Booting Issues and Inaccessible BIOS

IsntItCrazy · 2024-08-07 15:33:23

I am reaching out in desperation as my laptop is experiencing severe boot issues, and I am at a loss for what to do next. My system is nearly bricked, and I can't seem to find a way to resolve the problem. Here are the details of my situation:

Installation and Initial Problems

I recently installed Arch Linux using a live USB. The installation process seemed to go smoothly, but upon restarting my laptop, I encountered several issues:

1. Booting into Live USB: After completing the installation and restarting my system, my laptop booted into the live USB instead of the disk where I installed Arch Linux.
2. Post-USB Removal Issues: I removed the live USB, hoping it would then boot from the installed system. However, this made things worse. Now, my laptop fails to boot properly, and I am unable to access the live USB or the installed Arch Linux system.

Error Messages

When attempting to boot, I receive the following error message:

Filesystem is unknown.

Steps Taken

Here is what I have tried so far in an attempt to fix the issue:

1. GRUB Rescue: I have entered GRUB rescue mode and tried various commands, including `set root=hd0`, `insmod normal`, and `normal`, but nothing has worked. The filesystem remains unknown, and the system fails to boot.
2. BIOS Access: I have tried to access the BIOS to check and adjust boot settings, but I can no longer enter the BIOS. Pressing the usual keys (F2, F10, Delete, Esc) during startup does not bring up the BIOS menu.

Additional Information

While in GRUB rescue mode, I executed the `ls` command and got the following results:
- hd0
- hd0,gpt2
- hd0,gpt1
- hd1
- hd2 (my live USB)
- hd3 (my other live USB)

When I run the set command to see the configuration, I get:

cmdpath=(hd0) prefix=(hd0,gpt3)/boot/grub root=hd0,gpt3

Current Situation

At this point, my laptop is nearly bricked:
- I cannot boot into the installed Arch Linux system.
- I cannot boot from the live USB.
- I cannot access the BIOS to make any changes or check the current settings.

Request for Help

I am reaching out to the community for any suggestions or solutions that could help me resolve these issues. Specifically, I am looking for advice on:
- How to fix the unknown filesystem error during boot.
- Any methods to regain access to the BIOS.
- Steps to troubleshoot and resolve the booting issues with both the installed system and the live USB.

Thank you in advance for your assistance. I appreciate any help or guidance you can provide to help me get my system back up and running.

Last edited by IsntItCrazy (2024-08-07 15:40:10)

ewaller · 2024-08-07 16:29:28

From the GRUB shell, what happens if you run fwsetup ? It should™ reboot to the UEFI setup menu.

IsntItCrazy · 2024-08-07 16:31:59

I get "error: no such partition"
The situation looks pretty bad to me.

Last edited by IsntItCrazy (2024-08-07 16:32:29)

ewaller · 2024-08-07 16:36:52

Does this machine have a removable battery? If so, I might try removing it and all external power sources for several minutes. If there is any sort of static or pseudo-static memory being used to store uefi settings they might go back to defaults.

What are the make and model of your laptop?

IsntItCrazy · 2024-08-07 16:44:50

Yes it does, and I did remove the battery, but it doesn't seem like anything is happening but i will try it again, my laptop is a sony vaio with a core i5 chip

IsntItCrazy · 2024-08-07 16:51:51

BIOS finally worked, now what should i do next?

ewaller · 2024-08-07 16:52:43

Does your system have an 'Assist' key? https://www.sony.com/electronics/suppor … s/00122597

IsntItCrazy · 2024-08-07 16:54:45

Yes it does, should I follow the instructions on the website?

IsntItCrazy · 2024-08-07 16:59:11

Here's a pic of my BIOS https://f.uguu.se/RCkrWPvZ.png

IsntItCrazy · 2024-08-07 17:03:09

A pic of my boot priority https://f.uguu.se/hzPNjGJa.jpg

ewaller · 2024-08-07 17:08:55

How did you get to the 'BIOS' (In reality, on a uEFI system, it is the configuration menu. There is no BIOS on uEFI systems.)
I would start by promoting the boot from external device to the first priority. This should allow you to boot from the install media. Once we do that, we can fix GRUB.

IsntItCrazy · 2024-08-07 17:09:31

I could now use my live USB running arch Linux, I'm in it tight now. What do I do to prevent this from ever happening again?

Last edited by IsntItCrazy (2024-08-07 17:10:26)

ewaller · 2024-08-07 17:13:33

Not sure what happened in the first place. Did you ever successfully boot using GRUB? I suspect you have a disk misidentified, you used the wrong disk, or you are not using UUIDs and the drive locations keep changing.

I could be snarky and assert that Sony is sabotaging Linux, but that is only because I hate Sony. I have no evidence they have. This time

IsntItCrazy · 2024-08-07 17:17:05

So basically the way to boot into a live USB is to Push the F1 Button, so I tried it, and it worked, but before that it would not work.
I didn't try to boot to it from grub because I'm scared of that “unknown file system” error.
And BTW I hate them too, now do you know what should I do next to prevent this from happening again?

Last edited by IsntItCrazy (2024-08-07 17:18:24)

IsntItCrazy · 2024-08-07 17:25:09

And also I think that I might not say important information, I have 2 disks in my laptop, might the problem be that them bootloader is trying to use the dis that arch is installed to?

IsntItCrazy · 2024-08-07 17:36:14

I installed arch on /dev/sdb drive, I did not install arch on /dev/sda https://f.uguu.se/ZpAcpCOO.jpg
and this is what I get on cfdisk https://f.uguu.se/CczKBEHg.jpg

Last edited by IsntItCrazy (2024-08-07 17:37:13)

ewaller · 2024-08-07 20:19:33

Sorry, doing 10 things at once. Yes, no doubt that is the problem. I had alluded to using UUIDs rather than device node names.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Persis … ng_methods

cryptearth · 2024-08-07 21:49:03

read it too many times now: I highly doubt that either arch as os or any of the usual bootloaders is the actual root cause for all those threads starting with "installed arch - no boot - no access to bios anymore"
for me it's the OEMs at fault with bad uefi implementations not tested against anything else but windows to get the "designed for windows" snake oil marketing bullshit "certification" just to slap that useless badge onto the case - and it breaks the moment anything else tries to add a non-windows boot entry
all those issues should be reported to the OEM and request for fixed bios updates - that's not linux at fault but the systems bad firmware implemenation and lack of testing

aro_it · 2024-08-11 22:11:39

Hello,
I am "old" man, 17 years working in the corporation, from service to admin, first computer Vc-20, server system Novel, (1993), 2000 my first cert linux and SCO UNIX.
In home my second work, computer service. NOW only live in the home, no family, i sick, 10 year's, hobby - all computers, electronika, Linux, Android. NEVER not have problem in BIOS if hardware ok.
My favorite is DELL, all , best BIOS. old model modify bios for boot from adapter PCI EXpress NVMe disk (dell7010). EFI (UEFI) this shell, extension BIOS. Arch Linux working all config: old BIOS (mbr), EFI, and uefi CMS - simulation mbr.
HP - have text BIOS , only standard function, Insyde - buy laptop I5 12TH iRIS Intel and not lock Disk option !
Hardware Model: HP Laptop 15-dw4xxx
Firmware Version: F.05
Firmware Date: Wed 2022-05-11, not new bios, Working but Bios bugs (acpi) , best LTS Kernel, Dell Have 3 laptops, 10 dESKTOP (5280) E7240, optiplex 3050 - 50$ .
Hardwer test: boot only mainboard and off battery, not CPU but memory and power on, fan cooling start after power off, if ok. all (BIOS ok. and chipsets, ) .
So, install CPU - zero disk, then -= BIOS runninig auto =- !!! (if CPU,GPU ok) and install battery, setting all options in BIOS (perfect by manuals), i ialwase secure boot off ! TPM off but not clear, EFI cert, efivar - backup.
for home personal computer best is f2fs becost this file system special for electronic disk (SSD,NVME,USB,SD ) auto TRIM and other is perfect. for HD use btrfs, RAM full ! 32GB minimum, not swap (zram technology)
IMPORTANT , urgent, new ssd wrong setting and 1 year and -10%.. Lenovo no 2 and Asus. HP - ESC = info , F9 - bootmenu, dell F12 bootMenu, Asus ESC... Sorry my english.. ArO Poland.

Arch Linux

#1 2024-08-07 15:33:23

Booting Issues and Inaccessible BIOS

#2 2024-08-07 16:29:28

Re: Booting Issues and Inaccessible BIOS

#3 2024-08-07 16:31:59

Re: Booting Issues and Inaccessible BIOS

#4 2024-08-07 16:36:52

Re: Booting Issues and Inaccessible BIOS

#5 2024-08-07 16:44:50

Re: Booting Issues and Inaccessible BIOS

#6 2024-08-07 16:51:51

Re: Booting Issues and Inaccessible BIOS

#7 2024-08-07 16:52:43

Re: Booting Issues and Inaccessible BIOS

#8 2024-08-07 16:54:45

Re: Booting Issues and Inaccessible BIOS

#9 2024-08-07 16:59:11

Re: Booting Issues and Inaccessible BIOS

#10 2024-08-07 17:03:09

Re: Booting Issues and Inaccessible BIOS

#11 2024-08-07 17:08:55

Re: Booting Issues and Inaccessible BIOS

#12 2024-08-07 17:09:31

Re: Booting Issues and Inaccessible BIOS

#13 2024-08-07 17:13:33

Re: Booting Issues and Inaccessible BIOS

#14 2024-08-07 17:17:05

Re: Booting Issues and Inaccessible BIOS

#15 2024-08-07 17:25:09

Re: Booting Issues and Inaccessible BIOS

#16 2024-08-07 17:36:14

Re: Booting Issues and Inaccessible BIOS

#17 2024-08-07 20:19:33

Re: Booting Issues and Inaccessible BIOS

#18 2024-08-07 21:49:03

Re: Booting Issues and Inaccessible BIOS

#19 2024-08-11 22:11:39

Re: Booting Issues and Inaccessible BIOS

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