Install Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard on VMware with Pre Installed Image

541 thoughts on “Install Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard on VMware with Pre Installed Image”

1. Bill > It’s just poor design from the bootloader developers 🙂 When you get to the “Darth Vader” screen, you can choose to boot the OS by selecting the Mac icon (press right arrow) and then Enter. The thing with the Snow Leopard disc is only for installing the OS.

   Ken > when you get to the “Darth Vader” screen, press “-f” (without quotes) – you should see it in the lower part of the screen. Then press Enter. Worked for me.

   • Radu thanks for the quick reply. I did what you said. I selected the Mac logo with right arrow and hit Enter. A few seconds later and I get the text screen again. But then the whole VM Player window closes and the program quits. I check Windows task manager and it isn’t running. I don’t know what’s wrong.

     • This is the config file that I have as downloaded from the torrent site. I notice that the very first line has a dot before the word “encoding” but I have no idea if that matters. As for the rest, I don’t know if anything else is wrong for my system. I do use the darwin_legacy.iso file to start the machine as mentioned by Dinesh for AMD and Windows 7 64 bit systems. Mine is a 64 bit Windows 7 system, Intel Core i7 970 (6 cores) @ 3.2 GHz. Plenty of ram (12GB) and hard drive is 2TB so a lot of room there. I know nothing about these config settings or even how this actually works, so Ii appreciate your help! Thank you.

       Here is the config file:

       .encoding = “windows-1251”
       config.version = “8”
       virtualHW.version = “7”
       maxvcpus = “4”
       scsi0.present = “TRUE”
       scsi0.virtualDev = “lsilogic”
       memsize = “1000”
       ide0:0.present = “TRUE”
       ide0:0.fileName = “Mac OS Snow Leopard.vmdk”
       ide1:0.present = “TRUE”
       ide1:0.autodetect = “TRUE”
       ide1:0.deviceType = “cdrom-image”
       ethernet0.present = “TRUE”
       ethernet0.connectionType = “nat”
       ethernet0.virtualDev = “e1000”
       ethernet0.wakeOnPcktRcv = “FALSE”
       ethernet0.addressType = “generated”
       usb.present = “TRUE”
       ehci.present = “TRUE”
       sound.present = “TRUE”
       sound.fileName = “-1”
       sound.autodetect = “TRUE”
       pciBridge0.present = “TRUE”
       pciBridge4.present = “TRUE”
       pciBridge4.virtualDev = “pcieRootPort”
       pciBridge4.functions = “8”
       pciBridge5.present = “TRUE”
       pciBridge5.virtualDev = “pcieRootPort”
       pciBridge5.functions = “8”
       pciBridge6.present = “TRUE”
       pciBridge6.virtualDev = “pcieRootPort”
       pciBridge6.functions = “8”
       pciBridge7.present = “TRUE”
       pciBridge7.virtualDev = “pcieRootPort”
       pciBridge7.functions = “8”
       vmci0.present = “TRUE”
       roamingVM.exitBehavior = “go”
       displayName = “Mac OS Snow Leopard”
       guestOS = “darwin10-64”
       nvram = “Mac OS Snow Leopard.nvram”
       virtualHW.productCompatibility = “hosted”
       extendedConfigFile = “Mac OS Snow Leopard.vmxf”
       ide1:0.fileName = “darwin.iso”
       isolation.tools.hgfs.disable = “FALSE”
       sharedFolder0.present = “TRUE”
       sharedFolder0.enabled = “TRUE”
       sharedFolder0.readAccess = “TRUE”
       sharedFolder0.writeAccess = “TRUE”
       sharedFolder0.hostPath = “C:\Mac OS Snow Leopard\SVP”
       sharedFolder0.guestName = “SVP”
       sharedFolder0.expiration = “never”
       sharedFolder.maxNum = “1”
       floppy0.present = “FALSE”
       monitor.virtual_exec = “hardware”
       monitor.virtual_mmu = “software”
       ethernet0.generatedAddress = “00:0c:29:da:96:f9”
       tools.syncTime = “FALSE”
       uuid.location = “56 4d 16 a7 88 f3 6a 23-1b 8c bb 5f 89 da 96 f9”
       uuid.bios = “56 4d 16 a7 88 f3 6a 23-1b 8c bb 5f 89 da 96 f9”
       cleanShutdown = “TRUE”
       replay.supported = “FALSE”
       replay.filename = “”
       ide0:0.redo = “”
       pciBridge0.pciSlotNumber = “17”
       pciBridge4.pciSlotNumber = “21”
       pciBridge5.pciSlotNumber = “22”
       pciBridge6.pciSlotNumber = “23”
       pciBridge7.pciSlotNumber = “24”
       scsi0.pciSlotNumber = “16”
       usb.pciSlotNumber = “32”
       ethernet0.pciSlotNumber = “33”
       sound.pciSlotNumber = “34”
       ehci.pciSlotNumber = “35”
       vmci0.pciSlotNumber = “36”
       vmotion.checkpointFBSize = “16777216”
       usb:0.present = “TRUE”
       usb:1.present = “TRUE”
       ethernet0.generatedAddressOffset = “0”
       vmci0.id = “-1982163207”
       usb:1.deviceType = “hub”
       usb:0.deviceType = “mouse”

       • Hi Bill,
         Nothing wrong with this config file.

         Did you change the number of CPUs? Make it 1 CPU only.
         As Radu said, select the pre installed hard disk and press Enter.

         If this doesn’t work, select the harddisk by right arrow key next time and without pressing Enter Key now, press down arrow key. It will bring some more options, select verbose mode and press Enter.

         I’m hoping you checked the VT and made sure its working fine.

         Feel free to drop comment here, we will fix this 🙂

         • Dinesh,
           Thanks for the fast reply. I tried what your said, using verbose mode, but the same thing happens. It leaves the Darth Vader screen, goes back to the black text screen for a second or two, and then it just quits. The whole VMWare program shuts down and disappears. When I check Task Manager, it is not running anymore. Does it matter that there is a line in the config file about maxcpus=4? My system has a 6-core CPU, but again I don’t know anything about these things. Thank you for helping me.

         • Yes, it can be problem with maxcpus. I do not have this line in my config file, instead I have numvcpus = “1” . I’m seeing this numvcpus = “1” in my config file because I changed ‘Number of Processor Cores’ to 1 in Processors settings of virtual machine.
           I suggest to do this, because I don’t think darwin boot loader will read the 4 processor cores.
           You can get some ideas from log file in virtual machine’s working folder.
           Let me know.

         • I have been trying to install on 64bit windows 7 and have been running into the same issue, where VMWare Player just quits after attempting to boot from OSX. I am using the boot loader mentioned in the AMD article and don’t know what to do anymore. Any ideas on what to try?

         • OK here is the last log file. It does show some errors (Can’t set WSS) and some other things but I don’t understand what all of this means or what it all does. I hope someone can help me and Luis, who is having the same problem.
           Thanks.

           The last log file copied and removed by Dinesh

       • If you’re using an i3, i5, or i7 processor, you need to add this line to your VMX file:

         cpuid.1.eax = “0000:0000:0000:0001:0000:0110:1010:0101”

         Also, don’t use darwin_snow_legacy. Instead, just use darwin_snow.
         Once you’ve updated to 10.6.4, you should be OK removing that line from your VMX file.

         I’m running Windows 7 x64 with an i3-530 processor, and the above method worked perfect for me.

         • Thanks Yamachi. I had also found that solution online and my VM has been working now. But I am still using darwin_snow_legacy. Could you tell me why it’s better to use darwin_snow? I do have a problem that the VM won’t recognize the DVD drive. Otherwise I have solved a couple of other things. I have a Snow Leopard disc that I bought, 10.6.4, but as I said I can’t read the DVD drive, so I don’t know how I would upgrade anyway. Thanks again.

         • darwin_snow has the advantage of not requiring user input to boot your OS, whereas the _legacy version requires you to select what you want to boot from a menu. That’s the only reason I prefer it 😛

           As to your question of updating, simply use Mac OSX’s built-in software upgrade feature:
           Apple logo -> Software Update…

           If you do decide to use darwin_snow instead of _legacy, keep in mind that normal system reboots will cause you to get an “Operating system not found…” error. Simply stop your VM, then start it again.

         • it worked
           1000 times thanks from me..

         • This trick helped me. Previously, I was getting “no operating system found” error. thanks 🙂

         • It worked.
           Thank you.

       • THanks a lot for this help. I am able to run mac now in my machine.

2. Yes I have that line in my config file now. maxnumcpus=1 now. But it is still doing the same thing. I don’t know where to find the VMware log you mentioned. I looked in the VMWare progrm folder but I don’t see any log files. I know this can work on my system, but there must be one small thing that is causing the problem. I wish I understood more about it but I don’t. If you can help me to fix this, I would be very appreciative, but if not, I want to thank you for trying. But if you find a solution, maybe there will be more people who will have the newer CPUs with 6 cores, and maybe then you can be able to help all of us! Thank you.

   • I have tried to look at the log file but I don’t understand what it is I’m am supposed to look for. Everything is the original (default) files and settings. Once I see the Darth Vader screen and select the Apple logo and then use down arrow to select “boot verbose”, after a few seconds, all screens disappear and VMWare shuts down.

3. Hi Radu,

   Even I tried to type -f in the boot screen..my mouse still don’t work…I have to use VNC to remote control it for the mouse movement…

   Is there any other solutions? Thanks!

4. after update the latest OS X, mouse cursor freeze.
   any solution?

   • Can you close the VMware and add following line in config file.
     vmmouse.fileName = “auto detect”
     vmmouse.present = “TRUE”

     If works or not, please inform us.

     • hey guys
       I tried to upgrade the os using the Mac Upgrade Software option, and now I have the same similar issue with mouse cursor freeze… I can’t find the config file so I can add the last suggestion into it.
       where is this file located?
       any other suggestions or advices?
       thanks

     • hey guys
       I tried to upgrade the os using the Mac Upgrade Software option, and now I have the same similar issue with mouse cursor freeze… I can’t find the config file so I can’t add the last suggestion into it.
       where is this file located? what is its actual name?
       should i create it by myself?
       any other suggestions or advices?
       thanks

     • guys
       I tried to upgrade the os using the Mac Upgrade Software option, and now I have the same similar issue with mouse cursor freeze… I can’t find the config file so I can’t add the last suggestion into it.
       where is this file located? what is its actual name?
       should i create it by myself?
       any other suggestions or advices?
       thanks

       • do you use the empire EFI loader?
         if you do so this will work:
         if the EFI screen comes up press F5 so the Mac OS logo is first
         then selct the Mac OS logo en type this: -f
         under your screen will a grey bar apear with boot: on it
         if you have typed -f it will look like this: boot: -f
         if so press enter
         and the mouse will work!

         Wesley

     • guys
       I tried to upgrade the os using the Mac Upgrade Software option, and now I have the same similar issue with mouse cursor freeze… the above solution didn’t help to resolve the problem
       any other suggestions or advices?
       thanks

     • I added this two line in config file
       vmmouse.fileName = “auto detect”
       vmmouse.present = “TRUE”

       its not working……

5. hey guys
   I tried to upgrade the os using the Mac Upgrade Software option, but
   it is not working.. it downloads the packages but after I restart Mac using the VM
   restart option, the new upgrade doesn’t take effect… any advice, or suggestions
   on best practices to upgrade the OS
   Thanks in advance

6. Hello!
   I successfully ran the VM. I selected 3gb RAM in VMware Workstation 7 but when I run the VM, it only takes 1gb. What should I do?

   I have an AMD Phenom II x6 1055T and 8gb RAM ddr3-1600. Mobo ASUS M4A87TD/USB3.

   One more question, is it possible to assign more than 128MB of VRAM? I want to develop games using Unity 3D and I’d like faster 3D graphics (enough to develop games for iphone).

   Thank you!

   • same problem here. only 1 gb is seen in VM using VMware. I assigned 4 gb. any solution? Thanks.

     • Yes ..please could someone help out with this..
       tried editing the vmx..but still its not working…

       Thanks
       🙂

7. So i finally got around to re-installing, and this time i remembered what i did the last time around.

   Before updating to 10.6, I used my usb keyboard 😡
   This seems to be the only way to bypass the mouse stuck in the corner issue.

   It works perfectly, and once updated you don’t even need to have a mouse attached.

   Also I am using a laptop, if this helps anyone 😀

   If the mouse is a bit jerky after installation, lower the tracking speed from the mac options

8. Fix For Frozen Mouse:

   Ok . I tried the update thing 3 times, and it worked.

   Let’s see, the first time around the mouse froze.
   so I went back to the snapshot, and when it asked me to restart, I did it from the VM machine settings, and not from the Mac itself. It seemed like a silly thing, but when i powered it on, there was no mouse issue.

   Of course I was using an attached mouse.

   So then I repeated the steps above, with no usb mouse connected and voila! It does the trick yet again.

   So basically to correct this isuue:

   1. update normally.
   2. When asked to restart, use the Vm settings and not the Mac settings.

   Also, the first time it won’t go in, instead you’ll be taken to the loading screen, but the second time around you’ll be able to log in normally. I hope this solves the issue for other computers 😮

   • Hey,

     How did you get around the update that doesn’t give you the reboot option? The only button I get is “Install and Restart” and when I click on that to update the Mac image it doesn’t give me a chance to reboot via VM.

   • How do you reboot using the vmware settings instead of the mac settings?

   • This worked for me, god bless your sould haha.

     Thanks!

9. I have not had any success in installing this on Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit. Luis said he had the same problem. The VMWare player goes as far as the Darth Vader screen, and you can select “verbose mode”, but then it begins just for a split second and then the VMWare player just quits and disappears. It’s not even running in Task Manager processes so it’s completely stopped running. So did anyone find a solution?

   • OK so I found a solution online. It works but it was all in Russian language. I chaged everything except the help files. They are still in Russian. Can anyone tell me how to change this? I have a real Snow Leopard DVD that I bought also if that helps.

     • Bill I’m having the same problem would you mind posting the solution?

       • Julio,

         I added the following line to the VM file:

         cpuid.1.eax = “0000:0000:0000:0001:0000:0110:1010:0101”

         Seems that if fixes the problem with multi-core processors such as my Core i7.

         Bill

         • Thank you So much… it did the same with my Xeon processor and even let me choose 2 cores :D.

         • Julio,
           I had the same issue when I increased the size of the hard drive. I could not adjust the partition from within the Mac because you can’t delete the boot partition. I started a whole new VM with an 80GB drive.

         • julio ….thanks for the tip … that line does make it work .. was struggling around for a couple of hours trying to figure out what was wrong …. but that is indeed the actual problem ….thanks !

   • I have finally got Snow Leopard VM to work but the Help files are in Russian. Also, it doesn’t recognize the DVD/CD drive. Anyone have any answers for this?

10. Hi..

    I have changed the language to US English but still language of finder and menu bar not yet change.
    plz give me solution.

11. Hi..

    I have changed the language to US English but still language of finder and menu bar not yet change.
    please provide me solution as soon as possible

    • do you have put the US English on top of the Rusian language?

12. Hello,

    I was initially able to run the VM on Dell Latitude E5510 (i3 CPU) with Windows 7 64-bit. However, after I ran the Apple update, my keyboard/mouse no longer works.

    Any idea?

    • Okay, I just read what June posted on 2/2/11 (using VM to restart not Mac). I will give that a try and let you guys know whether it does the trick for me.

13. A big thank you for sharing this! It works smoothly on my Acer laptop running windows xp host. I just installed xcode and iOS SDK and it worked fine too.

    • Sunny,

      Were you able to update your Mac to 10.6.6 without your mouse getting stuck?

    • Which version of XCode and iOS SDK u have installed ?
      Where you able to update to Mac 10.6.6 ?

14. So.. I see a bootloader for AMD and a separate one for W7 64-bit… I’m an AMD user using W7 64-bit.. What one do I use?? 😛

15. Oh dont worry… Me being an idiot…. lol

16. Hello I got a black screen with these lines
    boot0: GPT
    boot0: HFS+
    boot0: booting
    boot0: done
    boot1: error_

17. Bravo – Thanks a bunch – I installed it successfully.

18. hi
    i’m stuck on the chameleon logo
    please help

19. i managed to solve the problem by changing the loader , now how ca i mount my local drives on the vm image

20. thanks broo
    its working…
    i core fix tje initial problem.
    alienware m11x 8gb ram i7-640ml

    thanks again

21. method to solve mouth frozen:
    system preferences–>desktop & screen saver–>change the “start screen saver” to never

    problem
    1.vmware shared folder on the desktop can’t open, prompts “no permission”,but when I chmod 777 ,prompts “no such folder” -_-||
    so I use mac’s file sharing (samba) to share files,great!

    2.you mentioned above that win7 x64 should use darwin legacy.iso,but this iso make a “guest operating system disabled your cpu”.My cpu is intel E7500 ,host is win2008 r2(64bit)
    when I use darwin.iso in the vmware folder,ALL IS FINE

    thanks a lot!

    • method to solve mousefrozen:
      system preferences–>desktop & screen saver–>change the “start screen saver” to never

      system preferences–>energy saver–>set “computer sleep” to”never”

      • Thanks Robert,
        You solved my problem.

22. Thank You Very Much, I just installed this Snow Leopard on my Aspire 5741-5763 with i3 core. The only problem I had was getting started. I used F8 in boot screen then used -F and it started. the Language was I think Russian but I changed it in language and rebooted and it all worked. I put cpuid.1.eax = “0000:0000:0000:0001:0000:0110:1010:0101″ and replaced maxcpus=4 with numvcpus = “1″.
    thank you again

23. My internet is not working in this image… Please help me…

    • do you have selected on the network tab in the setting
      -connected
      -connect at power on

      and selected NAT? if not do this!

      hope it worked

      Wesley

24. mouse pointer doesn’t work the (stuck a upper left corner) neither keyboard, I can only click to open a menu. Unusable

    • Have you tried adding two lines in VMX file? Its somewhere in comments area.
      Try and let me know.

      • I have same problem, also. I have tried to add this two line, but I have no success… 🙁
        Any another solution?

25. The initial worked good!

    However, after I upgraded the system to the latest version the mouse froze….

    any solutions?

Comments are closed.