Debian 9 grub boots to command line but works SOLVED

[justinmk85]

The output of

Code: Select all

# efibootmgr -v

would probably tell us most of what we need to know, I have no idea if that silly wall-of-output "boot info script" includes such a detail but I would prefer to not have to wade through that...

root@debian:/home/justin# efibootmgr -v
BootCurrent: 0000
Timeout: 2 seconds
BootOrder: 0000,0001,0002,2001
Boot0000* debian HD(1,GPT,75974d51-c29f-4c59-b617-129a3385fc10,0x800,0x100000)/File(\EFI\DEBIAN\GRUBX64.EFI)
Boot0001* \EFI\Ubuntu\grubx64.efi HD(1,GPT,75974d51-c29f-4c59-b617-129a3385fc10,0x800,0x100000)/File(\EFI\UBUNTU\GRUBX64.EFI)
Boot2001* EFI USB Device RC
root@debian:/home/justin#

[justinmk85]

root=hd0,gpt1

? Is this the EFI partition?

try

set root=hd0,gpt2

(assuming that this is the Debian partition)

configfile /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Does this bring up your menu?

It would help if you post the "ls /" commands.

set root=hd0,gpt2 and configfile /boot/grub/grub.cfg did bring up the main grub menu for debian.

[justinmk85]

This is EFI boot, not BIOS boot. You must chainload an EFI executable file, not a boot sector.

Code: Select all

chainloader /EFI/debian/grubx64.efi
boot

this chainloader did bring up the grub menu https://imgur.com/a/jTNTG

[maximus1978]

root=hd0,gpt1

? Is this the EFI partition?

try

set root=hd0,gpt2

(assuming that this is the Debian partition)

configfile /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Does this bring up your menu?

It would help if you post the "ls /" commands.

set root=hd0,gpt2 and configfile /boot/grub/grub.cfg did bring up the main grub menu for debian.

I think the issue is with prefix and root.

Please try....

set prefix=(hd0,gpt2)/boot/grub
set root=hd0,gpt2

press escape key

What happens?
Does it bring up the menu?

[justinmk85]

root=hd0,gpt1

? Is this the EFI partition?

try

set root=hd0,gpt2

(assuming that this is the Debian partition)

configfile /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Does this bring up your menu?

It would help if you post the "ls /" commands.

set root=hd0,gpt2 and configfile /boot/grub/grub.cfg did bring up the main grub menu for debian.

I think the issue is with prefix and root.

Please try....

set prefix=(hd0,gpt2)/boot/grub
set root=hd0,gpt2

press escape key

What happens?
Does it bring up the menu?

It didn't bring up the menu after the esc key it stayed on the command line page
https://i.imgur.com/od1QQo9.jpg

[maximus1978]

The prefix variable is defaulting to...

(hd0,gpt1)/grub

hd0,gpt1 is the efi partition
There is no directory grub in that efi partition?
please try in this order

set root=hd0,gpt2
save_env root

set prefix=(hd0,gpt2)/boot/grub
save_env prefix

Please reboot and let me know the result.

If the command prompt comes back up, please type "set" and post the results.

[maximus1978]

root=hd0,gpt1

? Is this the EFI partition?

try

set root=hd0,gpt2

(assuming that this is the Debian partition)

configfile /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Does this bring up your menu?

It would help if you post the "ls /" commands.

set root=hd0,gpt2 and configfile /boot/grub/grub.cfg did bring up the main grub menu for debian.

Do these exact steps again to bring up the menu.
Then type c to go back to the command prompt.
type "set"

Please post the results of the set command.

[justinmk85]

root=hd0,gpt1

? Is this the EFI partition?

try

set root=hd0,gpt2

(assuming that this is the Debian partition)

configfile /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Does this bring up your menu?

It would help if you post the "ls /" commands.

set root=hd0,gpt2 and configfile /boot/grub/grub.cfg did bring up the main grub menu for debian.

Do these exact steps again to bring up the menu.
Then type c to go back to the command prompt.
type "set"

Please post the results of the set command.

https://imgur.com/gallery/08eKg

[justinmk85]

The prefix variable is defaulting to...

(hd0,gpt1)/grub

hd0,gpt1 is the efi partition
There is no directory grub in that efi partition?
please try in this order

set root=hd0,gpt2
save_env root

set prefix=(hd0,gpt2)/boot/grub
save_env prefix

Please reboot and let me know the result.

If the command prompt comes back up, please type "set" and post the results.

Command line did come back up
https://imgur.com/gallery/XHHZH
https://imgur.com/gallery/Lva4Q

[maximus1978]

The prefix variable is defaulting to...

(hd0,gpt1)/grub

hd0,gpt1 is the efi partition
There is no directory grub in that efi partition?
please try in this order

set root=hd0,gpt2
save_env root

set prefix=(hd0,gpt2)/boot/grub
save_env prefix

Please reboot and let me know the result.

If the command prompt comes back up, please type "set" and post the results.

Command line did come back up
https://imgur.com/gallery/XHHZH
https://imgur.com/gallery/Lva4Q

Please try in this order.

set root=hd0,gpt2
set prefix=(hd0,gpt2)/boot/grub

save_env root
save_env prefix

Please reboot

Let me know what happens.

if command prompt comes back, type set

post the results please

[justinmk85]

The prefix variable is defaulting to...

(hd0,gpt1)/grub

hd0,gpt1 is the efi partition
There is no directory grub in that efi partition?
please try in this order

set root=hd0,gpt2
save_env root

set prefix=(hd0,gpt2)/boot/grub
save_env prefix

Please reboot and let me know the result.

If the command prompt comes back up, please type "set" and post the results.

Command line did come back up
https://imgur.com/gallery/XHHZH
https://imgur.com/gallery/Lva4Q

Please try in this order.

set root=hd0,gpt2
set prefix=(hd0,gpt2)/boot/grub

save_env root
save_env prefix

Please reboot

Let me know what happens.

if command prompt comes back, type set

post the results please

No errors but went to command line after reboot
Set https://imgur.com/gallery/v9udb

[maximus1978]

Please boot into Debian system.

Post the output of...

Code: Select all

cat /etc/fstab

Post the output of......

Code: Select all

fdisk -l

Is the main hard drive "/dev/sda"?

If it is, then do this next step.

Code: Select all

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

if this is the result...("EFI boot on HDD")

Code: Select all

grub-install /dev/sda
update-grub

Please reboot.

Let me know the result.

[justinmk85]

Please boot into Debian system.

Post the output of...

Code: Select all

cat /etc/fstab

Post the output of......

Code: Select all

fdisk -l

root@debian:/home/justin# cat /etc/fstab
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
# device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
# that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
# / was on /dev/mmcblk0p2 during installation
UUID=8e77bcd0-bb33-4549-a329-5abfed7e0a8c / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /boot/efi was on /dev/mmcblk0p1 during installation
UUID=6E89-3EA0 /boot/efi vfat umask=0077 0 1
# swap was on /dev/mmcblk0p3 during installation
UUID=cc96a754-5db9-4a3d-8bf6-62512b7e5f03 none swap sw 0 0
--------------------------

root@debian:/home/justin# fdisk -l
Disk /dev/mmcblk0: 29.1 GiB, 31268536320 bytes, 61071360 sectors
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: gpt
Disk identifier: A47A49D4-CC6A-4DD8-A859-2ABEB9825947

Device Start End Sectors Size Type
/dev/mmcblk0p1 2048 1050623 1048576 512M EFI System
/dev/mmcblk0p2 1050624 57120767 56070144 26.8G Linux filesystem
/dev/mmcblk0p3 57120768 61069311 3948544 1.9G Linux swap

Disk /dev/mmcblk0boot1: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Disk /dev/mmcblk0boot0: 4 MiB, 4194304 bytes, 8192 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Is the main hard drive "/dev/sda"?

The main hd is mmcblk0 (toshiba cl15t laptop with emmc sd drive)

There are 2 boot partitions in the fdisk output... boot0 and boot1... just noticed that

[justinmk85]

Is the main hard drive "/dev/sda"?

If it is, then do this next step.

Code: Select all

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

if this is the result...("EFI boot on HDD")

Code: Select all

grub-install /dev/sda
update-grub

Please reboot.

Let me know the result.

root@debian:/home/justin# [ -d /sys/firmware/efi ] && echo "EFI boot on HDD" || echo "Legacy boot on HDD"
EFI boot on HDD
root@debian:/home/justin# grub-install /dev/mmcblk0
Installing for x86_64-efi platform.
Installation finished. No error reported.
root@debian:/home/justin# update-grub
Generating grub configuration file ...
Found background image: /usr/share/images/desktop-base/desktop-grub.png
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.9.0-4-amd64
Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-4.9.0-4-amd64
Adding boot menu entry for EFI firmware configuration
done
root@debian:/home/justin#

[justinmk85]

Please reboot.

Let me know the result.

Rebooted and the command line still came up.

[maximus1978]

The main hd is mmcblk0 (toshiba cl15t laptop with emmc sd drive)

There are 2 boot partitions in the fdisk output... boot0 and boot1... just noticed that

wow

something wrong here for sure

Question 1:

Is this already a production install?
I would suggest running the Debian installer again and doing a fresh install. Delete all partitions and let the Linux installer use the disk and partition accordingly. (if possible of course)

Please login to debian system as is right now thou.

Code: Select all

blkid

Please post the result of this command.

[justinmk85]

The main hd is mmcblk0 (toshiba cl15t laptop with emmc sd drive)

There are 2 boot partitions in the fdisk output... boot0 and boot1... just noticed that

wow

something wrong here for sure

Question 1:

Is this already a production install?
I would suggest running the Debian installer again and doing a fresh install. Delete all partitions and let the Linux installer use the disk and partition accordingly. (if possible of course)

Please login to debian system as is right now thou.

Code: Select all

blkid

Please post the result of this command.

root@debian:/home/justin# blkid
/dev/mmcblk0: PTUUID="a47a49d4-cc6a-4dd8-a859-2abeb9825947" PTTYPE="gpt"
/dev/mmcblk0p1: UUID="6E89-3EA0" TYPE="vfat" PARTUUID="75974d51-c29f-4c59-b617-129a3385fc10"
/dev/mmcblk0p2: UUID="8e77bcd0-bb33-4549-a329-5abfed7e0a8c" TYPE="ext4" PARTUUID="2cb69ac2-51a4-4cf6-b24b-e0c1f52eea83"
/dev/mmcblk0p3: UUID="cc96a754-5db9-4a3d-8bf6-62512b7e5f03" TYPE="swap" PARTUUID="d5ae4405-eed2-4460-8769-ec61255f46ff"

/dev
ls -al
brw-rw---- 1 root disk 179, 256 Nov 22 05:19 mmcblk0boot0
brw-rw---- 1 root disk 179, 512 Nov 22 05:19 mmcblk0boot1
brw-rw---- 1 root disk 179, 1 Nov 22 05:19 mmcblk0p1
brw-rw---- 1 root disk 179, 2 Nov 22 05:19 mmcblk0p2
brw-rw---- 1 root disk 179, 3 Nov 22 05:19 mmcblk0p3

----

I could reinstall no problem. However, I have already tried with the same debian live usb I made multiple times. I select use the entire hard drive while installing, but it seems to ignore the boot0 (I'm guessing that is the leftover from mint). I also selected to have grub put in the front of the mbr when it prompted me since debian is the only OS on this laptop.
I have thought about booting another live session of something else like boot and nuke or something. Any suggestions? Or possibly using terminal from live session to wipe the drive but I don't know the root password for debian live session.

[maximus1978]

Please run the installer and post the screenshots of the following screens.

I have attached some screenshots of what screens I am looking for.

https://imagebin.ca/v/3iAzxoRZPUNr
https://imagebin.ca/v/3iB0KIBXApuB

In this screenshot. It should be totally free. The entire drive should be available for Debian 9 installer to partition the whole drive.
Just verify you are not selecting "Use available space".

We want to use Guided Partitioning.

"Guided - user entire disk"

https://imagebin.ca/v/3iB0SPTr24t5

This is the screen.

https://imagebin.ca/v/3iB2AZ2LnDBZ

Just verifying

Please post what you find.

[justinmk85]

Please run the installer and post the screenshots of the following screens.

I have attached some screenshots of what screens I am looking for.

https://imagebin.ca/v/3iAzxoRZPUNr
https://imagebin.ca/v/3iB0KIBXApuB

In this screenshot. It should be totally free. The entire drive should be available for Debian 9 installer to partition the whole drive.
Just verify you are not selecting "Use available space".

We want to use Guided Partitioning.

"Guided - user entire disk"

https://imagebin.ca/v/3iB0SPTr24t5

This is the screen.

https://imagebin.ca/v/3iB2AZ2LnDBZ

Just verifying

Please post what you find.

My screens look a little different. Here they are... https://imgur.com/gallery/n24Gs

I selected some different options to see what was available here...https://imgur.com/gallery/Zzt2s

I remember when I installed it before I selected guided use entire disk. Then selected finish changes instead of selecting the drive and clearing it

[maximus1978]

The 1 MB of free space in the partitioning. Does the installer put that there or are you selecting it manually.

Have you tried deleting all existing partitions and have just the free space and then have the installer automatically partition.

I just tried this in qemu and the 1MB free space is not there.