(SOLVED) unable to "see" my Debian install in UEFI menu

[mzimmers]

Hi all -

I'm trying to install Debian Jessie onto a second (SSD) drive on my PC. The primary drive holds Windows 7. I've downloaded debian-live-8.6.0-i386-gnome-desktop.iso, placed it on a flash drive with Rufus and successfully booted from the flash drive. I then run the install application, which claims to run to completion successfully. When I enter my UEFI menu, though, I don't see the Debian drive as a boot option.

I've tried a couple of times, the most recently using all the default options regarding where and how to install, with the same results. Any idea what I'm doing wrong? It seems odd that I can see the install drive, but not what that installer produces.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[4D696B65]

Debian live cd's do not support uefi.
https://wiki.debian.org/UEFI#UEFI_suppo ... ive_images

[mzimmers]

Oops...I guess I found my way to the wrong download area. So, is the correct file debian-8-6-0-i386-DVD-1.iso?

Also: did I choose the correct architecture? My PC runs a 64-bit i3. The 386 looked closest to what I want, but I was just guessing.

Thank you.

[4D696B65]

you want the amd64 iso, It is for intel 64 bit too.

[mzimmers]

Sweet...glad I asked. Thanks. I've started downloading; will report back tonight or tomorrow.

I appreciate the quick replies.

[mzimmers]

Well, I think we're making progress. I now see the flash drive in my UEFI menu. When I start up, and go to the boot menu, though, I get a grub prompt. The only item in my boot menu is still Windows 7. Did I need to change the file system settings when I created the flash iso?

[Head_on_a_Stick]

Use the netinstall ISO image, that should support automagical UEFI installation.

*Do not* use Rufus to transfer the image, it is a POS.

From Windows, I would recommend USBWriter instead:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/usbwriter/

Or cygwin, ofc

[mzimmers]

I did a net install (used USBwriter; thank you for that suggestion). Grub still hits the weeds when I try to boot Windows. I can live with it, but it would be nice if I could get it working. Any ideas? Could it have something to do with the way my Windows disk is formatted?

[Head_on_a_Stick]

Grub still hits the weeds when I try to boot Windows.

That is not enough information, please elaborate further and post /boot/grub/grub.cfg along with your partition configuration (`parted -l`).

[mzimmers]

http://scopedin.com/textfiles/grub.cfg

Output of parted -l below. The sda is where I have Debian, and sdb is my Windows 7 device.

Thanks...

Code: Select all

root@debian:/home/mzimmers# parted -l
Model: ATA M4-CT064M4SSD2 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 64.0GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start   End     Size    Type      File system     Flags
 1      1049kB  61.4GB  61.4GB  primary   ext4            boot
 2      61.4GB  64.0GB  2641MB  extended
 5      61.4GB  64.0GB  2641MB  logical   linux-swap(v1)


Model: ATA Crucial_CT240M50 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 240GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start   End    Size   Type     File system  Flags
 1      1049kB  106MB  105MB  primary  ntfs         boot
 2      106MB   240GB  240GB  primary  ntfs

[Head_on_a_Stick]

Windows wants to be on the first drive and your grub.cfg is attempting to "hide" the other drive to make it work, this may be what is failing.

You could try a custom entry in /etc/grub.d/40_custom using the advice here:

https://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manua ... 02fWindows

Something like this:

Code: Select all

menuentry 'Windows 7 (Custom)' {
	drivemap -s (hd0) (hd1)
	set root=(hd0,msdos1) # maybe try (hd1,msdos1) if that doesn't work
	chainloader +1
}

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2/CustomMenus

[mzimmers]

Perhaps it would be simpler if I just switch the cables on the two drives? Would that work?

EDIT: just got back to this after a time away...short answer, no. I put my Windows disc on P0; same result.

At this point, I'm disinclined to patch my grub config file, as it will just be another thing to remember for the future, so I think I'd like to uninstall (or disable) grub and just use my UEFI for device selection. My Google search for information on this has led to some information that looks kind of dubious...can someone tell me the preferred way to do this in the Debian world?

Thank you.

[mzimmers]

(Back at this after a week or so off...)

So, I made the changes to 40_custom that you suggested above. I also ran "update-grub" as root as per the article in the Ubuntu forum you linked. Reading between the lines, I gather that I'm supposed to see an entry called 'Windows 7 (Custom)' in my GRUB menu...correct? Because I still only have the original three.

Oddly enough, though, now when I select the original Windows 7 entry from the menu, it works (it takes me to what I believe is the Windows boot menu and from there I can start Windows 7). I have no idea what made it start working, but I've tried it multiple times. So, while there's a lot that I don't understand about GRUB and the whole bootloader process, perhaps it's time to move on. Can you please just confirm whether I should have seen such an entry in the GRUB menu?

And, thanks for all the help.

[Head_on_a_Stick]

Can you please just confirm whether I should have seen such an entry in the GRUB menu?

Yes, it should have shown up.

You can confirm the presence of the entry simply by examining the output of:

Code: Select all

# grub-mkconfig

This is what is written to /boot/grub/grub.cfg

If the observed changes do not show up in the actual boot menu then that menu is *not* reading /boot/grub/grub.cfg in your Debian system -- if you are (or have previously been) multi-booting with other GNU/Linux systems then they may have been "in control" of GRUB.

To regain control from Debian, simply re-install the bootloader to the drive from that OS; for example:

Code: Select all

# grub-install /dev/sda

[mzimmers]

So, was I supposed to run grub-mkconfig, update-grub or both after modifying the 40_custom file?

Currently there's no mention of 40_custom in the .cfg file, but before I do anything else, I'd like to confirm what I'm supposed to do.

Thanks...

[Head_on_a_Stick]

Currently there's no mention of 40_custom in the .cfg file

OK, can we please see the full output of these commands:

Code: Select all

cat /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/grub.d/40_custom
# grub-mkconfig

So, was I supposed to run grub-mkconfig, update-grub or both after modifying the 40_custom file?

The `grub-mkconfig` command will print out a grub.cfg file that will be generated according to the content of the various files under /etc/grub.d and so must be run *after* modifying 40_custom

The `update-grub` comand should probably be used in preference for Debian systems but it is exactly equivalent to:

Code: Select all

# grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

[mzimmers]

The files you requested:

http://scopedin.com/textfiles/40_custom
http://scopedin.com/textfiles/40_custom

Redirected output of grub-mkconfig:

http://scopedin.com/textfiles/grub-mkconfig.out

Thanks.

[Head_on_a_Stick]

The files you requested:

http://scopedin.com/textfiles/40_custom
http://scopedin.com/textfiles/40_custom

No, that is not what I requested

Once more, please post the full output of:

Code: Select all

cat /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/grub.d/40_custom

Redirected output of grub-mkconfig:

http://scopedin.com/textfiles/grub-mkconfig.out

That shows very clearly that your 40_custom file was *not* parsed by `grub-mkconfig` and this is why no menu entry appears.

This would suggest a problem with the name, location or content of your 40_custom file -- all of these things would have been determined precisely by my original output request

[mzimmers]

OK, sorry about that...here's the full output of that command:

Code: Select all

mzimmers@debian:~$ cat /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/grub.d/40_custom
#
# 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 ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
  set have_grubenv=true
  load_env
fi
if [ "${next_entry}" ] ; then
   set default="${next_entry}"
   set next_entry=
   save_env next_entry
   set boot_once=true
else
   set default="0"
fi

if [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
  menuentry_id_option="--id"
else
  menuentry_id_option=""
fi

export menuentry_id_option

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 {
  if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
    insmod all_video
  else
    insmod efi_gop
    insmod efi_uga
    insmod ieee1275_fb
    insmod vbe
    insmod vga
    insmod video_bochs
    insmod video_cirrus
  fi
}

if [ x$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
   font=unicode
else
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd1,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1  816f938d-0f31-4924-b8bb-538224c0dd4d
else
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 816f938d-0f31-4924-b8bb-538224c0dd4d
fi
    font="/usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2"
fi

if loadfont $font ; then
  set gfxmode=auto
  load_video
  insmod gfxterm
  set locale_dir=$prefix/locale
  set lang=en_US
  insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ] ; then
  set timeout=-1
else
  if [ x$feature_timeout_style = xy ] ; then
    set timeout_style=menu
    set timeout=5
  # Fallback normal timeout code in case the timeout_style feature is
  # unavailable.
  else
    set timeout=5
  fi
fi
play 480 440 1
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd1,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1  816f938d-0f31-4924-b8bb-538224c0dd4d
else
  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 816f938d-0f31-4924-b8bb-538224c0dd4d
fi
insmod png
if background_image /usr/share/images/desktop-base/lines-grub.png; then
  set color_normal=white/black
  set color_highlight=black/white
else
  set menu_color_normal=cyan/blue
  set menu_color_highlight=white/blue
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode {
	set gfxpayload="${1}"
}
set linux_gfx_mode=
export linux_gfx_mode
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-816f938d-0f31-4924-b8bb-538224c0dd4d' {
	load_video
	insmod gzio
	if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ext2
	set root='hd1,msdos1'
	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1  816f938d-0f31-4924-b8bb-538224c0dd4d
	else
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 816f938d-0f31-4924-b8bb-538224c0dd4d
	fi
	echo	'Loading Linux 3.16.0-4-amd64 ...'
	linux	/boot/vmlinuz-3.16.0-4-amd64 root=UUID=816f938d-0f31-4924-b8bb-538224c0dd4d ro  quiet
	echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
	initrd	/boot/initrd.img-3.16.0-4-amd64
}
submenu 'Advanced options for Debian GNU/Linux' $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-advanced-816f938d-0f31-4924-b8bb-538224c0dd4d' {
	menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 3.16.0-4-amd64' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-3.16.0-4-amd64-advanced-816f938d-0f31-4924-b8bb-538224c0dd4d' {
		load_video
		insmod gzio
		if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
		insmod part_msdos
		insmod ext2
		set root='hd1,msdos1'
		if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1  816f938d-0f31-4924-b8bb-538224c0dd4d
		else
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 816f938d-0f31-4924-b8bb-538224c0dd4d
		fi
		echo	'Loading Linux 3.16.0-4-amd64 ...'
		linux	/boot/vmlinuz-3.16.0-4-amd64 root=UUID=816f938d-0f31-4924-b8bb-538224c0dd4d ro  quiet
		echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
		initrd	/boot/initrd.img-3.16.0-4-amd64
	}
	menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 3.16.0-4-amd64 (recovery mode)' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-3.16.0-4-amd64-recovery-816f938d-0f31-4924-b8bb-538224c0dd4d' {
		load_video
		insmod gzio
		if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
		insmod part_msdos
		insmod ext2
		set root='hd1,msdos1'
		if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1  816f938d-0f31-4924-b8bb-538224c0dd4d
		else
		  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 816f938d-0f31-4924-b8bb-538224c0dd4d
		fi
		echo	'Loading Linux 3.16.0-4-amd64 ...'
		linux	/boot/vmlinuz-3.16.0-4-amd64 root=UUID=816f938d-0f31-4924-b8bb-538224c0dd4d ro single 
		echo	'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
		initrd	/boot/initrd.img-3.16.0-4-amd64
	}
}

### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

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

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

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry 'Windows 7 (loader) (on /dev/sda1)' --class windows --class os $menuentry_id_option 'osprober-chain-820A4D040A4CF6A7' {
	insmod part_msdos
	insmod ntfs
	set root='hd0,msdos1'
	if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd0,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,msdos1  820A4D040A4CF6A7
	else
	  search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 820A4D040A4CF6A7
	fi
	parttool ${root} hidden-
	chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f  ${config_directory}/custom.cfg ]; then
  source ${config_directory}/custom.cfg
elif [ -z "${config_directory}" -a -f  $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
  source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
#!/bin/sh
exec tail -n +3 $0
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries.  Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment.  Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
    menuentry 'Windows 7 (Custom)' {
       drivemap -s (hd0) (hd1)
       set root=(hd0,msdos1) # maybe try (hd1,msdos1) if that doesn't work
       chainloader +1
    }
mzimmers@debian:~$ 

Thanks...

[Head_on_a_Stick]

Is your 40_custom file executable? It will not be used unless it is.