Arch Linux

avr

Member

Registered: 2014-09-25

Posts: 30

os-prober can't find Linux installation on newly installed arch

My current problem is I can't use grub 2 to generate the correct grub.cfg that has both my Linux and Windows partitions. Whenever I boot into grub I only get the minimal bash prompt, instead of a list of the installed OSs. Below is a description of what I have done so far to investigate the problem.

I have installed arch linux along side Windows 8.1 on a UEFI system.

My partition scheme is:

(note: not using LVM. This is a GPT partitioned disk)
/dev/sda1 ESP partition mount /boot/efi
/dev/sda2 ARCHLINUX mount /
/dev/sda5 WINDOWS

Whenever I run os-prober, it can only find my windows installation:

# os-prober
  No volume groups found
/dev/sda1@/EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi:Windows Boot Manager:Windows:efi

linux-boot-prober does find my Arch installation:

# linux-boot-prober
/dev/sda1:/dev/sda1::/vmlinuz-linux:/initramfs-linux.img:root=/dev/sda1

In /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober both of these commands are used to populate the found OSs. However, if I run just 30_os-prober in bash it only prints out a menuentry for Windows

# bash -e /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober
menuentry "Windows ...

Here are the software versions I'm using:
* os-prober 1.58-3
* grub 1:2.02.beta2-4

Does anyone else know what could be going wrong on my system? Thanks in advance.

nomorewindows

Member

Registered: 2010-04-03

Posts: 3,415

Re: os-prober can't find Linux installation on newly installed arch

Did you install the necessary efi files for Linux?

---

I may have to CONSOLE you about your usage of ridiculously easy graphical interfaces...
Look ma, no mouse.

avr

Member

Registered: 2014-09-25

Posts: 30

Re: os-prober can't find Linux installation on newly installed arch

Did you install the necessary efi files for Linux?

I have not. What is the best way to install them?

nomorewindows

Member

Registered: 2010-04-03

Posts: 3,415

Re: os-prober can't find Linux installation on newly installed arch

Did you install the necessary efi files for Linux?

I have not. What is the best way to install them?

Reading the grub wiki, did you run the line

grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=$esp --bootloader-id=grub --recheck --debug

Most likely windows is properly setup, but the bootloader for linux has to have the efi and com32 files installed for it to work.

---

I may have to CONSOLE you about your usage of ridiculously easy graphical interfaces...
Look ma, no mouse.

avr

Member

Registered: 2014-09-25

Posts: 30

Re: os-prober can't find Linux installation on newly installed arch

Did you install the necessary efi files for Linux?

I have not. What is the best way to install them?

Reading the grub wiki, did you run the line

grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=$esp --bootloader-id=grub --recheck --debug

Most likely windows is properly setup, but the bootloader for linux has to have the efi and com32 files installed for it to work.

I ran grub-install with those settings when I set up grub for the first time. I've just re-run it, but os-prober is still only finding Windows.

nomorewindows

Member

Registered: 2010-04-03

Posts: 3,415

Re: os-prober can't find Linux installation on newly installed arch

Although this is Arch's grub and not another distribution's grub loader it should recognize Arch. The suggestion there was to install lsb-release but I don't think that should make any difference here.  What does your grub.cfg and related files show?  Even though you really shouldn't have to  manually make the grub entries, you could also use the grub shell to enter the normal sequence to see if you can get it to boot.  I haven't really gotten ahold of a UEFI machine yet, but the wiki should get you there unless you have a funky implementation of UEFI.

---

I may have to CONSOLE you about your usage of ridiculously easy graphical interfaces...
Look ma, no mouse.

avr

Member

Registered: 2014-09-25

Posts: 30

Re: os-prober can't find Linux installation on newly installed arch

Here's my /boot/efi/grub/grub.cfg

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
insmod part_gpt
insmod part_msdos
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  load_env
fi
if [ "${next_entry}" ] ; then
   set default="${next_entry}"
   set next_entry=
   save_env next_entry
   set boot_once=true
else
   set default="0"
fi

if [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
  menuentry_id_option="--id"
else
  menuentry_id_option=""
fi

export menuentry_id_option

if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
  set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
  save_env saved_entry
  set prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
  set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
  if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
    saved_entry="${chosen}"
    save_env saved_entry
  fi
}

function load_video {
  if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
    insmod all_video
  else
    insmod efi_gop
    insmod efi_uga
    insmod ieee1275_fb
    insmod vbe
    insmod vga
    insmod video_bochs
    insmod video_cirrus
  fi
}

if [ x$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
   font=unicode
else
insmod part_gpt 
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,gpt2'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt2 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt2 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt2  7df5e7b7-fd6f-48a0-bfd9-6034798adf1e
else
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 7df5e7b7-fd6f-48a0-bfd9-6034798adf1e
fi
    font="/usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2"
fi

if loadfont $font ; then
  set gfxmode=auto
  load_video
  insmod gfxterm
  set locale_dir=$prefix/locale
  set lang=en_US
  insmod gettext
fi
terminal_input console
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ x$feature_timeout_style = xy ] ; then
  set timeout_style=menu
  set timeout=5
# Fallback normal timeout code in case the timeout_style feature is
# unavailable.
else
  set timeout=5
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry 'Windows Boot Manager (on /dev/sda1)' --class windows --class os $menuentry_id_option 'osprober-efi-2826-7706' {
	insmod part_gpt 
	insmod fat
	set root='hd0,gpt1'
	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt1 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt1  2826-7706
	else
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 2826-7706
	fi
	chainloader /EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries.  Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment.  Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.

menuentry "Windows 8.1" {
	insmod part_gpt
	insmod fat
	insmod serach_fs_uuid
	insmod chain
	search --fs-uuid --no-floppy --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt1 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt1 --hint-baremental=ahci0,gpt1
	chainloader /efi/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi
}

menuentry "Shutdown" {
	echo "Shutting down..."
	halt
}

menuentry "Restart" {
	echo "Restarting..."
	reboot
}
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f  ${config_directory}/custom.cfg ]; then
  source ${config_directory}/custom.cfg
elif [ -z "${config_directory}" -a -f  $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
  source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/60_memtest86+ ###
### END /etc/grub.d/60_memtest86+ ###

Note the last three menuentries are pulled from 40_custom in /etc/grub.d/

avr

Member

Registered: 2014-09-25

Posts: 30

Re: os-prober can't find Linux installation on newly installed arch

For what it's worth, here are all of the files that can't be copied into the ESP using the grub-install command

grub-install: info: cannot open `/boot/grub/device.map': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/lib/grub/x86_64-efi/efiemu32.o': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/lib/grub/x86_64-efi/efiemu64.o': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/oc/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/be@latin/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/el/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/am/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/nds/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/ms/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/dz/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/ca@valencia/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/gu/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/ur/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/tg/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/mai/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/bn/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/rw/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/en_US/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/mk/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/cy/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/br/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/no.us-ascii/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/sw/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/ga/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/ne/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/zu/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/locale.alias/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': Not a directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/hr/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/bg/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/nb/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/pt.us-ascii/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/ps/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/kk/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/en@shaw/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/pt_BR.us-ascii/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/lg/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/be/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/rm/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/as/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/si/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/et/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/fa/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/km/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/hy/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/de_AT/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/ug/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/ml/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/de.us-ascii/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/or/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/crh/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/cs/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/pt/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/sl_SI/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/sk/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/is/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/ia/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/ks/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/sr/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/an/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/ta/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/bs/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/eu/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/th/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/hi/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/sq/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/ku/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/bn_IN/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/ar/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/ky/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/tt/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/wa/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/te/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/es.us-ascii/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/gd/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/ka/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/yi/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/ko/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/zh_HK/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/bal/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/en_GB/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/kn/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/sr@latin/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/xh/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/af/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/mr/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/lv/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/az/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/he/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/en_CA/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/mg/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/nn/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/en@boldquot/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/mn/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/sr@ije/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/ro/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.
grub-install: info: cannot open `/usr/share/locale/tl/LC_MESSAGES/grub.mo': No such file or directory.

nomorewindows

Member

Registered: 2010-04-03

Posts: 3,415

Re: os-prober can't find Linux installation on newly installed arch

Does pacman -Qk grub show that all the files are there?  Are your linux partitions marked as Linux?

Last edited by nomorewindows (2014-10-12 12:26:11)

---

I may have to CONSOLE you about your usage of ridiculously easy graphical interfaces...
Look ma, no mouse.

avr

Member

Registered: 2014-09-25

Posts: 30

Re: os-prober can't find Linux installation on newly installed arch

Does pacman -Qk grub show that all the files are there?  Are your linux partitions marked as Linux?

# pacman -Qk | grep -i 'grub'
warning: grub: /boot/grub/grub.cfg (No such file or directory)
grub: 1025 total files, 1 missing file
warning: linux: /boot/vmlinuz-linux (No such file or directory)

If I remount to /boot

# pacman -Qk | grep -i 'grub'
grub: 1025 total tiles, 0 missing files

However, when I now do:

# grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

It finds my linux kernel (just vmlinuz, no .efi files related to Linux) and the initramfs along with finding windows. But when I reboot I'm still stuck at the grub minimal bash prompt.

Last edited by avr (2014-10-13 02:51:13)

avr

Member

Registered: 2014-09-25

Posts: 30

Re: os-prober can't find Linux installation on newly installed arch

I tried running the generated .cfg with bash, and noticed that it was failing because insmod couldn't find part_gpt.mod. However, part_gpt.mod exists in /boot/x86_64-efi/part_gpt.mod

# bash -e /boot/grub/grub.cfg
insmod: ERROR: could not load module part_gpt: No such file or directory

Last edited by avr (2014-10-13 04:08:34)

nskool

Member

Registered: 2014-10-09

Posts: 23

Re: os-prober can't find Linux installation on newly installed arch

Try this:(if you haven't already)
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GR … workaround

Also, I guess the file /boot/grub/grub.cfg is referred to when in legacy mode.

To work with efi, your grub file should ideally be at:
/boot/efi/grub/grub.cfg (I see that it is-in your case, however it's kindof pointless to deal with /boot/grub/grub.cfg if you're not using legacy mode)
or
/boot/efi/EFI/grub/grub.cfg (Preferred)
where /boot/efi => $esp

Last edited by nskool (2014-10-13 10:17:02)

---

I'm ready to learn anything good that you're ready to teach me:)

CarlD

Member

From: London

Registered: 2013-11-23

Posts: 128

Re: os-prober can't find Linux installation on newly installed arch

Try this:(if you haven't already)
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GR … workaround

Also, I guess the file /boot/grub/grub.cfg is referred to when in legacy mode.

To work with efi, your grub file should ideally be at:
/boot/efi/grub/grub.cfg (I see that it is-in your case, however it's kindof pointless to deal with /boot/grub/grub.cfg if you're not using legacy mode)
or
/boot/efi/EFI/grub/grub.cfg (Preferred)
where /boot/efi => $esp

I'm afraid you've guessed wrong.

1. /boot/grub/grub.cfg is 'referred to' equally for standard BIOS and UEFI installations.

2. It is possible to install grub completely to the UEFI partition, but that is just an alternative - not ideal - method.