Arch Linux

CôteViande

Member

Registered: 2015-08-17

Posts: 8

[solved] Grub install error cannot find efi directory

Hi,

I'm trying to install arch linux on dual boot with windows 8.1. I'm following the beginner's guide. I'm stuck at the bootloader install step.
When i run :
# grub-install --recheck /dev/sda
I'm told :
Cannot find efi directory.

I think i made a mistake earlier since i did not run:
# mkdir -p /mnt/boot
# mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot
The reason i did not do so was because there was already a partition "boot, esp" on the list so i thought i did not have to do anything with it.

Is there any way to proceed with arch linux install now?

Thanks in advance,
CôteViande

Last edited by CôteViande (2015-08-18 11:03:46)

Head_on_a_Stick

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From: London

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 7,749

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Re: [solved] Grub install error cannot find efi directory

there was already a partition "boot, esp" on the list so i thought i did not have to do anything with it.

You should share the Windows-generated ESP with your Arch system.

You can load up the Arch live ISO, mount your root partition and mount the original ESP to /boot (which should already exist).

You will then have to `arch-chroot` into your system, modify /etc/fstab (to include the new /boot partition) and then re-install the linux package and your bootmanager or bootloader.

The GRUB command you have attempted to use is not what is listed in the ArchWiki for UEFI systems.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GR … allation_2

At any rate, I would recommend systemd-boot rather than GRUB as it is a little easier to manage (IMO).
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Systemd-boot

Make sure you follow the Beginner's Guide carefully.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Beginners'_guide

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CôteViande

Member

Registered: 2015-08-17

Posts: 8

Re: [solved] Grub install error cannot find efi directory

So when you say "mount the original esp to boot", do you mean:
# mount /dev/sda1 /boot
Rather than:
# mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot

(Sorry I'm a total noobie at the moment)

CôteViande

Member

Registered: 2015-08-17

Posts: 8

Re: [solved] Grub install error cannot find efi directory

Do i have to create an esp when i already had a partition esp boot at the beginning? (I guess from my manufacturer. I don't know how to check that it contains the holy efi files)

Last edited by CôteViande (2015-08-17 14:10:13)

Head_on_a_Stick

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From: London

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 7,749

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Re: [solved] Grub install error cannot find efi directory

So when you say "mount the original esp to boot", do you mean:
# mount /dev/sda1 /boot
Rather than:
# mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot

You should use the command from the Beginner's Guide (ie, the second one).

If Windows has installed in EFI-mode, it will have already created an EFI system partition and you should mount this to /boot in your Arch system (/mnt/boot from the perspective of the live installation environment).

If you are unsure, chroot into your system (from the Arch live ISO) and post the output of:

# parted -l
lsblk -f

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CôteViande

Member

Registered: 2015-08-17

Posts: 8

Re: [solved] Grub install error cannot find efi directory

The output of lsblk -f when I'm chrooted is:
sda
- sda1   blank blank blank /boot
...
- sda8   blank blank blank /
...

I had failed to mount boot properly. But now it's fine. I re-ran the grub install. Still the same error. This time my boot contains:
BOOTSECT.BAK  EFI  grub
EFI contains:
arch  ASUS  Boot and Microsoft

Additionally in Microsoft the re is a file : Boot/bootmgr.efi
Is that the one?

Last edited by CôteViande (2015-08-17 16:57:00)

CôteViande

Member

Registered: 2015-08-17

Posts: 8

Re: [solved] Grub install error cannot find efi directory

Ah! Apparently telling him the location through --efi-directory did the trick. Thank you btw, i understand the mounting concept much better!

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: London

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 7,749

Website

Re: [solved] Grub install error cannot find efi directory

I re-ran the grub install. Still the same error.

Which command did you use?

The command you used in your OP was wrong -- see the first ArchWiki link I posted.

I really need to see the full command output I have requested -- either pipe the output to a USB stick or use a pastebin client to generate a URL that you can post here.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Li … in_clients

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CôteViande

Member

Registered: 2015-08-17

Posts: 8

Re: [solved] Grub install error cannot find efi directory

I think that in your link, it is listed as an alternative install method. But it's true that i misread the document initially. (I ran "grub-install --efi-directory=/boot --rechecked /dev/sda")
http://imgur.com/3DAwrfk < result of lsblk
http://imgur.com/WyWnfsQ < result of parted

I did not know about that piping to USB method and got grub to install (with a warning on mk-config command).
I exited the chroot mode and shutdown the computer. Upon turning it on, i land on a terminal of GNU Grub 2.02. Is that normal?

Edit: is it possible now to restart the whole process?

Last edited by CôteViande (2015-08-18 06:21:17)

CôteViande

Member

Registered: 2015-08-17

Posts: 8

Re: [solved] Grub install error cannot find efi directory

I succeeded! At last.
Problem was that from not mounting /mnt/boot at the right moment, I did not have linux core in the boot.
Thanks for the help