dakanji/RefindPlus v0.13.2.AP

on GitHub

Change 01: 21 Apr 22¹.

• Adds PanicFilter Feature
  • RefindPlus now discards NVRAM write attempts of kernel panic information by default
  • Can be disabled using a new decline_panicfilter configuration token
  • Currently limited to when directly booting MacOS from RefindPlus
• Adds SupplyAppleFB Feature
  • Attempts to provide AppleFramebuffers on Macs when absent under certain circumstances
  • Can be disabled using a new decline_applefb configuration token
• Adds TextHelp Feature
  • Uses complementary text colours to improve legibility
  • Can be disabled using a new decline_texthelp configuration token
    • Only when using a custom title banner
    • Always on when using the default title banner
• Adds IconRowMove Feature
  • Allows repositioning the icon row position on the RefindPlus screen
    • Sometimes needed when icons block parts of custom banners
  • Base position can be specified using a new icon_row_move configuration token
• Adds IconRowTune Feature
  • Allows adjustments to the IconRowMove position
  • Offset value can be specified using a new icon_row_tune configuration token
• Adds RansomDrives Feature
  • Some types of firmware, notably on HP Notebooks, may lock some partitions
    • This renders them inaccessible or may even lead to RefindPlus hanging
  • Such partitions can be unlocked by setting a new ransom_drives configuration token
  • This option is currently always disabled on Apple firmware
• Adds RescanDXE Feature
  • Controls scanning for newly revealed DXE drivers when connecting handles
    • Switch ON or OFF with a new disable_rescan_dxe configuration token
  • This was previously done by default but may negatively impact loading speed
  • Typically only required when running non-native filesystems
• Adds DriverPriority Feature
  • Asigns a higher priority to drivers loaded by RefindPlus
  • Ensures that such are loaded when other similar drivers exist (mainly in the firmware)
  • Currently tied to the RansomDrives Feature and only activated when that feature is active
• Adds HaltSeconds Function
  • Works as PauseSeconds does, but does not terminate on keypress
• Fixes Unicode Collation
  • Now checks for and uses Unicode Collation Protocol instances that support English
  • Previously simply selected the first instance found (Inherited)
  • This should allow proper support for languages using unicode text
• Improves UEFI Runtime Function Wrapping
  • The wrapped UEFI Runtime SetVariable function is now better managed
• Improves TransientBoot Feature
  • Now removes pre-existing PreviousBoot instances when booting with this option set
• Improves DirectBoot Feature
  • Previously failed when a keyboard was not connected
  • Minimises screen shudder when the ESC key is held down to override DirectBoot
• Improves ScreenShot Feature
  • Properly limited to one (1) sreenshot per keypress
    • Removes limitation of the keypress not continuing beyond the on-screen message display
  • Fixes Screenshots being only functional for the main RefindPlus screen
    • This bug was introduced in v0.13.2.AN (Commit 99da7ce)
• Improves HandleSignedInt Function
  • Removed limitation on handled values
• Improves egDisplaymessage Function
  • Now includes option to pause in the function
    • Previously needed a separate call
  • Now erases the message after the display (if a pause is invoked)
    • Previously only properly erased when called on the main screen
    • The erasure was however also lost on the main screen when IconRowMove and/or IconRowTune is active
    • Now fixed for all screens but artefacts may result with some custom banners
• Improves CleanNvram Feature
  • The Emulated NVRAM on the filesystem is now also cleared
  • Now triggers NVRAM garbage collection on Macs when run
    • This is an equivalent of manually setting nvram ResetNVRam=1
• Improves ProtectNVRAM Feature
  • Adds rEFIt Variant to UEFI Loaders filtered for ProtectNVRAM
    • Made up of RefindPlus, rEFIt and rEFInd files chain-loaded from named locations
    • The ProtectNVRAM feature is not enabled for such loaders
  • Now checks new NVRAM write entries against existing entries
    • Only updates the entries when absent or different
    • Filtering these reduces NVRAM writes and associated wear and tear
  • Expands blocked SecureBoot related items
  • Now clears existing instances of blocked variables
  • Adds UnlockID and UnlockIDCopy to filtered items
    • These are not certificates but work in concert with the certificates
    • Hence, not required once certificates are filtered
    • Filtering these reduces NVRAM writes and associated wear and tear
  • Filters out the Current OEM Policy from post-block clean up
    • Removal may have negative impact on UEFI-PC
    • Not strictly needed as ProtectNVRAM is currently limited to Apple Firmware
    • Considered best to add a filter now in case that changes in future
• Improves Identification of Linux Instances
  • vmlinuz, bzImage, and kernel loaders are now accounted for as Linux loaders
  • The ProtectNVRAM feature is now not applied to such loaders
  • The grub loader was already accounted for
• Improves OS Boot Filtering
  • The OSType flag is now taken into account
• Improves Load Error/Warning Display
  • The ContinueOnWarning feature is forced on temporarily if required
• Improves Time Bound Primed Buffer Mitigation
  • Mitigates against RefindPlus spontaneously running default items
  • Intervention is based on a rising threshold based on build type and presence of Apple firmware
  • Also doubles threshold time when external disks are detected
    • The issue appears to be worse when such disks are connected
• Removes BootKicker feature
  • The feature was added as part of attempts to provide the RefindPlus screen on MacPro5,1
  • This was ultimately achieved via other means but the feature was maintained for potential benefits
  • The feature never actually worked properly however, hence the removal
• Amends GOP Mode Selection Preference
  • RefindPlus defaults to selecting the maximum resolution GOP Mode when a screen resolution is not specified
  • When two modes have the same resolution, the later mode was used
  • This is now changed to prefer the first mode found
• Amends OpenProtocol Remapping on Macs without AppleFramebuffers
  • The remapping is now disabled when GOP is absent on any type of firmware
  • It is now also disabled when AppleFramebuffers are absent on Apple firmware
  • This is to avoid potential memory management issues pending further investigation
• Amends Default Loader Scan for APFS Support Volumes
  • APFS Recovery, Update and VM volumes are now added to the DontScanVolume list by default
• Amends Scan for .VolumeIcons and VolumeBadges
  • Volumes in the DontScanVolume list are now skipped
• Amends System Table Reallocations
  • No longer copies memory for system table reallocations
  • Some Mac models fail to boot with this following recent firmware updates
  • Other recent changes to RefindPlus may have also affected booting 'FileVault' encrypted volumes
• Amends HandleProtocol Stashing
  • No longer stashes and restores HandleProtocol on OcProvideConsoleGop call
• Renames the SilentBoot Feature as DirectBoot
  • This more accurately describes the feature.
• Renames Misc Tokens to Permit Grouping of Related Tokens
  • The uga_pass_through token is renamed as pass_uga_through
  • The XYZ_hidden_icons tokens are renamed as hidden_icons_XYZ
  • The XYZ_renderer tokens are renamed as renderer_XYZ
• Extends fixes on Mac Recovery Implementation for MacOS on APFS
  • Adjusted to cover all MacOS instances on APFS
  • APFS Recovery Volumes are handled as Mac Recovery Tools and not as volumes with loaders
  • IMPORTANT:
    • This implementation is still a work in progress ... feedback required/welcome