[Solved]Grub not showing other OS's/loads up to arch linux menu

Zhme · 2018-01-07 00:22:26

I have attempted my first disk setup to have a few different Linux Distributions that I can tinker around with, to learn and whatnot.
I first set up my partition table, as such

Disk /dev/sda: 698.7 GiB, 750156374016 bytes, 1465149168 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: 02E0BD3D-E0AC-41ED-A00D-C712EAA35E3E

Device          Start        End   Sectors  Size Type
/dev/sda1        2048    4196351   4194304    2G EFI System
/dev/sda2     4196352  486541311 482344960  230G Linux filesystem
/dev/sda3   486541312  968886271 482344960  230G Linux filesystem
/dev/sda4   968886272 1451231231 482344960  230G Linux filesystem
/dev/sda5  1451231232 1465149134  13917903  6.7G Linux swap

The /dev/sda2 is my root partition for Arch with /dev/sda1 as my /mnt/boot for the ESP.

I tried to install debian onto /dev/sda3 and was unable to install or boot that OS in any way.

I then wiped partition 3 and installed Ubuntu thinking that it might be easier to finish the installation process using a simpler distro

I was somehow able to get Ubuntu to load after going through some strange steps

when I reboot my laptop and see the Arch linux OS boot screen I enter the command line to get to the

 grub >

console.
after searching about the internet for something helpful to no avail I issued the exit command

 grub > exit

When I did that my computer entered a BIOS looking menu from a Windows OS BIOS menu... there were 5 options to load. Arch being the first, Debian being the second - which didn't work because I wiped it clean... and then the third being Ubuntu which when selected loads just fine, under those were options that I can't remember off the top of my head at the moment.

So to clarify here, what is the reason that my Grub bootloader doesn't show me a list of OS's installed on my separate partitions and only shows me the Arch linux? I have taken a look at the journalctl -b and dmesg logs and had no success in deciphering the mountain of lines.

I know that this post is lacking some very important things and I apologize for that in advance, this is the only way I knew how to explain my issue.

Last edited by Zhme (2018-01-09 10:45:52)

intimothy · 2018-01-07 02:40:17

You mentioned that you want to take grub as your bootloader instead of syslinux. Did you set a boot flag in your fdisk partitioning manager or whatever partitioning manager you used?
Grub needs flags unlike syslinux, so if you chose fdisk /dev/sda for example you need to take option "a" before finishing partitioning (to set a bootable flag). I
f you take syslinux it will automatically detect this. Grub doesn't.
Maybe you should not take gpt but mbr. It is much easier to configure.
The easiest way to help you is by giving information about what you did step by step.
What is your host, what OS does it have? Your partitions, where are they? Do they run on a Virtual Machine system or do they run on a real pc or laptop?
How is your network build up?

Last edited by intimothy (2018-01-07 02:49:28)

circleface · 2018-01-07 03:00:15

When you installed Ubuntu it most likely wiped your arch bootloader / manager. You should be able to boot into Ubuntu and configure the boot loader from there.

Zhme · 2018-01-07 03:01:40

I gave that a shot but it still loads into the wrong menu, can you suggest a paste client that will produce a link to paste here, I tried a few and they are giving me trouble. The sticky I read used dmesg piped to 'nopaste' or something and I cant find that package... Sorry for my foolishness

circleface · 2018-01-07 03:06:31

You can find a list of pastebin clients here https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Li … in_clients

Zhme · 2018-01-07 03:08:57

If my laptop firmware has usage of protected MBR is it a better option for me to try and create my partition table to be bootable using MBR configurations?

Zhme · 2018-01-07 03:12:22

And i've seen every page on the Wiki and General Recommendations, including the list of pastebin clients.. I am kind've dull at some points and I need to be handheld. Which one would you suggest personally, and what command can I issue verbatim?

Zhme · 2018-01-07 03:42:20

I have finally found my pastebin client which is simple jack enough for me to use.

This is my dmesg
https://pastebin.com/8cPBgAMX

journalctl -b output
https://pastebin.com/DrDAczWu

fsckd · 2018-01-07 03:51:07

I am so confused. Why are we looking at your dmesg and journal? And what is this about MBR? This feels like things are being made more complicated than they need to be.

jasonwryan · 2018-01-07 03:52:06

Your journal just shows Arch booting correctly; it has nothing to do with multi-booting.

Read your efivars: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/EF … I_directly

Zhme · 2018-01-07 04:13:09

I posted dmesg and journal logs because it is what someone asked for on another forum from another site. I figured that they held relevance to my dilemma.

Following the installation on the wiki led me to installing grub using the configuration instructions that were plain and clear. There aren't many multi-boot wiki pages to learn from and that is where I have issues.. My last resort is to check the forums if I can't solve my problem by reading. But I need some help, i don't understand why GRUB isn't showing me a menu of distros to choose from. Do I need to edit the grub.cfg file and where is the wiki for that. Sorry to be a nuisance.

fsckd · 2018-01-07 04:35:43

Wait, wait, wait. Take a step back. First tell us, was it working before? If so, did it change after install Debian and Ubuntu? If so, was grub's files removed? Are you currently booting with Arch's grub or Ubuntu's grub? If it is Ubuntu's grub, you'll need to configure it from Ubuntu following their documentation. If it is Arch's grub, follow ours.

Troubleshooting is a systematic process. Don't run ahead unless you know the shortcuts.

seth · 2018-01-07 09:35:53

Sum up:
1. You installed Arch
2. You installed grub from arch
3. You installed OtherOS™ (debian/ubuntu/derivate)
4. OtherOS™ doesn't show up in grub

That's it?
Did you see the "Tip" in https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GR … ation_file ?

Zhme · 2018-01-09 03:18:57

Thank you for the help guys,

4. OtherOS™ doesn't show up in grub

I did generate the grub config file, although I wasn't adding the other grub entries correctly. Thanks again to everyone who responded. Copying the Arch linux menuentry and using it as a framework to add the second OS fixed the menu!

seth · 2018-01-09 08:34:11

Cool.
Please always remember to mark resolved threads by editing your first posts subject. Thanks.

Arch Linux

#1 2018-01-07 00:22:26

[Solved]Grub not showing other OS's/loads up to arch linux menu

#2 2018-01-07 02:40:17

Re: [Solved]Grub not showing other OS's/loads up to arch linux menu

#3 2018-01-07 03:00:15

Re: [Solved]Grub not showing other OS's/loads up to arch linux menu

#4 2018-01-07 03:01:40

Re: [Solved]Grub not showing other OS's/loads up to arch linux menu

#5 2018-01-07 03:06:31

Re: [Solved]Grub not showing other OS's/loads up to arch linux menu

#6 2018-01-07 03:08:57

Re: [Solved]Grub not showing other OS's/loads up to arch linux menu

#7 2018-01-07 03:12:22

Re: [Solved]Grub not showing other OS's/loads up to arch linux menu

#8 2018-01-07 03:42:20

Re: [Solved]Grub not showing other OS's/loads up to arch linux menu

#9 2018-01-07 03:51:07

Re: [Solved]Grub not showing other OS's/loads up to arch linux menu

#10 2018-01-07 03:52:06

Re: [Solved]Grub not showing other OS's/loads up to arch linux menu

#11 2018-01-07 04:13:09

Re: [Solved]Grub not showing other OS's/loads up to arch linux menu

#12 2018-01-07 04:35:43

Re: [Solved]Grub not showing other OS's/loads up to arch linux menu

#13 2018-01-07 09:35:53

Re: [Solved]Grub not showing other OS's/loads up to arch linux menu

#14 2018-01-09 03:18:57

Re: [Solved]Grub not showing other OS's/loads up to arch linux menu

#15 2018-01-09 08:34:11

Re: [Solved]Grub not showing other OS's/loads up to arch linux menu

Board footer