# Installing OrionOS on an Intel Mac

## Before you start

- Intel Mac (any MacBook/MacBook Pro with Intel CPU — 2006–2020)
- USB drive ≥ 4 GB
- The OrionOS ISO

## Step 1 — Boot from USB

Intel Macs use EFI + rEFInd (included in the ISO) to boot Linux.

1. Hold **Option (⌥)** at startup to see the boot picker.
2. Select the OrionOS USB drive (shows as "EFI Boot").

## Step 2 — Partition the disk

In the live environment, run `cfdisk /dev/sda` (replace with your disk):

| Partition | Size         | Type             | Mount     |
|-----------|-------------|------------------|-----------|
| sda1      | 512 MB      | EFI System       | /boot/efi |
| sda2      | 4 GB        | Linux swap       | swap      |
| sda3      | remainder   | Linux filesystem | /         |

Format:
```bash
mkfs.fat -F32 /dev/sda1
mkswap /dev/sda2
mkfs.ext4 -L OrionOS /dev/sda3
```

## Step 3 — Install

```bash
mount /dev/sda3 /mnt
mkdir -p /mnt/boot/efi
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot/efi
swapon /dev/sda2

pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware ...  # (handled by build-base.sh)
genfstab -U /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab
```

## Step 4 — rEFInd for Mac EFI

Intel Macs need rEFInd instead of GRUB for reliable EFI booting:

```bash
arch-chroot /mnt
refind-install
```

rEFInd auto-detects the kernel; our config at `/boot/EFI/refind/refind.conf`
points it at the right initramfs.

## Step 5 — First boot

Log in as `sky` (password: `orionos` — change it!), then:

```bash
startx
```

The SkyWM desktop launches with the Deskbar in the top-right corner.

## Intel Mac hardware notes

| Hardware        | Status   | Notes                                  |
|-----------------|----------|----------------------------------------|
| WiFi (Broadcom) | Works    | `broadcom-wl-dkms` DKMS driver        |
| Intel iGPU      | Works    | `xf86-video-intel` or modesetting     |
| Discrete GPU    | Partial  | AMD: works; Nvidia: use `nouveau`      |
| Trackpad        | Works    | `xf86-input-libinput` with gestures   |
| Audio           | Works    | `alsa-utils` + `snd_hda_intel`        |
| Suspend/Resume  | Mostly   | `echo mem > /sys/power/state`         |
| Keyboard backlit| Works    | `/sys/class/leds/` brightness control |
| Webcam          | Works    | UVC driver built into kernel          |
| Thunderbolt     | Partial  | TB1/2: limited; TB3+: better          |