Arch Linux

castor

Member

From: Europe

Registered: 2022-03-14

Posts: 24

Website

[solved] Macbook freezes before bootloader

Hello
I just installed arch with systemd-boot on my mid 2012 Macbook9,1. I cann se the efi entry in the apple „boot menu“, but when I click it, the screen freezes.

I guess this is because my Macbook has a broken GPU or something, as this is the problem with lots of those MacBookPro Models.

However how does the archlinux install medium manage to not freeze?

I tried kernel parameter *nomodeset* - no success. I tried refind that can pretend to be osx when booting archlinux, but it wouldn‘t show up in the „apple boot menu“ when you hold the option key.

When I was running Osx, I used to change the efivars, to keep the gpu deactivated, but with the arch install medium I don‘t know how to change them. It says permission denied, even when I mount them with read/write option.

I didn‘t get Grub working. I can‘t write to the boot entries with efibootmgr. To install systemd I had to use the —no-variables parameter.

Thanks for any help.

Last edited by castor (2022-11-21 11:58:06)

radmac

Member

Registered: 2019-03-12

Posts: 18

Re: [solved] Macbook freezes before bootloader

This can be related: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=281366
I don't have solution, only workaround.

castor

Member

From: Europe

Registered: 2022-03-14

Posts: 24

Website

Re: [solved] Macbook freezes before bootloader

I installed grub and it boots now.

Curvature

Member

Registered: 2022-12-03

Posts: 2

Re: [solved] Macbook freezes before bootloader

I also had the same issue with my MacBookPro9,2 and systemd-boot. As soon as I click "EFI Boot" from Apple's boot menu, the screen freezes, and I have to reboot. Instead I installed refind, which works with no issues.

Procedure that fails:
1. Install 10.13.2 on a fresh disk with GPT, APFS.
2. In Mac OS, add a new partition for Arch.
3. Follow the installation guide wiki, but skip partitioning.
4. Follow the steps in the systemd-boot wiki for installing and configuring systemd-boot.
5. Reboot holding down Alt, select EFI Boot and hit enter.
6. Screen freezes.

So, the Apple boot menu does recognize systemd-boot's .EFI file, but systemd-boot fails to present its boot menu.

Procedure that works:
1. Install 10.13.2 on a fresh disk with GPT, APFS.
2. In Mac OS, add a new partition for Arch.
3. Follow the installation guide wiki, but skip partitioning.
4. Disable SIP, install refind from Mac OS, enable SIP, reboot.

Last edited by Curvature (2022-12-03 17:55:47)