Arch Linux

MediumBrain

Member

Registered: 2025-06-12

Posts: 4

arch on USB can't be detected on UEFI boot menu after replugging it.

so I've installed arch Linux on my USB(full install). I installed grub as the boot loader and it works (or worked) fine until I plug it out and then plug in again. It never comes back to UEFI menu until I chroot into it with my second USB and reinstall grub on ESP.

things I have checked so far:
- the .efi file: it's there on its typical path(` /boot/efi/EFI/arch/grubx64.efi `)
-  GUID and .efi path inside NVRAM boot entries: both match with the proper GUID and .efi path
- the boot partition: ESP type with FAT32 file system.

as the name of the section suggests I'm new to linux and I can't think of anything else to check and need some help.

thank you in advance!

also in my main drive I'm using systemd-boot to dual boot windows 11 and nixOS if it has any relevance somehow.

Scimmia

Fellow

Registered: 2012-09-01

Posts: 12,748

Re: arch on USB can't be detected on UEFI boot menu after replugging it.

Completely normal. Many, if not most, firmwares will remove NVRAM boot entries that don't exist.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Instal … edium#GRUB
And the tip at https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/GRUB#Installation

Last edited by Scimmia (2025-06-13 00:15:35)

MediumBrain

Member

Registered: 2025-06-12

Posts: 4

Re: arch on USB can't be detected on UEFI boot menu after replugging it.

Completely normal. Many, if not most, firmwares will remove NVRAM boot entries that don't exist.

the boot entry is there tho I checked it(both before and after reinstalling grub to temporarily fix the issue, nothing changes there), GUID and .efi path are correct too. also I never had this issue with mint on the same USB stick.

kermit63

Member

Registered: 2018-07-04

Posts: 332

Re: arch on USB can't be detected on UEFI boot menu after replugging it.

did you pass the --removable parameter during grub-install?

---

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MediumBrain

Member

Registered: 2025-06-12

Posts: 4

Re: arch on USB can't be detected on UEFI boot menu after replugging it.

did you pass the --removable parameter during grub-install?

NOPE! I just came here to say I found a workaround by copying the .efi content to the "fallback" path. I wasn't aware of this parameter...so the copying .efi thing is the actual solution not a workaround

still strange that it just can't boot normally when the boot entry exists...

thank you very much!

SOLVED!

edit for future viewers: just go along with https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Instal … ble_medium instead of googling 'how to' for each step or asking LLMs.

Last edited by MediumBrain (2025-06-13 01:21:37)

Scimmia

Fellow

Registered: 2012-09-01

Posts: 12,748

Re: arch on USB can't be detected on UEFI boot menu after replugging it.

did you pass the --removable parameter during grub-install?

NOPE! I just came here to say I found a workaround by copying the .efi content to the "fallback" path. I wasn't aware of this parameter...so the copying .efi thing is the actual solution not a workaround

So you didn't even bother to click the links I gave? That's exactly what they both told you. Why ask for help if you're just going to ignore it when given?

MediumBrain

Member

Registered: 2025-06-12

Posts: 4

Re: arch on USB can't be detected on UEFI boot menu after replugging it.

So you didn't even bother to click the links I gave? That's exactly what they both told you. Why ask for help if you're just going to ignore it when given?

you are right! sorry for my lack of proper observations, however, specifying the solution is objectively more helpful than sending a link that appears(APPEARS) to be a generic 'how to' page. Specially for someone in the "newbie corner". my mind went  "does the boot entry exist? yes I already mentioned in my post" from seeing your post.

Scimmia

Fellow

Registered: 2012-09-01

Posts: 12,748

Re: arch on USB can't be detected on UEFI boot menu after replugging it.

You'd better get used to it, pointing people to the relevant documentation is pretty standard around here.

cryptearth

Member

Registered: 2024-02-03

Posts: 1,479

Re: arch on USB can't be detected on UEFI boot menu after replugging it.

sidenote: from the uefi spec <ESP>\EFI\BOOT\BOOT<arch>.EFI is no "fallback" path but rather specifically designated as "standard path for removable media"
my guess where it got its "fallback" from: because it also works for fixed media

as for the original question: aside from many modern implementations often remove no longer valid entries on POST they even more often perform the validity check in the first place
resons as for why your board may think that entry is no longer valid after replugging: could be a different port than the one you actually installed, could be a race condition about initialization of usb ports and storage vs performing the boot entry checks, could be a dirty connection or faulty usb drive - quite a number of possible options likely only explainable by the original source of the uefi

anyway - as the question is solved please edit your initial post and add a "[SOLVED]" in front of the topic name so others can see "oh, this question is done already"