Hey good people...
I realised that the boot up 3 minutes black screen is caused by the plugged in USB devices (wifi & bluetooth mouse) and the verbose mode showed that clearly... So most of the times, when I boot up disconnecting the USB devices, it doesn't sleep for 3 minutes, rather comes straight to the login screen. (although, some times, it still does go black, so I still have some figuring out to do).
Addtionally, each time the screen goes black due to USB devices, this line shows in the log: ioconsoleusers gioscreenlockstate 3 ---->>>>
This changes the pmset hibernatemode property to 3 (which I reset to 0 manually) Is there a way to force gioscreenlockstate as 0 during the boot? that might solve this problem! (Just thinking out loud)
Other than that:
I installed the Realtek RTL8100 kext from Meize and the LAN is working now. Attaching the kext in case anyone needs it! RealtekRTL8100.kext.zip Config.plist additions: DeviceProperties:
<key>PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x1D,0x0)/Pci(0x0,0x0)</key>
<dict>
<key>AAPL,slot-name</key>
<string>Internal@0,29,0/0,0</string>
<key>built-in</key>
<data>AQ==</data>
<key>device_type</key>
<string>Ethernet controller</string>
<key>model</key>
<string>RTL810xE PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller</string>
</dict>
Kernel:
<dict>
<key>Arch</key>
<string>x86_64</string>
<key>BundlePath</key>
<string>RealtekRTL8100.kext</string>
<key>Comment</key>
<string></string>
<key>Enabled</key>
<true/>
<key>ExecutablePath</key>
<string>Contents/MacOS/RealtekRTL8100</string>
<key>MaxKernel</key>
<string></string>
<key>MinKernel</key>
<string></string>
<key>PlistPath</key>
<string>Contents/Info.plist</string>
</dict>
Although these should be auto when you rebuild... still if someone needs it!
My verbose boot log shows so many things I am not even sure I need in the Kernel. Attaching the log file if someone can please see what can be completely removed to quicken up the boot up! VerboseLog.zip
Trackpad on our laptop is DELL0978 (In Windows it shows as HID-TrackPad)... Have tried a couple of kexts but no success yet. Will keep you guys posted if there is any breakthrough!
Lastly, I found a post on the internet while searching. Someone claiming to have installed Catalina and have a working Trackpad on the Dell 3493... But no EFI or Kexts, just images... Here is the link: https://www.installhackintosh.com/installed-hackintosh-system/642-success-hackintosh-macos-catalina-10-15-6-build-19g2021-in-dell-inspiron-14-3493?tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default