[SOLVED] UEFI

JeremyBoden · 05-10-2017, 06:03 AM

I took a perfectly functioning GPT/UEFI boot and moved it from an old machine to a new machine - which didn't even recognise it as bootable.

A live boot (from DVD) confirmed that data in various partitions was quite readable.

Was I being naive in thinking it ought to work?

Is there a fix for this - or do I need to do a complete reinstall?

BTW I have two disks, so I could experiment on the second one, if need be.

Jeremy

hydrurga · 05-10-2017, 06:06 AM

Did you check that the BIOS in the new machine has been configured to support GPT/UEFI?

JeremyBoden · 05-10-2017, 06:12 AM

Well - it's a UEFI BIOS and a new machine, had to fight to switch off Secure Boot.

syg00 · 05-10-2017, 07:07 AM

Chroot into the Linux hard disk system and run grub-install on it. That will add an entry to NVRAM on the motherboard.
If lilo, can't help.

JeremyBoden · 05-10-2017, 09:03 AM

Sorry that this is a bit basic, but I've never done a chroot before...

I tried (as root):-

Code:

mkdir /mnt/dir-name
mount /dev/sda2 /mnt/dir-name
chroot /mnt/dir-name
grub-install

( /dev/sda2 is my / filesystem)
( /dev/sda1 is the EFI partition)

Running grub-install (no parameters) gave an error - I have a 64 bit system.
"Installing for i386-pc Platform"
"...Install device isn't specified"

lazydog · 05-10-2017, 09:20 AM

You are going to have to mount your EFI partition also so that grub can write to it.

Code:

mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/dir-name/boot/efi

or after you have chroot'ed

Code:

 mount/dev/sda1 /boot/efi

At lease that is how I did it on my system.

JeremyBoden · 05-10-2017, 10:13 AM

Sorry, this isn't working for me - and its still trying to run the 386 version of grub-install.

JeremyBoden · 05-10-2017, 12:40 PM

I've found a workround (well not really)...

If I boot from the super_grub2_disk_i386_pc_2.02s9.iso (on a USB stick),
Get it to list all Boot methods, select a non-UEFI method,

Then it boots, presumably in a non-UEFI kind of way.

I get to see all my data - even mounting 5 primary partitions on the main disk.
It's a non-uefi boot though.

I tried running grub-update - but it says I'm not allowed to do this successfully.

floppy_stuttgart · 05-10-2017, 01:01 PM

Recently, I had a similar issue (previously booting SDD with UEFI; connected to a new motherboard): http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ne-4175605150/
I solved it in a certain way.
Now, I would create a CD with rEFInd on it http://www.rodsbooks.com/refind/getting.html
Do it and it should make your PC booting again.

JeremyBoden · 05-10-2017, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by floppy_stuttgart

Recently, I had a similar issue (previously booting SDD with UEFI; connected to a new motherboard): http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ne-4175605150/
I solved it in a certain way.
Now, I would create a CD with rEFInd on it http://www.rodsbooks.com/refind/getting.html
Do it and it should make your PC booting again.

@Floppy - you are an absolute star - I just installed the deb package and on reboot "it just worked".

I've been trying to fix these problems on my new PC for two days now.
So I'm so happy now!!!

Also thanks to the author of rEFInd too!

floppy_stuttgart · 05-10-2017, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyBoden

@Floppy - you are an absolute star - I just installed the deb package and on reboot "it just worked".

I've been trying to fix these problems on my new PC for two days now.
So I'm so happy now!!!

Also thanks to the author of rEFInd too!

I donate them 10 USD.
I made it.
I needed 4 days.
You are better.

JeremyBoden · 05-10-2017, 06:59 PM

Good idea - I've sent a small donation - money is rather tight at the moment.