[SOLVED] New debian11 install - now grub menu has gone

braithwaite · 08-09-2022, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colorpurple21859

You don't have an efi partition. There are only three partitions, sda1=mx21 sda2=swap sda3=debian. Without an efi partition both distos are booting in legacy mode.

To be able to boot in efi mode you will need to convert the drive to gpt, create an efi partition, set up one of the distro bootloader to work in efi mode.

Do you have a regular monitor that you can hook up to see what happens. Maybe one of the keyboard f-keys are fn-fkey will change the output of the graphics to the hdmi port when first turned on.

During the debian install - the partition table for sda showed a small partition which was the efi partition created with my original MX Linus install.
Near the end of the install - the install wizard said an efi partition exists but do I want to create another one for debian 11?
I chose not to. I think I might've been better off choosing that option.

Debian-installer may have deleted the efi partition somehow.

Either way,you're right - the ssd doesn't have an efi partition.
And I have uefi bios on the motherboard.

Can I generate a debian efi partition via gparted?
I can resize the MX Linux partition and create a new efi partition.
Does this debian OS need update-grub after that operation?

Unfortunately I don't have a spare monitor. But I can visit a shop.

colorpurple21859 · 08-09-2022, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Can I generate a debian efi partition via gparted?
I can resize the MX Linux partition and create a new efi partition.

Try this
shrink mx linux to make room for a 300Mb partition formatted fat32 flagged esp

Code:

apt install grub-efi
mkdir /boot/efi
mount /dev/sda? /boot/efi
grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --removable

reboot, if the system boots in efi mode /sys/firmware/efi will exist.

The ? will be the partition number of the efi partition.

braithwaite · 08-09-2022, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colorpurple21859

Try this
shrink mx linux to make room for a 300Mb partition formatted fat32 flagged esp

Code:

apt install grub-efi
mkdir /boot/efi
mount /dev/sda? /boot/efi
grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --removable

reboot, if the system boots in efi mode /sys/firmware/efi will exist.

The ? will be the partition number of the efi partition.

Sounds good. I'll give an update tomorrow.

braithwaite · 08-11-2022, 04:31 AM

I found if I do a cold boot - then the motherboard screen and grub splash screen comes on.
Only on reboot (warm boot) are the screens not displayed.

I also found on cold boot the MX Linux live-installer usb also boots.

Rather than do repairs I thought I'd open a new leaf.

1. With MX live installer I wiped the sda disk.
2. I rebooted with debian-live installer and installed debian 11 taking care to create an efi partition.
The install wizard was easier to use now that I was familiar with it.
The installer didn't ask where to install grub. Debian is the only OS on the disk.
3, I booted from the freshly installed debian OS on sda.

I find I still have the same problem.
On reboot the motherboard screen and the grub screen are not shown.
Also on cold boot - now the motherboard screen is not shown.

I now have a working efi partition:

Code:

~# fdisk -l
Disk /dev/sda: 232.89 GiB, 250059350016 bytes, 488397168 sectors
Disk model: Samsung SSD 850 
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0xf45215aa

Device     Boot     Start       End   Sectors   Size Id Type
/dev/sda1            2048 234375167 234373120 111.8G 83 Linux
/dev/sda2  *    234375168 235374591    999424   488M ef EFI (FAT-12/16/32)
/dev/sda3       235374592 274436095  39061504  18.6G 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Also the OS booted from the efi partition:

Code:

# [ -d /sys/firmware/efi ] && echo "EFI boot on HDD" || echo "Legacy boot on HDD"
EFI boot on HDD

So why is the motherboard and grub screen not showing this time?
Is this really a hardware issue?

Edit: The motherboard screen and grub splash screen can be seen on cold boot.

colorpurple21859 · 08-11-2022, 04:59 AM

What happens if you turn the tv off and then on at the beginning of booting?

braithwaite · 08-11-2022, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colorpurple21859

What happens if you turn the tv off and then on at the beginning of booting?

Nothing happens. By the time the screen comes on again the OS has booted to the login screen.

linuxxr · 07-13-2023, 02:53 PM

using sparky linux i used sudo echo GRUB_DISABLE_OS_PROBER=false >> /etc/default/grub && sudo update-grub

braithwaite · 07-14-2023, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colorpurple21859

What happens if you turn the tv off and then on at the beginning of booting?

1. That is a pretty genius deduction.
It turns out it's a TV screen and motherboard issue (hardware).

If I choose to re-start the Linux distro - the GRUB splash page is opened but not displayed on the TV screen.
I know this because the time taken to get to the login page on re-start is the same as cold boot (when the GRUB splash page is displayed).
Furthermore - if I choose to restart the OS and quickly switch the TV screen on and off again (as colorpurple asks) - then the GRUB splash page will be displayed by the TV.

Therefore it appears the motherboard will re-start the OS - but since the TV screen has not been switched off manually - the GRUB screen cannot be seen. This only happens with the re-start option.
I don't know if this is an old-TV-with-new-PC-hardware-issue or a GRUB issue.

2. My apologies for not returning to this open thread and closing it.
Since I have a new Debian install I was distracted by other teething problems.

3. I have a zeal to offer replies to other people's threads based on my knowledge and experience of Linux.
If only to just give something back to LQ.
My personal problem is I do imbibe sometimes - despite my zeal - and so some of my replies do not reflect me in as flattering a light as I'd like to. On this august forum.
So I'm afraid I do create a new account.

4. My Linux problem has been resolved and I am very very grateful for all that have contributed and helped.
Thank you everyone.