[solved]GRUB2 UEFI BIOS l

cell · 2013-03-22 09:51:29

Hi, I am about to install a new motherboard (ASUS M5A97 LE) unlike my current board it got a UEFI BIOS. I would of cause like to keep my existing systems arch and windows.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GR … _systems_2

- Is it as easy" as creating a FAT32 partition.
- Then arch-chroot into the system and follow the wiki from the above section?

I do understand that this is very much a question asked before the fact...

Last edited by cell (2013-03-25 11:46:28)

cfr · 2013-03-22 22:43:59

If you follow the instructions carefully, it should be straightforward. However, *should* is the key word.

Moreover, Windows complicates matters as I understand it. I know nothing about Windows but I think it also depends on which version...

smudge · 2013-03-22 23:01:48

A bit of reading material that helped me with a very similar motherboard.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/UEFI
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/UEFI_Bootloaders
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GU … tion_Table

No windows here so no idea about that. Bare in mind that you'll probably have to rebuild your initramfs at some point, and have a live cd (System Rescue CD) to hand

cell · 2013-03-24 12:17:08

First off I appreciate your input.

I didn't actually realize that UEFI was the whole secure windows boot thingy that there was a lot of talk about (as I recall it now a while ago).
This has really made me uncertain if I should get this board or look elsewhere.

http://www.rodsbooks.com/efi-bootloader … eboot.html
The above link shows that it might be pretty straightforward to simply disable UEFI though I can't seem to find if that goes for the ASUS M5A97 LE too.

If the two following questions make sense and someone would like to answer them I would be really curious know.
- Is EFI/UEFI still perceived as something that locks down hardware to windows only systems?
- For better or worse is EFI/UEFI the new standard?

cfr · 2013-03-24 21:31:05

Re. 1) Some people perceive it that way. I don't think that's fair. SecureBoot requires EFI but EFI doesn't require SecureBoot. My machine has the former but not the latter. On standard PC hardware, the current policy is that OEMs have to enable SecureBoot to use Windows 8 but that they must also ensure that it can be disabled (if I understand things correctly). If it is enabled, you will likely have to disable it in the BIOS unless you use e.g. Fedora which I think is signed off for SecureBoot though I'm not sure of the details.

Re. 2) Yes. Good luck finding hardware which doesn't support EFI.

What you probably do want to do is make sure you buy hardware which supports legacy boot for booting in BIOS mode. That gives you more flexibility, I think.

Caveat: you should research this before buying. "My understanding" is not motivated by any current desire to part with my own hard-earned cash and therefore casually informed, at best.

smudge · 2013-03-25 04:55:26

I'm using a M5A97 R2.0 (so very very similar AFAICT looking at the Asus website). It will boot UEFI or MBR and you can switch off SecureBoot in the BIOS. You may need to get the latest BIOS from Asus to get the SecureBoot options. I'm using it in UEFI mode without SecureBoot and it's been fine.

cell · 2013-03-25 11:46:13

Cheers for your answers, I'll give it a go. Marking this thread as solved.

Arch Linux

#1 2013-03-22 09:51:29

[solved]GRUB2 UEFI BIOS l

#2 2013-03-22 22:43:59

Re: [solved]GRUB2 UEFI BIOS l

#3 2013-03-22 23:01:48

Re: [solved]GRUB2 UEFI BIOS l

#4 2013-03-24 12:17:08

Re: [solved]GRUB2 UEFI BIOS l

#5 2013-03-24 21:31:05

Re: [solved]GRUB2 UEFI BIOS l

#6 2013-03-25 04:55:26

Re: [solved]GRUB2 UEFI BIOS l

#7 2013-03-25 11:46:13

Re: [solved]GRUB2 UEFI BIOS l

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