Arch Linux

LeftyAce

Member

Registered: 2012-08-18

Posts: 162

[solved] Thinkpad x61 w/ /boot on external USB can't see internal hdd

Hi all,

EDIT: Fixed it. I had to boot the install media and re-run mkinitcpio -p linux. Not sure if I forgot to do that the first time or if something changed...

I have my /boot partition on an external USB key. I installed grub on that key. My main disk is supposed to be encrypted, and is internal in my Thinkpad x61. When I boot with this setup, grub can't find the system disk. I get dumped to a recovery console, and lsblk just shows the USB key.

If I plug the internal drive in via a USB-SATA converter, everything works as it is supposed to.

It seems like when the thinkpad boots from the USB key it isn't turning on the internal drive or making it available to linux. Has anyone seen something like this?

When I boot the arch installation media from USB I can see the internal drive right away. Is there a way to figure out what the installation boot is doing that I'm not on my regular system?

Thanks in advance,

Lefty

Last edited by LeftyAce (2014-01-05 05:06:43)