[solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

Belph · 2018-09-19 17:20:30

When using "grub-install" I always get "grub-install: error: cannot find EFI directory"

A couple of month ago I could just use grub-install without any error and I didn't change any hardware since then

"LS /sys/firmware/EFI/efivars" returns a whole bunch of files.

I tried creating a partition on a GPT drive with the type EFI system out of desperation but can't mount it to /mnt/boot. I am getting this error
mount: /mnt/boot: wrong fs type, bad option, bad superblocks on /dev/sdc2, missing codepage or helper program, or other error

I have no clue what to do now. I've been trying to partition differently a couple of times but nothing worked.

Regards Belph

Last edited by Belph (2019-01-05 19:40:14)

WorMzy · 2018-09-19 17:32:44

What guide are you following to install Arch?

Please post the output of

# parted -l

Belph · 2018-09-19 17:41:01

Oof, I don't know how to post the output here without typing it in. But it shows me that the partition table is loop and not GPT. I assume that is he important information there, right?

WorMzy · 2018-09-19 17:48:22

I suspect that loop device will be the iso you are booted into.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Li … in_clients

Belph · 2018-09-19 17:50:48

WorMzy wrote:

I suspect that loop device will be the iso you are booted into.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Li … in_clients

If you mean if that is the USB stick that I am booted it right now, then no, that one has msdos as partition table.

It is actually the SSD I want to install Arch on that has loop as partition table.

Scimmia · 2018-09-19 17:52:21

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Li … in_clients

Belph · 2018-09-19 17:59:34

Model: ATA HGST HTS545050A7 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 500GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: loop
Disk Flags:

Number Start End Size File system Flags
1 0.00B 500GB 500GB ext4

Model: ATA TOSHIBA DT01ACA1 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 1000GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: loop
Disk Flags:

Number Start End Size File system Flags
1 0.00B 1000GB 1000GB ext4

Model: ATA Samsung SSD 840 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdc: 120GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: loop
Disk Flags:

Number Start End Size File system Flags
1 0.00B 120GB 120GB ext4

Model: Sony Storage Media (scsi)
Disk /dev/sde: 7801MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags:

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 1049kB 7801MB 7800MB primary fat32 boot, lba

WorMzy · 2018-09-19 18:30:25

Please use code tags: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Co … s_and_code

Also, you forgot to answer my earlier question:

WorMzy wrote:

What guide are you following to install Arch?

That may well answer my next question: do you know how you ended up with loop partition tables on all but one of your physical disks?

Please also post the output of

wipefs /dev/sda

Belph · 2018-09-19 18:32:05

WorMzy wrote:

Please use code tags: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Co … s_and_code
Also, you forgot to answer my earlier question:
WorMzy wrote:
What guide are you following to install Arch?
That may well answer my next question: do you know how you ended up with loop partition tables on all but one of your physical disks?
Please also post the output of
wipefs /dev/sda

I am sorry, I've been using the Arch Installation guide here on the website. And for grub just the wiki page about grub.

I have no clue how they all became loop.

Belph · 2018-09-19 18:34:03

Belph wrote:

WorMzy wrote:
Please use code tags: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Co … s_and_code
Also, you forgot to answer my earlier question:
WorMzy wrote:
What guide are you following to install Arch?
That may well answer my next question: do you know how you ended up with loop partition tables on all but one of your physical disks?
Please also post the output of
wipefs /dev/sda
I am sorry, I've been using the Arch Installation guide here on the website. And for grub just the wiki page about grub.
I have no clue how they all became loop.

I used the wipefs command on sdc since that is the drive I want to install arch on but it's still loop

WorMzy · 2018-09-19 18:37:35

The wipefs output is for diagnosis purposes, please post the output as requested.

Belph · 2018-09-19 18:39:25

WorMzy wrote:

The wipefs output is for diagnosis purposes, please post the output as requested.

DEVICE OFFSET TYPE UUID LABEL
sdc 0x438 ext4 5e3ac50f-e4a9-42e9-a40e-acfb09b45858

WorMzy · 2018-09-19 18:51:24

Again, please edit your posts to use code tags.

So it looks like you've created the filesystem on the raw disk (/dev/sdc), rather than on a partition (e.g. /dev/sdc1). I'm not sure if it's possible to remedy that without starting over, but I'm going to go ahead an recommend that you do that anyway. It seems you have a habit of skim reading, which may be how you found yourself in this situation. Read the wiki carefully, and take your time. Make sure you understand what you are doing before you do it.

Belph · 2018-09-19 18:57:33

WorMzy wrote:

Again, please edit your posts to use code tags.
So it looks like you've created the filesystem on the raw disk (/dev/sdc), rather than on a partition (e.g. /dev/sdc1). I'm not sure if it's possible to remedy that without starting over, but I'm going to go ahead an recommend that you do that anyway. It seems you have a habit of skim reading, which may be how you found yourself in this situation. Read the wiki carefully, and take your time. Make sure you understand what you are doing before you do it.

I've tried a lot of things after it didn't work the first time. Also a reason why I might get I information wrong is due to a language barrier. Would you say I should start over the guide from the very beginning? I've done that several times already. I just seen to mess up the partitioning every time, also I am confused since it doesn't work like it used to anymore.

Belph · 2018-09-19 19:00:36

Model: ATA HGST HTS545050A7 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 500GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: loop
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start  End    Size   File system  Flags
 1      0.00B  500GB  500GB  ext4


Model: ATA TOSHIBA DT01ACA1 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 1000GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: loop
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start  End     Size    File system  Flags
 1      0.00B  1000GB  1000GB  ext4


Model: ATA Samsung SSD 840 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdc: 120GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start   End    Size   File system  Name  Flags
 2      1049kB  538MB  537MB
 1      538MB   120GB  119GB


Model: Sony Storage Media (scsi)
Disk /dev/sde: 7801MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start   End     Size    Type     File system  Flags
 1      1049kB  7801MB  7800MB  primary  fat32        boot, lba

That's how I had set it up the first few times I tried it today, I think. Just redid how I started today.

EDIT: sdc is the one I want to use.

Last edited by Belph (2018-09-19 19:04:08)

Belph · 2018-09-20 08:42:53

Model: ATA HGST HTS545050A7 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 500GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: loop
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start  End    Size   File system  Flags
 1      0.00B  500GB  500GB  ext4


Model: ATA TOSHIBA DT01ACA1 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 1000GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: loop
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start  End     Size    File system  Flags
 1      0.00B  1000GB  1000GB  ext4


Model: ATA Samsung SSD 840 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdc: 120GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start   End    Size   File system  Name  Flags
 2      1049kB  538MB  537MB  fat32              boot, esp
 1      538MB   120GB  119GB  ext4


Model: Sony Storage Media (scsi)
Disk /dev/sde: 7801MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start   End     Size    Type     File system  Flags
 1      1049kB  7801MB  7800MB  primary  fat32        boot, lba

So this is how my partitions are right now. I made the bootable esp partition and mounted it to the /mnt/boot just like it says in the a chance installation guide here https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Installation_Guide

Now within the grub installation guide here https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GR … _Partition

Model: ATA Samsung SSD 840 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdc: 120GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start   End    Size   File system  Name  Flags
 2      1049kB  538MB  537MB  fat32              boot, esp
 1      538MB   120GB  119GB  ext4

I think now I should check if there is a EFI directory on that partition

To confirm this is the ESP, mount it and check whether it contains a directory named EFI, if it does this is definitely the ESP.

But I am struggling with that I think. I mounted the partition to /mnt/boot as mentioned before but within this folder there is just a grub folder.

WorMzy · 2018-09-20 17:00:14

You can skip that check, since you've just created the ESP yourself. That it doesn't contain an EFI folder is expected.

Arch Linux

#1 2018-09-19 17:20:30

[solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

#2 2018-09-19 17:32:44

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

#3 2018-09-19 17:41:01

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

#4 2018-09-19 17:48:22

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

#5 2018-09-19 17:50:48

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

#6 2018-09-19 17:52:21

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

#7 2018-09-19 17:59:34

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

#8 2018-09-19 18:30:25

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

#9 2018-09-19 18:32:05

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

#10 2018-09-19 18:34:03

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

#11 2018-09-19 18:37:35

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

#12 2018-09-19 18:39:25

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

#13 2018-09-19 18:51:24

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

#14 2018-09-19 18:57:33

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

#15 2018-09-19 19:00:36

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

#16 2018-09-20 08:42:53

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

#17 2018-09-20 17:00:14

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

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