Win7 x64 booting natively via EFI (no BIOS emulation)

d3vi1 said:

My guess is the the Apple provided Runtime DXE will NOT convert the pointers on my Runtime Table, it will only convert them on the original Runtime Table. So I'm converting all the pointers in my RS table.

My original problem was that the DXE was unloaded on ExitBootServices since the USB Handle from which the DXE was loaded disappeared. I wrote a new loader that loads the DXE to memory and executes it straight from there. It does not free the memory pool before exiting so the memory buffer containing the DXE remains allocated. It's also allocated as EfiRuntimeCode, so that the OS doesn't mess it up.

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komoornik said:

I think I've read most of the posts.

You're mainly talking about dual GPU macbook's - and the problems HD 3000 is making.

What about the 2011 MBA's with just the HD 3000 under the hood? Will it still have all those GPU problems as of now ?

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d3vi1 said:

For the VGA emulation, POST-ing the OptionROM with the CSM doesn't work for some odd reason, so I'm trying to POST it using x86-emu from Scitech.
For the RS-QueryVariableInfo, my implementation works before SetVirtualMap is requested, but afterwards (during the OS runtime) it doesn't yet work. For some reason, I'm not using RS->ConvertPointer properly. I'm either using it on pointers that have already been converted, or not using it on some other pointers that are needed by my implementation at runtime. Unfortunately, I don't know how to debug it yet.

.

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away8907 said:

Have you had any luck differentiating the needed pointers vs unneeded with OPTIONAL_PTR? My goal last night was to basically have everything convert, and have the unneeded pieces flagged. I managed to figure that out for the most part, but I couldn't find a way to get rid of the extra values before it bugged out on me.

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d3vi1 said:

So, what I've tried:
Hooking to the virtual address change event:

Code:

Status = BS->CreateEvent ( EVT_SIGNAL_VIRTUAL_ADDRESS_CHANGE, TPL_NOTIFY, VariableClassAddressChangeEvent, NULL, &mVirtualAddressChangeEvent);
Status = BS->CreateEvent ( EVT_SIGNAL_EXIT_BOOT_SERVICES, TPL_NOTIFY, ExitBootServicesEvent, NULL, &mRuntimeServicesEvent);

My attempt to create a new RS table with the QueryVariableInfo added.

Code:

EFI_RUNTIME_SERVICES     *NewRS;
ST->Hdr.Revision=((revision << 16) | version);
Status=BS->AllocatePool(EfiRuntimeServicesCode, sizeof(EFI_RUNTIME_SERVICES), &NewRS);
NewRS->Hdr.Signature             = RS->Hdr.Signature;
NewRS->Hdr.Revision              = ((revision << 16) | version);
NewRS->Hdr.HeaderSize            = sizeof(EFI_RUNTIME_SERVICES);
NewRS->Hdr.CRC32                 = 0;
NewRS->Hdr.Reserved              = RS->Hdr.Reserved;
NewRS->GetTime                   = RS->GetTime;
NewRS->SetTime                   = RS->SetTime;
NewRS->GetWakeupTime             = RS->GetWakeupTime;
NewRS->SetWakeupTime             = RS->SetWakeupTime;
NewRS->SetVirtualAddressMap      = RS->SetVirtualAddressMap;
NewRS->ConvertPointer            = RS->ConvertPointer;
NewRS->GetVariable               = RS->GetVariable;
NewRS->GetNextVariableName       = RS->GetNextVariableName;
NewRS->SetVariable               = RS->SetVariable;
NewRS->GetNextHighMonotonicCount = RS->GetNextHighMonotonicCount;
NewRS->ResetSystem               = RS->ResetSystem;
NewRS->UpdateCapsule             = RS->UpdateCapsule;
NewRS->QueryCapsuleCapabilities  = RS->QueryCapsuleCapabilities;
NewRS->QueryVariableInfo         = QueryVariableInfo;
ST->RuntimeServices=NewRS;
ST->Hdr.Revision=((revision << 16) | version);
ST->Hdr.CRC32=0;
RS->Hdr.CRC32=0;
Status=BS->CalculateCrc32 (ST, ST->Hdr.HeaderSize, (VOID *) &ST->Hdr.CRC32);
Status=BS->CalculateCrc32 (RS, RS->Hdr.HeaderSize, (VOID *) &RS->Hdr.CRC32);

Virtaddresschange Event Handler

Code:

RS->ConvertPointer (0x0, (VOID **) &RS->GetTime);
RS->ConvertPointer (0x0, (VOID **) &RS->SetTime);
RS->ConvertPointer (0x0, (VOID **) &RS->GetWakeupTime);
RS->ConvertPointer (0x0, (VOID **) &RS->SetWakeupTime);
RS->ConvertPointer (0x0, (VOID **) &RS->ResetSystem);
RS->ConvertPointer (0x0, (VOID **) &RS->GetNextHighMonotonicCount);
RS->ConvertPointer (0x0, (VOID **) &RS->GetVariable);
RS->ConvertPointer (0x0, (VOID **) &RS->SetVariable);
RS->ConvertPointer (0x0, (VOID **) &RS->GetNextVariableName);
RS->ConvertPointer (0x0, (VOID **) &RS->QueryVariableInfo);
RS->ConvertPointer (0x0, (VOID **) &RS->UpdateCapsule);
RS->ConvertPointer (0x0, (VOID **) &RS->QueryCapsuleCapabilities);

My guess is the the Apple provided Runtime DXE will NOT convert the pointers on my Runtime Table, it will only convert them on the original Runtime Table. So I'm converting all the pointers in my RS table.

My original problem was that the DXE was unloaded on ExitBootServices since the USB Handle from which the DXE was loaded disappeared. I wrote a new loader that loads the DXE to memory and executes it straight from there. It does not free the memory pool before exiting so the memory buffer containing the DXE remains allocated. It's also allocated as EfiRuntimeCode, so that the OS doesn't mess it up.

You have 3 posts left!

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gotofbi said:

OK, I read entire thread couple times and decided to try without d3vi1 program.

However, I ended up few questions regarding further test

1. Is there anyway to boot up to EFI from Windows7 install device?(USB)
before I proceed wiping everything, I couldnt find usb device from efi sheel(tried with refit fs0~fs4) Without support of USB, I have to burn DVD to do it and I am pretty sure I will struggle with Autounattend.xml

SelfAnswer - I wasnt able to do this because my USB was formatted as NTFS. If I do it as FAT32, I can boot it from refit.

2. Is it possible to partition from Disk Manager(OSX) and force from Autounattend.xml to install?
When I read about EFI and Autounattend.xml, I realize I have to make couple partitions to proceed instsallation and to do so, I guess I have to wipeout entire disk drive. I dont mind removing Current Windows (MBR) But, If I have to wipe entire drive, I would not even have OSX and If I fail this test, I will have to start back from installing OSX first.

3. Do I have to merge any drivers even if I going to use Autounattend.xml?
I have Macbook 5,2 (Core 2 Duo, MCP79, Geforce 9400M) and confusing whether that I have to integrate geforce driver or not.
Based on my understanding(tell me if Im wrong), All these problems are because of VGA mode ETC ETC. And with help of Autounattend.xml, we dont really need to look up the screen since it will automatically install everything. Isnt that mean that I dont really need to integrate drivers anyway?

Sorry that asking many question but I want to be sure before I process any stuff

Thanks

Click to expand...

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">
    <settings pass="windowsPE">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-WinPE" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <SetupUILanguage>
                <UILanguage>en-US</UILanguage>
            </SetupUILanguage>
            <SystemLocale>en-US</SystemLocale>
            <UILanguage>en-US </UILanguage>
            <UserLocale>en-US </UserLocale>
            <InputLocale>en-US</InputLocale>
            <UILanguageFallback>en-US</UILanguageFallback>
        </component>
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
			<DiskConfiguration>
			   <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
			   <Disk>
				  <DiskID>0</DiskID>
				  <WillWipeDisk>true</WillWipeDisk>
				  <CreatePartitions>
					 <CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
						<Order>1</Order>
						<Type>EFI</Type>
						<Size>100</Size>
					 </CreatePartition>
					 <CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
						<Order>2</Order>
						<Type>MSR</Type>
						<Size>128</Size>
					 </CreatePartition>
					 <CreatePartition wcm:action="add">
						<Order>3</Order>
						<Type>Primary</Type>
						<Extend>true</Extend>
					 </CreatePartition>
				  </CreatePartitions>
				  <ModifyPartitions>
					 <ModifyPartition>
						<Order>1</Order>
						<PartitionID>1</PartitionID>
						<Label>System</Label>
					 </ModifyPartition>
					 <ModifyPartition>
						<Order>2</Order>
						<PartitionID>2</PartitionID>
					 </ModifyPartition>
					 <ModifyPartition>
						<Order>3</Order>
						<PartitionID>3</PartitionID>
						<Format>NTFS</Format>
						<Label>Windows</Label>
					 </ModifyPartition>
				  </ModifyPartitions>
			   </Disk>
			</DiskConfiguration>
            <ImageInstall>
                <OSImage>
                    <InstallFrom>
                        <MetaData wcm:action="add">
                            <Key>/IMAGE/INDEX</Key>
                            <Value>4</Value>
                        </MetaData>
                    </InstallFrom>
					<InstallTo>
						<DiskID>0</DiskID> 
						<PartitionID>3</PartitionID> 
					</InstallTo>
                </OSImage>
            </ImageInstall>
            <UserData>
                <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
            </UserData>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="oobeSystem">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
            <AutoLogon>
                <Enabled>true</Enabled>
                <LogonCount>1</LogonCount>
                <Username>Administrator</Username>
            </AutoLogon>
            <OOBE>
                <SkipMachineOOBE>true</SkipMachineOOBE>
            </OOBE>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <cpi:offlineImage cpi:source="catalog:i:/sources/install_windows 7 ultimatek.clg" xmlns:cpi="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:cpi" />
</unattend>

				  <ModifyPartitions>
					 <ModifyPartition>
						<Order>1</Order>
						<PartitionID>4</PartitionID>
						<Label>System</Label>
					 </ModifyPartition>
					 <ModifyPartition>
						<Order>2</Order>
						<PartitionID>5</PartitionID>
					 </ModifyPartition>
					 <ModifyPartition>
						<Order>3</Order>
						<PartitionID>6</PartitionID>
						<Format>NTFS</Format>
						<Label>Windows</Label>
					 </ModifyPartition>
				  </ModifyPartitions>

gotofbi said:

I tried to load up AutoUnattend.xml by two method.

1. refit efi shell (fs3: efi/bootx64.efi)
- This does not display anything since there is no VGA driver.
- Im not sure if there is a way to write log file to USB if installation fails.

2. or just normal USB boot (it gives GPT blabla error which I cant remember)

Is there anything that Im missing?

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d3vi1 said:

Assuming that the AutoUnattend.xml file is correctly written, the installation would still fail at: EFI_RUNTIME_SERVICES->QueryVariableInformation when it tries to create the BCD.

My application tries to solve 4 issues:
1) Add QueryVariableInformation to the RuntimeServices
2) Set the correct VGA registers so that NVidia and AMD accelerated drivers work
3) Emulate the POST-ing of the VGA ROM so that VGA video works
4) Modify the EDID of the monitor so that 1024x768 and 800x600 modes are also added (required for Windows < Windows 7 SP2) in the GraphicsOutput Protocol.

1,2 and 4 would be incredibly easy for Apple to fix. 3, would take a little more work but it's still doable.
1 is required for all Windows releases.
2 is required for accelerated drivers from the GPU vendor.
3 is required for Windows Safe mode and Installer when an accelerated driver is not available (only for Windows < 7SP2).
4 is required for the waving flag part of the windows experience which sometimes gives important messages. In Windows 7 SP2 and Windows 8 there are no resolution dependencies in the Graphics Output Protocol implementation.

I am also assuming that Windows 7 SP2 will behave like Windows 8, since Microsoft declares that the CSM/VGA will not be needed in Windows 7 SP2.

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gotofbi said:

Thank you for your reply d3vi1.

I guess there is no way that I can install windows 7 without your application.

Getting Windows 7 SP2 is impossible since its not out
and I really do not want to install Windows 8 since its too buggy.

Hopefully I can participate your beta program.

If there is a way to install without your program, that would be perfect but based on my knowledge and your answers, its quite impossible


Thanks

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d3vi1 said:

For version 2, I'll add support for selecting the VGA card to be used by Windows (instead of using the same one the EFI is using), the ability to shutdown any VGA card (in multi-GPU setups), a configurable boot loader to chain load, configurable SATA/IDE, and a nice setup screen for all of these.

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3ll0s said:

When you pull this off you have made the mac community a VERY nice tool for helping stupid operating systems to understand a normal EFI machine.

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3ll0s said:

Not really, windows is to fault here, asking for ancient bios only functions, real mode, int10h, vga option rom (vga of all things)

there is nothing wrong with apple's efi implementation aside from 1 missing function, msi asus gigabyte etc probably just had to take it, because it is microsoft, and had to emulate it if they were to deliver windows capable machines, just like d3vi1 is doing now.

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gotofbi said:

Finally with the information and help from d3vi1, I was able to install Windows 7 under GUID partition (Macbook 5,2).

Nicely enabled AHCI and that was only my reason to do this mess.

Thanks to d3vi1 once again.

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jlpek17 said:

NB: When AHCI mode is activated you couldn't choose to start on windows partition in the 'pref panel' of Mac OS X because on start up it switch to Bios Mode and it doesn't found the partition ('Windows partition' is still listed).

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