Update #1: We’ve sorted out the VMware Tools issues with iMessage, make sure to read down to the bottom of this post for how to fix the issue.
Update #2: Apple has (inadvertently, I think) stopped the iMessage Enabler from working currently when they performed maintenance on the 18th December. The issues with iMessage can be fixed on non-virtualized machines after a load of testing which has resulted in this post. This fix is implemented using Clover which doesn’t play well with VMware, so we’ll have to wait for Chameleon to be updated or find another way around it (I have a couple of ideas). In regards to the Clover fix, just run smview to see your current SMBios info if you used the iMessage Enabler originally.
We had a lot of people asking about enabling iMessage on their own customized VMs and previous versions of our VMware images, so we decided to come up with a solution for the people in these situations. We’ve put together an installer which can be used in VMware (and in theory, to enable iMessage on hackintosh) to enable iMessage. If you’re interested in using it, make sure to follow the below video due to issues which may arise if you make mistakes when installing. This is because due to the way it works you can run into boot issues on your machine, especially if you’re using a hackintosh. Ensure to read the Readme.txt, which can be found here, and make sure to backup any important files or take snapshots as needed before running the package. You can download the iMessage Enabler from our Downloads page in the Miscellaneous section.
The Enabler works by installing a custom bootloader onto your system and then changes certain values inside your system which would usually be recognised by Apple as values which indicate a virtualized system. By changing these values in this way, we ensure that the internet in your system is still connected, but it should also send information back to Apple (well, the detection Apple put in place) that a ‘real’ Mac is being used to access iMessage. Because of this, Messages then lets you add an account and because that wasn’t blocked, your account is then iMessage-Enabled. I put up a more detailed explanation of what’s happening here, along with more information on fixing VMware Tools and the reason for the breakages.
As we noted in the Readme.txt, there is an issue with VMware Tools when using the iMessage Enabler in that the mouse usually goes out of sync. To fix this you simply need to enable VMware’s optimization system for gaming via the preferences. If you’re unsure how to do this, just follow the quick video below.
As usual, we appreciate any and all donations for our ongoing efforts in making virtualizing Mac OS X as easy as possible. In addition, remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel and to visit the site regularly for new updates and releases!
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Excellent work.
Just tested on VM9(Win7 x64), by using guestos=nt the booting process appears quite slow. Changed back to w2k, wxp or w7 seems ok but appears same mouse issues.
Whats about the VMWare Tools problem with mouse?
The VMware Tools installs a mouse driver which is designed to function under EFI which isn’t being used any more. I’m trying to find a solution to remove the mouse drivers, but I’m not entirely sure how Tools would function without.
Works well!!!!
buddy, tell me
if I try to install an official OSX ML in an empty VMware machine what happens? are you saying apple deliberately implemented anti-vmware measures?
this sucks.
so your enabler can be used in the traditional VMX configuration file? (not the buggy imessage vmx)
You can use it on any VMware installation, and the only bug you will face is with VMware tools. (At least, that’s all I’ve seen so far).
Hey guy,thanks for all your great work !
What’s about the mouse issue with VMWare Tools ? Have you already wrote the solution you’ve found ?
Thks. =)
We just updated the post now.
Thanks very much for this. The preference (Input -> Optimize Mouse for Games) is not available on vmwarePlayer for Windows (I do see it in vmwareWorkstation). Is there any line that could be manually added to the .vmx file to accomplish the same thing?
Also… I’m getting a serial number of “ffjjffjjffjjffjj” when using the message fix. Unfortunately, the registration server is still giving errors like “”Could not sign in to iMessage. The server encountered an error processing registration. Please try again later.”
any thoughts?
thanks!
rjb
Is that in both Player and Workstation?
Workstation has the option and the mouse works just as described once “Optimize Mouse for Games” is set.
Player doesn’t have the “Input” options in preferences at all.
thanks!
Excellent work arounds!
I have loaded the dmg and ran the enabler on the vmx file. I am now getting this message when I try to sign into imessage — “The server encountered an error processing registration. Please try again later.”
Could just be issues at the other end, have you had any luck after?
This fix was working great until today. It stopped working for some reason. Now I can’t sign in to iMessage. It says ”Could not sign in to iMessage. The server encountered an error processing registration. Please try again later.” What happened?
That could just be iMessage that’s down – happens a lot. There’s no reason it’d just stop working unless you removed things that were created upon installation.
Don’t think so, I’ve re-installed everything from scratch, and tried on the three last days. It doesn’t work anymore.
Apple probably found your post ^^
I tried with different random and valid serials for MBP13″ (‘smserial’ cmd and trying it on Apple Spec page). So I don’t think it is related to the serial only.
Dunno if Apple has automatically blackmailed my AppleID / Public IP, or if they’re verifying machine authenticity with other criteria than S/N only.
Can anyone confirm or refute this please ?
I’ll try asap to spoof other criteria than the S/N only.
I’ll duplicate those value from an authentic MacMini at home, let’s see.
I’m abroad, so it will take some time
Looks like they have changed it. It won’t be defined via system info, if it’s not defined by Serial. I’ll look at it soon.
Any idea on what caused it to break? Any eta on a fix?
No ETA as we haven’t found the issue. Apple caused it to break, not sure how.
Would love an iMessage fix on the Dec 18, update!
Working on it.
what direction are you going on this, ZackehSoul? Do you think it’s related to deviceID/system ID requirements changing?
Anecdotally:
The iCloud ID that I use for iMessage (on two iPads, an iPhone 5, a 15″ rMBP, and a Hac i7 and VMWare OS X Server) is fine on the Apple gear but not on my Hac or the VMWare host that previously was fine with it. My Hac has an absurd combination the Serial and SMBoardproduct aren’t accurate and the SMbiosversion is of course nonsense.
iTunes store and App Store are fine, but admittedly a different AppleID used for household.
It’s hard to say right now, but I feel it’s EFI related
Awesome! You’re my hero, please email me when you have a fix and I will happily donate to support this dev team.
Same issue here everything was working perfectly thanks to the Zack. But now I get The server encountered an error processing registration
is anyone working on the Virtualization bypass on VMWare Workstation 9?
Not entirely sure, CubeZ is the guy who made that originally.
okay i got the kernel panic issue resolved. i had 1 CPU and 2 Core set in MY VM so i change it to 1 CPU and 1 Core.
but now another issue
i have no sound and my internal Drive Show up as orange. Please Help.
Has anyone tried this work around using Clover within a VM or are the issues too much to attempt at this time?
It’s just not a smart move, due to the way Clover works. A fix is being put into Chameleon right now and should be ready soon.
So currently, iMessage in VMWare is not functional? (at least not with an easy fix? because you said this simple fix no longer works as Apple inadvertently blocked it)
The chameleon fix has been out for more than a week now. Is the easy fix gonna be ready soon? I read some of your tweets that it was to be ready supposedly by that weekend.
The chameleon fix won’t work a virtual platform, hence the delay.
Please please find a current fix for this this is really important for me to use I will give a nice donation either way thank you.
I just wanted to say THANK YOU for an awesome and very stable OSX VM image! I am very much looking forward to the iMessage fix but will wait as long as it takes. Seriously great job on the build!
I only got the fix to half work, it lets me use FaceTime, but I still can’t use iMessage. I’m still getting the message saying there was an error processing registration.
Yes, we said that the installer needs updating. Bear with us.
awesome.
install and run Xcode still works great ;D
This is pretty awesome so far! I can’t wait to get this registration error fixed as well
Keep up the good work guys!
Excellent work. I am using VWmare Workstation 8.0 when I run the patch in the osx mountain lion folder I get a osx mountain lion.vmx-backup file. Am I doing something wrong. Thanks for your help.
Is it not being removed afterwards? It’s just a placeholder whilst the edits are being made to the original .vmx.
No its not being removed its showing up as OS X Moutain Lion.vmx-backup.
That’s strange, are you sure the script is running properly? Open a command window in that directory and run the .cmd file from the command line. You might want to edit the .cmd to change the first line to ON instead of OFF, so you can see exactly what’s going on.
Any progress in fixing iMessage?
We know the cause of iMessage not working. However, fixing it on a virtual platform may be impossible (well, ‘impossible’). I’m going to start looking at it more now since I’ve finished all my assignments, so I’ll keep people updated if anything promising comes up.
Thanks for looking into it ZackehSoul
Thanks for the stable/amazing build Zack, all your time and effort is highly appreciateed!
Hi All. I followed all the steps but i have a problem restarting OSxVM.. There are two messages as you can see in the image linked below:
http://www.fantanzallanutos.it/images/OSXBug1.png
http://www.fantanzallanutos.it/images/OSXBug2.png
Could you help me??
Thanks