I can answer question 2 for you...you only need to connect a mouse. OSX has a virtual keyboard you can use to get VNC running then you don't need either. I've had mixed success with VNC so. It's locked up my 10.5.8 install multiple times. I was using Vine Viewer, perhaps another VNC client would work better.

I have 10.5.8 running successfully on my AppleTV using an external drive - Thank you Jon! When I run software updates what should and shouldn't I be installing? Can I upgrade to iTunes 10.1.1? Are AirPort and QuickTime updates OK or should I keep this install exactly as it is?

Thank you!

Originally Posted by cwills

I can answer question 2 for you...you only need to connect a mouse. OSX has a virtual keyboard you can use to get VNC running then you don't need either. I've had mixed success with VNC so. It's locked up my 10.5.8 install multiple times. I was using Vine Viewer, perhaps another VNC client would work better.

What do you use to control your OS X install? Do you keep a mouse connected to it at all times? Do you know of any other ways to remotely control the ATV? I wonder if something like TeamViewer or LogMeIn would work.

Originally Posted by cwills

I have 10.5.8 running successfully on my AppleTV using an external drive - Thank you Jon! When I run software updates what should and shouldn't I be installing? Can I upgrade to iTunes 10.1.1? Are AirPort and QuickTime updates OK or should I keep this install exactly as it is?

Thank you!

Which guide and/or image did you use to get it to boot via USB? Can you link me to it? Thanks!

Originally Posted by makismagoo99

What do you use to control your OS X install? Do you keep a mouse connected to it at all times? Do you know of any other ways to remotely control the ATV? I wonder if something like TeamViewer or LogMeIn would work.



Which guide and/or image did you use to get it to boot via USB? Can you link me to it? Thanks!

I keep a mouse plugged in at all times to control OSX. I tried LogMeIn but I couldn't get it to install.

To boot via USB, I downloaded Jon's image for 10.5.8. I used CCC to put the image on to my new drive and then I followed the instructions for partitioning the drive that are list in the first post of this thread. I connected the new drive, booted the AppleTV - it loaded in the AppleTV interface - I used the remote to reboot and OSX appeared.

It was pretty easy but it hasn't been perfect. I've had some major stability issues that I'm trying to resolve. I can't seem to keep the machine running for a day without it rebooting or locking up. This is problematic since I'm hoping to use it as an iTunes server to serve content to my AppleTV 2.

Originally Posted by cwills

I keep a mouse plugged in at all times to control OSX. I tried LogMeIn but I couldn't get it to install.

To boot via USB, I downloaded Jon's image for 10.5.8. I used CCC to put the image on to my new drive and then I followed the instructions for partitioning the drive that are list in the first post of this thread. I connected the new drive, booted the AppleTV - it loaded in the AppleTV interface - I used the remote to reboot and OSX appeared.

It was pretty easy but it hasn't been perfect. I've had some major stability issues that I'm trying to resolve. I can't seem to keep the machine running for a day without it rebooting or locking up. This is problematic since I'm hoping to use it as an iTunes server to serve content to my AppleTV 2.

Got it...thanks! I'm gonna try to get it on the internal hard drive, which I'm hoping will eliminate some of the instabilities. I'll post back when I have a chance to give it a try.

I look forward to hearing how it works for you. Do you mind telling which link you used to download 10.5.8? I used the link in JonMS's 10/13/2010 post. I'm wondering if I need to use the link in the first post of this thread but I can't seem to get it to work.

Originally Posted by cwills

I look forward to hearing how it works for you. Do you mind telling which link you used to download 10.5.8? I used the link in JonMS's 10/13/2010 post. I'm wondering if I need to use the link in the first post of this thread but I can't seem to get it to work.

I used the link in the first post of the thread because, oddly enough, the link in JonMS's 10/13 thread didn't work for me. There didn't seem to be any seeders for the torrent. I wanted to use the 10/13 link (version 2) because Jon said he had done some trimming down of the OS. But I figured since that link didn't work, it'd be best to at least get something working, so I just went with the first link.

I was able to download it using the FireTorrent plugin for FireFox. I'm not sure if that makes a difference.

I was using the USB hub built into my Dell monitor. Today I stopped using it and plugged my USB drive directly into my AppleTV. This seems to be working better. We'll see if things stabilize now.

Originally Posted by cwills

I was able to download it using the FireTorrent plugin for FireFox. I'm not sure if that makes a difference.

A few seeders finally showed up, so I'm now downloading v2 of the image. That said, in the meantime, I went ahead and installed the first image. It works pretty well - very stable. The only problem is that I have zero sound. Not just low volume, but none whatsoever. I realize it's a known bug, but I was hoping I could just turn up the volume on my TV. How is sound working for you?

I haven't tried the sound at all. I'm using it as an iTunes server so it wasn't a concern for me. I'm wondering if you'll have more success with v2. It looks like several fixes were added. Also, many had success with an USB sound card. That might be worth a try.

So far, stability has been great since I stopped using my monitor as a USB hub - running for 2 days straight now.