Which is the best Boot Manager for rMBP 2014?

[peterpan123]

Hello, few years ago, I used rEFIt to boot between Mac OS and Windows. When I tried to install it on my rMBP 15" 2014, the site states that it is no longer being maintained since 2013. It points to rEFInd:

http://www.rodsbooks.com/refind/

Any of you tried it? Will there be a risk of losing access to Mac or Windows partition if I install it? What is the best Boot Manager for the rMBP 2014 or later rMBP?

Thanks.

 

[yjchua95]

Hello, few years ago, I used rEFIt to boot between Mac OS and Windows. When I tried to install it on my rMBP 15" 2014, the site states that it is no longer being maintained since 2013. It points to rEFInd:

http://www.rodsbooks.com/refind/

Any of you tried it? Will there be a risk of losing access to Mac or Windows partition if I install it? What is the best Boot Manager for the rMBP 2014 or later rMBP?

Thanks.

Why bother with rEFInd? All Macs from Haswell and onwards have the ability to install Windows in UEFI, which means that you're no longer restricted to having just one OS X and one Windows partition. I have 10.10.3, 8.1 and 10 (TP) in a single drive on one of my Haswell Macs and it's fine.

 

[Yeeler]

Why bother with rEFInd? All Macs from Haswell and onwards have the ability to install Windows in UEFI, which means that you're no longer restricted to having just one OS X and one Windows partition. I have 10.10.3, 8.1 and 10 (TP) in a single drive on one of my Haswell Macs and it's fine.

MBP comes with SSD has very limited disk space. Many people choose install windows on external USB SSD drive. When running window in UEFI, boot camp drivers are not working properly (e.g. your audio won't work). Windows 7/8/8.1/10 has to be installed in Bios mode, then boot camp driver will do its job. However, Mac doesn't support boot from Bios mode (2013/2014 MBP might support Bios mode, but 2012 and 2015 MBP didn't). That's why we need rEFit or rEFInd to boot it.

 

[Gjwilly]

MBP comes with SSD has very limited disk space. Many people choose install windows on external USB SSD drive. When running window in UEFI, boot camp drivers are not working properly (e.g. your audio won't work). Windows 7/8/8.1/10 has to be installed in Bios mode, then boot camp driver will do its job. However, Mac doesn't support boot from Bios mode (2013/2014 MBP might support Bios mode, but 2012 and 2015 MBP didn't). That's why we need rEFit or rEFInd to boot it.

The MBPs from 2013 forward fully support UEFI and Windows 8, 8.1, and 10 all work just fine without needing any boot managers. Windows 7 is the only Windows version that has problems with UEFI driver support.

 

[macenied]

Hello, few years ago, I used rEFIt to boot between Mac OS and Windows. When I tried to install it on my rMBP 15" 2014, the site states that it is no longer being maintained since 2013. It points to rEFInd:

http://www.rodsbooks.com/refind/

Any of you tried it? Will there be a risk of losing access to Mac or Windows partition if I install it? What is the best Boot Manager for the rMBP 2014 or later rMBP?

Thanks.

I tried rEFInd and it was working well. As long as your partition table is fine and you follow the instructions, the risk of losing something is zero, IMO. However, I removed it later on, it did not provide real benefits for my use cases.

 

[z31fanatic]

The only reason to have rEFInd in your 2014 Mac is if you are going to run Linux on it. I don't know of any other way to boot Linux in a Mac.
You won't need it for Windows.

 

[Yeeler]

The MBPs from 2013 forward fully support UEFI and Windows 8, 8.1, and 10 all work just fine without needing any boot managers. Windows 7 is the only Windows version that has problems with UEFI driver support.

It is True, but I would not suggest it. Especially for working purpose.
By default, Boot Camp Assistant only installs your windows at the internal SSD/HD (BIOS mode only), but you can install it on an external SSD/HD at UEFI mode and boot it successfully. The only problem here is the Boot Camp drivers. If you don't care about whether the Audio works, or the function keys on your keyboard do their job, or even occasionally, black screen. Then, go for it.