Help, can't boot my install (UEFI), but other distros OK

[BurntOC]

I have a HP T620 client and I'm trying to run Debian on it as a host for my Docker containers. I've tried installing Debian 10 with both the netinstall image and the full DVD-1, in graphical and text mode both, but while it installs fine when it reboots the hard disk isn't seen as bootable. I tell the installed to partition using the entire drive each time as well.

I cavedl and tried Linux Mint and even MX Linux and they both install and then boot in UEFI mode just fine. With the latter being Debian-based and so many folks that have to have conquered this I thought I'd see what recommendations you have to fix this as I have Debian flavors on many of my hosts (RasPis mainly) and I like it a lot.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[phenest]

To boot an OS (Linux, Windows, etc), you require an Efi System Partition (ESP) of at least 100MB to boot using UEFI. Without that partition, you would booting using legacy BIOS if the computer supports it.

It's possible that Linux Mint and MX will automatically create the ESP (as will Windows), but I don't think Debian will unless you specify it.

[BurntOC]

I appreciate the response. I could have sworn I saw that on the petitions list, but I'll check that here shortly when I get back home.

[BurntOC]

Yes, it puts an ESP partition in, but it's still not booting. Looks like MX Lined may be the closest I can get to Debian for now.

[tynman]

It's hard to diagnose booting problems because the patient can't post what they're seeing on the screen.

Could you elaborate what you mean by

when it reboots the hard disk isn't seen as bootable

? I.e., could you try to explain what you see on the monitor when you reboot? When you boot the computer, do you get a grub boot manager screen? Just a blinking cursor?

[BurntOC]

That's fair - sorry about that. It just simply proceeds as if the system has no bootable disks at all and goes straight to trying to boot from my NIC.

I did redo the process again using the expert options and choosing the additiional EFI install location, which seems to have resolved it, though now I'm having all sorts of other headaches including grub having the previous MX Linux and failed Debian installs in the boot list. Clearly even when I tell it to repartition and use the entire position it's storing some of the parameters somewhere.....

[p.H]

grub having the previous MX Linux and failed Debian installs in the boot list

Could you post the relevant menuentry statements in /boot/grub/grub.cfg ?

[BurntOC]

Thanks for your assistance. Looks like I have it operating, and while it was more involved than I wanted I added a lightweight desktop and grub-configurator to remove those entries. I also fixed the initial headaches, by and large, so I'm good to go. Thanks again!

[Wm. A. Weasel]

This is an older thread, but it might help someone to know that Parkytowers
https://www.parkytowers.me.uk/thin/hp/t620/linux.shtml
describes an easy solution that worked for me.