Windows 10 + archlinux dual boot [systemd-boot]

megadrivex · 2025-01-03 08:00:07

Hello!
I need help setting up a dual boot for Arch Linux after Windows 10 installation on 1 SSD drive with 2 different partitions. The current configuration is as follows:

Laptop Configuration: wrote:

Secure Boot: Off
Hibernate: Off
Fast Boot: Off
UEFI, GPT.

Windows 10 Installation:
Installed on a 1 TB SSD in automatic mode.

Partition Adjustments: wrote:

Reduced 512 MB for /boot (Linux EFI partition).
Allocated 50 GB for the Linux root (/) partition.

Linux Installation Steps:
Rufus, booted to device manager in Bios, selected Flash Drive.

In installation process, configured WiFi and ran:

pacman -Sy
pacman -Sy archlinux-keyring
archinstall

During configuration: wrote:

Bootloader: systemd-boot
Disk Configuration:
sda4: /boot, FAT32, EFI
sda5: /, ext4, Linux system.

Post-Installation Verification:

Checked /boot/entries/ directory. It contained 2 autogenerated configuration files, such as the following example:

# Created by: archinstall
# Created on: 2024-12-31_13-40-33
title Arch Linux (linux)
linux /vmlinuz-linux
initrd /initramfs-linux.img
options root=PARTUUID=d0366af0-0883-48bb-909f-52bd272040c4 zswap.enabled=0 rw rootfstype=ext4

Verified files are in place and rebooted.

Windows Disk Management:

Used diskpart and mountvol to analyze partitions: wrote:

sda1: Windows EFI Boot (100 MB, Type: System)
sda4: Linux /boot (512 MB, FAT32, Type: System)
sda5: Linux root (/) partition (50 GB, ext4)

Details of sda4:
Partition details show it as EFI, with no mount points visible:

\\?\Volume{cd5a2a30-cbbe-4e4e-809d-d6f8d9bfbe10}\
*** NO MOUNT POINTS ***

Testing wrote:

mountvol Z: \\?\Volume{cd5a2a30-cbbe-4e4e-809d-d6f8d9bfbe10}\

mounting works.

Diskpart/details of /boot(linux): wrote:

Partition 4
Type : c12a7328-f81f-11d2-ba4b-00a0c93ec93b
Hidden : Yes
Required: No
Attrib : 0000000000000000
Offset in Bytes: 945573330944
Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- --------
* Volume 2 FAT32 Partition 512 MB Healthy Hidden

Windows Boot Configuration
Created an entry for Arch Linux:

bcdedit /create /d "Arch Linux" /application bootsector
The entry {71a67887-5f95-11ee-95c3-8e06f349518f} was successfully created.

Specified the path to the Linux bootloader:

bcdedit /set {71a67887-5f95-11ee-95c3-8e06f349518f} path \EFI\systemd\systemd-bootx64.efi
The operation completed successfully.

Attempted to link the device partition:

bcdedit /set {71a67885-5f95-11ee-95c3-8e06f349518f} device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume4\EFI\sysytemd\systemd-bootx64.efi
An error occurred while attempting to reference the specified entry.
The system cannot find the file specified.

Tried also this:
bcdedit /set {71a67885-5f95-11ee-95c3-8e06f349518f} device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume4

Windows Boot Manager shows the option for Linux, but selecting it results in an error pointing to \EFI\systemd\systemd-bootx64.efi.
UEFI BIOS menu (via F9) allows direct selection of the Linux entry, which boots successfully.

How can I configure Windows Boot Manager to successfully boot into the Arch Linux system? There seems to be an issue linking the Windows and Linux EFI partitions (sda1 and sda4), which are on the same SSD.

References:
Unified Extensible Firmware Interface
Dual boot with Windows
Arch boot process
Partitioning
Partitioning/XBOOTLDR

Head_on_a_Stick · 2025-01-03 13:09:03

You can assign a disk letter to the Arch ESP with diskpart. Ask on a Windows forum or startpage.com for more details. EDIT: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/win … e9e975a5c7

The usual advice is to share the Windows ESP with Arch rather than create a new one. It simplifies things.

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2025-01-03 13:13:52)

Arch Linux

#1 2025-01-03 08:00:07

Windows 10 + archlinux dual boot [systemd-boot]

#2 2025-01-03 13:09:03

Re: Windows 10 + archlinux dual boot [systemd-boot]

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