Specs
Computer: Toshiba Satellite C40D-A (laptop)
Bios:
TOSQCI - 1
1.60
INSYDE Corp. - 10000001

History
First I had Ubuntu 14.04 installed with a dual boot (Windows 8). When I upgrade my bios from 1.50 to 1.60 the GRUB screen ceased to appear and Windows 8 would boot. I absolutely hated Ubuntu 14.04 and therefore didn't really care (see this link if you are interested in this part of the story).

I got all kinds of suggestions as to other Linux distros and wanted to try them out. None of the DVD's would boot. I changed the bios setting to CSM Boot and was able to boot from live CD's.

When I installed Debian, I installed GRUB onto the MBR, and the installation didn't detect any other operating systems. I thought I might be able to fix that later. And so, after installation, I would get the GRUB bootloader without any Windows choice in the list. However, if I changed to UEFI boot I would get Windows without GRUB. So not so bad. But I didn't like Debian (it couldn't detect my Wifi hardware, for example).

So despite the boot problem, I didn't worry, nothing lost, I'll try out Salix 64bit, the latest version. I thought the boot problem might be solved if I installed it. So, to do so, I had to revert to CSM boot. I installed LILO to the MBR... Same problem. If I change to UEFI Boot I can get Windows, if I revert back to CSM Boot I get LILO and Salix.

The problem
I have no idea how to get a simple, classic bootloader which includes both my linux distro and Windows 8.1 (updated since).

Can anybody help me?

Of course, I'd be glad to run some commands or give more info in order to better diagnose the problem if necessary.

Thanks in advance,

rm

I have a UEFI-BIOS (Asus X551MA) laptop, and Debian (Jessie) detected my operating systems and set up GRUB2 for UEFI systems. And OpenSUSE and Linux Mint 17 did the same later on. You should be able to boot majority of recent Linux distro liveCDs in UEFI mode. (I had to go to the boot menu and select my dvd drive, however) Grub2 supports UEFI. And about LILO, I may be wrong, but does it even support UEFI?

BatmanKiller,

I like your location!

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately it doesn't really help me.

The Linux distro that's on the laptop is Salix 64 bit with Lilo and the Mate desktop environment.

I've given the symptoms, I need the solution...

Many thanks for your input nevertheless.

rm

I don't use UEFI myself but, everything I have read about it indicates that if you install one system UEFI then any others need to also be UEFI. If your windows has an EFI partition, then installing Debian or Salix would need to be EFI also and there efi boot files would go on the vfat EFI partition. I haven't used Debian or Salix for some time so can't give any more details on how to make the selection.

Hi,

You can look at this Salix forum response for UEFI install; http://forum.salixos.org/viewtopic.p...717b0d226088ff

If you want to have menu control of Windows 8.1 & your Gnu/Linux install then you will need to do a UEFI install for the Gnu/Linux.

Hope this helps.
Have fun & enjoy!