Arch Linux

thomas10

Member

Registered: 2017-04-22

Posts: 12

[SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

Hello everyone
I have problem to loading Arch linux with Grub.
I following the wiki Grub to install Grub in my laptop(Dell Xps13).
The ESP (EFI System Partition )  is in sda1(I didn't create a new ESP because I still want to boot from Windows 10),my windows 10 is in sda3, Arch linux root   
system  is in sda5, /home is in sda7.
I followed the Grub wiki and use below command.
1.mount

#mount /dev/sda5  /mnt
#mount /dev/sda7  /mnt/home
# arch-chroot /mnt
#mount /dev/sda1  /boot

2.add GNU/Linux menu entry to /etc/grub.d/40_custom

menuentry "Arch Linux" {
        set root=(hd0,5)
        linux /boot/vmlinuz 
        initrd /boot/initrd.img 
}

3.install grub and generate grub.cfg

# grub-install --target=x86_64-efi –efi-directory=/boot –bootloader-id=grub
# grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

4.Now after its booted up all,the UEFI boot option has a new option Grub.
I'm getting is this Grub command line screen and it says

"  Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported. For the first word, TAB
   lists possible command completions. Anywhere else TAB lists possible
   device or file completions."
grub>

Boot to Windows 10 is still ok but Arch linux is not.
How can I boot with Grub for Arch linux(sda5)?
Thanks for your help!

Last edited by thomas10 (2017-05-19 15:25:50)

BlahBlahBlase

Member

From: Tucson, AZ

Registered: 2015-09-15

Posts: 35

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

From what I've heard and experienced (I run Arch on an XPS 13 myself), GRUB is difficult if not impossible to set up on this laptop. I recommend using systemd boot as opposed to GRUB as its proven more reliable for this computer.

---

"Full disclosure, I'm drunk right now. And if you can't handle that, you can't handle science."

thomas10

Member

Registered: 2017-04-22

Posts: 12

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

From what I've heard and experienced (I run Arch on an XPS 13 myself), GRUB is difficult if not impossible to set up on this laptop. I recommend using systemd boot as opposed to GRUB as its proven more reliable for this computer.

Thank you for your reply. BlahBlahBlase.  I will try systemd boot as you said if the GRUB is still not working for my XPS13.

thomas10

Member

Registered: 2017-04-22

Posts: 12

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

Today I regenerated grub.cfg again as below command

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

The grub menu appears Arch Linux as menu entry  which I added.
But when I clicked it, it shows

error: no such partition.error: you need to load the kernel first .  Press  any key to continue

Please help, thank you

Slithery

Administrator

From: Norfolk, UK

Registered: 2013-12-01

Posts: 5,776

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

Is there any reason you have a /etc/grub.d/40_custom file?

Running grub-mkconfig should automatically generate your Arch Linux entry, have you tried without 40_custom?

---

No, it didn't "fix" anything. It just shifted the brokeness one space to the right. - jasonwryan
Closing -- for deletion; Banning -- for muppetry. - jasonwryan

aur - dotfiles

thomas10

Member

Registered: 2017-04-22

Posts: 12

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

Is there any reason you have a /etc/grub.d/40_custom file?

Running grub-mkconfig should automatically generate your Arch Linux entry, have you tried without 40_custom?

The reason I add a /etc/grub.d/40_custom is because my "Arch Linux" installed in  sda5,but my ESP (EFI System Partition )  is in sda1(I didn't create a new ESP because I still want to boot from Windows 10),my windows 10 is in sda3, Arch linux root  system  is in sda5, /home is in sda7.

My solution to  link ESP(sda1) to my new installed Arch linux(sda5) is create a 40_custom file.

Thanks slithery.

Slithery

Administrator

From: Norfolk, UK

Registered: 2013-12-01

Posts: 5,776

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

You still don't need that file.

If you have sda5 mounted as / and sda1 mounted as /boot then grub will automatically generate the correct configuration.

---

No, it didn't "fix" anything. It just shifted the brokeness one space to the right. - jasonwryan
Closing -- for deletion; Banning -- for muppetry. - jasonwryan

aur - dotfiles

LaurentvdB

Member

Registered: 2017-04-24

Posts: 32

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

I also have the Dell xps 13, but experienced no issues in setting up GRUB, so it should work properly.

Could you post the contents of your fstab?

Did you ever run Arch Linux on this laptop? If not, could you check whether secure boot is disabled in the bios? I got a lot of weird issues when enabled, so it is worth a try (and fast to check).

thomas10

Member

Registered: 2017-04-22

Posts: 12

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

I also have the Dell xps 13, but experienced no issues in setting up GRUB, so it should work properly.

Could you post the contents of your fstab?

Did you ever run Arch Linux on this laptop? If not, could you check whether secure boot is disabled in the bios? I got a lot of weird issues when enabled, so it is worth a try (and fast to check).

Dear LaurentvdB
Thanks for your reply. I confirmed that secure boot is disabled . On the other hand ,below is my fstab after execute arch-chroot /mnt.Please let me know if you want further information.
my fstab as below

#
# /etc/fstab: static file system information
#
# <file system>    <dir>    <type>    <options>    <dump>    <pass>
# /dev/sda5
UUID=33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f    /             ext4          rw,relatime,data=ordered    0 1

# /dev/sda7
UUID=4f609664-d6cb-4eeb-93f4-16236a33531d    /home         ext4          rw,relatime,data=ordered    0 2

thomas10

Member

Registered: 2017-04-22

Posts: 12

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

You still don't need that file.

If you have sda5 mounted as / and sda1 mounted as /boot then grub will automatically generate the correct configuration.

Dear slithery

I wish the grub  would automatically generate the correct configuration, but for my current situation. It's not. I don't know what's wrong.

LaurentvdB

Member

Registered: 2017-04-24

Posts: 32

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

I also have the Dell xps 13, but experienced no issues in setting up GRUB, so it should work properly.

Could you post the contents of your fstab?

Did you ever run Arch Linux on this laptop? If not, could you check whether secure boot is disabled in the bios? I got a lot of weird issues when enabled, so it is worth a try (and fast to check).

Dear LaurentvdB
Thanks for your reply. I confirmed that secure boot is disabled . On the other hand ,below is my fstab after execute arch-chroot /mnt.Please let me know if you want further information.
my fstab as below

#
# /etc/fstab: static file system information
#
# <file system>    <dir>    <type>    <options>    <dump>    <pass>
# /dev/sda5
UUID=33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f    /             ext4          rw,relatime,data=ordered    0 1

# /dev/sda7
UUID=4f609664-d6cb-4eeb-93f4-16236a33531d    /home         ext4          rw,relatime,data=ordered    0 2

The /boot partition is not in your fstab. Could you regenerate your fstab with genfstab and post the output of that command? To do this, mount all necessary partitions to /mnt (i.e. /mnt, /mnt/home, /mnt/boot, do not forget the last one!) and then run genfstab -U /mnt. Typically this is done before a chroot. See the wiki for more information.

thomas10

Member

Registered: 2017-04-22

Posts: 12

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

The /boot partition is not in your fstab. Could you regenerate your fstab with genfstab and post the output of that command? To do this, mount all necessary partitions to /mnt (i.e. /mnt, /mnt/home, /mnt/boot, do not forget the last one!) and then run genfstab -U /mnt. Typically this is done before a chroot. See the wiki for more information.

Dear LaurentvdB
I follow your suggestion and read the wiki

mount /dev/sda5  /mnt
mount /dev/sda7 /mnt/home
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot
genfstab -U /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab
arch-chroot /mnt
cd /dev
cat fstab

The result is below. Even I mount sda1 (boot partition) in /mnt/boot, It won't generate sda1 into fstab,just double the sda5(Arch Linux base system) and sda7.Thanks for your reply.

#
# /etc/fstab: static file system information
#
# <file system>    <dir>    <type>    <options>    <dump>    <pass>
# /dev/sda5
UUID=33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f    /             ext4          rw,relatime,data=ordered    0 1

# /dev/sda7
UUID=4f609664-d6cb-4eeb-93f4-16236a33531d    /home         ext4          rw,relatime,data=ordered    0 2

# /dev/sda5
UUID=33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f    /             ext4          rw,relatime,data=ordered    0 1

# /dev/sda7
UUID=4f609664-d6cb-4eeb-93f4-16236a33531d    /home         ext4          rw,relatime,data=ordered    0 2

Slithery

Administrator

From: Norfolk, UK

Registered: 2013-12-01

Posts: 5,776

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

If genstab isn't correctly picking up sda1 then just manually add the correct line to fstab yourself. You can also remove the duplicate entries your fstab now has.

---

No, it didn't "fix" anything. It just shifted the brokeness one space to the right. - jasonwryan
Closing -- for deletion; Banning -- for muppetry. - jasonwryan

aur - dotfiles

thomas10

Member

Registered: 2017-04-22

Posts: 12

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

Is there any reason you have a /etc/grub.d/40_custom file?

Running grub-mkconfig should automatically generate your Arch Linux entry, have you tried without 40_custom?

Hi slithery
Thanks for your help.
I delete the 40_custom,add /boot to fstab,  and generate grub again. when I rebooted, it just boot to grub command line.

"  Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported. For the first word, TAB
   lists possible command completions. Anywhere else TAB lists possible
   device or file completions."
grub>

LaurentvdB

Member

Registered: 2017-04-24

Posts: 32

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

Is there any reason you have a /etc/grub.d/40_custom file?

Running grub-mkconfig should automatically generate your Arch Linux entry, have you tried without 40_custom?

Hi slithery
Thanks for your help.
I delete the 40_custom,add /boot to fstab,  and generate grub again. when I rebooted, it just boot to grub command line.

"  Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported. For the first word, TAB
   lists possible command completions. Anywhere else TAB lists possible
   device or file completions."
grub>

That is clearly not an improvement. Did you fix your fstab before you regenerated grub? Is the Arch Linux menu setting in Grub being detected correctly?

respiranto

Member

Registered: 2015-05-15

Posts: 479

Website

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

Would you mind posting your newly generated grub.cfg?

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 78,887

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

Are there any error messages when mounting /boot?
What does "sudo ls -R /boot" look like afterwards?
What's the output of "sudo parted /dev/sda print"?

---

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thomas10

Member

Registered: 2017-04-22

Posts: 12

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

Would you mind posting your newly generated grub.cfg?

Sure ,the grub.cfg is as below

#
# 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$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
   font=unicode
else
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,gpt5'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt5 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt5 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt5  33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f
else
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f
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 ###
menuentry 'Arch Linux' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f' {
	load_video
	set gfxpayload=keep
	insmod gzio
	insmod part_gpt
	insmod ext2
	set root='hd0,gpt5'
	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt5 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt5 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt5  33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f
	else
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f
	fi
	echo	'Loading Linux linux-lts ...'
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-linux-lts root=UUID=33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f rw  quiet
	echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
	initrd  /boot/initramfs-linux-lts.img
}
submenu 'Advanced options for Arch Linux' $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-advanced-33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f' {
	menuentry 'Arch Linux, with Linux linux-lts' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-linux-lts-advanced-33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f' {
		load_video
		set gfxpayload=keep
		insmod gzio
		insmod part_gpt
		insmod ext2
		set root='hd0,gpt5'
		if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt5 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt5 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt5  33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f
		else
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f
		fi
		echo	'Loading Linux linux-lts ...'
		linux	/boot/vmlinuz-linux-lts root=UUID=33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f rw  quiet
		echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
		initrd  /boot/initramfs-linux-lts.img
	}
	menuentry 'Arch Linux, with Linux linux-lts (fallback initramfs)' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-linux-lts-fallback-33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f' {
		load_video
		set gfxpayload=keep
		insmod gzio
		insmod part_gpt
		insmod ext2
		set root='hd0,gpt5'
		if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt5 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt5 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt5  33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f
		else
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f
		fi
		echo	'Loading Linux linux-lts ...'
		linux	/boot/vmlinuz-linux-lts root=UUID=33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f rw  quiet
		echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
		initrd  /boot/initramfs-linux-lts-fallback.img
	}
	menuentry 'Arch Linux, with Linux linux' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-linux-advanced-33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f' {
		load_video
		set gfxpayload=keep
		insmod gzio
		insmod part_gpt
		insmod ext2
		set root='hd0,gpt5'
		if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt5 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt5 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt5  33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f
		else
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f
		fi
		echo	'Loading Linux linux ...'
		linux	/boot/vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f rw  quiet
		echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
		initrd  /boot/initramfs-linux.img
	}
	menuentry 'Arch Linux, with Linux linux (fallback initramfs)' --class arch --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-linux-fallback-33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f' {
		load_video
		set gfxpayload=keep
		insmod gzio
		insmod part_gpt
		insmod ext2
		set root='hd0,gpt5'
		if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt5 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt5 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt5  33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f
		else
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f
		fi
		echo	'Loading Linux linux ...'
		linux	/boot/vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=33196e93-c803-4864-9fc4-5c48a3b6b24f rw  quiet
		echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
		initrd  /boot/initramfs-linux-fallback.img
	}
}

### 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 ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom.bk ###
# 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 "Arch linux" {
        set root=(hd0,5)
	linux /boot/vmlinuz
	initrd /boot/initrd.img
}

### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom.bk ###

### 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 ###

Last edited by thomas10 (2017-05-19 12:20:24)

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 78,887

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

please wrap that in code tags, thank you.

---

How to upload text · How to boot w/o GUI · Disable Windows Fast-Start! · Fix your xinitrc

thomas10

Member

Registered: 2017-04-22

Posts: 12

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

Are there any error messages when mounting /boot?
What does "sudo ls -R /boot" look like afterwards?
What's the output of "sudo parted /dev/sda print"?

Hi Seth

Before arch-chroot /mnt, I can’t mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot
The error message is

“mount : can’t find /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot in /etc/fstab.

But after  arch-chroot /mnt, I can mount it on /boot"

sudo ls -R /boot

/boot:
grub
initramfs-linux-fallback.img
initramfs-linux-lts-fallback.img
initramfs-linux-lts.img
initramfs-linux.img
vmlinuz-linux
vmlinuz-linux-lts

/boot/grub:
grub.cfg
grub.cfg.example

sudo parted /dev/sda

GNU Parted 3.2
Using /dev/sda
Welcome to GNU Parted! Type 'help' to view a list of commands.
(parted) quit

thomas10

Member

Registered: 2017-04-22

Posts: 12

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

please wrap that in code tags, thank you.

I wrap it done. Thanks for your advice

seth

Member

From: Won't reply 2 private help req

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 78,887

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

sudo parted /dev/sda [b]print[/b]

mount : can’t find /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot in /etc/fstab.

This kinda looks like you forgot a space (I assume that's a transcript?) or space isn't (for some strange reason) not part of IFS - suspicious enough, though.

The ls -R however is from when /boot is mounted? (confirm by checking the output of  just "mount") - I would expect windows having stuff there if it's the ESP

---

How to upload text · How to boot w/o GUI · Disable Windows Fast-Start! · Fix your xinitrc

thomas10

Member

Registered: 2017-04-22

Posts: 12

Re: [SOLVED] Grub is not loading Arch linux (Dell Xps13 9343) UEFI

sudo parted /dev/sda [b]print[/b]

mount : can’t find /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot in /etc/fstab.

This kinda looks like you forgot a space (I assume that's a transcript?) or space isn't (for some strange reason) not part of IFS - suspicious enough, though.

The ls -R however is from when /boot is mounted? (confirm by checking the output of  just "mount") - I would expect windows having stuff there if it's the ESP

Dear seth
Thanks for your help!, finally. I solved it by repartition and format. Now it works
I think my problem is I mount the boot after  arch-chroot /mnt. I should mount the boot before  arch-chroot /mnt.
Anyway, Thanks for everybody who replied to me and gave me the guide to install Arch linux on my Dell Xps13. I hope the  Post-installation could go smoothly.