Not able to boot form HDD via UEFI

maxi831 · 2014-03-22 13:31:00

I decided to install Arch-Linux on my Laptop and to use UEFI instead of BIOS. I tried everything I am able to but my Laptop still can't boot grub or gummiboot.

Some Information: I booted >in UEFI-mode< from my USB-Thumb, formated my HDD with GPT created an EfiSystemPartition (fat32) and a SystemPartition (ext4),
installed Arch on the SystemPartition, chrooted in Systempartition, mount EfiSystemPartition to "/boot", executed "grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot --bootloader-id=grub --recheck --debug" as mentioned in ArchWiki (I also tried Gummiboot) - no Errors.
I checked the UEFI entry with efibootmgr, and tried to boot from my HDD- Result: Error ... insert Boot media ... ;
The UEFI entry is available in my Bootmenu and is linked to the correct path (I checked).
Can somebody help me? I'm trying now for a long time... By the way I was able to boot Win8 in UEFI mode. Hope this is enough information

Head_on_a_Stick · 2014-03-22 16:30:31

I think you're supposed to: (presuming / is on /dev/sda2 & the EFI system partition is on /dev/sda1)

# mount /dev/sda2 /mnt
# mkdir /mnt/boot
# mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot

before you install the base system

# pacstrap /mnt base

generate the fstab

# genfstab -U -p /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab

and use arch-chroot

# arch-chroot /mnt /bin/bash

I've had best results just using efibootmgr -- I can boot both the vanilla kernel & the LTS kernel from my UEFI options.

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2014-03-22 16:38:46)

maxi831 · 2014-03-22 21:01:04

Thank you for your answer! -
unfortunately I still can't boot. What do you mean with just using efibootmgr? no Bootloader like grub?

Head_on_a_Stick · 2014-03-22 21:32:26

efibootmgr can be installed using pacman, then type:

# efibootmgr -d /dev/sda -p 1 -c -L "Arch Linux" -l /vmlinuz-linux -u "root=/dev/sda2 rw initrd=/initramfs-linux.img"

presuming the ESP is on /dev/sda1 & / is on /dev/sda2 (and your /boot directory is on the ESP)...
A bootloader is not required with the current Arch kernel
This will create an entry in your UEFI boot options; check with:

# efibootmgr -v

Its all in the wiki:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/EF … ot_manager
Have you disabled Secure Boot?

srs5694 · 2014-03-23 00:48:06

If you care to blast ahead without proper diagnostics, you could try creating a USB flash drive or CD-R with my rEFInd boot manager. There's a chance that it could boot your installation, although you'll need to do so by selecting a kernel, hitting F2 or Insert twice, and adding kernel options to specify your root device (as in "root=/dev/sda2"), and maybe something else. If this works, you could install rEFInd to your hard disk and use it or at least use the fully-booted system to better diagnose your problem.

If you want to properly diagnose the problem or if the preceding suggestion doesn't help, I recommend you boot to a Linux live CD of your choice and run the Boot Info Script. This tool will produce an output file calls RESULTS.txt. Post that here in code tags; or post it to a pastebin site and post the URL to your pastebin document here. That will give us detailed information about your configuration. (The sorts of paraphrased descriptions you've given usually omit critical details.)

Blµb · 2014-03-23 08:56:13

You said you can boot Win8 - does that mean you still have that on your HDD? Since you also said you created an EFI System Partition, do you now have 2 of them (as only 1 will be used)? If you want to dual boot, keeping win8's setup and running `gummiboot --install` and adding an arch entry to ${esp-partition}/loader/entries/ should work fine.
Also note that when you try using gummiboot you need your kernel/initrd installed to the ESP so that gummiboot has access to the files. (simplest way: reinstall the `linux` package after the ESP is mounted to /boot and keep the /boot mountpoint pointing to the ESP.)

Mr Green · 2014-03-23 09:46:25

Output of

sudo fdisk -l

Might help us with your problem

Head_on_a_Stick · 2014-03-23 12:12:46

srs5694 wrote:

If you care to blast ahead without proper diagnostics, you could try creating a USB flash drive or CD-R with my rEFInd boot manager.

Good grief its Rod Smith -- we're not worthy!

maxi831 · 2014-03-26 17:16:01

Hello everyone! I'm really sorry for the time gap (I was terrible busy).
Thank you for all answers. I tried it over and over (grub, grummiboot, direct EFI-boot), but it just didn't work.
I did remember that Windows with UEFI worked on my Laptop -> So I installed Windows 8 on my Laptop -> booted UEFI arch from USB -> deleted all partitions from HHD, but the EFI-partition -> Installed grub UEFI the same way as I did before -> WORKED :-)
I don't know why. Before the Windows-Installation I used to use the command "mkfs.vfat -F 32 /dev/sdxX" to format my disk (wrong?).
Oh and here is my "fdisk -l":

Disk /dev/sda: 238.5 GiB, 256060514304 bytes, 500118192 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: gpt
Disk identifier: 6873D861-B5F0-4240-A233-46CAE2861362

Device           Start          End   Size Type
/dev/sda1       831488     17608703     8G Linux swap
/dev/sda2       616448       821247   100M EFI System
/dev/sda3     17618944    500118158 230.1G Linux filesystem

again I am really sorry for the time gap ...

Arch Linux

#1 2014-03-22 13:31:00

Not able to boot form HDD via UEFI

#2 2014-03-22 16:30:31

Re: Not able to boot form HDD via UEFI

#3 2014-03-22 21:01:04

Re: Not able to boot form HDD via UEFI

#4 2014-03-22 21:32:26

Re: Not able to boot form HDD via UEFI

#5 2014-03-23 00:48:06

Re: Not able to boot form HDD via UEFI

#6 2014-03-23 08:56:13

Re: Not able to boot form HDD via UEFI

#7 2014-03-23 09:46:25

Re: Not able to boot form HDD via UEFI

#8 2014-03-23 12:12:46

Re: Not able to boot form HDD via UEFI

#9 2014-03-26 17:16:01

Re: Not able to boot form HDD via UEFI

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