Are you encountering the “load_init_program: attempting to load /sbin/launchd” error when trying to run macOS on Oracle VM VirtualBox?
You can resolve this error by configuring the macOS guest machine’s settings correctly. In this article, I will show you how to fix this error and get your macOS VM running smoothly.
How to Fix (load_init_program) in Mac OS Virtual Machine
Configure the virtual machine settings for macOS High Sierra installation with Oracle VM VirtualBox.
- Remove Floppy in the boot order.
- In Extended Features, enable Enable I/O APIC, Enable EFI, and Hardware Clock in UTC Time.
- Assign a 4 GB RAM value to the virtual machine.
- In the Processor section, enable Enable PAE/NX.
- In the Acceleration setting, enable VT-x/AMD-V and Nested Paging.
- Also, add 2 Processors for the virtual machine. (for the load_init_program: attempting to load /sbin/launchd error)
For the macOS High Sierra installation on VirtualBox, configure the virtual machine settings as above. Next, add the ISO file to the virtual computer and run the VM.
When you add one Processor to the virtual pc, you will get the load_init_program: attempting to load /sbin/launchd error. Therefore, you need to add two processors.
How to Fix (load_init_program) in macOS VM
Suppose the macOS installation does not start on VBox, and you encounter the /sbin/launchd error. To resolve this error, please follow the steps summarized below.
Step 1
The error in the Mac OS installation is as follows. To resolve this error, close the VM and open its settings.
Step 2
In the settings window, click System, then Processor. To configure the virtual appliance, set the processor count to 2, and then click on the OK button to complete the window.
Step 3
When you rerun the macOS virtual machine, the installation will start as follows!
Conclusion
As a result, you need to configure macOS VM settings correctly. Otherwise, you may receive the (load_init_program: Trying to load /sbin/launchd) error during installation.
Therefore, you should allocate at least 4 GB of RAM to ensure a smooth installation process. Also, do not forget to enable various features and assign two processors to the virtual machine. With these adjustments, you can continue installing macOS without encountering a startup error.