Arch Linux

gentoofag

Member

Registered: 2018-05-09

Posts: 38

[SOLVED] stumped: using GPT partitioned HD on libreboot x200 thinkpad

The title explains a little. I have partitioned a new Arch install for my bro and figured I'll use GPT partition table and efi partitioned setup. I have a fat32 /boot partition with esp and boot flag and a etx4 / (root) partition plus swap that I mounted on /mnt in the live medium. How do I go about installing grub on this thing? I have a lot of packages already installed so I wish not to start over from scratch.
I tried inside chroot

grub-install --target=x86_64=efi --efi-directory=/boot --bootloader-id=MIKUGRUB

It returned efi variables ar not supported on this system and

grub-install:error:efibootmgr failed to register the boot entry: no such file or directory

So I tied modprobe efivarfs which was not found in the chroot. Outside the chroot /sys/efi directory does not exist.
I'm not sure if I should go through this efi stuff or if there was a better way on libreboot? I heard all it needs is to find the grub.cfg and the boot directory.
It has been a while since I have done this stuff, my memory is all hazy.

Solution: I gave up and switched to msdos partition table after copying (backup) all the files to another hard drive.

Last edited by gentoofag (2022-03-30 20:19:55)

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 25,285

Re: [SOLVED] stumped: using GPT partitioned HD on libreboot x200 thinkpad

If you don't have the efivars /sys directory then you aren't booting in UEFI mode. Check your BIOS/UEFI settings, and make sure you actually boot the ISO in EFI mode. What system/mainboard exactly? To prevent you from doing all this again when it's too late the install guide tells you to check this before doing anything: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Instal … _boot_mode Edit: From five mins of google I don't find anything suggesting that libreboot would implement the EFI spec.

If you have no way of booting into EFI mode you might be able to setup a BIOS boot with the existing GPT partition: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/GRUB#G … structions or convert to MBR: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/GPT_fd … BR_and_GPT

Last edited by V1del (2022-03-28 08:18:15)

gentoofag

Member

Registered: 2018-05-09

Posts: 38

Re: [SOLVED] stumped: using GPT partitioned HD on libreboot x200 thinkpad

the install guide tells you to check this before doing anything https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Instal … _boot_mode

I believe I had typed that in and there wasn't a error, nor was there any output. I guess I was in bios mode the whole time.

What system/mainboard exactly?

it's in the title of the thread, I think there is only one mobo that you can put in the laptop.

Check your BIOS/UEFI settings, and make sure you actually boot the ISO in EFI mode

I'm going through the motions of seeing if there is any more to libreboot, seems all the options are:
- Load operating system (including fully encrypted disks)
- search isolinux menu (AHCI)
- search isolinux menu (USB)
- search isolinux menu (CD/DVD)
- load test configuration (grubtest.cfg) inside of CBFS
- search for grub2 on external media
- poweroff
- reboot
Does any of this lead to efi? I know I have efi on one of my boxes but that was with manufactures BIOS reconfiguration.

setup a BIOS boot with the existing GPT partition

I think I'm gonna have to do that. Can you help guide me through the commands and steps to take? is changing the flag with parted going to force me to reformat the boot partition? Do I have to pacstrap it again? I'm gonna have to generate a new fstab or edit the fstab to accdomate the reformatted partition right? I have software that was at least 4 some gigabytes to download in the root partition and it was very finicky to install last weekend, keeps cutting off DL at random times in pacman. Figured there was something wrong with the mirror and changed the mirror list to realize that wasn't the problem but it was just something with the mobile connection that acts strange. (I had to alternate downloading miscellaneous packages because it won't go through if I repeat the command, and I had to wait. I remember I had to become insane with pacstrap and repeat the command a dozen times for it to finally finish. I don't have the error on hand to give, remembered I updated the keyring too, I think it had to do with mobile dropping the connection but the error was misleading). Regardless, that root partition is not going to change so I don't think changing the partition table will be a option.

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 25,285

Re: [SOLVED] stumped: using GPT partitioned HD on libreboot x200 thinkpad

You don't need to change anything about the existing partitions for a test and can just add the BIOS boot partition as a new partition (as stated in that section this is just something that has to be present, around 1MB in size you do not need to reference that anywhere else in your setup) and reinstall GRUB onto the disk as opposed to a specific partition.