kextcache -system-caches
- Reboot
NOTE: you may need to use kext-dev-mode=1 if not already using it to allow the modified kext.
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Problem 5: You accidentally updated OS X and now your unsupported Nvidia card won't work because the drivers won't load.
Fix: modify the NVDAStartup.kext to force the older drivers to load.
- Open up terminal and enter the following command:
sudo nano /System/Library/Extensions/NVDAStartupWeb.kext/Contents/Info.plist
- Enter your password and scroll down to where it says NVDARequiredOS
- Change the build number below that to your current build number
- Rebuild kernel cache suing the two commands from Problem #4
- Reboot
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Please let me know of any other errors you are encountering and I will update this post with solutions.
Change log:
- 4/7/15: initial post
- 4/8/15: added problem 3
- 4/22/15: added screenshots
- 4/23/15: added 10.10.3 driver links
- 4/27/15: added driver update process
- 5/5/15: added black screen fix for certain system profiles
- 5/11/15: added additional steps and notes to #4
- 5/24/15: added driver download links for f03 & f04
- 7/1/15: added 10.10.4 driver link
- 7/30/15: added new driver link for 10.10.4
- 8/13/15: added link for 10.10.5 beta driver
- 8/14/15: added link for 10.10.5 final release driver
- 8/15/15: added news about 10.10.5 driver
- 10/5/15: updated problem 4 to use sudo nano
- 10/26/15: added links for El Capitan drivers
- 12/9/15: added link for 10.11.2 driver.
- 12/9/15: added problem #5 to help with Yosemite security patches
- 3/2/16: added Clover patching for AppleGraphicsDevicePolicy.kext in problem #4
- 4/6/16: updated driver list
