Mac OS X : Install Silverlight 2 on non-Intel systems (ie powerpc or osx86 installs)

Contributor Icon Contributed by Jimmy Selix  
Tag Icon Tagged: Apple Mac  

This is a quickie guide on how to install Microsoft’s Silverlight 2.0+ browser plugin for non-Intel based systems running OSX (including PowerPC and Hackintosh setups, ie Atom cpus and AMD).

If your a Mac user running an older PowerPC setup (ie G5 or older system) or are running OSX on windows hardware, you prob noticed you can’t install Silverlight 2.0 due to the processor check. This can be a bummer since Netflix for OSX only works using the Silverlight 2.0 framework.

This recipe explains how to remove the CPU check in the installation package.

1. Download the Silverlight 2.0 DMG file from Microsoft

2. Mount the DMG file (double click it)

3. Copy the pkg file ( Silverlight2.0.pkg ) to your desktop.

4. Right-click (or ctrl+click) on the .pkg file on your desktop and choose “Show Package Contents”

5. Browse to: Contents > Resources and then Right-click on “InstallationCheck” and choose to “Move to Trash”

This removes the CPU check that prevents the install.

Now close that Finder window and run the .pkg file we just edited. Silverlight should now install without any problems!

This technique may be applicable to other applications w/installation checks.

 

81 Comments -


  1. Lee said on December 10, 2008

    Unfortunately NetFlix does a processor check as well. So this workaround is defeated.

  2. jimmyselix said on December 10, 2008

    i’ve been able to stream netflix via my msi wind and osx leo. have not tried on a powerpc cpu though. thanks for the heads up on netflix cpu check

  3. elvato said on December 11, 2008

    Does it really work?
    I have a powerPc and followed the steps.

    The plugin installs fine, but when i open a silverlight page i got the “get silverlight” logo..

  4. Maurice said on December 12, 2008

    Plugin installs on my G5 and G4 but I stil get
    “get silverlight” in Safari and Firefox.
    The plugin is in the Library folder.

  5. sarah said on December 13, 2008

    I just tried it and it worked!! WOO HOO! :) I’m watching a netflix movie on safari right now!

  6. Alison said on December 25, 2008

    Did you do anything else? How did you get around the netflix website’s check?

  7. Ian Muir said on January 3, 2009

    The underlying problem with this is that the underlying framework will be seriously unstable. The SilverLight 2.0 plugin is based on the .NET framework. The plugin is essentially a compact verson of the framework.

    Most of the SilverLight specific stuff (animation, async requests, etc) will work fine, but any apps that tap into the framework will likely cause the plugin and possibly your browser to crash.

  8. Ian Muir said on January 3, 2009

    Just realized that I use the word underlying too much.

  9. Adam said on January 11, 2009

    Really? Are you sure you have a powerpc processor? Is it a g4, or is it a g5? what computer do you have/what generation is it? I did this and it installed, but i get the “get silverlight” issue every time.

    P.S. I have a 1.2 ghz g4 ibook from a few years ago… any ideas anybody?

  10. Glenn said on January 20, 2009

    Installs fine. But how do you get it to work?

    When I open a silverlight page I get the “get silverlight” logo.

  11. Unregistered said on February 3, 2009

    The trick is how would you circumvent a processor check and trick netflix to think your ppc is a intel mac? Any thoughts?

  12. Denis said on February 7, 2009

    I used it on a G5 so to access the radio/video of SRC [http://www.radio-canada.ca/] that had upgraded its Web site and required “absolutely” Silverlight 2.

    For this purpose it works perfectly. I am not very knowledgeable in computing so I don’t know any other applications that use Silverlight 2.

    Thank you seamonkey420

  13. Scott said on February 7, 2009

    In safari, enable the develop menu (prefs>advanced) and set the user agent as safari 3.1 mac. I can get passed all the processor warnings.

  14. micaela said on February 8, 2009

    so i followed the instructions to download and install silverlight on my G4 mac, then i enabled the develop menu and set the user agent to safari 3.1 mac, then when i go to watch instantly i still get the “install the microsoft silverlight plug-in now” page :(

    i even tried restarting my browser and restarting my computer alltogether. is there a step i’m missing?

  15. silvia said on February 11, 2009

    shame I can’t go any further than step 4.
    “InstallationCheck” command doesn’t show anywhere.

    sob!

  16. c said on February 11, 2009

    doesn’t seem to work with OS 10.4.11 and Safari 3.1.2. Any suggestions other than buying a whole new Intel based Mac?

  17. rippedoff_reader said on February 14, 2009

    Yes, SL2 will install that way — but netflix online streaming *still* won’t work on the ppc Mac. Not even if you change your browser’s ID string. I hate idiots like you, writing fake howto crap and causing people to waste their precious time.

  18. ganesh said on February 20, 2009

    Thanks!

  19. Josh said on February 24, 2009

    So, I take it nobody has real/working steps to watch Netflix “Watch Instantly” on a PowerPC/PPC Mac? I have been looking everywhere and have not found a solution.

    People who tell PPC users to buy a new computer are missing the point, I have a $3300 G5 tower purchased in 2006, I should have to spend close to $3K again to get a comparable Mac Pro (the only benefit at this time being Silverlight/Netflix)??? That is ridiculous.

    One thought want to try is Virtual PC 7 with Windows XP installed in Leopard on the G5, I can not find anyone saying they have tried it…

  20. Andre said on March 1, 2009

    Great idea. But…
    I did’nt find how to download Silverlight 2 on a PPC mac.
    Microsoft detects PPC and constraints you to download Silverlight 1.
    So…

  21. Bob said on March 3, 2009

    Silverlight 1.0 is universal binary for PPC and Intel. Silverlight 2 does not support PPC and the unmanaged code portion of the product is not universal binary – it is Intel only. So, while you may be able to defeat the installation CPU check, the binaries are Intel only so they can’t/won’t run on a PPC.

  22. Lorde said on March 10, 2009

    Well, I too have wasted many hours trying to bypass the ludicrous Netflix border, I di succeeed with the method
    on my MSi wind running Leopard… That’s about as good as I can do… I am truly pissed that Jobs can’t kiss some flex ass and take care of his old customers..Screw apple, Screw Microsof and really screw Netflix..

  23. Jack said on March 16, 2009

    Thank you! This worked on my hackintosh lenovo s10 on leopard 10.5.6. I have tested netflix and some online radio and it has been flawless.

  24. Cory said on March 19, 2009

    It’s easy enough to install a User Agent Switcher plugin and tell Firefox to pretend it’s got an intel processor. The problem is the Silverlight 2.0 plugin was written for Intel, and won’t work witgh PPC, even with a successful install. If anyone knows a way around this, then I’d love to hear it.

  25. Aprile said on March 22, 2009

    The steps worked, but it still will not appear on the browser. If you navigate to your Library>Internet Plugins folder you can do a get info on Silverlight plugin and it still says (Intel) and therefore does not actually install even though it says it does. I’m not using Safari though, I’m using Firefox 3.0.7. And for what I need silverlight for, I HAVE to use firefox because i have another toolbar installed that i must use….

  26. SteveJ said on March 22, 2009

    Puzzling; I got Silverlight to install on by G4 Mac mini running 10.5.6.
    Running either Firefox or Safari, I can go to
    http://silverlight.net
    and click on the “See It” button; I get sent to the TRT sight and the video is correctly displayed (using Silverlight, I assume). So Silverlight on a PPC seems to work. But I can’t get Netflix to work; I still get the “Our apologies” message.

  27. Aprile said on March 22, 2009

    Ya, it does with silverlight 1.0, but 2.0 really is not possible. The site I need to use requires 2.0 (itv.com)

  28. SteveJ said on March 22, 2009

    So maybe the solution is to give up, spend $100 and buy the Roku player (sigh).

  29. Pete Goss said on May 2, 2009

    Oh yea it install ok now, but firefox don’t see it as a plugin!!!

  30. Josiah said on May 13, 2009

    I get the same thing… I don’t think it really works…

  31. stephen said on June 10, 2009

    This will not work. You can test it and verify it yourself if you feel the need. Anyone claiming to have it working is either misguided or lying.

    Whilst the method of installation; removing the upgrade check script does allow the plugin to be installed, the plugin is built for the intel architecture only.

    Plug-ins for one architecture cannot be loaded by a program running in another architecture, so this wouldn’t work even if if there was some kind of bizarre reverse Rosetta system that allowed PPC machines to execute intel code (which there isn’t).

    Give it up folks.

  32. PPCforMe said on June 24, 2009

    Virtual PC 7 is not compatible with Leopard, Tiger is the last compatible Mac OS X. (Unless Microsoft was mistaken, or you have found a way around that.)

  33. pat said on July 3, 2009

    thanks!!!!

  34. Anonymous said on July 14, 2009

    Thanks! that worked for the install but it won’t load the plug-in successfully when I go to websites that require silverlight. I get an error message… /Users/tmyrick/Desktop/Picture 2.png and this happens with the recommende 1.0 version too.

  35. lou said on July 19, 2009

    It doesn’t let me delete the installation check file… even though it isnt locked and says I have read write access in the info. Any thoughts?

  36. lou said on July 19, 2009

    that is silverlight 1.0 not 2.0

  37. Anonymous said on August 12, 2009

    this dosent work for me it just opens a blank safari window and nothing elce happens

  38. Anonymous said on September 7, 2009

    Thanks works a treat!

  39. Anonymous said on October 16, 2009

    Tried it. The CPU Virtual PC emulates is not compatible with silverlight

  40. dakara said on November 25, 2009

    thanks a bunch! this worked for me, and i was able to use the “watch instantly” option in netflix with no problem (using firefox).

  41. JC said on November 29, 2009

    are you sure this worked on a non-intel mac? how do you avoid the netflix processor check?

  42. Anonymous said on December 7, 2009

    install yes, watch netflix no…

  43. Anonymous said on January 5, 2010

    Heck with watching Netflix streams on the computer! For less than $300 you can get one of the newer BluRay players that will run both Netflix and Pandora flawlessly and on your much bigger TV screen… duh!

  44. Anonymous said on January 10, 2010

    Hey rweflyn,
    Some of us in the technologically advanced world use a computer connected to a projector (which happens to be much bigger than any TV screen… duh!) and the computer that is connected to the projector can even, now this might surprise you rweflyn, connect to pandora or itunes or rhapsody or napster or youtube or hulu, surf the net, purchase goods from ebay, play video games……………and on and on. So spending more money on another device is redundant when the device (a computer) can do everything except stream netflix movies.

  45. Anonymous said on January 11, 2010

    Not really news to me; I have a Mac Mini AND an AppleTV hooked up to my big screen (65″) The Mini plays in full 1080p. It’s nice to have options. Is that high tech enough for you? Still, I’d bet the BluRay player would cost a lot less than your projector, especially if it is capable of the higher resolutions. Now, if you bought the projector from a pawn shop, well… duh?!

  46. Daddy said on January 14, 2010

    I guess your technology advanced system doesn’t work eh? douche

  47. Anonymous said on January 15, 2010

    rweflyn,
    I’m not one to bicker. I responded to your initial comment because its annoying when searching for a solution to a problem and all you find are smartass comments which exacerbate your frustration. I prefer to read comments like jeffhoog, “install yes, watch netflix no…”. My goal, along with other powerpc mac users using netflix, is to find a way to stream netflix video exclusively on our macs. Advice about using other equipment is not the goal of this forum. Anyway, I only recently acquired a dual core G5 2.5 Ghz with 8 gb of ram, optical audio, liquid cooled, and dual dvi video which makes it comparable if not superior to many computers on the market today. I was going to use it to replace a windows media center pc that I currently use, but when I found out that I could not stream netflix from the G5 I was hoping to find a solution. Unfortunately, this does not seem possible so I will return to my windows machine and use the G5 for something else.

  48. Anonymous said on January 15, 2010

    I read through these forums occasionally for tips to simplify my life. In your “technologically advanced” world, you have managed to invest good money trying to upgrade yesterday’s technology to perform the tasks of today and tomorrow. Why keep beating that dead horse my friend? Others (Daddy) on this board also see the real reason for your frustrations. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you need to get off that merry-go-round and get a grip.

  49. Josh said on January 16, 2010

    You are obviously not searching forums for “tips to simplify my life” if you are reading and responding (negatively) to this posting at all since it is about getting Silverlight 2.0 to work on PPC and you obviously don’t think anyone should bother and should just invest another $2K+ on a new Mac.
    I think you are the one that needs to “get a grip” and don’t worry so much about what others are trying to do.

  50. Anonymous said on January 18, 2010

    Clearly much a do about nothing…
    I do understand the intent of the original post, but because most posters kept saying it wouldn’t work (at least with Silverlight 2.0), I offered a fairly cheap alternative and now have all the PPC owners still in denial and throwing tantrums.
    So, in conclusion:
    - My original idea – get a BluRay player that does Netflix – $150 (my son just bought one last week and it does NetFlix).
    - A MacMini, not “2K+” but more like $600-800. This is a dream machine as a complete home entertainment media server!
    - Upsetting people who keep “trying to do” things with their computers that they clearly can’t do and seeing them so in denial and upset about it – priceless!

  51. Anonymous said on January 25, 2010

    thanks so much!! i was able to install silverlight with no problem!!! *genius!!!*

  52. Eric said on January 31, 2010

    What if what someone isn’t trying to watch Netflix? What do you do then, I dobt very much that a BluRay player would help very much with http://www.atitesting.com

  53. Eric said on January 31, 2010

    doubt

  54. Anonymous said on February 8, 2010

    Nice one. I just landed on the moon and am watching a Netflix movie projected onto all of Australia.

  55. MonoKulen said on February 15, 2010

    thx a lot!!

  56. Anonymous said on February 19, 2010

    I’ve got a Pismo running 10.4.11.
    Installed Silverlight using the quick hack here.
    Installed User Agent Switch…

    I’ve bypassed the Netflix page blocking me about the requirements page..and it takes me to the movie play page..however it keeps telling me I’m almost ready to watch a movie with the installer link there…however, I’ve already installed Silverlight…I need one more clue to bypass “Install Silverlight” page.

    Almost there.

    any more hints or clues as to how to jump this one hurdle?

  57. KoKo said on February 19, 2010

    The real hurdle is about facing reality. Much as I commiserate (I’m posting this with my good ol’ Power Mac G5) the ppc platform is the latest of a long illustrious succession of Apple products that have orphaned architectures and operating systems.

    Of course it’s not just an Apple thing: Many once-cutting-edge platforms of other brands can’t handle the latest software either. Not many of us invest much time trying to get a Macintosh 1 or IBM-PC to log onto Netflix for similar reasons.

    We can still enjoy our PowerPC computers with what they still run well, while accepting it that their heyday is in the past. I find it more gratifying and productive these days to get a Hackintosh education, instead of compounding my frustration with what my old G5 will never run in future.

  58. Brian Maxwell said on February 25, 2010

    I have tried this several times and still it will not let me play netflix on a G4 iBook Mac OSX 10.4.11
    I have followed the instructions as written above. and I still get the message that I need an intel based Mac. Even after taking out the Installation Check. What else can I do. I have tried both Safari and Firefox but neither work. I can’t afford a new lap top. This is the only thing I can’t get to work.

  59. Anonymous said on March 3, 2010

    Sorry to say this, but the PPC users should just accept the fact that Silverlight and Netflix just won’t work for PPC, sadly. But if your goal is to watch Netflix, you can always go to eBay to buy a used Intel CoreDuo Mac Mini for $300-$400 if you get lucky, not only you can watch Netflix, you can use the Mini to do many more while you can still keep your PPC for other tasks or sell it to defray the cost.

  60. jc said on March 18, 2010

    was able to download the silverlight 2 from 3.0 package with your tip. But it didn’t work. I am running Safari 4 and Firefox 3.6. Any thoughts?

  61. Anonymous said on March 28, 2010

    I watch Netflix on my TV via Roku. Now this junk Silverlight from Microsoft pops up.

  62. JamesinSF said on June 22, 2010

    This worked like a charm on a hacked Lenovo S10 using OS X 10.6. Thank you.

  63. Mattebernier said on June 24, 2010

    I tried this, and yes, Silverlight installed on my powerpc, but netlix watch-instantly still doesn’t work. Not at all. same message…

  64. Spam said on July 3, 2010

    What makes no sense is that I can watch netflix on my netbook with an 1.6 ghz atom cpu just fine, but not on an mac g5. How is a G5 mac slower than a netbook?

  65. Dfg said on August 4, 2010

    Since netflix works on Roku can somebody code a roku emulator for PPC and run the Roku software on it ?

  66. Swlker said on August 16, 2010

    didn’t work!

  67. Anne Keener said on August 19, 2010

    i just got a used mac with tiger 4, any new comments on how to watch netflix on it. thanks much

  68. Qbressler said on August 27, 2010

    Anyone who claims that they got this to working is BS or they dont know what they’re looking for. I’ve been trying to go to freestockcharts.com but it requires Silverlight2 and not 1. PPC users cant even download Siverlight2.

  69. Chomp said on September 1, 2010

    This does not work on Non-Intel based macs. The people that are saying, “It worked great!” probably have intel based macs, and therefore didn’t even need to do this. Or the hackintosh guy who says he got it worked on his Lenovo. The reason that works, is BECAUSE THAT IS AN INTEL PROCESSOR! All of the people with G4 and G5 macs need to contact Netflix, and Apple. This is the only way you can get them to realize they are missing out on Revenue. It costs Netflix more money to ship you a disk then it does to stream a video online. Also, there is a section in Contact Netflix where you can contact their Investor Relations. This also needs to be done, so that they begin questioning why they are missing out on added revenue. If they can support Watch Instantly on a Wii(powerpc processor) then they should be able to do the same for these Macs.

  70. Joraejean said on September 10, 2010

    Contact Investor Relations

    http://ir.netflix.com/contactus.cfm

    Question…People with G4 and G5 macs want to know why Netflix is missing out on added revenue. You can support Watch Instantly on a Wii (powerpc processor) then why aren’t you doing the same for these Macs which have the PowerProcessor?

    Money to buy a new Mac or a new HD TV is not an option.

    cut and paste if you like….I’m sending mine.

  71. Arjensus said on February 11, 2011

    Not playing Netflix …running a quad G5 this worked for me on the sites i want to visit. Mostly Dutch online TV sites that reqire Silverlight. It works folks. So yhe only conclsion i can draw is that it depends on the online content that “double checks” it..apperently the sites i visit that require Silverlight don’t do this. So the problem is the site you are visiting and that requires other bypasses as well besides the method described.

    Anyway…it works for me and believe me I’m NOT using an Intel based Mac.

  72. Carter Duncan said on February 21, 2011

    I got Silverlight 2.0 to install on my G4. I am now getting past the netflix ppc block, but am now getting a Silverlight update block. Any suggestions?

  73. Gfds said on February 23, 2011

    Eric and rweflyn are stoopid.

    I hope you have since purchased apple TVs.

    Stop reading blogs for our mental health.

  74. Cv2_r said on February 27, 2011

    where can I find silverlight 2 for download? many thanks…

  75. Wazzupalo9810 said on April 8, 2011

    I’m running a dual 800 MHz g4 quicksilver It installed fine, but when it was installd I culdnt find it with spotlight

  76. Christine Clark said on October 24, 2011

    My Mac froze tonight after I tried to install Silverlight and then uninstall by just moving the app to trash. I had to boot up from the startup disc.

    Do I have to find an ‘uninstall” program.

  77. Christine Clark said on October 24, 2011

    Our county uses a map location information system, Scout, based on the Silverlight program which obviously from the commentary in 2011 does not provide the abracadabra solution for us Mac powerpc users. We lived with shock with Apple II programs not working on Apple IIc, etc. Progress requires adaptation. Adding a mini-Mac…hmm..will that enhance our Mac powerpc computer stuff?

  78. Deville said on December 27, 2011

    This doesn’t work. I think I’m done with my G4 everything I want to install requires tedious workarounds most of which don’t even work anyways.

    There is just no support for anything on these old mac machines anymore, it’s to bad really but it is what it is.

  79. sat said on February 1, 2012

    I could not get this to work at all… I found the download for silverlight 2 file on macintosh however every time I clicked on it it re-routed me to download the new silverlight 5.

    Then I found silverlight 2 on old apps.com – I was able to start the download however the download could not be completed because it states silverlight 2 does not support powerpc’s!!

    Do you have any suggestions?! I really need silverlight to get onto a specific website for school.

  80. Jimmy Selix said on February 6, 2012

    re: all that have macs and ppc cpus..

    sorry for the lack of updating this after years.. i think the way to get this to work on a real mac vs the hackintosh rig i was running.. would be to take the concept that the hackintosh world uses and fake the CPU ID check via a modified kext file. i have not tried this since i do not own a ppc mac anymore but in theory would work imo. so there is my suggestion. :)

  81. Jimmy Selix said on February 6, 2012

    http://forum.voodooprojects.org/index.php?topic=839.0 this may be of use :)

 

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