When you install Mac OS X on a non-Apple hardware device called a Hackintosh, you are likely to face the problem of “Still waiting for root device”. This is the message you get when you try to boot Mac OS X. This message illustrates that the disk containing the OS X image is not booting properly. This message keeps on repeating, and you cannot move forward till you find some solution for it. This article shows how to fix “Still waiting for root device” on your Hackintosh.
This solution works for people who have installed Leo4all v3 and received the message upon rebooting. The cause of the error is due to incompatible or incorrect configuration of the ATA controller.
- I have a copy of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard Server. I am trying to install it on VirtualBox 4.1.26 that is running on Mac OS 10.8. I switched from VirtualBox 4.2.12 to 4.1.26 because I read on line that 4.1.26 worked for installation of 10.6 Server but 4.2.12 did not. My attempt at installation ends by infinitely looping on 'Still waiting for root device'.
- In Verbose mode it crashes half way, a 'no entry' icon pops up and the last text says 'Still waiting for root device'. I followed all the instructions one by one. I tried it in multiple USB drives and different ports; tried creating the installation drive with Unibeast and Terminal.
- Topic says it.can't install due to 'still waiting for root device'. I've taken a Mac OS X 10.6 Server DVD, created a cdr image of it in OS X (due to the fact that the DVD is dual layer, and the Windows machine here has only a single layer DVD), and attached it to IDE Primary.
- Use the flags one at a time; if one doesn't work, try the other. Fair warning: this solution usually only works on Mac OS X Lion and Mountain Lion. 'Still waiting for root device' If the output from verbose mode specifically stops at a line saying 'Still waiting for root device', you probably have a.
How to Fix Still waiting for root device
What does “Still waiting for root device” means? It means that a driver/kext for the source from which you are booting is not detected properly by the mac operating system (USB kext not detected or loaded) Mac OS released prebuilt with the latest drivers that supports SATA out of.
Boot your PC using LeoV3 DVD as if you are reinstalling Mac OS X again.
Select the Terminal from the installer’s Utility menu.
Now, you have to copy all the kexts from the DVD to your hard drive.
For performing this task, you need to use the following command:
cp -pr /Volumes/Leo4allv3/System/Library/Extensions/*ATA* /Volumes/MacHD/System/Library/Extensions/.
You need to replace Leo4allv3 with the name of your DVD. Also replace the MacHD with the name of your hard drive volume.
Set the permissions for the kexts you have copied. For this purpose, you need to use the following command in the terminal:
chown -R root:wheel /Volumes/MacHD/System/Library/Extensions/*ATA*
chmod -R 755 /Volumes/MacHD/System/Library/Extensions/*ATA*
chmod -R 755 /Volumes/MacHD/System/Library/Extensions/*ATA*
Now, you need to remove the kextcache by using the following command:
rm -rf /Volumes/MacHD/System/Library/Extensions.*
Now, reboot your PC. It is highly recommended to press F8 when your PC is booting and then enter “-f” as the boot option to force reloading of the kexts.
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/1/7/9/117971421/634283608.png)
It is not completely sure that this strategy might work for your Hackintosh, but still this solution is the most feasible one as reported by many people who suffered from the “Still waiting for root device” issue. You might try exploring more settings if your problem is not solved by using the technique mentioned in this article.
Reported by: | Owned by: | ||
---|---|---|---|
Component: | installer | Version: | VirtualBox 4.0.4 |
Keywords: | Cc: | ||
Guest type: | OSX Server | Host type: | Windows |
Description
Attachments
- VBox.log (75.6 KB) - added by wproxym8 years ago.
- virtualbox log
Change History
comment:2 Changed 9 years ago by grahamperrin
Changed 8 years ago by wproxym
- attachmentVBox.log added
comment:4follow-up:↓ 5 Changed 8 years ago by wproxym
Last edited 8 years ago by wproxym (previous) (diff)
Still Waiting For Root Device Mac Os High Sierra
comment:5 in reply to: ↑ 4 Changed 8 years ago by Hachiman
Hackintosh Waiting For Root Device
comment:6 Changed 7 years ago by frank
Mac Os Still Waiting For Root Device
- Status changed from new to closed
- Resolution set to fixed