Running Catalina installer onto a disk with a pre-built EFI folder.

[ckrueger99]

Is it possible to run the Catalina installer (from a USB drive or whatever) to install OS X onto a drive with a pre-built, fully formatted EFI folder? In other words, does the installer do anything to the EFI volume as it does its thing or is it simply adding OS X and related files into the (blank) visible volume?

 

[pastrychef]

In other words, does the installer do anything to the EFI volume as it does its thing

No.

or is it simply adding OS X and related files into the (blank) visible volume?

Yes.