Arch Linux

waxxy

Member

Registered: 2015-06-15

Posts: 3

Bootloader Advice Needed

I've been using Linux since 97 but this UEFI thing has me baffled.

I just bought a new setup and installed Win 10 on an M.2 SSD, I need Win for work and AAA gaming titles, but Linux for everything else. My problem is I can't seem to get the bootloading setup properly (I'm a BIOS oldtimer).

I have the M.2 SSD as the Win drive with the ESP (UEFI boot partition) on it. I have a 2TB HDD for common storage, and a SATA SSD I want to install Arch on. What's the recommended way to do this?

Do I need to have another FAT32 ESP on the Arch SSD? Do I mount the Win ESP partition to /boot on the Arch SSD? Do I need to install Grub (if so, where?) or could I just use efibootmgr? I've done a lot of reading and research and I get conflicting ideas (some may have to do with the particular setup - both OSs on the same drive, etc.).

I'd appreciate any advice so I can get this right the first time. Thanks!

ewaller

Administrator

From: Pasadena, CA

Registered: 2009-07-13

Posts: 19,804

Re: Bootloader Advice Needed

Welcome to Arch Linux. 
Personally,   I think that systemd-boot (formally known as gummiboot) is the most sure fire solution.  Also, the install process since the move to systemd-boot is almost fool proof.

Make sure you turn off secure boot and configure windows to not use fast boot mode.

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twelveeighty

Member

From: Alberta, Canada

Registered: 2011-09-04

Posts: 1,096

Re: Bootloader Advice Needed

One thing to keep in mind is that you *must* follow the instructions in the Wiki https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Be … ion_medium, and make sure you get the UEFI mode boot screen when booting the Arch ISO. efivar -l should produce a long list of variables in that case.

Also be sure to first read the dual boot guide: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Wi … _dual_boot. It's been a long time since I installed Windows on physical hardware, but it appears that the issue where Windows no longer boots after installing Linux is still a risk.

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: London

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 7,751

Website

Re: Bootloader Advice Needed

Do I mount the Win ESP partition to /boot

^ This.

If you want to use gummiboot/systemd-boot (which I also recommend), then you will have to share the Windows-generated ESP with Arch and mount /boot to that partition.

It is possible to use multiple ESPs but it can be tricky to set up.

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waxxy

Member

Registered: 2015-06-15

Posts: 3

Re: Bootloader Advice Needed

Thanks guys! I'll give it a shot this weekend and let you know how it went.

waxxy

Member

Registered: 2015-06-15

Posts: 3

Re: Bootloader Advice Needed

Systemd-boot worked great. I didn't create an EFI partition on the Linux disk, and just mounted the Windows EFI partition as /boot, and everything went smooth as silk.

Thanks for the help!

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: London

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 7,751

Website

Re: Bootloader Advice Needed

Excellent!

Please add "[SOLVED]" to the thread title for the benefit of others

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