Arch Linux

Kastorss

Member

Registered: 2024-07-16

Posts: 5

GRUB menu doesn't appear when booting

Hi, I have an Acer Aspire 5. I’m having problems with dual booting Windows 11/Arch Linux. I followed the installation guide completely and successfully installed Arch. However, every time I start the computer, the GRUB menu with the choice between Arch Linux and Windows Boot Manager doesn't appear, and it directly opens Windows 11. The only way I found to enter the GRUB menu is to go into advanced restart, use a device, select GRUB, and successfully enter the GRUB menu with the option to choose between Arch Linux and Windows Boot Manager. Obviously, this process is long and inconvenient, and I would like the GRUB menu to appear at every startup. Going into the BIOS settings and the Boot section, the Boot Priority Order is empty, and I have no way to change anything. I searched for similar cases but found nothing.

cryptearth

Member

Registered: 2024-02-03

Posts: 2,026

Re: GRUB menu doesn't appear when booting

if the boot order in the bios is empty it's likely a limited uefi implementation which relies on the fallback path esp\efi\bootx64.efi which windows re-replaces (yes, double re) every boot
you could try to modify the bcd to load grub instead of bootmgr or winload - but I'm not sure how persistent that will be

Kastorss

Member

Registered: 2024-07-16

Posts: 5

Re: GRUB menu doesn't appear when booting

How can I do this?

cryptearth

Member

Registered: 2024-02-03

Posts: 2,026

Re: GRUB menu doesn't appear when booting

according to msdn something like this:

Bcdedit /set {bootmgr} path \efi\grub\grubx64.efi

with the correct path to grub of course

Kastorss

Member

Registered: 2024-07-16

Posts: 5

Re: GRUB menu doesn't appear when booting

It didn't work and after rebooting the system I entered a "reset system" loop where the computer turns on, a "reset system" message appears and then the computer turns off. So, I opened BIOS, where the Boot Priority Order is still empty, then I left the BIOS and Windows 11 booted.

Kastorss

Member

Registered: 2024-07-16

Posts: 5

Re: GRUB menu doesn't appear when booting

Now everytime I boot the computer there is this loop

cryptearth

Member

Registered: 2024-02-03

Posts: 2,026

Re: GRUB menu doesn't appear when booting

have you checked the path before executing the command I posted? sounds like grub is not in \efi\grub\grubx64.efi but somewhere else as the bootloop hints that the windows stub can't find grub at the given path
best to restore the BCD from a WinPE

Kastorss

Member

Registered: 2024-07-16

Posts: 5

Re: GRUB menu doesn't appear when booting

I didn't find any directory "GRUB" in \efi, but I don't know how to find where is located GRUB. To restore BCD, I'm not sure how to do it, but I found this guide: https://www.ventoy.net/en/experience_rebuildBCD.html Is this guide what you mean?

cryptearth

Member

Registered: 2024-02-03

Posts: 2,026

Re: GRUB menu doesn't appear when booting

well, grub is located where you installed it to during the arch install
could be anywhere on the esp but usually should be in a subfolder within the EFI directory next to Boot and Microsoft
as for how to restore a broken bcd: use winpe and bcdboot

Lone_Wolf

Administrator

From: Netherlands, Europe

Registered: 2005-10-04

Posts: 14,893

Re: GRUB menu doesn't appear when booting

Kastorrs may need more guidance then that as WinPE is not that well known outside of IT environments.

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/rebuild-bcd-windows-10 gives a reasonable explanation how to solve this including a method toaccess windows recovery mode .

Note that this is a windows issue and not an archlinux issue.
Kastorrs , please search help for that part elsewhere.

I'll allow this thread to stay open for now so once you solved the windows part you can continue here if needed.

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Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.

clean chroot building not flexible enough ?
Try clean chroot manager by graysky

Head_on_a_Stick

Member

From: The Wirral

Registered: 2014-02-20

Posts: 8,999

Website

Re: GRUB menu doesn't appear when booting

If the OP gets their Windows booting again they should probably read https://www.rodsbooks.com/efi-bootloade … ive-naming, which describes the problem they have encountered and some possible solutions.

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Jin, Jîyan, Azadî