You can almost hear Steve Jobs flipping out right now. Psystar, notable for its efforts to sell generic PCs with Mac OS X pre-loaded, has just released something called Rebel EFI. It’s software that allows you to install Mac OS X on generic PCs without having to Hackintosh said PC. (Hackintoshing isn’t for the weak of heart!)
How does it work? I have no idea, but Matt (or someone, it’s chaos here today) is buying it right now and should have something up in a bit. (I don’t have any PCs here, I’m afraid.)
Nearest I can tell, you download and burn the ISO, it performs some sort of voodoo, then you insert the Mac OS X DVD and install like normal.
So if you’re even remotely interested in this I’d say to download it right now because Apple’s lawyers will be all over this within a matter of seconds. You can count on that.
Update: Psystar’s site is down but here are the installation instructions if you managed to grab the trial version in time. Anyone get it to work yet?
1. Download the Rebel EFI file, available here.
2. Burn the file to a CD.
3. Insert the Rebel EFI disc into your CD drive.
4. Start or restart your computer.
5. As computer boots up select, Boot Options or Boot Menu Key
**Boot Options or Boot Menu Key differ by motherboard manufacturer.
6. Select CD ROM
7. After CD loads press enter to run the CD
8. When prompted, Eject the CD and it will ask for the Snow Leopard DVD
9. Insert the Snow Leopard DVD
10. Select Main Language
11. Click Continue, if you want to continue with the installation of Snow Leopard.
12. Click Agree, if you agree.
13. Select the disk that you want to install Snow Leopard on.
a. If no disk shows, Click on Utilities on the tool bar, then select Disk Utilities.
b. On the left you should see your hard drive.
c. If not, a disk is not connected or cannot be read by your computer.
d. After selecting your hard drive click on Partition.
e. Under Volume Scheme, click current and select 1 partition.
f. Under Volume Information, name your hard drive.
g. Format: Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
h. At the bottom of the window Click on the Options Button.
i. Select the GUID Partition Table
j. Click OK
k. Click Apply
l. Click Partition
m. Quit Disk Utilities
14. Select the disk that you want to install Snow Leopard on.
15. Click Install.
16. When Installation completes. restart the computer
17. As the computer starts up, insert the Rebel EFI CD
18. As computer boots up select Boot Options or Boot Menu Key
**Boot Options or Boot Menu Key differ by motherboard manufacturer.
19. Select CD ROM
20. Once CD loads you will see both the Hard Disk and the Rebel EFI CD
21. Use the arrow keys to highlight the Hard Drive
22. Press Enter to boot Hard drive.
23. Launch the Rebel EFI application from the CD.
24. Follow the on-screen authentication procedure.
25. Click Continue
26. Select your Keyboard
27. Click Continue
28. Select, Do not transfer my information now.
29. Click Continue
30. If, you have and Apple ID enter it now
31. If not, Click Continue
32. Enter your Registration Information
33. Click Continue
34. Create your Account Information
35. Click Continue
36. Select Time Zone
37. Click Continue
38. Click Done
Apple has certainly benefited from programs like Parrallels, though you’re probably right in thinking that they won’t walk softly when the shoe’s on the other foot. If Psystar has done it right though, it should be perfectly legal as a software machine emulator. Whether or not the person who installs it violates Apple’s EULA is another matter, but it would be entirely the responsibility of the end user, most likely.
As curious as I might be about this, I personally wouldn’t trust Psystar enough to install anything they made on my PC and I wouldn’t want to enrich Apple by purchasing a copy of their OS if they’re going to continue to be so stingy with it.
The psystar site is down. I guess the Apple lawyers one.
one=won
Funny, this site is down now. 10 mins after I downloaded the file. LOL
Does anyone know how to install?
when you install mac with help of rebel efi, you have get limited features, Rebel EFI want to make a money, so download and try
looks like the site is down… although the download link is still working. You’ll have to grab it directly:
http : / / cdn . psystar . com / RebelEFI-20091022_1256231301 . iso
FYI, psystar is down. Either down from exposure of the RebelEFI offering or Apple legal got a hold of them.
I just tried it on three PCs. no dice. still trying.
Psystar is so obviously funded by PC manufacturers, it’s not even funny anymore.
works for me but the bootloader didnt install so iv got to have the disc in when i boot. It really really works and its fast as hell too on my old spare pc.. it didnt work at 1st but it always says failed installation at the end ! ignore this! restart then put the efi disc back in it will work!
what sucks (at this time) is even if you have the file it’s a trial that only lasts for 2 hours (without activation – buying it) so, unless they blast an auth code that we can all use it’s really mute. :(
It’s “moot” not “mute”. Moot. Look it up.
moot, mute… whatever. Common error and both really have a little to nothing attitude in the description anyhow.
Were you the kid in school that like to pick on other kids and steal their lunch money?
Starting a fight over the internet ’cause of a silly spelling error. sheesh
Use the Chameleon bootloader. Designed to boot OSX on your PC, among other things…
http:// chameleon.osx86.hu
so, I’m curious how old the machine can be? I’ve got a few old ones lying around that could server a nice use. :)
the online store is back up again.. has somebody able to install and authenticate the program?
Seems like the site is back up.
ffs… i tried to install chameleon.. and it works but when i boot snow leopard it brings up the restart your computer screen… Thanks chameleon! -_-
Although I have an iMac I could not help myself and try this one out on my not so old PC.
No luck.
Burned the ISO, restart, select CD via boot menu and it loads the CD.
I am presented with a Psystar logo and a 4 seconds count down timer in the top right corner. No matter what I do e.g. wait 4 seconds, hit enter or other buttons it will just start loading my main Windows install. And nothing else happens.
Sorry I will wait just a bit paying for this software lol…
Hey Thomas!
Did you get it working? I have the same problem Darwin Boot Loader pops up, 5 sec countdown in the top right corner but I can do what I want. It just boots Windows7. No Promt to put in my Snow Leopard DVD…?!
Strange!
ANY HELP?!?!
Thanks a lot in Advance,
Jonnery
I get exaclty the same problem, I have enabled all of the things in bios that I am supposed to….
After 5 attempts I give up….
anyone know why this might be?
Lovely.
So, when Apple sues Pystar for RebelEFI, and subpoenas all their billing records, they can then take action against those who payed for an activation code, on the grounds that one wouldn’t need the code if one weren’t going to violate the Mac OS X EULA.
Yeah. No thanks.
I tried it on my HPmini 1000 and my Quad Core 6600 PC. I boot from the CD, put snow leopard in when prompted, get the apple logo, then a screen comes up that says that I need to restart my computer (in a couple different languages). No dice.
What the frak? There’s nothing on the Psystar site that says you have to have special hardware I thought that that was the poit of Rebel EFI – that the program helps you find drivers that work but I can even get snow leopard to start installing.
same for me…any solutions?
The REBEL EFI Is Working Perfectly
Any one having activation code for REBEL EFI
Please give the authentication code
well i got 10.5.7 on my EeePC 900HD and i wouldnt have bought or done this, if apple made something similar but im holding out for a tablet ;)
Techcrunch has put up the patch that removes the keyboard recorder in Rebel EFI. Download it and run it before installing OS X.
More details about this please before I try and load it :) Pretty please
Actually you do have a PC around if you are using one of these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_computer
Please call it a Windows/Mac OS X/Linux/BSD/etc. Machine
Perhaps you should actually read the wikipedia link you referenced. If you had you would understand the term ‘PC’ and where it comes from. You would also know that your request for people to call machines based on what ‘OS’ can run on them is stupid. If I have a dual boot machine, what do I then call it?
Let me put it another way: Don’t be a douche.
No, Max is right. You must be one of those people blinded by Apple’s marketing schemes.
They are all PC’s… running OS X, Windows, Ubuntu, BSD, etc. Please me more specific… “MAC” is to Apple is essentially the same as “INSPIRON” is to Dell; both are PCs, both use parts made in China.
Apple stopped “thinking different” in 2005.
Purchased yesterday. Followed install instructions posted .
SL install reports a failure but I could boot with the Rebel EFI CD. (The instructions have since been revised to reflect this).
Went through the normal OS registration info that comes up after install.
The machine is basically crippled without an activation code for the Rebel EFI application ( it installs the kexts etc needed to properly recognize your HW) and Psystar is behind on sending them out (Just spoke with a very nice support person).
So, all in all, things proceeded as they should have.
Can’t report further until the code arrives. Hopefully I don’t have to wait until Monday.
Running ~1yr old HW (G31M-E2SL, 8800GT)
YMMV
What a royal Pain in the @ss.
Received the authentication code and authenticated the app. However, the app errored out with my account info.
Can’t get phone support. Had to send an email.
Rebooted and tried the authentication code a second time and it won’t accept it now. Just gives an error.
same problem here. save your 49 dollar till they fix this. pretty useless in the moment.
I can’t wait until Apple gets a call from some guy wanting tech support for his DELL/Apple computer…
LOL. :-) I’m sure it’s already happened.
Can you use the $29 upgrade version of Snow Leopard for the install since it’s considered an “upgrade”? or is there a full version that you have ot buy somewhere?
You “can” do it…
The Upgrade Version is a full installation disc, but Apple says you have to buy the normal one when you want to install on a new PC/Mac…
Does anyone know if the whole works with AMD processors?
NOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nope! It doesn’t…
This has been the recommended install method for ages. Psystar just wants to make money from BootCDs.
I just had to download a bootable CD, burn it, boot from it, and swap it with Leopard’s install DVD to install MacOS months ago. There is nothing new here except for a rip off!
It works like bootcamp or vmware fusion (or parallels) ?
I mean: is it possible to run windows os AND leopard, in the same time (as vmware fusion – parallels) or only ONE at time (as bootcamp) ?
NOOOOOOOOO… Are you able to read?????
For all of you with 1156 chipsets ie 17 860’s
This DOES NOT WORK!!
It may in the future when an uptated kernel is released for the new macs.
Until then don’t bother!
Any idea whether this would work on an i7-920 system? Would sure like to see OS X running on that…
Google… Educate yourself… Or buy a REAL Mac… !!!
Or will it work with Intel Centrino processors?
Just noticed a few comments, I’ve got mine up and working with the trial, all is well.
I had the problem with the screen asking to reboot, it’s named the “no smoking” screen. Go into your BIOS, and changed your HDD access type to SATA only or AHCI, this should solve your problems.
I did the AHCI thing, but that didn’t seem to help. I don’t remember if there was another setting. Initially mine was on RAID, and I set it to AHCI. There may have bene a “normal” Ill check that out tonight. Why in the world would they call that the “No Smoking Screen”. Nowhere, even on their wiki, did they say that the Power Off machine screen was the “No Smoking Screen”.
Things that make ya go hmmmm………
Try safeboot and verbose mode to see what is wrong…
Tried it last night on a new hard drive compatible with OS X, and wasn’t successful. The Rebel EFI successfully loads, starts the Snow Leopard installer, but when the Apple Logo comes up on screen, it then comes up to a screen that says I need to restart my computer byu turning the power off.
Theres some diagnostic mode that you can put rebel efi in, and it looks like it’s getting an exception. Not sure why, it’s not that descriptive. I know that my Processor is on the compatible list, as is my video card…..I’m thinking that since I hadn’t partitioned the Hard Drive maybe that was the problem. Windows would see it when I booted up, but it wasn’t partitioned so it hadn’t assigned it a drive letter, so it’s possible that this installer didn’t think I had a hard drive mounted. I’m going to trty again this evening, now that the hard drive is partitioned.
Try safeboot and verbose mode to see what is wrong…
I was able to successfully install Leopard on my Asus G51. However, I cannot run the rebel EFI app in OS X because of an authentication problem. It simply will not connect and therefore will not authorize me to run the hardware scan and driver install “wizard.” I have emailed every department at Psystar with no response. I have heard nothing for three days. SL is working on the computer partially but without drivers for trackpad, sounds, etc. WTF is the point? If they would say something on their site it would help. I called and got “Rebel EFI support only available over email.” More like not available at all.
The same… Psystar does not replies any emails… Censores user forum… Suspicious company…
just wanna ask, if i install the osx into my notebook, what about the drivers? pre-installed into my pc when i install the osx, or i have to find it somewhere else?
Ask Psystar !!!! :))))))))))))
i did, but they replied me other answers instead the real answer that i need.
Please help, i prepared everything on my dell precision m6300 but after putting osx i see that i I need to restart my computer (in a couple different languages).
Any ideas ?
Google… Educate yourself… Or – the best – BUY A REAL MAC(BOOK) !!!
@gogo if you find something that can help please say it here
I have the same problem on my Precision M4400. Psystar said that I would need a blank HDD (no current OS) to start. I repartitioned my existing Win7 drive to have a 50gb part for osx, but supposedly the problem lies there. I will be trying it with a new hdd and I will post if I have success.
I’m giving up……not going to work on my Gateway although the Processor and Video Cards are supported. I get the “No Smoking” sign even after updating to the recommended BIOS settings.