Install Bootloader and Extra to EFI Partition

[tonymacx86]

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You may or may not be aware of it, but there is a 200 megabyte partition on the root of your drive. It's the OS X EFI partition, part of OS X's default GUID partition method, which normally holds information specific to Apple hardware. For Hackintosh users, however, it has no use whatsoever. It can therefore be re-purposed to hold the bootloader, and any extra files such as DSDT, /Extra folder, org.chameleon.boot.plist, and smbios.plist.

If you're one of those users who like an extremely 'vanilla' installation of OS X, you may want to rid your drive of all extra Hackintosh-related files. The following method will lead you through installing all of these files to your EFI partition.

This method solves 2 current issues:

• Legacy boot with AMD Radeon HD 7xxx and and Rx-200 graphics cards.
  • Allows full usage of Chimera/Chameleon to boot without use of integrated graphics. For details on the issue, see here.
• Legacy boot with GPT disks on ASUS 8-series motherboards.
  • ​Allows full usage of Chimera/Chameleon to boot GPT (GUID Partition Table) disks. No need to format MBR.

NOTE: This procedure is entirely optional, and will not give you any other benefits beyond cleaning the root of your install. Also, each time you want to make changes, you'll have to mount your EFI partition through the Terminal. If you're uncomfortable using the Terminal, do not proceed.

STEP 1: BEFORE YOU BEGIN

For the purposes of this guide, I recommend unplugging all drives except your main hard drive and rebooting. This will minimize any problems with disk number and partition number. I will use disk0 by default in this guide.

To make sure your disk is identified as disk0:

• Open /Utilities/Terminal
• Type diskutil list

If your drive's root is disk0, you're ready to begin.

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STEP 2: REFORMAT AND MOUNT YOUR EFI PARTITION

1. Type: sudo -s
2. Enter your password
3. Type: newfs_hfs -v EFI /dev/disk0s1
4. Type: mkdir /Volumes/EFI
5. Type: mount_hfs /dev/disk0s1 /Volumes/EFI
6. Close Terminal

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STEP 3: INSTALL CHIMERA TO EFI PARTITION

Because Chimera will not be on the drive partition anymore, you must re-install it to the EFI partition. We can use he same Chimera binary files that are installed via UniBeast on the USB drive.

1. Plug in your UniBeast USB Drive (Named USB for this example)
2. Open Applications/Utilities/Terminal
3. Type: diskutil list and locate your EFI partition. It will be under IDENTIFIER. Be sure to use the correct one. (For this example: disk0s1)
4. Type: cd /Volumes/USB/usr/standalone/i386
5. Type: sudo -s
6. Type: fdisk -f boot0 -u -y /dev/rdisk0
7. Type: dd if=boot1h of=/dev/rdisk0s1
8. Type: cp boot /Volumes/EFI/
9. Close Terminal

STEP 4: COPY FILES TO EFI PARTITION

Drag your current /Extra file to your EFI Partition. Alternately, install basic boot options, system definition, and theme from MultiBeast. If this is a fresh installation, you'll also need to install FakeSMC to your main hard drive.

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STEP 5: SET THE EFI PARTITION AS ACTIVE

You now have to set the EFI partition so that your computer boots from it first. Then delete the duplicate extra files from your system drive.

1. Open Applications/Utilities/Terminal
2. Type: sudo -s
3. Enter your password.
4. Type: fdisk -e /dev/rdisk0
5. Type: p
6. Type: f 1
7. Type: w
8. Type: y
9. Type: quit
10. Type: rm -R /boot /Extra
11. Reboot

HOW TO MOUNT/UNMOUNT EFI PARTITION
The EFI partition will not automatically mount as other partitions do at boot time. If you ever need to change/update files in the EFI partition:

1. Type mkdir /Volumes/EFI
2. Type sudo mount_hfs /dev/disk0s1 /Volumes/EFI

The EFI Partition will then mount on the desktop and in Finder.
If you'd rather stay out of the Terminal, you can use EFI Mounter. It's a nice little app/script you can stick in your Applications folder to mount and unmount with a click.

Credit to Chameleon EFI install scripts/Munky's EFI install guides. Revised and reprinted from tonymacx86 Legacy Blog.

 

[Hackmodford]

Would this work with a Fusion drive? Do you have to do it individually for each physical disk?

 

[tonymacx86]

Article: Install Bootloader and Extra to EFI Partition

Would this work with a Fusion drive? Do you have to do it individually for each physical disk?

Not sure- I haven't tried it on a Fusion drive. If you do try it out, let us know!

 

[WonkeyDonkey]

Can FakeSMC go in the /Extra/Extensions folder in the EFI partition or does it have to go in the S/L/E on the main partition ?

 

[tonymacx86]

Article: Install Bootloader and Extra to EFI Partition

Can FakeSMC go in the /Extra/Extensions folder in the EFI partition or does it have to go in the S/L/E on the main partition ?

It can go in /Extra/Extensions only if you don't use kernel cache (UseKernelCache=No). This can cause other issues such as extended boot time. This was default in 10.6, but as of 10.7+ FakeSMC should go in System/Library/Extensions, or in 10.9 /Library/Extensions- but that's coming later.

 

[SpRoX]

Will this work on a Win 8.1/Mavericks dual boot system, if both OS's are installed on the same drive?

 

[WonkeyDonkey]

Article: Install Bootloader and Extra to EFI Partition

It can go in /Extra/Extensions only if you don't use kernel cache (UseKernelCache=No). This can cause other issues such as extended boot time. This was default in 10.6, but as of 10.7+ FakeSMC should go in System/Library/Extensions, or in 10.9 /Library/Extensions- but that's coming later.

Interesting article, thanks!

I'll definitely be trying this out on a test setup soon.

 

[deomkds]

If I do this, can I format the system without worrying about reinstalling the bootloader each time?

 

[PencilNotPen]

Good guide, thanks!
Are important changes ever made to the boot files in Chimera? For example, will this process have to be repeated with newer chimera boot files as newer versions of OS X are released in order to allow the computer to continue to boot the newer versions?

 

[tonymacx86]

Article: Install Bootloader and Extra to EFI Partition

Good guide, thanks!
Are important changes ever made to the boot files in Chimera? For example, will this process have to be repeated with newer chimera boot files as newer versions of OS X are released in order to allow the computer to continue to boot the newer versions?

Yes- however we are looking into adding EFI install capability to the Chimera standalone installer- which would make this process a bit easier.