The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds

Mac OS X 10.4.8 runs on any PC...

...well, all but the GUI

Agentless Backup is Not a Myth

Mac OS X 10.4.8 will now run on any generic x86-based PC. Well, almost. Kernel coder Semthex has posted what he claims is an entirely legal release of the Mac operating system's foundation layer. The only snag: you can't boot into the familiar GUI.

To date, the version of Mac OS X for x86 processors has relied on kernel add-ons to anchor the software to Apple's own hardware through the machines' Trusted Platform Module (TPM). Much of the core code is independent of it, however, and available for access to all and sundry via Apple's own source code licence.

What Semthex has claimed to do - and the files you need can be found here if you fancy trying them yourself - is produce code that essentially bypasses the TPM stuff yet stays within the Apple licence.

Well, so Semthex claims - proceed at your own risk. In any case, the code will boot up into single-user mode, which has a certain interest for Unix and command-line geeks, but isn't going to get Mac fans rushing off to buy cheap Dells instead of Apple machines. ®

Customer Success Testimonial: Recovery is Everything

More from The Register

 breaking news
Curtain drops on Apple Store ahead of WWDC: What lies behind?
Steve Jobs watching from on high. No pressure, lads
 breaking news
Cold, dead hands of Steve Jobs slip from iPhones: The Cult of Ive is upon us
Billionaire biz baron's death clears way for uber-shiny iOS 7
Airbus imagines suitcases that find themselves
Point your mobe at your smalls to track their every move
Surprise! Intel smartphone trounces ARM in power trials
Tests show equal performance while sipping significantly less juice
First look: iOS 7 for iPad
No, Apple hasn't released it yet, but that doesn't stop intrepid devs
Apple said to be 'exploring' 5.7-inch iPhone
Who's the copycat this time, Mr. Cook?
Review: Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock
Missing Mac ports reunited, for a price
 breaking news
Australian 'Apple tax' repealed for MacBook Air
But the new MacPro is priced at a premium