boot.efi / BootX, what is it? Solved

Question

Hello,
Does anyone know these two files:
boot.efi
BootX?

They were located in a folder named (CoreServices). When I tried to empty the trash, it told me that these two files are locked and cannot be deleted.

What are these two files for?
Are they system files?
If so, where should I place them? Because they are currently on my desktop :)

Thank you in advance for any responses

Configuration: Mac OS X Safari 525.27.1

Chris 94 · Accepted Answer

Hello,

A quick Google search... that faithful friend.

Boot = startup...
EFI = Extensible Firmware Interface, a small program that ensures the beginning of the Mac's startup
Boot.efi = serves in one way or another for the EFI startup
BootX = is probably used for starting Mac OS X.

Basically, and without being an expert, I wouldn't touch anything in the CoreServices (by the way, isn't that a normally hidden folder?) nor anything else related to the system.

Best regards.

Chris 94 · Answer

What amazes me is that you can see it! Did you use software that uncovers hidden files? Usually, those things are stored in the system at the root of the hard drive.  See you!

Chris 94 · Answer

Ah, that girl ;-)! The gift for computing is not carried on the Y chromosome :-)

A description of CoreServices at Apple... It's in English and I didn't take the time to read it, sorry.

I’d like to repeat: never touch anything related to the system without being absolutely sure of what you're doing. If your Mac is running like this for now, make do with it. However, you can ask it to check the disk's status by rebooting from the original CD by holding down the C key from the start and until the end of the boot. Choose your language and then disregard the system installer. In the Utilities menu, launch Disk Utility. In its window, click on your disk on the left and then on "Repair Disk" at the bottom right. If all goes well, then do "Repair Permissions". If there's a problem, come back and visit us.

Sanspseudo · Answer

Hello,

Since you know where these files are, please put them back in their place and accept the replacement if necessary:
See the exact path here
http://www.zimagez.com/zimage/image27ebaaaed2a9e8f31cf01bd6d21a9380b.php

As Chris said, do not move anything that is in the System and Main Library folders.

Best regards
--
Sanspseudo - Francis
iMac-G5 - 2ghz - 2Go - Mac OS 10.5.6

Chris 94 · Answer

"It's intentional by Apple for security reasons.", a sign that our favorite brand is very reasonable ;-)  I will take a careful look at the Extra Menus.  Thanks for the tip. See you soon.

dede74000 · Answer

Hi specialists,

Well, I don't have any of those files on my hard drive under Tiger ;-)
Aren't they specific to Leo?

Edit: after searching on my external drive, under Leo, yes, I found them ;-)
--
I'm here, but will I stay? that is the question!!
PM G5 1.8 mono + Mac OS X 10.4.11 2 GB of Ram

bucci · Answer

Hello,

I formatted my Mac mini and when I logged back onto the forum, I saw all your replies, which is very kind.
What's funny is that the more you follow the details provided in the responses, the harder it is to remember what the original problem was :):):):):):):))

In any case, I reluctantly reset my Mac; I didn't want to do it because after every formatting, there are updates, rebuilding the "favorites" menu, etc... it's annoying but hey, it's for a good cause.

Best to all

Chris 94 · Answer

Hello, Bucci,

Let's face it, some of the posts digress a bit... a bit, not that much! We've seen worse ;-) In any case, Sanspseudo's response sums up the situation well.

Well, now the Mac is as good as new and should run smoothly. In the future, a careful clean-up and a big detour in front of the System :-)

Best regards.

juanock · Answer

Good evening you!
While retrieving data from my external hard drive, I wanted to sort folders and delete some.
I found myself with locked files, as they contain Coreservices.
I've checked on the Mac, the Coreservices are indeed there; so they come from the external drive.
How can I empty my trash? And continue organizing without this happening again?
Thank you for your help.
Ch

Chris 94 · Answer

Good evening, you,

I would have tended, for this cleanup, to use the Disk Utility from the Applications > Utilities folder on the internal drive.

Otherwise, unlock the files one by one, it might take a while... File Menu > Get Info and uncheck the "Locked" box.

See you later!

juanock · Answer

Ok for this Disk Utility advice, as I haven't finished my sorting yet!

As for unlocking each file, I've tried already; it unlocks, then as soon as it goes back to the trash, it locks again; I think it's because they are system files....

What can I do?
See you later
Chris

Chris 94 · Answer

I'm not sure I understand everything about the origin of the problem... How did these system files end up there? Did you clone your internal hard drive?

This might be a procedure to consider: format your external hard drive as mentioned above, then use Carbon Copy Cloner to create a fresh clone of the internal drive.

Advantage: you have a second startup disk that, if you keep the clone updated, allows you to guard against a serious failure of the internal drive. Disadvantage: anything that disappears from the internal drive also disappears from the external drive during cloning.

An "intermediate" option if the external hard drive is large enough: two partitions, one for the clone, the other for backing up files that are too bulky and not often used internally.

@+

juanock · Answer

Good evening,
In my opinion, the origin is that I did a Time Machine backup on 02/26/08; I sent it to the external drive.

Now, I've just retrieved all my photo files from the desktop to organize and delete.
Then I emptied the hard drive with a quick wipe (zeroing out).

Once I've sorted my photos, I'll put them back on the external drive.
I'm trying to understand what you’re saying regarding the clone, but it's not obvious...

In the meantime, those items still refuse to leave my trash, by every means I've tried.
Maybe I'll shed some light for you?

Christine

Chris 94 · Answer

Carbon Copy Cloner allows for many things, including cloning the internal hard drive to an external one: the clone is, by definition, identical to the original and, on our recent Macs, is bootable. This makes it a lifeline in case of failure of the internal hard drive.

The first cloning process is quite long. After that, successive clones only add what is new and remove what has been deleted, which is fairly quick if done very regularly.

The software offers other options such as keeping a backup of certain folders, chosen in advance.

"Then I wiped the hard drive by doing a quick pass (zeroing out) How?
The trash of the external hard drive should be empty after that... but, beware! The trash in your dock "contains" all the items you have put in the trash regardless of the source they come from. For example: you connect a USB key, you put one of its files in the trash, you eject the key without emptying the trash and the item is no longer in the trash. But, if you reconnect the key, miracle, the item comes back in the trash. Conclusion: to delete an item present on an external drive, you must empty the trash while the drive is connected.

This tends to make me think that your annoying CoreServices may not be on the external hard drive. Are they present in the trash when this drive is disconnected?

@+

juanock · Answer

Good evening,

The zeros? I used Disk Utility > erase free space > zero out deleted files. I had other options like "erase 7 passes" or "erase 35 passes", it was too long; this took two hours; this was for the external drive. I don't dare touch the Mac itself.....

Before that, I moved all the old photo folder to the desktop; now, I'm sorting and reorganizing; and I'm putting them back on the external drive. I'm throwing things away. But my trash never empties the so-called locked items.

The Coreservices are still in the trash even without the external drive connected.

Cloning is a good idea, but I'll look into that after I've finished my photo files.
Good night.
Thank you.
See you later.
Christine

Chris 94 · Answer

From Chris to Christine :-)  "Erase free space" = to give a good clean where deleted files used to be. In fact, throwing a file in the trash and emptying it does not really delete everything from the file. The process simply changes the state of a few bits so that the Mac considers the space that follows it available for a new recording. As long as that doesn’t happen, it’s possible with common software (Data Rescue, PhotoRec, ...) to recover the “deleted” file.  Zeroing means the Mac writes zeros to the areas marked as “deleted” in the previous paragraph. This is generally safer: the aforementioned tools will struggle or may not be able to find anything. However, professional tools (Police and others, including hackers) can easily do so.  Multiple passes: the Mac writes zeros 7 or 35 times to each location. The effect is much more effective. However, ad hoc services still have ways to find information!  Warning: when an external drive is connected, the desktop is like the trash (see above), shared. Dragging a file from the external hard drive to the desktop does not remove it from that disk! To ensure it is well protected by the Mac, it is imperative to copy it by dragging it onto the internal hard drive or one of its folders.  "The CoreServices are still in the trash even without the external disk connection." This is proof that they are not on your external hard drive! They must have been dragged to the trash by a false manipulation, and the system uses them where they are (the trash) even though this is not according to the proper rule. You should be able to empty it by booting from the original CD or another bootable medium (like a clone ;-) ), but the OS on your internal hard drive would then no longer have them “on hand” and you would need to reinstall it.  @+

juanock · Answer

Good evening Chris 94, I am busy transferring as many files as possible to my external drive; because as you told me to empty the trash by starting from the original CD, I am afraid of losing important files.??? I do not understand your last sentence "but the OS of your internal HDD would no longer have them 'on hand' and you would have to reinstall it." Excuse me, I am old, I am 59 years old. Your language is not always easy. Talk to you later Christine

Sanspseudo · Answer

Good evening "Chris and Christine"...  Christine,  If your CoreServices files are in place on the Mac, (they should normally be located here: Your Hard Drive / System / Library / CoreServices  For my part, under Mac OS 10.6.2, I have these 105 items inside..  AddPrinter AirPort Base Station Agent AOS.bundle Apple80211Agent AppleFileServer AppleGraphicsWarning AppleScript Runner ApplicationFirewall.bundle Certificate Assistant Bluetooth Setup Assistant Network Setup Assistant Automator Launcher Automator Runner AVRCPAgent backupd backupd.bundle BluetoothAudioAgent BluetoothUIServer boot.efi cacheTimeZones CarbonSpellChecker.bundle CCacheServer checkfixlist CommonCocoaPanels.bundle Configuration folder actions CoreLocationAgent coreservicesd CoreServicesUIAgent CoreTypes.bundle Database Events DefaultDesktop.jpg Network Diagnostics DictionaryPanel.bundle DiskImageMounter Dock DumpPanic Encodings File Sync FileSyncAgent Finder Firmware Updates FixupResourceForks Folder Actions Dispatcher Front Row HelpViewer Image Events Jar Launcher Java Web Start JavaVersion.plist KerberosAgent KernelEventAgent.bundle KeyboardSetupAssistant Language Chooser loginwindow lonelist ManagedClient mDNSResponder.bundle Menu Extras Software Update MLTEFile.bundle NetAuthAgent OBEXAgent ODSAgent Screen Sharing pbs PreferenceSyncClient Printer Setup Utility Problem Reporter Installer RawCamera.bundle rcd RemoteManagement ReportCrash ReportPanic Resources RFBEventHelper.bundle Search.bundle SecurityAgent SecurityAgentPlugins SecurityFixer SecurityProxy ServerJoiner ServerScanner SKPlugins SmbFileServer.bundle SubmitDiagInfo System Events SystemFolderLocalizations SystemUIServer SystemVersion.bundle SystemVersion.plist Ticket Viewer TypographyPanel.bundle UnmountAssistantAgent UpgradeUser UserAccountUpdater UserNotificationCenter AppleScript Utility Directory Utility Archive Extension Location Utility Memory Location Utility VoiceOver WorkflowServiceRunner  If you have all that, or if the files present in your trash are also in your CoreServices folder at the indicated location, then you can empty that trash.  Do it this way: -connect your external drive, (since it is possible that the origin of these files is the external drive) -go to Applications / Utilities and launch the Terminal application found there -in the Terminal window, type: sudo rm -r note: be careful with the case, (all lowercase) and the space between rm and -r -type a space after the r -open your trash, and select everything inside by pressing cmd-A -drag and drop everything into the Terminal window -press the "Enter" or "Return" key to confirm -the system will ask for your Mac's administrator password, provide it and confirm with OK  Normally your trash should now be empty  let us know what happens next.. -- Sanspseudo - Francis - Intel iMac Mac under OS 10.6 + iMac-G5 under Mac OS 10.5 Always indicate your exact configuration: Mac model and Mac OS version..

Chris 94 · Answer

Good evening,  Thank you, Francis, for your clarifications. I think my nearly namesake will quickly get rid of these files or put them back where they should have stayed.  @ Christine: check my profile (by clicking on my username) and you'll see it's not necessarily a matter of age. Well, work has led me to take an interest in computers in the past, but browsing forums where individuals like this one hang out has allowed me to make some small progress ;-)  Best regards.

Sanspseudo · Answer

Hello,

Christine,

In response to your message no. 28:

There may be differences between you and me due to the fact that our versions of Mac OS may not be the same, or that the Mac models are not identical.

So don't take it too hard if the contents of our folders differ. Additionally, you sometimes have the same files, but with a title in English or different. For example, "SubmitReportSystem" is the equivalent of my "SubmitDiagInfo".

So, here’s what you should do: compare the contents of the CoreServices in your trash with that in your "good" folder, the one that's in its rightful place.

The reasoning is simple: what is already in the good folder stays there. What is not in the "good" folder, but is found in the trash, you move from the trash to the good folder.
After this check and any necessary correction, the remaining files in the trash should be deleted.

In response to message no. 29:

No Christine, by emptying the trash, by dragging your files from the trash, you are only acting on what is in the trash. You are not at risk if you do what is explained.

Best regards :)

PS: Hello to Chris ;-)
--
Sanspseudo - Francis - iMac Intel Mac running OS 10.6 + iMac-G5 running Mac OS 10.5
Always indicate your exact configuration: Mac model and Mac OS version.

Sanspseudo · Answer

Cannot open the Terminal ??  There’s nothing to unlock, Terminal is just another application.  What happens when you double-click the application? What are the exact symptoms? -- Sanspseudo - Francis - iMac Intel Mac running OS 10.6 + iMac-G5 running Mac OS 10.5 Always indicate your exact configuration: Mac model and Mac OS version..

juanock · Answer

I double-click, the icon shakes a little, then nothing.

Sanspseudo · Answer

Is your office well cleared? Are you sure there isn't a little window that looks like this:
http://www.zimagez.com/zimage/capturedacran2010-02-19124005.php

If that's the case, then you need to do some repairs and clean your disk..

For repairs:
By following the startup procedure on the installation CD, or the fsck -fy procedure
It’s explained on this page:
http://www.zimagez.com/zimage/capturedacran2010-02-19124005.php

For cleaning:
Use the free software Onyx:
-Download the correct version of Onyx - the one that corresponds to your version of Mac OS here:
http://www.titanium.free.fr/pgs/french/apps.html
-Install Onyx
-Launch it
-Let it check the SMART status of the hard drive and the volume structure
-then give it the password when it asks
-then click the "Automation" button
-check all boxes except "Display folder contents"
-click on "Execute"
-Restart the Mac
--
Sanspseudo - Francis - Intel iMac Mac under OS 10.6 + iMac-G5 under Mac OS 10.5
Always specify your exact configuration: Model of Mac and version of Mac OS..

juanock · Answer

I must be really useless; I have Onyx on the desk, I keep trying to start it, but I don't know how to proceed; I open it, but I don't see anything to start.

Sanspseudo · Answer

You need to double-click on the application icon.
But first, you need to have dragged this application into the Applications folder. Do not launch the application from its download location, the disk image.
Explanations:
When you download an application, it is most often found in a disk image of type .dmg
So, you drag and drop the application into the Applications folder, then eject the disk image and throw the .dmg file into the trash, which you then empty. See this video:
http://www.debutersurmac.com/tutoriels/videozip/install-desinstall2.mov.zip
Taken from this excellent site
http://www.debutersurmac.com/tutoriels/accueil.html
--
Sanspseudo - Francis - Intel iMac running OS 10.6 + iMac-G5 running Mac OS 10.5
Always specify your exact configuration: Mac model and Mac OS version..

juanock · Answer

ok, here we go for a good while; repairing permissions.....

juanock · Answer

Well, the cleaning is done, but the Terminal is still reacting the same way.... I am puzzled...

juanock · Answer

So... 1) I restarted Onyx and emptied the trash! 2) The Terminal still refuses to open. I have to leave now... See you later Christine

Sanspseudo · Answer

I believe we have reached a point where we need to suspect that system files are corrupted or missing. This may, I say may, be due to mishandling of system files on the Mac.. ?

In any case, we now need to seriously consider a system reinstallation.

To avoid losing your files, you need to proceed with an "Archive and Install" type installation.

I still don’t know what your version of Mac OS is...
But for Mac OS 10.5 and earlier versions, see this procedure
https://www.commentcamarche.net/faq/15198-installer-ou-reinstaller-mac-os-x-10-5-alias-leopard

From Mac OS 10.6 onwards, you simply need to insert the installation DVD, restart the Mac while holding the C key down, and start the installation, which will automatically be an Archive and Install type installation, meaning no data loss.

In any case, you will need to finish with software updates and repair permissions from Disk Utility. Here are a few links for Mac OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard)..
https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-14193174-snow-leopard#3
https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-14555950-time-machine-questions-avancee#1
https://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1172/fr_FR/Snow_Leopard_Instructions_d_installation.pdf
--
Sanspseudo - Francis - iMac Intel Mac running OS 10.6 + iMac-G5 running Mac OS 10.5
Always indicate your exact configuration: Model of Mac and version of Mac OS..

Sanspseudo · Answer

Good evening Christine,  I completely understand your concern, as I am also a legal administrator, and I too need to submit the annual report in the coming days.  That said, especially for this kind of situation, it is absolutely essential to have multiple backups of these types of files. Please make an immediate backup on any medium, and do this before doing anything else on your Mac. Personally, I use Time Machine + 1 regularly cloned external drive + a dedicated USB stick. The risk of making a mistake is too great, as well as the potential for a serious hardware failure of the hard drive, or even of the entire computer. So, I repeat: back up immediately to wherever you want, external drive, CD, USB stick, or all three at once.  Then, once everything is backed up, simply reinstall the MS Office suite.  Be aware that if you have an urgent need, the issue is indeed that Excel is refusing to launch and you don't have the installation CD on hand, the free OpenOffice suite will be able to open these files. However, you may need to redo some of the formatting. Basic calculation formulas won't pose any problems. More complex formulas that refer to data on separate sheets or to named ranges in Excel may need to be adjusted. But, if need be, the corrections will be relatively quick. (rare cases, but it happens with fairly intricate formulas)  Good luck!!  P.S.: an Excel file opens on any computer equipped with Excel, as long as the version on the backup computer isn't too old. Mac and PC versions are generally compatible. The limitations may occur when trying to open a file from Excel 2008 with a really very old version. -- Sanspseudo - Francis - iMac Intel Mac running OS 10.6 + iMac-G5 running Mac OS 10.5 Always indicate your exact configuration: Mac model and version of Mac OS..

Sanspseudo · Answer

... Good night... ;-)) -- Sanspseudo - Francis - iMac Intel Mac running OS 10.6 + iMac-G5 running Mac OS 10.5 Always indicate your exact configuration: Model of Mac and version of Mac OS ..

pacejuan · Answer

Hello Francis,  I was able to print my accounting. I printed the re-installation procedure.  I'm diving in! Time will tell!  Maybe I'll talk to you later if all goes well... Christine

pacejuan · Answer

Hello Francis, I'm back! The Mac (10.5.2) is finishing the software update, then I'll see.....

Boot.efi / BootX, what is it?

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