This task is best handled from OS X by using the Mac's bless utility, which I don't describe here.ĮFI has been used on Intel-based Macs since they were first introduced in 2006. Although much of this page applies to Macs, some details differ, particularly when it comes to setting up EFI boot loaders. Note: The EFI that Apple uses on Macs is unusual in many respects. I consider this usage confusing, so I avoid it in my view, EFIs and BIOSes are two different types of firmware. Note that most manufacturers use the term 'BIOS' to refer to their EFIs. (A partial exception to this rule is described shortly.) This difference can greatly complicate the design of OS installation media, but it has little effect on the day-to-day operation of the computer, once everything is set up and running. Most importantly, the firmware controls the computer's boot process, which in turn means that EFI-based computers boot differently than do BIOS-based computers. Oops: Converting a Legacy-Mode Install to Boot in EFI ModeĮFI is a type of firmware, meaning that it's software built into the computer to handle low-level tasks.

Ubuntu on a mac