Arch Linux

zmbmartin

Member

Registered: 2009-06-18

Posts: 43

[SOLVED] Macbook pro 11,5 stuck at `loading initial ramdisk`

I just installed arch linux on my macbook pro retina 2015 11,5. I followed this method for installing the bootloader: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Ma … _with_GRUB.

If I just reboot let grub load up and select arch linux it stalls at `loading initial ramdisk`. But if I hold the option key when booting up and select efi boot then select arch linux from the grub menu it boots up?

Anyone know what I might be missing?

Thanks

Last edited by zmbmartin (2016-03-16 03:42:00)

dsana123

Member

Registered: 2013-08-27

Posts: 19

Re: [SOLVED] Macbook pro 11,5 stuck at `loading initial ramdisk`

Hi, I recently installed Arch on the SSD of my 13-inch Macbook Pro 2105 after using an Arch Linux install on SD card for a month (and using the option key to boot Arch off the SD card).

I initially got a hang at the 'loading initial ramdisk' message until I blessed the grub EFI program, after which point I was able to boot automatically from SSD. Have you blessed the grub EFI program?

zmbmartin

Member

Registered: 2009-06-18

Posts: 43

Re: [SOLVED] Macbook pro 11,5 stuck at `loading initial ramdisk`

dsana123 what do you mean blessed? I did this:

# bless --folder=<Path to root of extra partition> --file=<Path to root of extra partition>/System/Library/CoreServices/boot.efi --setBoot
# bless --mount=<Path to root of extra partition> --file=<Path to root of extra partition>/System/Library/CoreServices/boot.efi --setBoot

as it shows in the wiki.

dsana123

Member

Registered: 2013-08-27

Posts: 19

Re: [SOLVED] Macbook pro 11,5 stuck at `loading initial ramdisk`

Unfortunately, I took a different route to the one you referenced in your URL...I installed grub directly into the ESP, then  blessed the grub EFI program in OS X (after disabling SIP).

Hopefully someone will be along shortly to help.

zmbmartin

Member

Registered: 2009-06-18

Posts: 43

Re: [SOLVED] Macbook pro 11,5 stuck at `loading initial ramdisk`

dsana123 mind pointing me to what you did just so I can take a look?

dsana123

Member

Registered: 2013-08-27

Posts: 19

Re: [SOLVED] Macbook pro 11,5 stuck at `loading initial ramdisk`

Unfortunately, there exists no single Arch Linux Wiki Page that descirbes what I did (there are many pages that have similar, but not the same, instructions), so I'll enumerate what I did in this post (and note that I am typing from memory):

* Before arch-chroot.

 
mount <root partition of new arch install> /mnt 
mkdir /mnt/boot 
mount <ESP already created by apple> /mnt/boot 
pacstrap -i /mnt base base-devel 
genfstab -U /mnt > /mnt/etc/fstab
arch-chroot /mnt /bin/bash 

* Inside arch-choot.

pacman -S intel-ucode grub 
grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot --no-nvram
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

* Disable SIP (instructions taken from the refind website)
    * Boot into OS X recovery (command+R at bootup).
    * Select Utilities -> Terminal from the menu bar. A Terminal window should open.
    * Type: csrutil disable
    * Reboot

* Bless the EFI program in OS X (bless command taken from refind-install script from refind repo)

csrutil status <-- this checks that SIP is disabled. I can't remember if I had to boot into recovery mode or a normal OS x boot.
diskutil mount /dev/disk0s1
bless --mount "/Volumes/ESP" --setBoot --file "/Volumes/EFI//boot/EFI/arch/grubx64.efi" --shortform

I assume that OS X mounts the ESP to /Volumes/ESP and that /dev/disk0s1 is the ESP

After blessing, I re-enable SIP.

Edit: Add assumption about ESP being /dev/disk0s1
Edit2: I install intel-ucode at the same time as grub.
Edit3: Add the genfstab command in case someone decides to blindly follow my instructions.

Last edited by dsana123 (2016-03-14 21:21:58)

ellipticaldoor

Member

Registered: 2016-03-14

Posts: 5

Re: [SOLVED] Macbook pro 11,5 stuck at `loading initial ramdisk`

You don't need to use grub, you can use systemd-boot. I have the same laptop and the installation works fine following this tutorial http://loicpefferkorn.net/2015/01/arch- … d-to-disk/

zmbmartin

Member

Registered: 2009-06-18

Posts: 43

Re: [SOLVED] Macbook pro 11,5 stuck at `loading initial ramdisk`

ellipticaldoor thanks that works.