efi file format not available on install

[sodcore]

I am a experienced Debian operator, however new to efi. just starting to work with it.
I am currently trying to install my system with efi boot.
When I downloaded the Debian 10.ISO file and used for install, it initially let me select efi file format from the list when manually partitioning disks.
However, all of a sudden it is not available.
I can not figure out why.
I am changing to efi boot because I may want a drive that is larger then 2 terabytes and also I am trying the run oracle VM and having a lot of trouble About EFI BOOT, when I try to run my virtual machine.
At any rate does anybody know why efi is not available?
I have been working on this for days and have done a lot of searching on google about efi and installing it.
Thanks,
Donald

[cuckooflew]

Did you see this when you did your searches ?

From: https://wiki.debian.org/GrubEFIReinstallProblem2: EFI boot entries disappear after reboot

The uefi firmware did not create a proper boot entry in NVRAM. This has been seen in a Lenovo Thinkcenter M92Z. The symptom for this will be a missing HD path after the debian entry in the efibootmgr --verbose output. --- read the entire page---

I suggest at least trying this, but I am no expert at all, and since yours is a VM, I can see how it may need a different approach,..

I am trying the run oracle VM and having a lot of trouble About EFI BOOT, when I try to run my virtual machine.

Another suggestion,or hint, you might want to consider using something besides "Oracle", that is a problem within a problem, there are better VM software, EG: QEMU /KVM,... but any way it is your choice,
https://wiki.debian.org/SystemVirtualization
================================
https://wiki.debian.org/KVM

[Head_on_a_Stick]

At any rate does anybody know why efi is not available?

Perhaps the installer is not booted in UEFI mode, switch to a console screen and check for /sys/firmware/efi — that will only exist if the system is booted in UEFI mode.

Make sure that UEFI is enabled and "Legacy" mode (CSM) is disabled in your firmware ("BIOS") options.

[p.H]

When I downloaded the Debian 10.ISO file and used for install, it initially let me select efi file format from the list when manually partitioning disks.
However, all of a sudden it is not available.

What do you mean exactly by "efi file format" ? An EFI system partition (ESP) ?
The Debian installer offers to create an ESP only when booted in (U)EFI mode, not in BIOS/legacy mode.

I am changing to efi boot because I may want a drive that is larger then 2 terabytes

You do not need EFI boot to use drives larger than 2 TiB. You need GPT partitioning. GPT can be used with BIOS too. You can select GPT when doing an expert install.

[sodcore]

I had to boot in efi mode to make it work.
Thanks.
I will post if I have futher problems with efi boot mode install for system. Not on the vm.

[sodcore]

I am trying to sign my uefi security keys with mokutil for my oracle vm to work correctly.
I am not sure if I need UEFI security enabled.
I get an error if I try to turn them on with or with out the the keys being loaded.
DO I need the keys enabled to sign the keys and if so how do I install the system with it on.
I keep getting errors that the EFI files are not there.
Thanks,
Donald

[Head_on_a_Stick]

Please open a new thread for that problem, it is off topic here.

Be sure to search for a solution first though, for example https://gist.github.com/reillysiemens/a ... d79b2182a4