Guide to install MacOS Catalina in virtualbox.

Installing MacOS in Virtualbox is a bit tricky than in VMware but not difficult.Installation of other OS' are easy but this one is not like that as Apple doesn't want you to do this.Well it's legal until you've a legal copy of the OS. If you got a system running MacOS then I'd like you to check this guide first. Just follow the steps and you will have a perfect working mac VM. In my guide you don't need any access to a Mac. This method is best for you if you want to use a hackintosh else you can follow the next guide which is a bit easier. 

Before we start-
You will need some basic files. Links will be provided below.
1.MacOS catalina iso file- (Be sure to get the iso file else you will need to convert the dmg to iso.)
Link-MacOS Catalina                                                            Password-Geekrar.com

2.Virtualbox release- Get it here

3. Virtualbox extension pack- It will help you to get the mouse or keyboard work. Get it here.
4. APFS efi iso- get

Step 1
Let's start now. First get the macOS iso from the link given above. It will take some time depending on your internet speed. Grab some snacks or drink something until it finishes. Then download the vbox files too. when you finish downloading just install the vbox and flash the extension pack. If you got the dmg file then follow my this guide in order to convert dmg to iso.

Step 2
Open the virtual box and hit the new option.
Now create a VM with MacOS X 64 bit configuration and name it as catalina. Then click next.

 Now allocate RAM to it. It must not be less than 4096 MB. It also means that you need atleast 8 GB RAM. 


Create the Virtual disk in vdi format and name it catalina.vdi
Click next and your disk size must not be less than 30 GB.

Step 3
Now our disk is ready so let's go to the settings to set it up.Now head on to system in setups and be sure to uncheck floppy.
Set the processors to 2 CPU and execution cap to 100%. In display the video memory must be 128 MB else your VM wont run.
Now we need to fix our mouse and keyboard. So go to the USB option and change the USB to xHCI mode. For that you will need extension pack, so be sure that it has been downloaded and flashed.For network set the adapter to NAT.
 
                                                                                                                              Now go to the storage tab and attach the catalina iso you downloaded from the given link. Make sure you attach it to the optical drive tab only. After attaching it close the Virtualbox. No we need to set up the VM from command line so make sure that vbox is not opened.                           
Step 4                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Now open command prompt and hit those commands which i have listed below.Alternatively you can grab this script if you're on linux. For windows users this will get the job done.
       
  • cd "C:Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox"
  • VBoxManage.exe modifyvm "Catalina" --cpuidset 00000001 000106e5 00100800 0098e3fd bfebfbff
  • VBoxManage setextradata "Catalina" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemProduct" "iMac11,3"
  • VBoxManage setextradata "Catalina" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiSystemVersion" "1.0"
  • VBoxManage setextradata "Catalina" "VBoxInternal/Devices/efi/0/Config/DmiBoardProduct" "Iloveapple"
  • VBoxManage setextradata "Catalina" "VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/DeviceKey" "ourhardworkbythesewordsguardedpleasedontsteal(c)AppleComputerInc"
  • VBoxManage setextradata "Catalina" "VBoxInternal/Devices/smc/0/Config/GetKeyFromRealSMC" 1
If all the things went well then didnt return anything then you are good to go now. So close the command prompt. If not then message me on my number  provided at the end of the page. Saying this because there is another code also for the old versions. 
Step 5
Now run the virtual machine and you will see tons of codes running. Dont worry it's a good sign.

You only need to worry if anything hangs for longer. Eventually you will see a window asking for language.
Select your language and click next.After that you will see a window.
Hit disk utility here. When it opens select your virtual disk and hit erase. Make a macOS journaled hfs+ partition with GUID partion map(GPT).
 Now install MacOS. Installer will start running and will keep running for few minutes. Eventually it will close and restart. When you see it restarting close the VM and detach the iso from the storage tree in settings. Now restart the VM. You will see a bit different screen this time. It is called an efi shell. We will need to run several commands in it.
  • fs1:
  • cd "macOS Install Data"
  •  cd "Locked Files"
  •  cd "Boot Files"
  • boot.efi
Now you will see the installer picking up where it had left.We don't need a lot of steps now. Just need a bit of paitence. Eventually the device will reboot again and this time into an efi shell. Close it and attach the efi iso which i mentioned above. Now restart the Virtual machine and enter these commands.
  • edit startup.nsh
  • Write these here
       echo -off
       load fs1:\EFI\drivers\apfs.efi
       load fs1:\EFI\drivers\AppleUiSupport.efi
       load fs1:\EFI\drivers\ApfsDriverLoader.efi
       map -r
       fs2:
       cd System\Library\CoreServices\
       boot.efi  
  • Now press Ctrl+Q and then Y. Then type exit and hit enter.
Now you're good to go. Let the scripts run and eventually you will need to select country and other steps.It will take sometime. Eventually you will see your Mac desktop. 

Troubleshooting
Sometimes your mac wont boot automatically.In that case you will need these commands-
 cd "System"
cd "Library"
cd "CoreServices"
boot.efi

See the entire troubleshooting page here

In Case of any issues, contact me-  Telegram-@fed_cb. You can also leave a comment below..... If you want me to make a tutorial on any relevant topic then please let me know.

Have a good day!
Regards
TechCS


Credits-
1. Apple and geekrar for MacOS
2.Oracle for Virtualbox

Link to other posts-



                                                                                          






Comments

  1. TechCSMay 19, 2020 at 3:07 PM

    Hope this helps. If you find a mistake then please notify me.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJuly 21, 2020 at 8:16 AM

    Thanks for writing such article.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJuly 21, 2020 at 8:24 AM

    Perfectly worked for me

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownSeptember 22, 2020 at 9:30 PM

    For some reason I have never reached the UEFI screen.
    The Catalina setup went fine and the machine starts without problems, I did not have to use the APFSEfi.iso.

    Am I missing something by not having to use APFSEfi.iso?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TechCSSeptember 26, 2020 at 12:06 PM

      If you're not encountering any issues, then no need to use it. For some people macOS doesn't boot normally. It's for them only

      Delete
  5. TechCSSeptember 29, 2020 at 9:13 AM

    The new update might have brought some changes.

    ReplyDelete

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