macOS 15.2 + VMware Player 17 - Your computer restarted because of a problem.

[jabcreations]

I setup macOS 15.2 Sequoia on VMware Player 17 as my 2014 Mac Mini can no longer get updates and I don't have a third computer to do a dedicated install on. It gets stuck in a boot loop with the whole "Your computer restarted because of a problem." screen before the VM restarts. Here is a screenshot:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1923979762902372421

I...

- Read lots of tutorials but this one seemed most up-to-date.
- Ran the macOS Unlocker V3.0 for VMware Workstation.
- I'm using macOS Sequoia 15.2_24C101.iso for the installer.
- The installer worked fine and I used to the disk utility to format the virtual disk.
- I had added a few lines from tutorials:

smbios.reflectHost = "TRUE"
hw.model = "Mac16,7"
board-id = "Mac-7DF21CB3ED6977E5"
checkpoint.vmState = ""
toolsInstallManager.lastInstallError = "21000"
sata0:0.present = "TRUE"
tools.upgrade.policy = "manual"
usb_xhci:4.present = "TRUE"
usb_xhci:4.deviceType = "hid"
usb_xhci:4.port = "4"
usb_xhci:4.parent = "-1"

I also made sure to find the technical strings for the various Mac computer models to make sure I wasn't telling macOS that I was using a non-supported model.

This website doesn't like long text posts (because in technology details are always short strings ︀) so I posted the vmware.log over on Pastebin:

https://pastebin.com/xE4mr5WN

It reboots and the last line that looks like an error is:

vcpu-0 AHCI-VMM:HBA reset issued on sata0.

My basic system specifications:

• AMD 3800X
• 32GB
• 1TB SATA SSD
• RX 6800
• Windows 10 22H2

I think there are some other errors before that but I'm exhausted from working on this for two days and trying to post elsewhere hasn't help. The VMware page on Reddit explicitly hates people who mention the string "unlocker". Hopefully this community is a bit more inviting!

Suggestions on how to address this issue please?

 

[tucano2000]

Normally vmware pro can read files of vmware player if you try open vmx file to avoid install again.

 

[jabcreations]

Why are you using VMWare Worstation Player ? In the tutorial the installation is with VMWare Worstation Pro.

VMWare Player doesn't have that reliability for the Virtual Network Editor...

I recommend switching to Workstation Pro so you can choose or try a network adapter that works as shown in the screenshot I posted.

Okay, I'm using vmware.exe now. I was able to change the network settings while the VM was active and I have the Internet working now! Thank you! I set it to NAT for other people encountering the same problems. I am connected to my VPN with the killswitch on so it's working with that too, great!

I have one last problem: 1024x768. I already tried to configure my monitor but macOS won't show any other resolutions:



Suggestions please?

I tried to get in to OpenCore but the screen just goes black:

Post in thread 'Mac OS install on AMD Ryzen/INTEL (VMWare) Opencore - Improved Performance - Works with Tahoe / Sequoia / Sonoma / etc'

Jun 13, 2024

This guide is incredible. Thank you!

One problem though. When I try to set the resolution using vmware-resolutionSet, it doesn't set and instead prints out:

Requested resolution: 1920x1080
Effective resolution: 1920x1080
Unable to set resolution

I'm not sure why it would be unable to set. I also tried 1024 768 and it gives me the same "Unable to set resolution"

Does anyone have any idea how to fix this? Nvidia 4000-series GPU, and I don't expect any acceleration, but I never had problems with resolution on macOS 12.5, so this seems unexpected to me.

I already...

• tucano2000

 

[tucano2000]

This is in Item 8 of the tutorial:

In the vmware menu you can install VMWare Tools
by clicking on "VM" and then "Update VMWare Tools". But first, you need to Eject any CD/DVD drive in macOS.

After Installation:

- Install VMWare Tools to change the resolution. It comes with VMWare Workstation, I don't remember if VMWare Play has VMWare Tools.

- You can only change the resolution within MacOS. Ex: 1600x1100. To do this, type in the terminal :

sudo /Library/Application\ Support/VMware\ Tools/vmware-resolutionSet 1600 1100

Note: In VMWare's Display settings you need to set the resolutions higher than or equal to the ones you'll be using in macOS.

Put bigger or equal resolution in VMWare Configuration that is using in vmware-resolutionSet 1600 1100

 

[jabcreations]

This is in Item 8 of the tutorial:

In the vmware menu you can install VMWare Tools
by clicking on "VM" and then "Update VMWare Tools". But first, you need to Eject any CD/DVD drive in macOS.



Put bigger or equal resolution in VMWare Configuration that is using in vmware-resolutionSet 1600 1100

YEAH! Now I'm at 1920x1080 on my 2560x1440 screen, thank you!

Now I'm down to the dumb stuff like the blinding white background. I can't change the wallpaper for some reason but I was able to change the color to a very red red (so I have contrast against VMware Workstation's black background). Any suggestions?

Also, anything you recommend I try out?

Before I do anything else I'm going to copy the entire folder so I don't have to do all of this again. Then I'll run an update as I need to test a couple things in Safari which is the whole point of this for me. Thank you both for your help!

 

[tucano2000]

YEAH! Now I'm at 1920x1080 on my 2560x1440 screen, thank you!

Now I'm down to the dumb stuff like the blinding white background. I can't change the wallpaper for some reason but I was able to change the color to a very red red (so I have contrast against VMware Workstation's black background). Any suggestions?

Also, anything you recommend I try out?

Before I do anything else I'm going to copy the entire folder so I don't have to do all of this again. Then I'll run an update as I need to test a couple things in Safari which is the whole point of this for me. Thank you both for your help!

Dynamic wallpapers are not possible because QE/CI acceleration is not available in WMWare. But you can add simple ones with few colors that don't have animation. These are towards the end of the wallpaper list.

 

[jabcreations]

Dynamic wallpapers are not possible because QE/CI acceleration is not available in WMWare. But you can add simple ones with few colors that don't have animation. These are towards the end of the wallpaper list.

Oh, I didn't know they were special wallpapers, I just didn't want a blinding-white background! Ha!

So I couldn't find the update and figured I had to sign in. I signed in and the About This Mac still didn't have any software update option.

So in the System Settings I searched for update. It says that 15.2 is up to date...whoa whoa whoa whoa! I didn't do all of this to test Safari 18.2, I need to test 18.5!

So what do I need to do to get Safari 18.5 running in VMware Workstation please?

Because if I have to download from the Mega website there will be a problem. I also can't find any torrent of the 15.5 ISO. Suggestions please?

The "model" I have the system set to is the "Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020". I set that weeks ago. Will updating that allow me to get newer builds?

 

[tucano2000]

Oh, I didn't know they were special wallpapers, I just didn't want a blinding-white background! Ha!

So I couldn't find the update and figured I had to sign in. I signed in and the About This Mac still didn't have any software update option.

So in the System Settings I searched for update. It says that 15.2 is up to date...whoa whoa whoa whoa! I didn't do all of this to test Safari 18.2, I need to test 18.5!

So what do I need to do to get Safari 18.5 running in VMware Workstation please?

Because if I have to download from the Mega website there will be a problem. I also can't find any torrent of the 15.5 ISO. Suggestions please?

The "model" I have the system set to is the "Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020". I set that weeks ago. Will updating that allow me to get newer builds?

In tutorial .... I did a link update and alternative to Sequoia 15.5 named Link 2.

 

[jabcreations]

In tutorial .... I did a link update and alternative to Sequoia 15.5 named Link 2.

Oh nice! Thank you! ~80 minutes to download.

Can I mount it and update from 15.2 or do I need to setup another VM from scratch? If I have to set it up from scratch that is fine but I might have some questions if all of the directions + answers in this thread don't work. I'm very grateful for all of the help!

 

[Edhawk]

Does the Tutorial feel rushed or was it you that rushed reading the tutorial?

From the issues you had I would say the latter was the cause of your issues, not the Tutorial.

 

[jabcreations]

Does the Tutorial feel rushed or was it you that rushed reading the tutorial?

From the issues you had I would say the latter was the cause of your issues, not the Tutorial.

I will admit getting macOS working on my PC has been taxing time-wise. However there are some errors and oversights in the tutorial. I'm not complaining, I'm grateful for the help. Tucano went out of his way to help and update the tutorial. Thanks to both of you I accomplished my goal tonight of getting Safari 18.5 working on my PC. I'll be able to do my simple though important tests later tonight when I resume working. Hopefully others will find this thread just as helpful.

 

[Edhawk]

Errors, what errors in the Tutorial. The tutorial includes posts beyond the first post. You were hasty and ill prepared when undertaking your installation is how I read things. If you followed the Tutorial correctly you would't have encountered most of if any of the errors you did.

Yes, this thread will tell them to read and follow the tutorial correctly, not half assed as you have.

 

[jabcreations]

Errors, what errors in the Tutorial. The tutorial includes posts beyond the first post. You were hasty and ill prepared when undertaking your installation is how I read things. If you followed the Tutorial correctly you would't have encountered most of if any of the errors you did.

Yes, this thread will tell them to read and follow the tutorial correctly, not half assed as you have.

• I've spent the past two months trying to accomplish a simple goal, I hardly call my efforts "rushed".
• Tucano made the tutorial.
• Tucano came in and did the heavy-lifting by helping.
• Tucano went out of his way to upload the latest ISO.
• Tucano acknowledged the tutorial needed updating and did so.
• You asked simple questions and provided a link to what I had tried weeks ago.
• You decided you wanted to make a fuss and then attempted pit me against Tucano.

I highly recommend revising how you go about interpreting your perception of others because this is not one of the countless hundreds of threads I've come across in the past where the person asking for help didn't acknowledge what worked and left everyone who viewed that thread having to shuffle through so many more.

 

[Edhawk]

LOL!