Arch Linux

Conlock1419

Member

Registered: 2022-12-26

Posts: 6

[SOLVED] Boot Menu and BIOS not opening

I currently installed arch linux again after wanting to try out a software in Windows. While installing I decided to remove some previous boot entries and Windows boot entry using efibootmgr, but as it was spitting some errors I moved forward with the installation and completed it. The arch linux is opening properly but when I try to enter BIOS or Boot Menu using F2 and F12 key respectively, I get a black screen and then the system reboots. I tried booting into BIOS using the commandline approach using both

systemctl reboot --firmware-setup

from linux and

fwsetup

in grub, but both present simialr behavior. Can anyone help me solve this issue? I tried finding anything relevant to it but could not find anything on internet too. I was thinking the issue might be that the "Boot Menu" entry is not active, so I tried activating it using efibootmgr but it showed "No such file or directory exists".
I also know that I can reset BIOS by removing CMOS and reinserting it, but as this issue is on a laptop it is not possible for me.
As "efibootmgr" only extra thing I did except from arch linux installation guide I am putting the boot order I got from efibootmgr

Result:

BootCurrent: 0000
Timeout: 0 seconds
BootOrder: 0000,0014,0015,0016,0017,0018,0019,001A,001B
Boot0000* GRUB  HD(1,GPT,da504f5d-feff-f94d-b90c-2eee99526456,0x800,0xfa000)/File(\EFI\GRUB\grubx64.efi)
Boot0010  Setup FvFile(721c8b66-426c-4e86-8e99-3457c46ab0b9)
Boot0011  Boot Menu     FvFile(86488440-41bb-42c7-93ac-450fbf7766bf)
Boot0012  Diagnostic Splash     FvFile(a7d8d9a6-6ab0-4aeb-ad9d-163e59a7a380)
Boot0013  OilDiagApp    FvFile(f8397897-e203-4a62-b977-9e7e5d94d91b)
Boot0014* ATA HDD: ST1000LM035-1RK172                           PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x11,0x0)/Sata(0,0,0){5962af91-4456-419f-a7b9-1f4f892ab0f6}
Boot0015* ATA HDD1:     VenMsg(bc7838d2-0f82-4d60-8316-c068ee79d25b,91af625956449f41a7b91f4f892ab0f601)
Boot0016* ATAPI CD: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GUE0N                       PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x11,0x0)/Sata(1,0,0){0a09a2ae-dedf-4e21-8b3a-5e471856a354}
Boot0017* USB HDD:      VenMsg(bc7838d2-0f82-4d60-8316-c068ee79d25b,33e821aaaf33bc4789bd419f88c50803)
Boot0018* PCI LAN: EFI Network (IPv6)   PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x2,0x4)/Pci(0x0,0x0)/MAC(54e1adbceacc,0)/IPv6([::]:<->[::]:,0,0){af4aa878-2a2b-4efc-a79c-f5cc8f3d3803}
Boot0019* USB FDD:      VenMsg(bc7838d2-0f82-4d60-8316-c068ee79d25b,6ff015a28830b543a8b8641009461e49)
Boot001A* USB CD:       VenMsg(bc7838d2-0f82-4d60-8316-c068ee79d25b,86701296aa5a7848b66cd49dd3ba6a55)
Boot001B* NVMe: VenMsg(bc7838d2-0f82-4d60-8316-c068ee79d25b,001c199932d94c4eae9aa0b6e98eb8a4)
Boot001C* PCI LAN: EFI Network (IPv4)   PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x2,0x4)/Pci(0x0,0x0)/MAC(54e1adbceacc,0)/IPv4(0.0.0.00.0.0.0,0,0){af4aa878-2a2b-4efc-a79c-f5cc8f3d3803}

SOLUTION:
The solution seemed to be reinstalling arch linux. My most likely guess for the issue is that grub made some error while installation due to my tikering with efibootmgr.

Last edited by Conlock1419 (2022-12-27 18:41:13)

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: The Wirral

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 8,842

Website

Re: [SOLVED] Boot Menu and BIOS not opening

Sounds like "fast startup" [sic] is enabled. Do you have a Windows system on the machine? Can you access it to disable that?

Otherwise just reset the firmware. There's usually a jumper next to the CMOS battery that can do that, even on laptops.

---

Jin, Jîyan, Azadî

Conlock1419

Member

Registered: 2022-12-26

Posts: 6

Re: [SOLVED] Boot Menu and BIOS not opening

Sounds like "fast startup" [sic] is enabled. Do you have a Windows system on the machine? Can you access it to disable that?

No I don't have a windows install on this laptop right now

Otherwise just reset the firmware. There's usually a jumper next to the CMOS battery that can do that, even on laptops.

Is there any other way than doing the jumper? I have never opened the laptop and am scared to do so.

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: The Wirral

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 8,842

Website

Re: [SOLVED] Boot Menu and BIOS not opening

If you can't access the firmware menu all you can do is either remove the CMOS battery or flip the jumper. Both of which require internal access.

But wait a bit to see if there are any better suggestions. I might be talking out of my ass here.

---

Jin, Jîyan, Azadî

Conlock1419

Member

Registered: 2022-12-26

Posts: 6

Re: [SOLVED] Boot Menu and BIOS not opening

If you can't access the firmware menu all you can do is either remove the CMOS battery or flip the jumper. Both of which require internal access.

I tried it as there was no other reply to the post, but it did not solve it. I disconnected CMOS and reconnected it in 5 minutes.

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: The Wirral

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 8,842

Website

Re: [SOLVED] Boot Menu and BIOS not opening

Can you update the firmware ("BIOS") on that machine? Lenovo supply bootable ISO images for their ThinkPads. Does the machine still boot from USB sticks?

---

Jin, Jîyan, Azadî

Conlock1419

Member

Registered: 2022-12-26

Posts: 6

Re: [SOLVED] Boot Menu and BIOS not opening

Can you update the firmware ("BIOS") on that machine? Lenovo supply bootable ISO images for their ThinkPads. Does the machine still boot from USB sticks?

No. I had some issues with steam on arch so I was planning to reinstall it, but I cannot do that too as I can't get to the boot menu where I can choose to boot from usb.

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: The Wirral

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 8,842

Website

Re: [SOLVED] Boot Menu and BIOS not opening

All I can suggest is to check the memory health and make sure the CPU & motherboard are both seated and connected properly, respectively. I would have left the battery out for a good half hour but perhaps resetting the firmware won't actually help here.

---

Jin, Jîyan, Azadî

Conlock1419

Member

Registered: 2022-12-26

Posts: 6

Re: [SOLVED] Boot Menu and BIOS not opening

Should I try reinstalling arch Linux as there seems to be a way in efibootmgr through which we can choose next booting device and my arch bootable USB is displayed in it. Is there a possibility that there is some error while installing grub or something. Like some file which index the boot menu.

Last edited by Conlock1419 (2022-12-27 13:50:12)

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: The Wirral

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 8,842

Website

Re: [SOLVED] Boot Menu and BIOS not opening

You could try this to reboot into the Setup boot entry:

[redacted]

EDIT: *do not* try this, I've just broken my ThinkPad with that command. Bastard...

Or this to boot a USB stick next:

efibootmgr -o 17,19,1a

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2022-12-27 15:14:16)

---

Jin, Jîyan, Azadî

Conlock1419

Member

Registered: 2022-12-26

Posts: 6

Re: [SOLVED] Boot Menu and BIOS not opening

Thanks for the help @Head_on_a_stick. Reinstalling arch linux has solved the issue.