Dual Boot Problem

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Level 1

56 points

Dual Boot Problem

My MAC Pro is set up so I can dual-boot between Sierra and Mojave. I have a mid-2010 Mac Pro, so Mojave is as far as I can go.

I need this dual boot setup so I can run both Final Cut Pro X and the old Final Cut Pro 7. Some of my video clients need to access old projects done in FCP 7 from time to time.

Here's the problem: When I am booted into Mojave and I look at the Startup Disk selection, I see both boot drives - no problem. (See the screen grab image). If I need to boot into Sierra, I make the choice and reboot. So far, so good.

However, if I'm running Sierra and look at this screen, I only see the Sierra choice. The Mojave option does not appear. I have to boot using the Option-Command-P-R keys to get the system to boot back into Mojave.

I used to be able to see both startup options no matter which OS I was booted in to. I don't know what happened to change this behavior.

How can I fix this?

Mac Pro

Posted on May 31, 2021 12:28 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 3, 2021 5:47 PM in response to RPM46

I just took a quick look at the macOS instructions for installing rEFInd and here are the simplified instructions.

1. Download "refind" and extracting the contents of the downloaded .zip file by double-clicking on the downloaded .zip file if the browser did not automatically extract the contents of the .zip file. Download the rEFInd installer from this page by clicking on the "A binary zip file" link:

https://www.rodsbooks.com/refind/getting.html

2. Launch the Terminal app located in the "/Applications/Utilities" folder.

3. Use the Finder to drag & drop the "refind-install" file from the "refind-bin-0.13.2" folder onto the open Terminal window.

4. Press the "Return" key to execute the rEFInd installer script. You will be prompted for your admin password. When you type the password nothing will show on the screen. Press the "Return" key to submit your password.

It should be just this simple, but keep in mind if you perform a PRAM Reset the rEFInd boot manager will no longer be the default boot option. According to the documentation selecting it with Startup Disk in the System Preferences may or may not work due to changes in macOS so performing these instructions again may be necessary if you perform a PRAM Reset.

This is the section with the macOS installation instructions which I simplified above (it also includes sample output that you will see on the Terminal window):

https://www.rodsbooks.com/refind/installing.html#installsh

Since the latest rEFInd installer defaults to installing to the hidden EFI/ESP partition if you don't like using it or if you have any issues, then performing a PRAM Reset will prevent rEFInd from being the default startup option or select a new default boot option using the Startup Disk System Preference.

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Answer 2

May 31, 2021 6:54 PM in response to RPM46

I'm not sure what happened, but you could use the rEFInd boot menu which would automatically allow you to choose which OS you want to boot each time. You can set one of them as the default and configure a custom time to boot one of your choice automatically. The rEFInd app just creates a special bootloader on the hidden EFI/ESP partition to handle these choices.

https://www.rodsbooks.com/refind/

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Answer 3

RPM46 Author

Level 1

56 points

Jun 3, 2021 1:40 PM in response to HWTech

HWTech, I appreciate this response to my question/problem.

I took a look at the rEFInd solution and find that it is way beyond my pay grade. I don't have sufficient technical knowledge needed to get this deep into my MAC and implement this solution.

Is there any danger in continuing to use the Option-Command-P-R keys to get the system to boot into Mojave after working in Sierra? It's a bit of a pain, but it works.

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Answer 4

RPM46 Author

Level 1

56 points

Jun 3, 2021 9:32 PM in response to HWTech

Thanks again, HWTech.

Something very unusual happened this afternoon. I had to boot into Sierra to access an old Final Cut 7 project for a client. I re-booted and went about my business, building an XML file out of FCP 7 for use with SendTo X for a re-edit in FCP X.

Just for the heck of it, I took a look at my Start Up Disk options, and lo and behold, BOTH boot up choices were there! The Startup Disk screen looked exactly as it does in the screen capture I put in my first post. I was able to choose Mojave for my reboot and it worked just fine. I don't know what happened to get it back. I'm just thankful that it came back!

Thanks again, HWTech. I appreciate the time and effort you took here to try and help me.

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Dual Boot Problem

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