How to install macOS through a virtual machine

Detailed instructions for those who need Xcode or just want to try Apple proprietary OS.

1. Check the compatibility of PC

To start macOS need a relatively modern computer. For more or less comfortable work needed quad-core processor, 8GB of RAM and discrete graphics.

In addition, the processor must support virtualization at the hardware level. At the Intel chips is VT-x and VT-d, from AMD - AMD-V. Almost all modern processors it is, but do not be amiss to check.

It can be specified in the description of the specific model of the chip manufacturer's website or using CPU-Z free utility.

1. download application from the official website and install it.
2. Run CPU-Z and take a look at Instructions line.
3. If there is the above-mentioned marking, then it's okay.
4. If not, you can use the software-based virtualization, but in this case the performance will be significantly lower.

2. Prepare the way of macOS

macOS installation images is not publicly available, to the same Apple forbids the use of its OS on the computers of other manufacturers. To obtain a boot disk image, you can try to find it on the internet or borrow a Mac at someone from friends.

We use the second option.

1. On the Mac, go to link and click "Open App App Store».
2. Click "Download", wait until the installer is downloaded, and then close it.
3. Open the folder "Programs»→« Utility "and run the" Terminal. "
4. Create disk image container copy command hdiutil convert ~ / Desktop / InstallSystem.dmg -format UDTO -o ~ / Desktop / HighSierra.iso
5. Mount his team hdiutil attach /tmp/HighSierra.cdr.dmg -noverify -mountpoint / Volumes / install_build
6. Expand the system installer to set up the image of a team sudo / Applications / Install \ macOS \ High \ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume / Volumes / install_build
7. Enter the administrator password and confirm by pressing Y and Enter.
8. Move the image to the desktop team mv /tmp/HighSierra.cdr.dmg ~ / Desktop / InstallSystem.dmg
9. Unmount the installer command hdiutil detach / Volumes / Install \ macOS \ High \ Sierra
10. Convert image macOS in ISO format command hdiutil convert ~ / Desktop / InstallSystem.dmg -format UDTO -o ~ / Desktop / HighSierra.iso
11. Change the image file extension to ISO and transfer via USB drive on your PC, where it will be installed virtual machine.

3. Select and install the software virtualization

There are many paid and free virtual machines. To install macOS fit VmWare, Parallels, VirtualBox. For our example, we take the last: it is freely available and is well known.

1. go the official website of VirtualBox and click on the link Windows hosts.
2. Open the downloaded file and follow the prompts of the installation wizard.
3. Confirm the installation of additional components in the process.

4. Create a virtual machine

Now in VirtualBox you need to create our virtual computer on which we later install the MacOS.

1. Run the utility, click the "Create" button and specify the name of the machine.
2. Specify the type and version of the OS, in this case - Mac OS X and MacOS 10.13 High Sierra.
3. Specify the amount of RAM. The more the better, but for the green area is better not to go.
4. Select "Create a new virtual disk" and VDI type.
5. Specify the format of the "Dynamic" and specify the desired size. Recommended 30 GB, depending on the volume of software that you plan to use.

5. Set up a virtual machine

In order to run the guest operating system you want to select an optimal amount of basic computer resources, to configure some of the settings and choose the way of macOS as a boot drive.

1. Select the virtual machine and click "Configure" on the toolbar.
2. Go to "System" tab and in the "motherboard" uncheck "floppy disk", and then move it down with an arrow. Leave the rest unchanged.
3. In the "Processor" specify the number of cores. It is better not to leave the green zone.
4. Under "Display" set the maximum amount of video memory, and make sure both checkboxes acceleration dropped.
5. In the "Media" click string "Empty", and then on the disk icon and select ISO-imageWhich we have prepared in the second step.
6. Click OK to save the settings and close the VirtualBox.

6. Configure additional settings

Due to the above-mentioned restrictions macOS runs only on Apple branded computers. That the system still prevails in VirtualBox, I have little poshamanit console and pretend iMac.

1. Open the Search box, type cmd and run the "command line".
2. Alternately, copy the following commands, replacing them in the mac on the name of your virtual machine.

cd "C: \ Program Files \ Oracle \ VirtualBox \"

VBoxManage.exe modifyvm "mac" --cpuidset 00000001 00100800 000106e5 0098e3fd bfebfbff

VBoxManage setextradata "Your Virtual Machine Name" "VBoxInternal / Devices / efi / 0 / Config / DmiSystemProduct" "iMac11,3"

VBoxManage setextradata "Your Virtual Machine Name" "VBoxInternal / Devices / efi / 0 / Config / DmiSystemVersion" "1.0"

VBoxManage setextradata "Your Virtual Machine Name" "VBoxInternal / Devices / efi / 0 / Config / DmiBoardProduct" "Iloveapple"

VBoxManage setextradata "Your Virtual Machine Name" "VBoxInternal / Devices / smc / 0 / Config / DeviceKey" "ourhardworkbythesewordsguardedpleasedontsteal (c) AppleComputerInc"

VBoxManage setextradata "Your Virtual Machine Name" "VBoxInternal / Devices / smc / 0 / Config / GetKeyFromRealSMC" 1

7. MacOS install in a virtual machine

Now you can proceed to the installation itself macOS. This procedure is divided into several stages and takes about an hour. The process will have to tinker again with the command line, but for the last time.

First stage

1. Open VirtualBox and run the virtual machine.
2. Begin preliminary boot. The screen will show a lot of text, which may include error information. Do not pay attention to it.
3. After a few minutes will be a logo with an apple and a graphical interface to boot.
4. Select the system language and launch the "Disk Utility" from the menu.
5. Enter the virtual disk, which we created in the fourth step and click "Delete."
6. Specify a name, and other options, leave as is. Confirm erasure.
7. Select the utility box "Install MacOS" and click "Continue".
8. Accept the license agreement and click on the created disc.
9. Wait for the installation files are copied to the drive and the system reboots.
10. When the display window will appear again "MacOS Utilities", go to the Apple menu and click "Disable."

Second phase

1. Select a virtual machine in VirtualBox and open its settings.
2. Go to "Media" and then click on HighSierra.iso line, and then on the icon of the disc and click "Delete from the drive."
3. Click OK and restart the virtual machine.
4. After you download will be UEFI-shell with the command line, which in turn need to manually enter the following commands:

fs1:
cd "macOS Install Data"
cd "Locked Files"
cd "Boot Files"
boot.efi

The third stage

1. This will start the graphical interface and the installation will continue.
2. A few minutes later the virtual machine restarts and opens the interface of the primary system settings.
3. Specify the country and keyboard layout.
4. Select the Do not transfer any information now, to configure the system as a new one.
5. Pass the entrance to the Apple ID, clicking Setup later and Skip.
6. Accept the license agreement, and then enter the user name and password.
7. Click Continue and configure keyboard with the help of clues.

8. Check the virtual machine

Installing macOS completed. The operating system runs in its own window, which can be rolled up or moved to another monitor.

To turn on the virtual machine, open VirtualBox and click "Run." Completion and restart can be done both from the utility, as well as through the system macOS menu.