First time AMD + nForce user (thanks to a recent purchase). I have an Athlon64 x2 6000+, Asus M2N68-CM mobo, 4GB DDR2 800MHz RAM, 512MB PCIe GeForce 9800GT, 2x SATA HDD, 1 IDE DVD-RW, 1 IDE HDD (the install disk!). I am installing a base install, +voodoo kernel, +seatbelt fix, +nForceATA driver (my backed up 'working' driver is AppleVIAATA.kext).

I have been using iPC 10.5.6 DVD, because it is the only one that appears to enable DMA, meaning a 10min install instead of 2hrs+.

I have managed to re-partition the IDE (GUID or MBR), and the install goes smoothly - the system doesn't restart on its own, but should with OpenHaltRestart. Upon reboot after installing, I have the dreaded "Waiting for root device" message.

I have changed SATA mode to AHCI.

I have tried changing the positions on the IDE chain (master/slave). I have tried rd=disk0s2, I have tried -f -v -s -x and combinations of these. I have an Asus mobo, so I need to boot with cpus=1, I also need to set maxmem=2048 for the install DVD to work. I have also tried boot-uuid=xxxxxx. I have also tried platform=ACPI/X86PC. I am running out of boot options. and of course, Single User mode suffers the same "waiting for root device" error

I have working kexts for this very chipset (ATA/SATA), as well as for sound and network. All I need to do now is get past this bl**dy start screen. I have the working kexts on an NTFS drive, and cannot mount the drive using Disk Utility or in the Terminal. Also, my USB thumbdrives (Fat & Fat32) do not mount from the install DVD. I have tried chroot'ing to the installed OS and working from there, although there are no devices, or volumes. I have also tried disabling SATA in the BIOS, but still no luck...

There is a good chance that I do not have the BIOS setup correctly - but am so new to AMD BIOS options, that most of it is greek to me (previous system was a Core2Duo Asus P5KPL-CM mobo, which of course worked perfectly). The only difference between the two systems (apart from the processor/mobo) is that I used to have a SATA DVD, but I hear that OSX86 cannot boot from a SATA DVD in this particular configuration.

Any thoughts or ideas would be VERY WELCOME INDEED!

PS. I am getting "SAM Multimedia" errors, which points to an incorrect System.kext I believe...??

EDIT: It could be an nForce 530, as 630a is the Southbridge chip...?