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#1 2014-03-29 23:09:42

comapony
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Registered: 2014-01-18
Posts: 24

[SOLVED] grub/efi problem...

Don't know if anyone is having this problem; I'm installing arch on my macbook (my esp is formatted with hfs+), and grub gives me:

grub-install: error: Can't create file: No such file or directory 

when I try and install it. I ran grub-install with --debug, and craps out on:

grub-install: info: copying `/boot/grub/x86_64/core.efi' -> `/boot/efi/EFI/arch_grub/System/Library/CoreServices/boot.efi'

I've checked, the file does indeed exist, so I think it's not printing the file that makes it break. Help please.

Last edited by comapony (2014-03-31 00:03:23)

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#2 2014-03-29 23:14:16

Head_on_a_Stick
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From: London
Registered: 2014-02-20
Posts: 7,680
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Re: [SOLVED] grub/efi problem...

The ESP should be formatted to FAT32, not hfs+: see Rod Smith's expert advice here (@srs5694) wink

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#3 2014-03-29 23:19:09

comapony
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Registered: 2014-01-18
Posts: 24

Re: [SOLVED] grub/efi problem...

Then why does it say hfs+ in the wiki page for macbooks?

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Ma … Linux_only

Last edited by comapony (2014-03-29 23:22:53)

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#4 2014-03-29 23:42:09

srs5694
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From: Woonsocket, RI
Registered: 2012-11-06
Posts: 719
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Re: [SOLVED] grub/efi problem...

An EFI System Partition is, by definition, a FAT partition (FAT32, in fact, although that detail is only mentioned once in the specification and is often ignored in practice). If a partition uses HFS+, then it's not an ESP. Although Apple's EFI firmware includes an HFS+ driver and can therefore function with an HFS+ pseudo-ESP, this configuration is distinctly non-standard. In particular, it's entirely possible that the GRUB installation scripts assume the use of FAT on the ESP. That said, I don't know for a fact that the GRUB installation scripts assume a FAT ESP; it could be that something else is causing your problems. Still, without a proper FAT ESP on your disk, you've thrown a monkey wrench into the process.

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#5 2014-03-30 00:09:37

comapony
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Registered: 2014-01-18
Posts: 24

Re: [SOLVED] grub/efi problem...

Well, I ran the script an hour ago using a vfat partition. Surprise, surprise, it works.

But I'm still tripping over this:

You will need to format the EFI partition with the hfsplus filesystem (hfsprogs) instead of vfat otherwise mactel-boot will fail, and in Macbooks you cannot use efibootmgr.

That comes out of the wiki. Is this true?

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#6 2014-03-30 23:05:37

srs5694
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From: Woonsocket, RI
Registered: 2012-11-06
Posts: 719
Website

Re: [SOLVED] grub/efi problem...

I can't speak to the procedure in the wiki; however, please re-read my earlier post. Also, keep in mind that anybody can edit a wiki. That's why so many of them are so awful. A wiki is in no way an authoritative source.

Of course, you're reading my words on a public forum, and the same comments apply to them. Be aware, though, that I'm the author of both the GPT fdisk (gdisk, cgdisk, and sgdisk) partitioning suite and the maintainer of the rEFInd boot manager. That doesn't guarantee that I'm right, but I at least have working software as evidence of my competence in this arena.

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#7 2014-03-31 00:02:38

comapony
Member
Registered: 2014-01-18
Posts: 24

Re: [SOLVED] grub/efi problem...

You're just my speed sailor.

I guess I've been a bit star-struck with the arch community, it never occurred to me that maybe someone might not know what they're talking about.

And if that's flapdoodle in your opinion that macbook needs an hps+ esp, then maybe it's time I make this a "solved" thread.

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