[hootoot]

I have a Dell Mini 9 hackintosh that I created using the mechdrew method 3.

I have successfully created a compressed backup disk image of my SSD using mechdrew's method as documented on his site here:

Guide Advanced 1: Backup and Restore Installations | DellEFI | mechdrew

What I'm not clear on is the restore process. I know how to use Disk Utility to format the SSD and restore the image to it, but I'm not sure how to then run DellEFI 1.2a5 to restore the boot code to the SSD. When I'm booted off the OSXDVD flash drive, I can run Disk Utility and Terminal and so forth, but how can I run DellEFI 1.2a5?

Or am I missing something obvious? (Wouldn't be the first time!)

Thank you!

[OSX2009]

From my understanding, you need to boot back into the restored version of OSX and then run the DellEFI app from there to restore the bootloader. You should have made either a bootable USB or CD/DVD; so when you restart your Mini after restoring the image, boot from your USB (or DVD) with a bootloader, and tell it to boot your main SSD. That should successfully boot up your restored OSX, from there using the DellEFI app to restore the Chameleon bootloader.

[hootoot]

Originally Posted by OSX2009

From my understanding, you need to boot back into the restored version of OSX and then run the DellEFI app from there to restore the bootloader. You should have made either a bootable USB or CD/DVD; so when you restart your Mini after restoring the image, boot from your USB (or DVD) with a bootloader, and tell it to boot your main SSD. That should successfully boot up your restored OSX, from there using the DellEFI app to restore the Chameleon bootloader.

That's kind of what I figured. But in the process of installing using the mechdrew method 3, the only bootable USB I have has the OS X installer on it, and there's no way to get to DellEFI from that.

Is there a walkthrough somewhere on how to create a bootable USB stick such that I can run DellEFI?

Thank you!

[OSX2009]

If you installed OSX using Method 3, you should have the DellMiniBoot Disc (if not you can download it here: Guide Method 3: Install using External DVD Drive | DellEFI | mechdrew). Burn the ISO to a CD, if you haven't already, and boot up from that disc. Then just follow the Method 3 guide, starting on Step #4. You'll want to boot your SSD by typing in either 80, 81, or 82. If the restore worked properly, you should boot into OSX. From that point just run DellEFI (Note: all you need to do is select "Reinstall Chameleon 2.0RC1-r431 Bootloader," of course). Then just reboot normally, and you should be good to go.

[hootoot]

Originally Posted by OSX2009

If you installed OSX using Method 3, you should have the DellMiniBoot Disc (if not you can download it here: Guide Method 3: Install using External DVD Drive | DellEFI | mechdrew). Burn the ISO to a CD, if you haven't already, and boot up from that disc. Then just follow the Method 3 guide, starting on Step #4. You'll want to boot your SSD by typing in either 80, 81, or 82. If the restore worked properly, you should boot into OSX. From that point just run DellEFI (Note: all you need to do is select "Reinstall Chameleon 2.0RC1-r431 Bootloader," of course). Then just reboot normally, and you should be good to go.

When I did my installation (EDIT: using mechdrew method 1, version 3), the only bootable disk I had was the usb flash drive OSXDVD that has the OS X installer on it. I never had to do any of that stuff with syslinux or DellMiniBoot123v8.02b1.iso or hitting escape and typing 80, 81, or 82. (I came to this game pretty late - I just got my Mini 9 on 05-28-09.)

But it turns out that the walkthrough in mechdrew's old method, "Part A: Installing Mac OS X Using Two USB Drives" works just perfectly.

Thank you!