How to edit EFI partition/bootloader?

scissorband · Aug 16, 2010, 01:03 PM

In OS X, when you go to System Preferences then Startup Disk, you can see a list of options for what OS you want to start. I am basically looking to edit that, except not on OS X. Is there any way to edit the EFI to make it boot another OS without having OS X installed in the first place? (Installing with an install CD for another OS without OS X on the system)

Intell · Aug 16, 2010, 01:06 PM

Hold down the Option key at boot. It will list all bootable partitions and discs on your Mac. You may also want to look into rEFIt : http://refit.sourceforge.net/

scissorband · Aug 16, 2010, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intell

Hold down the Option key at boot. It will list all bootable partitions and discs on your Mac. You may also want to look into rEFIt : http://refit.sourceforge.net/

Can I get it to boot without having to hold down the Option key? When I don't hold the Option key down and just let it go, it says it doesn't have a bootable media. But when I hold the Option key down, it shows the OS and I can boot into it if I click on it.

Intell · Aug 16, 2010, 04:02 PM

What OS are you trying/booting into? To get it to boot without holding down the Option key you need to set the boot drive using the Startup Disk in System Preferences or the Startup Disk in Control Panel (in Windows with Boot Camp installed). Choosing the boot drive with Startup Disk will make the selected drive the default for starting.

scissorband · Aug 16, 2010, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intell

What OS are you trying/booting into? To get it to boot without holding down the Option key you need to set the boot drive using the Startup Disk in System Preferences or the Startup Disk in Control Panel (in Windows with Boot Camp installed). Choosing the boot drive with Startup Disk will make the selected drive the default for starting.

I'm trying out various OSes (BSD, Linux, Windows) as single-boot systems (without OS X) and trying to figure out the partition scheme. If I don't have OS X installed, how can I change the partition it boots into?

Intell · Aug 17, 2010, 12:03 AM

If you boot from your reinstallation DvD then select Startup Disk in the Utilities menu you can set the default boot drive there. It may not show up as a recognized bootable media though.

Aug 16, 2010, 01:03 PM	#1
scissorband macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2010	How to edit EFI partition/bootloader? In OS X, when you go to System Preferences then Startup Disk, you can see a list of options for what OS you want to start. I am basically looking to edit that, except not on OS X. Is there any way to edit the EFI to make it boot another OS without having OS X installed in the first place? (Installing with an install CD for another OS without OS X on the system)
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Aug 16, 2010, 01:06 PM	#2
Intell macrumors G4 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Inside	Hold down the Option key at boot. It will list all bootable partitions and discs on your Mac. You may also want to look into rEFIt : http://refit.sourceforge.net/
	0

Aug 16, 2010, 04:02 PM	#4
Intell macrumors G4 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Inside	What OS are you trying/booting into? To get it to boot without holding down the Option key you need to set the boot drive using the Startup Disk in System Preferences or the Startup Disk in Control Panel (in Windows with Boot Camp installed). Choosing the boot drive with Startup Disk will make the selected drive the default for starting.
	0

Aug 17, 2010, 12:03 AM	#6
Intell macrumors G4 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Inside	If you boot from your reinstallation DvD then select Startup Disk in the Utilities menu you can set the default boot drive there. It may not show up as a recognized bootable media though.
	0


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