Installed Vista RTM but deleted 200MB EFI Partition

[Corky]

Is this bad? I read somewhere that I should do it, but now I think maybe i didn't need to.

 

Everything dual boots ok but just wondering whether I should add it back somehow?

 

Any feedback would be great!

[Numberzz]

Here you go:

OK, I've double-checked my method, and here it is:

 

I give no guarantee that the following instructions won't cause damage to your partitions. Changing partitions is always risky. Capitalisation is important throughout. Always read the label.

 

edit: I have reason to believe that these instructions do not work in every case. It seems that Mac OS X does not always number the partitions in the same way as the example below. In which case, you must use some method to check which partition number is your EFI partition before the format stage. I suggest you mount partitions 2 and 3 first to check that partition 1 is indeed EFI. If you don't know what any of this means, then don't do anything below!

 

A few warnings about a "suspicious MBR" may appear throughout this process. This is nothing to worry about.

 

1. Boot from install DVD, in single-user mode:

 

a ) Insert DVD.

b ) Boot system with option key held.

c ) Highlight the install DVD, but don't yet click the start arrow.

d ) Hold command-s, and click the start arrow (whilst still holding the keys).

 

2. Do not mount the hard disks (as suggested by the last lines of the boot sequence).

 

3. To remove the EFI partition:

 

a ) Type: gpt remove -i 1

b ) Press enter.

c ) Type: reboot

d ) Press enter. (Your system will reboot, and you can continue to do whatever it was you were going to do - like install Vista, for example.)

 

 

 

If you wish to reinstate the EFI partition:

 

1. Boot from the install DVD using the instructions in steps 1 and 2 above.

 

2. To replace the EFI partition:

 

a ) Type: gpt add -b 40 -i 1 -s 409600 -t efi /dev/disk0

b ) Press enter.

c ) Type: reboot

d ) Press enter. (Your system will reboot, but you must now again enter install DVD single-user mode, using the instructions above)

 

e ) Type: newfs_msdos -F 32 /dev/disk0s1

f ) Press enter.

g ) Type: reboot

h ) Press enter. (Your system will reboot, and the process is complete.)

 

BTW, you didn't need to.