Hello Everybody!



The beginners of the Hackintosh Universe, occasionally get a little confused with Chameleon settings, so I decided to create this post to clarify and streamline the most of the questions about this "Powerfull Bootloader" ...



The folder Extra is on "Root System", or "the directory where you installed OS X" or "/" ...




There, we found the file "com.apple.Boot.plist" which is basically a mirror of the original file which is in "/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration" and is the file where we set our "Preferences" for the system boot.


The example below is from my "com.apple.Boot.plist".

Note: For releases above 11xx you need to use "org.chameleon.Boot.plist" instead of "com.apple.Boot.plist".





We also find the folder "Extensions" which is a mirror of the folder "/System/ Library/Extensions" and is the folder where the "kext`s' (drivers) for each hardware device of the system, working as a complement for him and allowing the installation of "Modified kext`s" that facilitates future updates of OS X.


The file "Extensions.mkext" is a "cache" file and also mirror of the file in the folder
"/System/Library/Caches/com.apple.kext.caches/Startup" that aims to reduce the loading time of the system, preventing the system on each boot to make a scan of the folder to verify existing kext `s.


The file "smbios.plist" is a file used by Chameleon to "induce" the system to believe that it is running under a specific platform, providing information such as processor type, memory, Apple Computer, serial numbers, etc ... and supplying the use of SMBIOS injectors like AppleSMBIOSEFI, AplleSMBIOSResolver, etc ...

The example below is from my "smbios.plist.





The "Themes " folder is only "cosmetic", we can put themes for the BootLoader.





Advanced Boot Options: These options can be used at Chameleon's boot, without changing
com.apple.Boot.plist file and can be used for troubleshooting startup issues.


PLEASE NOTE THE ARGUMENTS NEED TO BE WRITTEN EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED BELOW (CASE SENSITIVE) BEFORE SELECTING THE BOOT DEVICE, THE FLAG`S ARE SHOWN ON THE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER



rd=/dev/diskXsY > Starts from the specific Disk/Partition (Replace X for the disk and Y for the partition number)

npci=0×2000 Fix for "[PCI Configuration Begin]" Bug (Thanks to Netkas for this tip)

pmVersion=0 > Disable SleepEnabler.kext

"Graphics Mode"="1024x768x32" > Set the Boot Resolution (Yes... you have to use "quotes")

cpus=X > Set the number of processor cores (Replace X for the number of cores)

busratio=XX > Set processor BusRatio (Replace XX for the BusRatio number)

Link for Intel's website, search for processor model and find "Bus/Core Ratio". 

maxmem=XXXX > Set the amount of memory to be used by the system (Replace XXXX for the amount of memory in MB, for example: 1024 = 1gb / 2048 = 2gb)

USBBusFix=Yes > Enable All USB Fixes less EHCIhard (for USB devices)

EHCIacquire=Yes > Fix EHCI issues (for USB devices)

UHCIreset=Yes > Fix UHCI issues (for USB devices)

USBLegacyOff=Yes > Fix I/O issues (for USB devices)

EHCIhard=Yes > EHCI Soft Reset (for USB devices)

DSDT=NAMEOFFILE > Set the "dsdt.aml" to be used by the system (Rename NAMEOFFILE for DSDT path, for example: hd(0,2)/Extra/dsdt.aml)

config=NAMEOFFILE > Set a alternative "com.apple.Boot.plist" (Replace NAMEOFFILE for the file path, for example: hd(0,2)/Backup/com.apple.Boot.plist)

SMBIOS=NAMEOFFILE > Set a alternative "smbios.plist" (Replace NAMEOFFILE for the file path, example: hd(0,2)/Backup/smbios.plist)



Below, we list the most used functions in the file com.apple.Boot.plist and their functions ...


Code:
DSDT
/dsdt.aml
Set the "DSDT" to be used.


Code:
Default Partition
hd(0,3)
Set Default "Disk" (Partition) for boot.


Code:
Graphics Mode
1680x1050x32
Set the Default Resolution.


Code:
GraphicsEnabler
Yes
Activate Video Injection "EFI String" generated by the BootLoader.
(Options: Yes / No)


Code:
Hide Partition
hd(0,2)
Hide "Disks" (Partitions) from Bootmenu.


Code:
Kernel Flags
arch=i386 -v
Allow you to set "Boot Flag`s", for example, -v, cpus=1, arch=i386, etcÖ


Code:
SMBIOS
/Extra/smbios.plist
Set SMBIOS file to be used instead of the Chameleon's DMI injection


Code:
Theme
Default
Set the default theme, and the default path for themes is "/Extra/Themes".


Code:
Timeout
5
Set the timeout to boot the default partition.


Code:
Quiet Boot
Yes
Set the bootloader to not show the boot options.
(Options: Yes / No)


Code:
USBBusFix
Yes
Set always fix USB Bus Issues.


Code:
GenerateCStates
Yes
Activate C-states.


Code:
GeneratePStates
Yes
Activate P-states.




These are the most used options, but there are many others that can be seen
(including these) in the bootloader's "help".





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