HacMini Update Corrupts OpenCore

Question

HacMini Update Corrupts OpenCore

spillinova opened this issue 3 years ago · comments

Describe the bug
Attempted to update HaCMini version from within MacOS 10.14.6 from HaCMini 2.15 to HaCMini 3.1.1. After successful install OpenCore boot menu disappeared upon reboot.

Expected behavior
Expected to run the update and then reboot back into MacOS.

Environment:

Running OSX version: MacOS 10.14
Target drive OSX version: MacOS 10.14
HaC Mini installer version: 3.1.1

Additional context

Update to 3.1.1
- Installed update to main NUC8i7HVB machine running MacOS 10.14.6
  - Original install was dual boot to BootCamp on partitioned SSD
- After reboot OpenCore boot manager was gone.
  - Windows and clear NVRAM remained - only Windows Boot Manager remained?
  - No way to boot to MacOS
  - Windows not booting when I select it
  - After selecting clear NVMRAM was able to successfully load Windows
Referred to Issue #47
- Disabled "Secure Boot"
Referred to Issue #134
- Cleared Bios Password by removing the jumper
- Recovered the bios using the newest version bio - HNKBLi70.0067
Got desperate and decided to wipe the drive (didn't care about having BootCamp anyway...plus I wanted to recover some space on my SSD and upgrade to Catalina)
- Used “Clean All” from DISKPART on Windows Install USB
- Created 2 USB HacMini Installers on alternate machine running MacOS 10.14.6
  - USB 2.0 ScanDisk Cruzer with Catalina and HaCMini 3.1.1 patch (no Secure Boot option)
    - Single front USB 2.0 port
    - Doesn't finish MacOS installation (Circles back as a new install after reboot)
      - The installer is not creating an EFI folder in the SSD EFI partition
  - USB 3.0 ScanDisk Cruzer with Catalina and HaCMini 3.1.1 patch (no Secure Boot option)
    - Back USB Ports
    - With USB 3.0 HacMini Installer Bios shows OpenCore USB but won't boot to it (refer to image 1)
      - Was able to boot to USB 3.0 MacMini installer via bootx64.efi from EFI Shell
        
        Still doesn't finish MacOS installation (Circles back as a new install after reboot)
        
        The installer is not creating an EFI folder in the SSD EFI partition (refer to image 2)
- Created Windows installer on USB 3.0 ScanDisk Cruzer
  - Bios Shows Part 0 OpenCore and Windows OS Boot Loader but won't boot to OpenCore
  - Windows USB Installer is bootable from all USB ports

Logs
No install log - no files exist after initial install attempts

HorstBrack75 · Answer 1 · Thu Oct 07 2021 15:27:02 GMT+0800 (China Standard Time)

In the release notes it says:

"If you are upgrading from v2.17 and below, please read the notes at the top of v3.0.1"

Did you do this?

spillinova · Answer 2 · Fri Oct 08 2021 00:31:11 GMT+0800 (China Standard Time)

No I did not. That's my bad. How can I salvage it? I've tried booting from OpenCore.efi

Can I just try Option 1 on the 3.0.1 release notes?

spillinova · Answer 3 · Fri Oct 08 2021 06:03:49 GMT+0800 (China Standard Time)

Update:

Created USB 3.0 installer with patch and bootmenu option.
Rebooted with option key (tapping and holding)
Still get "No bootable device found".

Created USB 2.0 installer with patch and bootmenu option and reset boot-args
Rebooted with option key (tapping and holding)
Now I get "No bootable device found". (Previously was able to boot to MacOS install using front USB 2.0 port)

@HorstBrack75 I realize that I didn't wait for your response, but I wanted to save both our time.

HorstBrack75 · Answer 4 · Fri Oct 08 2021 16:14:03 GMT+0800 (China Standard Time)

Run the HacMini installer to your installer USB. (change install location)
Click customize and make sure that you select "show boot menu".

densimpson · Answer 5 · Fri Oct 08 2021 17:30:59 GMT+0800 (China Standard Time)

I have the same issue as well
a clean install with latest OSX 10.15 and HaCMini 3.1.1

just like you
Still doesn't finish MacOS installation (Circles back as a new install after reboot)
The installer is not creating an EFI folder in the SSD EFI partition
and
The Opencore bootmenu just show the USB Installer and Reset NVRAM option in the first boot after install.

SSD: Samsung 960 Pro 512GB
Bios: HN0067
Hacmini 3.11 with default settings except:

enable Patch OSX installer
enable Verbose boot
enable Debug mode
enable Show boot menu

HorstBrack75 · Answer 6 · Sat Oct 09 2021 00:31:09 GMT+0800 (China Standard Time)

Isn’t this expected?

Release Notes 3.0.1:

Option 1: install v3.0 on a USB drive with the "Show boot menu" option set. Then boot into the USB drive which loads OpenCore and select the Reset NVRAM option. Then you must boot from the USB again and select macOS and install v3.0 on your main partition.
Option 2: install v3.0 on your main partition and also on a USB drive (with “Show boot menu” set). Reboot and select your USB drive. Select Reset NVRAM and remove the USB drive when it reboots.
Option 3: if you've already installed v3.0 on your main partition without doing the above, you can get into UEFI Shell and type in fs0:\EFI\OC\OpenCore.efi from the shell prompt.
Option 4: if all else fails, you can do a BIOS reset which should reset all settings as well as the boot options. Make sure to set up the BIOS settings again with your old settings!

spillinova · Answer 7 · Sat Oct 09 2021 04:23:39 GMT+0800 (China Standard Time)

Here are the steps I just took:

Ran "Clean All" from DISKPART 3 times in a row to make sure the SSD has no Windows EFI references (see image 1)
Restored the Bios from bio file - HNKBLi70.0067
Cleared Bios Passwords by removing the jumper
Booted to Bios and set 3 needed settings for HacMini
Rebooted to OpenCore Boot Menu and Cleared NVRAM
Rebooted to OpenCore Boot Menu and Ran Catalina Install from USB 2.0 with HaCMini 3.1.1 patch and "boot menu" option
Ran MacOS Disk Manager and reformatted SSD to APFS with GUID
Began Install of Catalina on newly formatted SSD
During installation the computer reboots 1 time on its own and appears to continue installation, but then circles back to the new install screen (see image 3)
Clicked on install again (to the same drive) and the install just repeats step 9 above
Booted into EFI shell and checked FS0 (SSD) - No files or directories (see image 2)

install.log

HorstBrack75 · Answer 8 · Sat Oct 09 2021 16:23:42 GMT+0800 (China Standard Time)

In step 9, if you reboot from your patched installer USB, what entries do you see in opencore boot menu?

spillinova · Answer 9 · Sun Oct 10 2021 07:12:43 GMT+0800 (China Standard Time)

I get the Catalina installer and Clear NVRAM. If I choose nothing it will go back into a new install, and if I choose the Catalina installer it will go back into a new install.

HorstBrack75 · Answer 10 · Sun Oct 10 2021 13:01:55 GMT+0800 (China Standard Time)

Your installer is 10.14.5+?

What SSD(s) are you using?

spillinova · Answer 11 · Tue Oct 12 2021 07:08:11 GMT+0800 (China Standard Time)

Installer is 10.15 and it was created on a machine running 10.14.6
The SSD is SABRENT (SB-ROCKET-1TB)

HorstBrack75 · Answer 12 · Tue Oct 12 2021 14:02:19 GMT+0800 (China Standard Time)

So the OSX installer sees your disk but OC doesn’t? (you did not install to the USB?) Bios settings are per guide? Thera are no leftovers on the SSD? What do you see when you hit F10?

spillinova · Answer 13 · Wed Oct 13 2021 14:42:43 GMT+0800 (China Standard Time)

Yes. Bios is the default bios settings, except for the 3 changes that the HaCMini instructions require. It's not installing to the USB because the install begins writing files to the SSDs main partition. (for instance the log file I attached to my first post was found on the SSD). When I start up with F10 I get the boot menu and the only option is OpenCore. When I click on it the screen flashed for a second and then goes back to the boot menu. I can just keep clicking on it endlessly.

HorstBrack75 · Answer 14 · Wed Oct 13 2021 18:35:16 GMT+0800 (China Standard Time)

Sorry, I am lost also. Is this a BIOS / boot order issue or is your SSD shady? Can you retry with another SSD, following the guide? Can you install the SSD in another machine? EasyUefi under Windows omight show you if something strange is going on on your SSD.

spillinova · Answer 15 · Thu Oct 14 2021 07:47:53 GMT+0800 (China Standard Time)

SSD is fine because I can install Windows on the main partition. And, the MacOS install is writing files to the main partition. The install doesn't write files to the EFI partition (always completely empty). Unfortunately I don't have another SSD to test with. Also, note that I can boot and install Windows from any USB 3.0 port, but not MacOS (only USB 2.0 port on front).

HorstBrack75 · Answer 16 · Thu Oct 14 2021 14:02:22 GMT+0800 (China Standard Time)

I think your ESP partition is either corrupted or is not correct. The guide specifically asks you to format your drive and install Windows AFTER OS X.

I suggest, you fill in the issue template with all the information and hopefully somebody else will chime in.

spillinova · Answer 17 · Thu Oct 14 2021 14:59:33 GMT+0800 (China Standard Time)

@HorstBrack75 I appreciate you trying to help, but you're not actually paying attention to what I wrote in my first post. I had a dual boot setup on my nook. I did it by installing Mojave and HacMini 2.15. Then I installed BootCamp Windows. I've been running that set up for almost a year. Then I ran the installer for HaCMini 3.1.1, but missed the special instructions, so when I rebooted OpenCore was gone and only Windows remained. So I wiped the disk and now the only thing I can install on this NUC is Windows. If I install Windows, the EFI partition is successfully created, but its a Windows EFI. If I wipe the drive and run the Catalina installer with the HaCMini patch and boot menu arg, the install will never complete and there will be no files or folders in the EFI partition.
Other people are having this problem, so I doubt the ESP partition is corrupt. Is it possible that the CMOS is storing the boot config? I've tried clearing the bios passwords and recovering the bios.

spillinova · Answer 18 · Fri Oct 15 2021 11:26:54 GMT+0800 (China Standard Time)

SOLVED: (somewhat)
I was finally able to install Catalina by creating an install disk with HaCMini 2.15. It installed smoothly. Then I ran the HacMini update to 3.0.1 using the special instructions in the release. BUT, I cannot upgrade to any versions above that. Once I do the update and then clear the NVRAM, I get a blank screen. If I try to run from fs0: efi/oc/OpenCore.efi , it still goes to a blank screen.