UniBeast: Install OS X Yosemite on Any Supported Intel-based PC
The following guide is a complete walkthrough for installing a fresh version of OS X Yosemite. It requires no experience and all of the necessary installation and post-installation tools are available on tonymacx86.com.
UniBeast is a tool that creates a bootable installer out of your downloaded version of OS X. In order to start fresh, you’ll need access to a functional computer running Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8 or later. This is a requirement, as you need access to the Mac App Store to download OS X and create the installation drive. To start from scratch, booting the 10.6 Snow Leopard Retail DVD directly, check out iBoot + MultiBeast.
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Step 1: Download OS X Yosemite |
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Step 2: Create UniBeast |
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Step 3: BIOS Settings |
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Step 4: Install Yosemite |
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Step 5: Post Install with MultiBeast |
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Troubleshooting and Optimizations |
Before You Begin
1. Register here at tonymacx86! If you don’t have a user account, create one!
2. Get our latest MultiBeast and UniBeast tools from the downloads section.
3. Purchase a 8GB or larger USB drive.
4. Do a full backup of your system
The following guide is meant as a fresh installation method. To perform an update from OS X Mavericks to OS X Yosemite, saving system settings, data, and apps follow this guide.
STEP 1: Download OS X Yosemite
The full operating system is a free download for anyone who has purchased Mac OS X Snow Leopard, Lion, or Mountain Lion, or a Mac preloaded with Mavericks. Download the Application from the Mac App Store using your Apple ID on any Mac or functional computer running Mac OS X 10.6.8 or later.
- Open Mac App Store
- Log in with your Apple ID
- Download OS X Yosemite
The Application Install OS X Yosemite will appear in /Applications.
STEP 2: Create a Bootable USB Drive with UniBeast
Take a deep breath and take your time- this is pretty simple, but it’s easy to miss things if you rush. Follow each step to the letter.
- Insert the USB drive
- Open /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility
- Highlight the USB drive in left column
4. Click on the Partition tab
5. Click Current and choose 1 Partition
6. Click Options…
7. Choose Master Boot Record
9. Under Format: choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
10. Click Apply then Partition
12. Click Continue, Continue, Continue, Agree
13. At Destination Select, choose USB and click Continue
14. Choose Yosemite on the Select OS Installation screen
15. Click Continue
16. If using a 5 or 6 Series system with AWARD BIOS choose Legacy USB Support
17. If using a laptop, choose Laptop Support
18. Click Continue
19. Enter password and click Install
UniBeast will now create the bootable USB drive. The process will only take about 10-15 minutes, depending on system and drive speed. Do not unplug or stop during this time.
20. Drag MultiBeast to your completed USB drive.
STEP 3: Recommended BIOS Settings
If you’re installing on a recommended CustoMac desktop with AMI UEFI BIOS, the options are simple. For other systems make sure to set your BIOS to Optimized Defaults, and your hard drive to AHCI mode. Here are standard AMI UEFI BIOS settings for Gigabyte AMI UEFI BIOS, Gigabyte AWARD BIOS, ASUS AMI UEFI BIOS, and MSI AMI UEFI BIOS.
- To access BIOS/UEFI Setup, press and hold Delete on a USB Keyboard while the system is booting up
- Load Optimized Defaults
- If your CPU supports VT-d, disable it
- If your system has CFG-Lock, disable it
- If your system has Secure Boot Mode, disable it
- Set OS Type to Other OS
- Save and exit.
STEP 4: Install OS X Yosemite
You’re almost done! All you need to do is boot from the USB drive and install!
- Turn on the computer
- Press the hotkey to choose boot device (usually F12 or F8)
- Choose USB-HDD
- At the Chimera Boot Screen, choose USB and hit Enter
If you have trouble reaching the installer, type -x at the Boot screen as shown below. You can type the boot flags GraphicsEnabler=Yes, PCIRootUID=1, maxmem=4096, maxmem=8192, and npci=0x2000 by themselves or together in order to solve boot issues for older graphics cards and machines. Type -v to bypass the Apple boot screen and enter verbose startup mode. X58 and X79 systems always need npci=0x2000. For further explanations of boot flags, check out the post here. Also, if you need help with what to use for your graphics card, see the post here.
5. When you arrive at the Installer, choose language.
6. For a new installation of OS X, you MUST erase and format the destination drive according to the following steps before continuing.
c. Click Partition tab
d. Click Current and choose 1 Partition
e. Click Options…
f. Choose GUID Partition Method
g. Under Name: type Yosemite (You can rename it later)
h. Under Format: choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled)
i. Click Apply then Partition
j. Close Disk Utility
7. When the installer asks you where to install, choose Yosemite, or your existing install.
8. Upon completion, restart the system.
STEP 5: Post-Installation Using MultiBeast
MultiBeast is an all-in-one post-installation tool designed to enable boot from hard drive, and install support for Audio, Network, and Graphics. In addition it includes System Utilities to repair permissions and a collection of drivers and config files. The installation is complete, but the drive isn’t bootable yet. Boot from the USB again, this time choosing Yosemite.
1. Turn on the computer
2. Press the hotkey to choose boot device
3. Choose USB-HDD
4. At the Chimera Boot Screen, choose your new Yosemite installation.
5. Complete OS X Yosemite setup
6. Open and run Multibeast
7. If this is a fresh installation, click Quick Start to choose EasyBeast, UserDSDT, or DSDT-Free.
8. Click Drivers for Audio, Graphics, and Network options
9. Click Customize for further options
10. Click Print or Save to back up your configuration
11. Click Build then Install
12. Restart computer to complete installation
Yay! You now have a fully updated bootable version of OS X Yosemite on your CustoMac! And a super handy USB rescue drive. It’s easy to get frustrated, but don’t give up! If you get stuck, there are many users with similar hardware in the tonymacx86 Forum to provide support. Special thanks to everyone in the community, and our moderators for testing!
Troubleshooting and Optimizations:
After you’ve completed the guide, things such as HDMI audio and iMessage may not work automatically and universally. The list below should serve to fully optimize your system after initial setup.
HDMI Audio
How to Fix iMessage
boot0 Error: The Official Guide
Issuing Boot Flags
How To Know What to Install With MultiBeast
Install Bootloader and Extra to EFI Partition
DSDT Database
Chimera HD Graphics Bootflags: IGPEnabler, IGPlatformID, and IGPDeviceID
The Basics
tonymacx86 Search
tonymacx86 Wiki
Alternate NVIDIA Graphics Drivers
NVIDIA releases alternate graphics drivers separately on the web for each OS X build. These are different from the drivers Apple ships as standard, and should be considered experimental. In the past, the drivers have been known to solve OpenCL issues with certain applications, as well as providing better native GPU power management for certain devices. They also will enable the latest ‘Maxwell’ cards to work with full acceleration- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750, GTX 750 Ti, GTX 970, and GTX 980.
Related Posts:
How To Install OS X Yosemite Using CloverUniBeast: Install OS X Mavericks on Any Supported Intel-based PC
UniBeast: Install OS X Mountain Lion on Any Supported Intel-based PC
UniBeast: Install Mac OS X Lion Using an All-In-One Bootable USB Drive
iBoot + MultiBeast: Install Mac OS X on any Intel-based PC
