Hello
@cmn699
I ran into similar issue/question here.
I want to have a fresh install of HS in my machine. After several install using USB boot disk created using UniBeast, I found out that the settings of macOS is the same with previous install. What seems to be different is the SMBIOS. Even Rt Variables are still same with previous install.
Thus I am thinking of deletin the EFI.
Instead of formatting, can I just delete whatever the file inside the EFI using finder, restart the machine, and install new one from boot diak I have of my previous install? Will thus achieve the expected result of real fresh new HS with fresh settings?
Thanks.
I don't know if I understood you right.
If you just want the contents of EFI partition deleted and create new content, yes you can do that.
But I guess you need to know that the EFI Partition is HIDDEN. You cannot just use a Search & Find tool for that.
You have to 'unhide" EFI partition of the disk in which it is created during Erase Disk tool in Disk Utility.
The Disk Utility selects the first 200+MB of the disk and makes it EFI partition. If you don't further partition that disk it will leave all of the rest of the disk to save your macOS Sierra with a smaller portion for Recovery Partition or Recover HD.
The 200MB EFI is set aside for the Bootloader CLOVER.
If you are using Unibeast to install your macOS on a hard disk so created, it will copy all the macOS Sierra files to the larger Partition in the 30-45 minutes
Unibeast DOES NOT install its CLOVER in the hard disks' EFI Partition.
The System disk created by Unibeast (or terminal command) will not boot as it has No Clover bootloader.
You need Multibeast to find the EFI partition and Create an EFI folder and place CLOVER in it.
To create that CLOVER to boot in Legacy or UEFI mode, you need to specify that choice up front in the Multibeast.
Multibeast will also give you a chance to select what ever kexts you think your motherboard's Audio/Ethernet/USB hub etc needs based on its Chipset for these devices. Multibeast CANNOT DECIDE what your MoBo needs for its kexts. YOU have to know this before you ever start to build and then from the various Menus inside Multibeast, find what you need.
I have seen many complaining about Multibeast for their failure to find their MoBo's Documentation to decide what drivers they need. Multibeast has a large number of menu options to choose from; but it has no way of sniffing out from your MoBo chips and provide the kexts needed for those devices
It also has menu to select the SMBIOS Name for your system. This selection is generally provided by MB as the most widely 'acceptable' imac14,2, but NOT ALWAYS the right one for all the myriads of MoBos.
O
nce Multibeast finishes all these steps, it will mount the EFI Partition of the hard disk on the Desktop .
This is the only time you are going to see EFI Partition mounted automatically on the desktop.
At this time you can use your mouse and keyboard to go inside EFI Folder and find the CLOVER folder, Copy and keep it in some place if you like or
edit its contents whatever way you want provided you know what you are doing.
You can delete or add files to its kexts/Other and remove empty unwanted numbered folders inside /CLOVER/kexts like 10.6 to 10.13
You can open config.plist in an editor you are comfortable with (but not TextEdit) like Clover Configurator Vibrant (CCV) to edit the various menus of config.plist
if you know what you are doing or you have been getting expert help .
But once you shut down or Reboot the computer , you cannot find EFI any longer . It will be hidden by the system to protect its bootloader from accidental deletion.
After this, if you ever want to change anything inside EFI , you got to mount the hidden EFI Partition on the Desktop.
You can use EFI Mounter V3 to mount it but it is not an editor you can use for config.plist .
CCV is an EFI Mounter and Editor in one tool.
Thus I am thinking of deletin the EFI.
Instead of formatting, can I just delete whatever the file inside the EFI using finder, restart the machine, and install new one from boot diak I have of my previous install? Will thus achieve the expected result of real fresh new HS with fresh settings?
Thanks.
Remember : without CLOVER and its properly installed contents, No disk can boot in macOS the way we create in this Forum ( I am not talking about any other bootloaders-ONLY CLOVER)
Do NOT do what you plan to do the way you have phrased it.
