How do you install Mac OS X?

Answer 1

There are a couple ways in which you can run Apple's operating system on top of Linux.

1. Emulation.

If you wish to run an older version of the Mac operating system, such as OS 9 or lower, this is your only option. There are several emulators for Linux that will emulate the necessary hardware.

A. Mini vMac

This is useful for 68k (Motorola 6800- 68040) Mac emulation. You can run up to System 7.5.5 on this. Unfortunately, the sound does not work in the Linux port.

B. Basilisk II

This will run 68k systems up to Mac OS 8.1.

C. SheepShaver.

This will run PowerPC systems up to Mac OS 9.0.4

D. PearPC

This will run PowerPC versions of OS X. I've had an extremely difficult time getting this one to work properly. Performance is also generally pretty bad, so I wouldn't use it for anything important.

2. Virtualization

Virtualization is the process of running code directly, instead of having to emulate it.

A. Mac-on-Linux

This is useful if you have a computer with a PowerPC processor (such as an older Mac, or a PlayStation 3). I have not personally tried this, since I do not have a PowerPC computer. I believe it will require you to know how to compile your own kernel modules.

B. VMWare / VirtualBox

These are x86 virtualization suites. VirtualBox is available free of charge. VMWare is a commercial product; the "workstation" is a paid product, while the "Player" is available for free. They only present generic hardware to the guest operating system, so an unmodified copy of OS X will not work. you will have to obtain (illegally) a modified copy of OS X that is patched to accept generic hardware.

Answer 2

The following details the instructions on how to install the latest version of Mac OS X as of the time of this writing: Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard.

Before you begin:Backup your computer! You could store individual important files on an external hard drive or on writable DVDs, or you could backup your entire system by using Disk Utility, Time Machine, or third party tools like Carbon Copy. Making a backup is good, just in case.

Go to http://snowleopard.wikidot.com/ and verify that your software is compatible with Snow Leopard. Older versions of many applications will need to be updated.

Note that Mac OS X is only licensed to install on Apple Macs, not 3rd party PCs, and though installing on PCs is doable, it takes extra footwork.

Note also that Snow Leopard will only install on Intel Macs (which Apple transitioned to around the year 2005). To install on older, Power PC Macs, you will need an older version of Mac OS X.

Standard (upgrade) install:When doing a regular install of Snow Leopard, the only option archives your files and only replaces the operating system. To install Snow Leopard in this manner, you should be coming from the preceding version, Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard, or reinstalling Snow Leopard itself.

1. Turn on the computer.
2. Insert the Snow Leopard DVD and open its icon from the desktop.
3. Double-click Install Mac OS X and follow the on-screen instructions.
4. Before clicking the last "Install" button in the wizard, click "Customize" (on the bottom-left side of the window) to make sure any important optional components, such as Rosetta (needed to open older applications) are set to install.
5. Click Install, enter your password, and let it run. About half way through it should restart and boot into the DVD. The whole process takes about 45 minutes.
6. The computer will restart into Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard.
7. Run Software Update to make sure you're up-to-date and enjoy!

Erase-and-install:If you want to start from scratch (recommended if coming from an older version of Mac OS X like v10.4 Tiger or to fix a problem that just won't go away), the very first thing you should do is make reliable backups, both of your entire OS (such as a bootable clone using Carbon Copy or as an archive ISO image through Disk Utility) and of the individual files that you want to put back onto the new system (see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2980). Also make sure that you have a copy of iLife that you will be able to restore, either by an iLife '08 or iLife '09 DVD ('09 recommended) or by the components of the restore DVD that came with the Mac. Once that's done:

1. Insert Snow Leopard DVD.
2. Turn off the Mac.
3. Turn it on, and press and hold the Option key on the keyboard. When you get to the screen letting you choose your boot drive, choose the DVD.
   
4. After a couple minute, you will see a "Welcome to OS X Snow Leopard" screen. Press "Continue" to go to the next screen.
5. Click "Utilities" > "Disk Utility" from the menubar at the top of the screen.
6. Select your hard drive on the left, press the "Erase" tab, and click "Erase" to format your hard drive. It should be formatted as "OS X Extended Journaled."
7. Quit Disk Utility and follow the on-screen instructions to install Snow Leopard. Make sure you click "Customize" before clicking "Install" to choose to install Rosetta (required to run older Applications made for the Power PC architecture).
8. After about 45 minutes, Snow Leopard should be installed. Run Software Update to make sure you have the latest updates.
   
9. Insert your computer's restore DVD and install the iLife component or insert your iLife DVD to install it.
10. Finally, restore all the important files and folders that you backed up.