Arch Linux

IgorLubura219

Member

Registered: 2022-10-20

Posts: 1

Make arch boot by default

How to make arch the first option when booting?

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 25,263

Re: Make arch boot by default

This is normally a firmware setting you configure in your BIOS/EFI settings and will depend on your mainboard/laptop model.

lfitzgerald

Member

Registered: 2021-07-16

Posts: 175

Re: Make arch boot by default

Usually the boot process is two step. First the motherboard decides which hard drive/partition to boot. Usually that drive will have a boot manager installed. Then the boot manager will decide what will ultimately boot.

If you are using Grub like most people, you'll get a menu during boot where you choose Arch linux. If Grub is defaulting to some other OS, you need to change the Grub configuration: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/GRUB#G … d_grub.cfg

If Grub already defaults to Arch, but your motherboard boots into something else instead of Grub, then you need to change your motherboard settings like V1del said. The specifics depend on your motherboard.

ewaller

Administrator

From: Pasadena, CA

Registered: 2009-07-13

Posts: 20,655

Re: Make arch boot by default

To V1del's point, it can be a one step process.  To lfitzgerald's, it can be a two step process.

I have not seen a recent poll, but I don't accept the assertion that most people use Grub without proof.  Personally, I use uEFI set to boot from USB if available, otherwise use EFISTUB to start Arch Linux.  Other options I can select at boot time are EFI shell or Windows boot manager.  My other system use uEFI to start Arch Linux with a boot time option to start rEFInd.  If using uEFI one does not need a bootloader and boot selection is done at the system firmware (sometimes incorrectly called the BIOS  menu)

If using a bootloader -- grub being one choice -- systemd-boot, rEFInd being others (does LiLo still exist?) then one controls which OS and options is selected through the menu system of the selected bootloader.

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tucuxi

Member

From: Switzerland

Registered: 2020-03-08

Posts: 291

Re: Make arch boot by default

Use efibootmgr to change the boot order.

(People still use grub despite less complicated alternatives being available?)

lfitzgerald

Member

Registered: 2021-07-16

Posts: 175

Re: Make arch boot by default

I have not seen a recent poll, but I don't accept the assertion that most people use Grub without proof.  Personally, I use uEFI set to boot from USB if available, otherwise use EFISTUB to start Arch Linux.  Other options I can select at boot time are EFI shell or Windows boot manager.  My other system use uEFI to start Arch Linux with a boot time option to start rEFInd.  If using uEFI one does not need a bootloader and boot selection is done at the system firmware (sometimes incorrectly called the BIOS  menu)

All true - I feel like *in the past* I've seen most references to Grub in documentation etc. But I suppose it doesn't necessarily mean Grub is most common today. I'm honestly not up to date with the latest developments in boot managers, but I assumed that neither is OP.

Incidentally, IgorLubura219 - if you ever come back, please tell us how you currently boot. Even if you've figured it out already, it might help people who see this thread later.

(People still use grub despite less complicated alternatives being available?)

Well, I boot from BIOS. Complicated as grub is, there's at least lots of resources online. Besides, I already have it set up the way I need it. Do the "less complicated alternatives" all involve switching to UEFI, or is there a better option for BIOS?

Last edited by lfitzgerald (2022-10-22 18:17:42)

cfr

Member

From: Cymru

Registered: 2011-11-27

Posts: 7,178

Re: Make arch boot by default

Well, I boot from BIOS. Complicated as grub is, there's at least lots of resources online. Besides, I already have it set up the way I need it. Do the "less complicated alternatives" all involve switching to UEFI, or is there a better option for BIOS?

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch_b … oot_loader I've only booted Fedora using BIOS at all recently, so I use GRUB there, while Arch is UEFI, but I seem to remember syslinux and lilo being popular with Arch users as simpler alternatives to GRUB. Since I've never used them except in live systems, I can't speak to this personally.

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