Hervé

Good for you, but here we support retail version installation through myHack installer, not distros. That allows us to build a comprehensive dedicated set of kexts and support users in a controlled way with a sound underlying common base.

If it gets corrupted, just make a new one, it's simple enough. Otherwise, you're welcome to try and make an image and burn it to a DVD. 

Which kext did you install for Keyboard/TrackPad?

I've had that before, but can't remember what got me to that stage. Strange key combinations or messing up with EDP? Can't say. I think I ended up with a re-install...

Well, as Bob said, the D630 is a sure thing as far as installing SL or Lion is concerned. If you feel more adventurous, try the E6400. Or get both!

re: D620, bear in mind that many parts are interchangeable with the D630: LCD, keyboard (well not that burnt one!), HDD, DVD/CD drive, Bluetooth adapter, wifi card, etc.

If you managed to get 4Go into the D630, that is an excellent thing. You mention "Intel 965", that is the chipset, the integrated graphics card is GMA X3100 (also referred to as Crestline). Lookup in the BIOS for LCD resolution; there are 2 models: LoRes WXGA (1280x800) and HiRes WXGA+ (1440x900). You'll need to use the appropriate bootpack/DSDT according to that not-so-subtle difference. Of course, go for the HiRes LCD if there is one (check the D620 as well).

Before you start anything, I'd advise you to update your BIOS to version A17 or A18 (the latter only differs from the former by having support for signed firmware) and set things as per recommended in dedicated BIOS thread.

 Re: multi-boot, I'd advise to start with OS X, then Win7 (or XP), then Ubuntu (or whatever flavour of Linux you fancy).

Check the wireless card in each D6x0. Pick-up a non-Intel card if there is one available. These laptops were typically fitted with an Intel 3945 card and that is not compatible with OS X. For Bluetooth, a DW360 is better than a DW350.

Mmm, which mouse/PS2 controller are you using?

Well, clearly the choice is between the E6400 and the D630, the former being a slightly more powerful machine of course. Leave the D620 aside, especially with Intel GMA950, since it's a slower system (FSB667 CPUs, DDR2-667), although Snow Leopard runs brilliantly on it.

Like all D620, the D630 with Intel X3100 will be limited to Lion (ML dropped support for older Intel GMA) and will of course run Win7 and Ubuntu very well. These are nice little laptops, especially with 4Go DDR2-800 RAM, a >2.0GHz C2D CPU and high res/WSXGA+ LCD. This has been one of my earliest dual-boot Win7/Lion Hackintosh, which I still use, though less frequently now that an nVidia model has become my daily home device.

Re: E6400, make sure the graphics card is supported under OS X and it should be a pretty good machine to run all 3 OS on. Read-up the E6xxx section for info.

Oh, if you don't want the auto-boot, it's easy. Look at the Cham Wizard boot plist picture I attached above. At top left corner, you'll see the boot options and the TimeOut bar. Move that to the left and you'll have 2 further options: Instant Menu and QuietBoot. Opt for Instant Menu and the bootloader will stop at HDD partitions menu.

Well, if your screen is configured and runs at 1440x900, you're Ok then, I don't see where the problem is...

Leave your boot plist parameters as they are.

[...] can you select an option to go straight to the joint OS choice screen rather than SL first and then the joint one? [...]

??? What are your talking about?

Also, I've noticed my keyboard is actually still on US setup with the " & @ swapped around rather than the UK selected in Preferences, is there a quick fix please?

Download Ukelele and copy Logitech UK layout files in "/Library/Keyboard Layouts". See my post of yesterday on the exact same matter.

Re-run EDP kext installation and opt for your own settings. You can then choose the patched HDA controller for D630.

Any particular reason why you want Modbin kernel as opposed to legacy kernel?

With an AMD-based system, use Nawcom's BootCD to boot and install Snow Leopard. You need a legacy kernel for AMD CPUs, otherwise systematic KP as experienced. Look at the OSXL site for details, it's dead easy.

I found that option "USBBusFix=No" is typically required to avoid Keyboard issue when installing Lion. It's not off by default as far as I'm concerned: check your boot plist file...

You could simply uncheck the 1280x800x32 case (like my D620 nVidia plist).

However, check the resolution you have selected in Monitor settings. If you've swapped LCD, go and check that (System Preferences -> Monitors or Monitor icon on menu bar) and adjust if necessary.

I'm assuming that you have of course replaced your DSDT table from the LoRes version (1280x800) to the HiRes version (1440x900). That is a necessary step for all Intel GMA D620/D630...

Check your BIOS settings as per recommended in the dedicated thread. Provided you're using the correct bootpack (remember to pick up the pack with correct resolution), you should have no problem booting myHack Lion installer and proceeding with installation. I would recommend that you boot with option "USBBusFix=No" to avoid keyboard issue.

If you've installed Cham Wizard, just double click on the boot plist that is in /Extra. The post your screencopy.

It's a common and well-known issue that the PC keyboard layout of a Hackintosh does not 100% match Apple's layout. It's not a problem of distros vs. legit' installation media. There are tools to circumvent that issue though...

Download a tool called Ukelele: http://scripts.sil.org/cms/scripts/page.php?site_id=nrsi&id=ukelele

Open the package folder (do not install it); you'll find a Logitech keyboard Layout directory. Select the 2 files appropriate to your EN-UK layout and copy them to "/Library/Keyboard Layouts" folder on your HDD. I attach screendumps for my FR keyboard as an example.

Then open up the "Language & text" pref pane and go to the "Input Method" tab. Scroll down the list, select your newly installed layout and check the "Display input menu in menu bar" box.

You should then see the little language flag in the bar, usually next to the clock. Click on the flag and select your Logitech layout.

That will give you the correct keyboard layout.

You can then complete this with DoubleCommand tool: http://doublecommand.sourceforge.net/

Once it is installed, open up the pref pane and:

. select "Command key acts as Option Key"

. select "Option Key acts as Command Key"

. select "PC style Home and End Keys"

. click on "Activate", then save "User" + "System"

This is useful to be able to use the "Windows" key as "Apple" key for instance, or the Home & END keys as per on a regular Windows PC.

Just like that? Out of a OS X retail DVD?

Mmm, sounds like a well-known distro, you might not be 100% kosher and EDP-compatible... Only 10.6.0 and 10.6.3 are retail versions. I guess newest Apple 10.6.8 SL offering should be too.

To get OS X version, do Apple Menu-> About this Mac 

10.6.1? That's not a retail version... How do you install OS X???

Yes, you can install all the other updates, except OS X 10.6.8. For that specific update, download the Combo update, run it BUT before rebooting like specified upon execution, re-run EDP and proceed with kext installation again. then it's safe to reboot into 10.6.8.

try "USBBusFix=No" option at boot time. I guess you have Chameleon installed or some other boot loader...

'sounds like you updated to 10.6.8 without re-running EDP prior to reboot. So you know what to do now... Which specific SL version do you initially install?

Which OS version did you install? All updates are safe, except OS X update, which is potentially problematic.

For example, updating from 10.6.3 to 10.6.8 or 10.7.3 to 10.7.4/5 without precaution usually results in systematic KP at reboot. On the other hand, it's usually pretty safe to update from early 10.6 to 10.6.7, from 10.7.4 to 10.7.5 or 10.8 to any subsequent versions.

What we always recommend is:

1) never us Apple-menu/auto OS X updates but download Combo updates off Apple's web site

2) after combo update execution, do not reboot but re-run EDP kext installation, then reboot

[...]

I have noticed that the actual Dell wifi indicator doesn't light up on OSX though it does on Win7.

[...]

Yes, they all do that. At best, you get BT LED, if BT is activated.

To finalise your installation, I'd suggest you install Chameleon Wizard, eventually update your Cham version and tune your boot plist as/if necessary. You can always drop us a screencopy of the Cham Wizard Boot Plist settings.

What method did you use to install Snow Leopard on that old machine? Nawcom ModCD or was that a distro?