UPDATED Again!

UpdateEFI now has Backup/ Restore! Backups happen automatically after the EFI partition is mounted for Basic Changes and System Updates. I did it this way because before you do anything to it you KNOW that it works.

UpdateEFI now has 3 options, "Basic Changes", "Restore from Backup", and "System Updates".

When you launch the app it finds the disk number for the EFI partition. If there are multiple EFI partitions, as in the case of multiple disk with GPT partition scheme, then it will present a list for you to choose 1.

Basic Changes: If you click Basic Changes it checks for previous hard unmount and corrects it, and then mounts the EFI partition. Then it checks for an old backup, deletes it, and creates a new one. If one does not exist it creates one. Then gives the user full permissions, and launches a Finder window to it. This means that you can interact with everything in the EFI partition directly instead of having to sudo in terminal.***

Restore from Backup: If you click Restore from Backup it checks for previous hard unmount and corrects it, and then mounts the EFI partition. Then it checks for a backup. If one does not exist it will alert you, and stop. If one does exist it will delete the current Extra folder, and replace it with the backup.

*Note: The backup folder is hidden in the EFI partition, and is invisible. It's permissions also never get set to being user edittable, to prevent an accidental loss of the backup.

If for some reason you mess up something in the Extra folder on your EFI partition simply use an external bootloader, or if you can use safe mode. Run the app, and click Restore from Backup and then reboot.

System Updates: If you click System Updates it checks for previous hard unmount and corrects it, and then mounts the EFI partition, creates a backup, and runs a script to remove the current graphics kexts, patch the new graphics kexts, and move them to the EFI partition.

The choices will also pop up a small window with a single button, "Finish". When you click the "Finish" button, it will repair the permissions for everything on the EFI partition, rebuild the kextcache, and unmount the EFI partition. It will alert you when it finishes with a series of 3 beeps.

The package installer installs the UpdateEFI.app to the Utilities folder, because well, it seems like a Utility to me. Also, if you already have UpdateEFI the installer will remove the old version and replace it with the new version.



Release Notes
v1.0 Initial release

v1.1 Updated on Jan. 13, 2010. Added script to prevent mount errors, added variable to correctly determine disk number instead of relying on disk number being 0, completion alerted with 3 beeps instead of a final window.

v1.2 Updated on Jan 14, 2010. At user request added ability to handle multiple EFI partitions.

v1.3 Updated on Jan. 15, 2010. At user request added backup/restore.

***WARNING
Unwittingly editting objects on the EFI partition CAN leave your hackintosh unbootable. You have been warned.

Note: With this app the Vanilla folder is depricated. You will NOT use the Vanilla folder and its scripts to interact with the EFI partition if you are using this. This app is designed to allow you to interact DIRECTLY with the EFI partition.

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Desktop Version!!!

I created a version for Desktops using the EFI partition, although it doesnt necessarily have to be a desktop. It is for any EFI booting system that does not require the graphics kexts being patched.

It is the exact same app as UpdateEFI v1.3, only without the System Updates option. The "Basic Changes" option is called "Access EFI Partition, but it performs the exact same way.

Here it is:

You have to stop that mate, osx will be so easy to handle in future with all those scripts , nice one too.

LOL Thats the goal! OSX Should be as simple as any other to handle. It always runs 100 times better.

Whoa! What's next, Dalton? One app to install OS X, install update, install update scripts then reboot? Everyday, there's something new from you.

Nice and thank you!

Well the guys using SnowyWindOSX got a single package to handle their updates. I figured Vanilla users deserve something as simple.

My next goal is hex editing video drivers for Snow Leo that do Mirror Mode, but Hex isn't a strong point of mine so...

This is great. When i go to type the ~ i hit shift and the key to the left of 1 and get ± or § without shift ? i just used character viewer to do it but was wondering if anyone had an idea why or how i could fix this?

Can I use this when I'm originally from SnowyAlpha but converted to Vanilla using your conversion scripts?

i ran this without doing an update by accident and now i'm stuck on 800x600 and i don't sleep when i close the lid or sleep at all anymore ahhhh I tried both the terminal .27 and .update after and still the same for both

Thanks Dalton.

I would like to make a suggestion.

Would it be possible for you to make an app that sets up a EFI partition and nstalls the kexts needed for Retail Vanilla Users doing a Clean Install?

It would save people a lot of time with all the Terminal commands and make it much simpler.

Please let me know what you think.

Thank you for your time

All the best

NSCXP2005

try with the "dead" key next to left shift and z.

That is a problem with the VoodooPS2 driver.


Yes you can. BUT don't run it until you get an update. The way the conversion package handled the video drivers, you now don't have them in /S/L/E. This app needs them in order to work.



If you were originally on SnowyWindOSX and converted to Vanilla using my package, then you don't have the Graphics kexts in /S/L/E. This app needs them to work properly.

Download this and extract it in your downloads folder:


Copy the kexts into /System/Library/Extensions. Now open terminal and type:

sudo -s
cd /System/Library
chmod -R 755 Extensions
chown -R root:wheel Extensions
rm Caches/com.apple.kext.caches/Startup/*.mkext
kextcache -a i386 -m Caches/com.apple.kext.caches/Startup/Extensions.mkext /System/Library/Extensions

Now run the UpdateEFI app again and you should be good to go.


**** you! See now you gave me an idea on how to create a DISTRO, that will do this. When I get the time i need to finalize the SnowyWindOSX distro, as it seems Mars hasn't had the time to do his.

Thanks Dalton (once again )
I really hope we will be able to test the app with the next upgrade 10.6.2...

so the next version (since the current one is 'alpha', it might as well be called snowywindosx 'beta', until we fix the accidental errors - if any - and tweak it to perfection. ;)) is, in essence, going to be an automated vanilla install? that'd be fuzzin' awesome.. :D

No guarantees. That would be somewhat dificult to ensure that it installs to the proper disk number.

don't have an extra key by shift and z?



Is it something that could be fixed or just a quirk with no work around?

try the kext i posted here, and see if it helps you.

It's a US wind should i still try this as i don't have the dead key next to shift and z?

it's a general ps2 keyboard kext, so it shouldn't hurt to try it. i have it installed, and tried the us keyboard layout, which produces your error for me too, but hey, i have an additional key which it fixes, so.. it might work for you. i guarantee it will not mess up your system. if it does nothing, you can easily remove it, ot just leave it be. :)

Just drop it into the efi kext folder if i'm vanilla and run update? Do i have to delete a older kext file?