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#1 2011-09-15 08:47:54

[knap]
Member
Registered: 2007-12-29
Posts: 37

GRUB2 won't load unless I keep pressing the F3 key

Hello.

So I have a weird problem.

I'm using a Samsung QX-412 laptop (Core i5 + Intel HM65 chip7) with GRUB2 installed in EFI x86_64 mode.
Using efibootmgr I placed grub as the first boot method but unless I keep pressing F3 right after POST the screen just flickers and grub doesn't load.

More information:

If I put a USB pendrive it just goes straight to that (It's the second boot method)
During grub-mkconfig it complains about a file /boot/grub/video.lst not existing
Sometimes the booting process hangs on "Loading initrd ramdisk"

Can someone give me some pointers? I'm clueless, this is my first time working with grub2 and UEFI.

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#2 2011-09-15 21:52:50

[knap]
Member
Registered: 2007-12-29
Posts: 37

Re: GRUB2 won't load unless I keep pressing the F3 key

Bad news everyone.

1)
Moved grub.efi to /EFI/boot/bootx64.efi but the system behaved the same.

2)
Moved grub.efi to the EFI partition root but apart from the necessary F3 key punching which stayed the same, the system hangs on "Loading initial ramdisk" became worst.
I was only able to boot the system by incorrectly typing the kernel file name and pressing F10 (to boot), a warning "Press any key..." appeared, I pressed Enter and archlinux started booting, how odd is that?

Seriously, GRUB2 seems like a mess, wasn't the whole point of UEFI to simplify things? sad

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#3 2011-09-15 23:00:19

taylorchu
Member
Registered: 2010-08-09
Posts: 405

Re: GRUB2 won't load unless I keep pressing the F3 key

try syslinux
it wont hurt you


"After you do enough distro research, you will choose Arch."

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#4 2011-09-16 22:56:43

[knap]
Member
Registered: 2007-12-29
Posts: 37

Re: GRUB2 won't load unless I keep pressing the F3 key

taylorchu wrote:

try syslinux
it wont hurt you

I'm going to try that.

Just for future reference

grub.cfg

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
insmod part_gpt
insmod part_msdos
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
  set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
  save_env saved_entry
  set prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
  set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
  if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
    saved_entry="${chosen}"
    save_env saved_entry
  fi
}

function load_video {
  insmod vbe
}

set menu_color_normal=light-blue/black
set menu_color_highlight=light-cyan/blue

insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,gpt6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root a0098ce8-3850-49fe-bb45-2094d1c8d74f
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
  set gfxmode=auto
  load_video
  insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_input console
terminal_output gfxterm
set timeout=5
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Arch Linux, with Linux linux' --class archlinux --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	load_video
	set gfxpayload=keep
	insmod gzio
	insmod part_gpt
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,gpt6)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root a0098ce8-3850-49fe-bb45-2094d1c8d74f
	echo	'Loading Linux linux ...'
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=a0098ce8-3850-49fe-bb45-2094d1c8d74f ro  quiet
	echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
	initrd	/boot/initramfs-linux.img
}
menuentry 'Arch Linux, with Linux linux Fallback' --class archlinux --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	load_video
	set gfxpayload=keep
	insmod gzio
	insmod part_gpt
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,gpt6)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root a0098ce8-3850-49fe-bb45-2094d1c8d74f
	echo	'Loading Linux linux ...'
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=a0098ce8-3850-49fe-bb45-2094d1c8d74f ro  quiet
	echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
	initrd	/boot/initramfs-linux-fallback.img
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries.  Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment.  Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.

menuentry "archlinux luis"
set root=(hd0,gpt6)
linux /boot/vmlinuz-linux root=/dev/sda6 ro
initrd /boot/initramfs-linux.img
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f  $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
  source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###

gdisk -l

[root@luis-laptop luis]# gdisk -l /dev/sda
GPT fdisk (gdisk) version 0.8.0

Partition table scan:
  MBR: protective
  BSD: not present
  APM: not present
  GPT: present

Found valid GPT with protective MBR; using GPT.
Disk /dev/sda: 234441648 sectors, 111.8 GiB
Logical sector size: 512 bytes
Disk identifier (GUID): DC093232-B3E5-4642-9EBF-84CEFCCDE021
Partition table holds up to 128 entries
First usable sector is 34, last usable sector is 234441614
Partitions will be aligned on 2048-sector boundaries
Total free space is 2014 sectors (1007.0 KiB)

Number  Start (sector)    End (sector)  Size       Code  Name
   1            2048          206847   100.0 MiB   EF00  EFI system partition
   2          206848          468991   128.0 MiB   0C01  Microsoft reserved part
   3          468992        63383551   30.0 GiB    0700  Basic data partition
   4        63383552       168241151   50.0 GiB    0700  Basic data partition
   5       168241152       176629759   4.0 GiB     8200  Linux swap
   6       176629760       234441614   27.6 GiB    8300  Linux filesystem

efibootmgr -v

[root@luis-laptop luis]# efibootmgr -v
BootCurrent: 000D
Timeout: 0 seconds
BootOrder: 000D,0008,0004,0009
Boot0000  Setup
Boot0001  Boot Menu
Boot0002  Recovery
Boot0003* SATA CD:      030a2400d23878bc820f604d8316c068ee79d25baea2090adfde214e8b3a5e471856a354
Boot0004* CD-ROM:       030a2400d23878bc820f604d8316c068ee79d25bbe9d0102e211f3489efa0b983c96839b
Boot0005* SATA HDD:     030a2500d23878bc820f604d8316c068ee79d25b91af625956449f41a7b91f4f892ab0f600
Boot0006* USB CD:       030a2400d23878bc820f604d8316c068ee79d25b86701296aa5a7848b66cd49dd3ba6a55
Boot0007* USB FDD:      030a2400d23878bc820f604d8316c068ee79d25b6ff015a28830b543a8b8641009461e49
Boot0008* USB HDD:      030a2400d23878bc820f604d8316c068ee79d25b33e821aaaf33bc4789bd419f88c50803
Boot0009* NETWORK:      030a2400d23878bc820f604d8316c068ee79d25b78a84aaf2b2afc4ea79cf5cc8f3d3803
Boot000A* Windows Boot Manager  HD(1,800,32000,defc8087-86c3-4611-af5a-a694bbd1d9fc)File(\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi)WINDOWS.........x...B.C.D.O.B.J.E.C.T.=.{.9.d.e.a.8.6.2.c.-.5.c.d.d.-.4.e.7.0.-.a.c.c.1.-.f.3.2.b.3.4.4.d.4.7.9.5.}...a................
Boot000B  GRUB2 HD(1,800,32000,defc8087-86c3-4611-af5a-a694bbd1d9fc)File(\EFI\grub\grub.efi)
Boot000C* GRUB2 HD(1,800,32000,defc8087-86c3-4611-af5a-a694bbd1d9fc)File(\grub.efi)
Boot000D* GRUB3 HD(1,800,32000,defc8087-86c3-4611-af5a-a694bbd1d9fc)File(\EFI\Boot\bootx64.efi)

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#5 2011-09-17 18:04:39

skodabenz
Banned
From: Tamilnadu, India
Registered: 2010-04-11
Posts: 382

Re: GRUB2 won't load unless I keep pressing the F3 key

[knap] wrote:

grub.cfg

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries.  Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment.  Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.

menuentry "archlinux luis"
set root=(hd0,gpt6)
linux /boot/vmlinuz-linux root=/dev/sda6 ro
initrd /boot/initramfs-linux.img
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

Should be

menuentry "archlinux luis" {
    load_video
    set gfxpayload=keep
    insmod gzio
    insmod part_gpt
    insmod ext2
    set root=(hd0,gpt6)
    linux /boot/vmlinuz-linux root=/dev/sda6 ro
    initrd /boot/initramfs-linux.img
}
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

efibootmgr -v

[root@luis-laptop luis]# efibootmgr -v
BootCurrent: 000D
Timeout: 0 seconds
BootOrder: 000D,0008,0004,0009
Boot0000  Setup
Boot0001  Boot Menu
Boot0002  Recovery
Boot0003* SATA CD:      030a2400d23878bc820f604d8316c068ee79d25baea2090adfde214e8b3a5e471856a354
Boot0004* CD-ROM:       030a2400d23878bc820f604d8316c068ee79d25bbe9d0102e211f3489efa0b983c96839b
Boot0005* SATA HDD:     030a2500d23878bc820f604d8316c068ee79d25b91af625956449f41a7b91f4f892ab0f600
Boot0006* USB CD:       030a2400d23878bc820f604d8316c068ee79d25b86701296aa5a7848b66cd49dd3ba6a55
Boot0007* USB FDD:      030a2400d23878bc820f604d8316c068ee79d25b6ff015a28830b543a8b8641009461e49
Boot0008* USB HDD:      030a2400d23878bc820f604d8316c068ee79d25b33e821aaaf33bc4789bd419f88c50803
Boot0009* NETWORK:      030a2400d23878bc820f604d8316c068ee79d25b78a84aaf2b2afc4ea79cf5cc8f3d3803
Boot000A* Windows Boot Manager  HD(1,800,32000,defc8087-86c3-4611-af5a-a694bbd1d9fc)File(\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi)WINDOWS.........x...B.C.D.O.B.J.E.C.T.=.{.9.d.e.a.8.6.2.c.-.5.c.d.d.-.4.e.7.0.-.a.c.c.1.-.f.3.2.b.3.4.4.d.4.7.9.5.}...a................
Boot000B  GRUB2 HD(1,800,32000,defc8087-86c3-4611-af5a-a694bbd1d9fc)File(\EFI\grub\grub.efi)
Boot000C* GRUB2 HD(1,800,32000,defc8087-86c3-4611-af5a-a694bbd1d9fc)File(\grub.efi)
Boot000D* GRUB3 HD(1,800,32000,defc8087-86c3-4611-af5a-a694bbd1d9fc)File(\EFI\Boot\bootx64.efi)

Damn, you have lots of entries in UEFI Boot Manager.  Can you try setting

Boot000B  GRUB2 HD(1,800,32000,defc8087-86c3-4611-af5a-a694bbd1d9fc)File(\EFI\grub\grub.efi)

as default using efibootmgr?

But the F3 issue seems to be like firmware bug. Did you update the BIOS/UEFI?


My new forum user/nick name is "the.ridikulus.rat" .

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#6 2011-09-19 16:01:20

[knap]
Member
Registered: 2007-12-29
Posts: 37

Re: GRUB2 won't load unless I keep pressing the F3 key

Found a solution, by placing grub.efi in /EFI/Boot/bootx64.efi and booting from the hardisk in BIOS I was able to solve the F3 key problem.

However, the "File not found" problem still persists, pressing Enter allows the system to boot.

Current /EFI/grub/grub.cfg:

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
insmod part_gpt
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
  set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
  save_env saved_entry
  set prev_saved_entry=
  save_env prev_saved_entry
  set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
  if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
    saved_entry="${chosen}"
    save_env saved_entry
  fi
}

function load_video {
  insmod vbe
}

set menu_color_normal=light-blue/black
set menu_color_highlight=light-cyan/blue

insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,gpt6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root a0098ce8-3850-49fe-bb45-2094d1c8d74f
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
  set gfxmode=1024x768x24
  load_video
  insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_input console
terminal_output gfxterm
set timeout=5
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Arch Linux, with Linux linux' --class archlinux --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	load_video
	set gfxpayload=keep
	insmod gzio
	insmod part_gpt
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,gpt6)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root a0098ce8-3850-49fe-bb45-2094d1c8d74f
	echo	'Loading Linux linux ...'
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=a0098ce8-3850-49fe-bb45-2094d1c8d74f ro
	echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
	initrd	/boot/initramfs-linux.img
}
menuentry 'Arch Linux, with Linux linux Fallback' --class archlinux --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
	load_video
	set gfxpayload=keep
	insmod gzio
	insmod part_gpt
	insmod ext2
	set root='(hd0,gpt6)'
	search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root a0098ce8-3850-49fe-bb45-2094d1c8d74f
	echo	'Loading Linux linux ...'
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=a0098ce8-3850-49fe-bb45-2094d1c8d74f ro
	echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
	initrd	/boot/initramfs-linux-fallback.img
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries.  Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment.  Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.

# (2) Windows 7 Pro X86_64
menuentry "Windows 7 Pro x86_64" {
    search --file --no-floppy --set=root /efi/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi
    chainloader (${root})/EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi
}### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f  $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
  source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###

Does anyone find an immediate problem?
Thanks.

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#7 2011-09-24 09:04:56

skodabenz
Banned
From: Tamilnadu, India
Registered: 2010-04-11
Posts: 382

Re: GRUB2 won't load unless I keep pressing the F3 key

[knap] wrote:

Found a solution, by placing grub.efi in /EFI/Boot/bootx64.efi and booting from the hardisk in BIOS I was able to solve the F3 key problem.

However, the "File not found" problem still persists, pressing Enter allows the system to boot.

The "File not found" error occurs because grub.efi (bootx64.efi) thinks that /EFI/boot is its prefix dir and tries to load its modules from that dir. To correct this, create /EFI/boot/grub.cfg and add the below code to it

set prefix=(${root})/efi/grub
configfile ${prefix}/grub.cfg

My new forum user/nick name is "the.ridikulus.rat" .

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