Hi everybody,
I tried to install Debian 10.9 on an old Samsung computer using an encrypted filesystem, following a youtube tutorial without really knowing what I am doing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEl2S5MI-WU). After following the instructions on manual partitions, I encountered an error saying that grub cannot be installed, so I continued the installation without grub. As expected, the system was not able to boot into Debian.
I tried several approaches to boot into a live system, use chroot to manually install grub afterwards to the boot partition (mainly following this: https://wiki.debian.org/GrubEFIReinstal ... ter_reboot). However, all my attempts failed, probably due to a lack understanding on how linux works. My next step was to run a boot repair manager from a bootable usb (https://sourceforge.net/projects/boot-repair-cd/) which did also not work, but the tool allowed to upload a summary of relevant boot information:
https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/V3xjKr9dpf/
Any help/information is greatly appreciated!
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How to fix Debian 10.9 with missing Grub
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Re: How to fix Debian 10.9 with missing Grub
From the boot report it appears this computer is UEFI-capable.
If you want to boot in EFI mode, you need to create an EFI system partition (at least 10 MB) and mount it on /boot/efi.
Manual procedure :
Reduce the size of sda1 to free at least 10 MB (easier with gparted).
Create an EFI partition in the free space and format it as FAT.
I suggest you do the following with the installer rescue mode, in a shell on the installed system.
Add en entry to mount the EFI partition on /boot/efi in /etc/fstab.
Mount the EFI partition.
Install GRUB with grub-install (no argument needed).
Create boot configuration with update-grub.
Or reinstall from scratch.
If the computer is legacy-capable an you want to boot in BIOS/legacy mode, its is strongly recommended (although not mandatory) to create a "BIOS boot" partition (1 MB). Depending on the BIOS flaws, you may also need to set the boot flag in the MBR.
If you want to boot in EFI mode, you need to create an EFI system partition (at least 10 MB) and mount it on /boot/efi.
Manual procedure :
Reduce the size of sda1 to free at least 10 MB (easier with gparted).
Create an EFI partition in the free space and format it as FAT.
I suggest you do the following with the installer rescue mode, in a shell on the installed system.
Add en entry to mount the EFI partition on /boot/efi in /etc/fstab.
Mount the EFI partition.
Install GRUB with grub-install (no argument needed).
Create boot configuration with update-grub.
Or reinstall from scratch.
If the computer is legacy-capable an you want to boot in BIOS/legacy mode, its is strongly recommended (although not mandatory) to create a "BIOS boot" partition (1 MB). Depending on the BIOS flaws, you may also need to set the boot flag in the MBR.
- Loci.Cantos
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Re: How to fix Debian 10.9 with missing Grub
This appears to be a multi-boot system running Ubuntu, Debian, and Windows; is this correct?
"Boot0003* ubuntu HD(1,GPT,cffe7949-3e38-4e77-b7e7-ff982476cabc,0x800,0x100000)/File(\EFI\ubuntu\shimx64.efi)
Boot0004* debian HD(1,GPT,a6105a14-2d7e-49eb-9d2e-6d7b5e820ba3,0x800,0x100000)/File(\EFI\debian\shimx64.efi)
Boot0006* Windows Boot Manager HD(2,GPT,e6373f55-7d7d-4be4-bd48-c57ddbd9f409,0xfa000,0x32000)/File(\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi)WINDOWS.........x...B.C.D.O.B.J.E.C.T.=.{.9.d.e.a.8.6.2.c.-.5.c.d.d.-.4.e.7.0.-.a.c.c.1.-.f.3.2.b.3.4.4.d.4.7.9.5.}..._................"
If so, it may be the case that the windows start-up state is interfering with your attempt to write the grub file.
If windows fast start-up is enabled it will not allow you to modify the start state (e.g., establish a grub file).
Windows fast start-up is a hibernation mode that writes the windows operating system state to disk, then protects itself from modification.
To mitigate this:
1. Ensure the fast start-up option in windows power settings is disabled.
2. Then reinstall linux.
"Boot0003* ubuntu HD(1,GPT,cffe7949-3e38-4e77-b7e7-ff982476cabc,0x800,0x100000)/File(\EFI\ubuntu\shimx64.efi)
Boot0004* debian HD(1,GPT,a6105a14-2d7e-49eb-9d2e-6d7b5e820ba3,0x800,0x100000)/File(\EFI\debian\shimx64.efi)
Boot0006* Windows Boot Manager HD(2,GPT,e6373f55-7d7d-4be4-bd48-c57ddbd9f409,0xfa000,0x32000)/File(\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi)WINDOWS.........x...B.C.D.O.B.J.E.C.T.=.{.9.d.e.a.8.6.2.c.-.5.c.d.d.-.4.e.7.0.-.a.c.c.1.-.f.3.2.b.3.4.4.d.4.7.9.5.}..._................"
If so, it may be the case that the windows start-up state is interfering with your attempt to write the grub file.
If windows fast start-up is enabled it will not allow you to modify the start state (e.g., establish a grub file).
Windows fast start-up is a hibernation mode that writes the windows operating system state to disk, then protects itself from modification.
To mitigate this:
1. Ensure the fast start-up option in windows power settings is disabled.
2. Then reinstall linux.
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Re: How to fix Debian 10.9 with missing Grub
No, it is not.Loci.Cantos wrote:This appears to be a multi-boot system running Ubuntu, Debian, and Windows; is this correct?
EFI boot entries shown by efibootmgr are just remnants of old installations which do not exist any more on disk.
- sunrat
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Re: How to fix Debian 10.9 with missing Grub
I'm not sure fast startup is relevant either. It will cause NTFS volumes to be mounted read-only in Linux subsequent to a Windows boot if not shut down completely.
Follow p.H advice. Personally I'd just reinstall and ensure there is an EFI boot partition (ESP) first, and boot the installer in EFI mode.
Follow p.H advice. Personally I'd just reinstall and ensure there is an EFI boot partition (ESP) first, and boot the installer in EFI mode.
“ computer users can be divided into 2 categories:
Those who have lost data
...and those who have not lost data YET ” Remember to BACKUP!
Those who have lost data
...and those who have not lost data YET ” Remember to BACKUP!