After installing Debian on USB stick, stick does not boot on MacBook

[dokondr]

My goal is to install Debian to be bootable from a usb stick on a MacBook with two usb ports. To do so I booted from Debian Live flash on the first usb port. Next I used to Debian installer to install Debian on the second USB port. Installation completed with a message that Debian was successfully installed. Yet Debian does not boot from the usb where it was installed by installer.

Live system partitions:
Device: /dev/sdc1, Boot: *, Size: 3.2G, Id:0, Type: Empty
Device: /dev/sdc2, Boot: , Size: 5M, Id:ef, Type: EFI (FAT-12/16/32)

Partitions of the usb where installer installed Debian:
Device: /dev/sdd1, Boot: , Size: 99M, Id:c, Type: W95 FAT32 (LBA)
Device: /dev/sdd2, Boot: , Size: 14.5G, Id:83, Type: Linux

After booting MacBook from the Debian Live USB stick, I try to reinstall bootloader on the second USB stick with:

sudo mount /dev/sdd2 /mnt

sudo mount --bind /dev /mnt/dev
sudo mount --bind /proc /mnt/proc
sudo mount --bind /sys /mnt/sys

sudo chroot /mnt

grub-install /dev/sdd
update-grub

And `grub-install /dev/sdd` returns:

Installing for x86_64-efi platform.
grub-install error: cannot find EFI directory

Any ideas how to make it boot?

[panpan]

Can you give more info to the forum?

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lsblk --sort name --output name,label,partlabel,size,fstype,mountpoint,state

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inxi -Fxxxz

[dokondr]

Can you give more info to the forum?

Code: Select all

lsblk --sort name --output name,label,partlabel,size,fstype,mountpoint,state

Code: Select all

inxi -Fxxxz

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user@debian:~$ sudo lsblk --sort name --output name
NAME
loop0
sda
sda1
sda2
sda3
sdb
sdc
sdc1
sdc2
sdd
sdd1
sdd2
sr0

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$ sudo inxi -Fxxxz
System:
  Kernel: 6.1.0-18-amd64 arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0
    Desktop: GNOME v: 43.9 tk: GTK v: 3.24.38 wm: gnome-shell dm: GDM3 v: 43.0
    Distro: Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: Apple product: MacBookPro6,2 v: 1.0 serial: <filter>
    Chassis: type: 10 v: Mac-F22586C8 serial: <filter>
  Mobo: Apple model: Mac-F22586C8 v: MacBookPro6,2 serial: <filter>
    UEFI: Apple v: MBP61.88Z.005D.B00.1804100943 date: 04/10/18
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 44.1 Wh (100.0%) condition: 44.1/75.2 Wh (58.6%)
    volts: 12.0 min: 10.9 model: SMP bq20z451 type: Li-ion serial: N/A
    status: full cycles: 1129
CPU:
  Info: 4x 2-core model: Intel Core i5 M 540 bits: 64 type: MT MCP SMP
    smt: enabled arch: Westmere rev: 2 cache: L1: 4x 128 KiB (512 KiB)
    L2: 4x 512 KiB (2 MiB) L3: 4x 3 MiB (12 MiB)
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1529 high: 2528 min/max: 1197/2528 boost: enabled
    volts: 0.0 V ext-clock: 133 MHz cores: 1: 1197 2: 2528 3: 1197 4: 1197
    bogomips: 20217
  Flags: ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Core Processor Integrated Graphics driver: i915 v: kernel
    arch: Gen-5.75 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:0046 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: NVIDIA GT216M [GeForce GT 330M] vendor: Apple driver: nouveau
    v: kernel arch: Tesla pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: LVDS-1
    empty: DP-1 bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:0a29 class-ID: 0300 temp: 66.0 C
  Device-3: Apple Built-in iSight type: USB driver: uvcvideo bus-ID: 2-1.1:3
    chip-ID: 05ac:8507 class-ID: 0e02 serial: <filter>
  Display: server: X.Org v: 1.22.1.9 with: Xwayland v: 22.1.9
    compositor: gnome-shell driver: dri: nouveau gpu: nouveau note: X driver n/a
    display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1440x900 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 381x238mm (15.00x9.37")
    s-diag: 449mm (17.69")
  Monitor-1: LVDS-1 mapped: XWAYLAND0 model: Apple Color LCD res: 1440x900
    hz: 60 dpi: 111 size: 330x210mm (12.99x8.27") diag: 390mm (15.4") modes:
    max: 1440x900 min: 640x350
  API: OpenGL v: 3.3 Mesa 22.3.6 renderer: NVA5 direct-render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 5 Series/3400 Series High Definition Audio
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:3b56
    class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: NVIDIA GT216 HDMI Audio driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie:
    speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:0be2 class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.1.0-18-amd64 status: kernel-api
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 0.3.65 status: n/a (root, process) with:
    1: pipewire-pulse status: active 2: wireplumber status: active
    3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
Network:
  Device-1: Broadcom NetXtreme BCM5764M Gigabit Ethernet PCIe driver: tg3
    v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: N/A bus-ID: 02:00.0
    chip-ID: 14e4:1684 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp2s0 state: down mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Broadcom BCM43224 802.11a/b/g/n vendor: Apple AirPort Extreme
    driver: bcma-pci-bridge v: N/A pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1
    bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 14e4:4353 class-ID: 0280
  IF-ID-1: wlp3s0b1 state: up mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Apple Bluetooth Host Controller type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8
    bus-ID: 1-1.1.3:9 chip-ID: 05ac:8218 class-ID: fe01
  Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 0 state: up address: <filter> bt-v: 1.2
    lmp-v: 2.1 sub-v: 422a hci-v: 2.1 rev: 34e
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 509.51 GiB used: 9.27 GiB (1.8%)
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Hitachi model: HTS545050B9SA02 size: 465.76 GiB
    speed: 1.5 Gb/s type: HDD rpm: 5400 serial: <filter> rev: C60W scheme: GPT
  ID-2: /dev/sdc type: USB vendor: Transcend model: JetFlash 32GB
    size: 29.15 GiB type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 8.07 scheme: MBR
  ID-3: /dev/sdd type: USB vendor: Transcend model: JetFlash 16GB
    size: 14.6 GiB type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 8.07 scheme: MBR
Partition:
  Message: No partition data found.
Swap:
  Alert: No swap data was found.
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 63.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: nouveau temp: 66.0 C
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Info:
  Processes: 230 Uptime: 4h 23m wakeups: 2 Memory: 3.69 GiB
  used: 2.28 GiB (61.9%) Init: systemd v: 252 target: graphical (5)
  default: graphical Compilers: gcc: 12.2.0 alt: 12 Packages: pm: dpkg
  pkgs: 2612 Shell: Sudo (sudo) v: 1.9.13p3 default: Bash v: 5.2.15
  running-in: gnome-terminal inxi: 3.3.26

[dokondr]

**Update**

I decided to mount `sdd1` as efi boot:

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   sudo mount /dev/sdd1 /mnt/boot/efi`. 

Now it looks like `grub-install` works:

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    user@debian:~$ sudo mount /dev/sdd1 /mnt/boot/efi
    user@debian:~$ sudo chroot /mnt
    root@debian:/# grub-install /dev/sdd
    Installing for x86_64-efi platform.
    grub-install: warning: EFI variables are not supported on this system..
    Installation finished. No error reported.

Not sure about `update-grub`, though:

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    root@debian:/# update-grub
    Generating grub configuration file ...
    Found background image: /usr/share/images/desktop-base/desktop-grub.png
    Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-18-amd64
    Found initrd image: /boot/initrd.img-6.1.0-18-amd64
    Warning: os-prober will be executed to detect other bootable partitions.
    Its output will be used to detect bootable binaries on them and create new boot entries.
    grub-probe: error: cannot find a GRUB drive for /dev/sdb1.  Check your device.map.

Add yet usb still does not boot.

[panpan]

You didn't give to the forum the correct output of the lsblk command, you can provide also the output of the

Code: Select all

sudo parted -l

[dokondr]

You didn't give to the forum the correct output of the lsblk command, you can provide also the output of the

Code: Select all

sudo parted -l

In previous message I gave the output of lsblk command:

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user@debian:~$ sudo lsblk --sort name --output name
NAME
loop0
sda
sda1
sda2
sda3
sdb
sdc
sdc1
sdc2
sdd
sdd1
sdd2
sr0

What is incorrect in this output? Please explain.

[Aki]

Hello,

[..]
Debian does not boot from the usb where it was installed [..].
[..]

This Debian Wiki can probably help you:

• https://wiki.debian.org/GrubEFIReinstall
  • Reinstalling grub-efi on your hard drive
  • Troubleshooting: Weak EFI implementation only recognizes the fallback bootloader

Furthermore, the output from the following package can give more clues about the USB drive hosting Debian:

• Package boot-info-script

Hope this helps.

[dokondr]

Code: Select all

$ sudo parted -l
Model: ATA Hitachi HTS54505 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 500GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags:

Number  Start   End    Size   File system  Name                  Flags
 1      20.5kB  210MB  210MB  fat32        EFI system partition  boot, esp
 2      210MB   499GB  499GB  hfs+         Macintosh HD
 3      499GB   500GB  650MB  hfs+         Recovery HD


Warning: Not all of the space available to /dev/sdc appears to be used, you can
fix the GPT to use all of the space (an extra 54415360 blocks) or continue with
the current setting?
Fix/Ignore? I
Error: Can't have overlapping partitions.
Ignore/Cancel? C                                                          
Model: JetFlash Transcend 32GB (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdc: 31.3GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: unknown
Disk Flags:

Model: JetFlash Transcend 16GB (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdd: 15.7GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags:

Number  Start   End     Size    Type     File system  Flags
 1      1049kB  105MB   104MB   primary  fat32        lba
 2      105MB   15.7GB  15.6GB  primary  ext4

[panpan]

You didn't give to the forum the correct output of the lsblk command, you can provide also the output of the

Code: Select all

sudo parted -l

In previous message I gave the output of lsblk command:

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user@debian:~$ sudo lsblk --sort name --output name
NAME
loop0
sda
sda1
sda2
sda3
sdb
sdc
sdc1
sdc2
sdd
sdd1
sdd2
sr0

What is incorrect in this output? Please explain.

This is the correct command:

Code: Select all

lsblk --sort name --output name,label,partlabel,size,fstype,mountpoint,state

[Aki]

Hello @dokondr,

The device /dev/sdc (32 GB) is not formatted according to the output in your previous message:

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Model: JetFlash Transcend 32GB (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdc: 31.3GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: unknown
Disk Flags:

while the JetFlash Transcend 16GB (scsi) uses a msdos partition table (instead of a GPT partition):

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Model: JetFlash Transcend 16GB (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdd: 15.7GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags:

Number  Start   End     Size    Type     File system  Flags
 1      1049kB  105MB   104MB   primary  fat32        lba
 2      105MB   15.7GB  15.6GB  primary  ext4

I assume that:

• you are installing Debian on the JetFlash Transcend 16GB USB device

• you are booting the MacBook using UEFI.

If the two conditions are true, then you need to:

• boot the Debian Installer in UEFI mode (the MacBook should allow you to do so pressing some keys at boot)

• install Debian using a GPT partition table: the installer should recognise that you are booting in UEFI; below is an example of the GPT partition table (booted with UEFI) of an installed Debian running in a VM:

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  # parted -l 
  Model: Virtio Block Device (virtblk)
  Disk /dev/vda: 21.5GB
  Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
  Partition Table: gpt
  Disk Flags: 
  
  Number  Start   End     Size    File system     Name              Flags
   1      1049kB  538MB   537MB   fat32           EFI               bios_grub
   2      538MB   20.3GB  19.8GB  ext4            Linux filesystem
   3      20.8GB  21.5GB  669MB   linux-swap(v1)  Linux swap        swap
   

Furthermore, you probably need a swap partition, unless you have enough RAM or you are simply experimenting Debian. Beware that running a swap partition on an USB stick is very slow.

Therefore, you probably need to reinstall Debian using a GPT partition scheme booting the MacBook in UEFI mode.

Hope this helps.

[dokondr]

Hello Aki,

Thanks for your help. I am installing on MacBook Pro, 15-inch, Mid 2010, 2.53 GHz, Intel Core i5, Memory 4 GB.
There is only one way to boot it from USB: power it up holding `alt` key. This results in a screen with two options:
1) boot from Mac drive
2) boot from USB. In case two USB ports have sticks, you can select USB to boot.
As far as I know there are no other keys that can be used to select boot options.

Related question:
From your explanation follows (please, correct if I am wrong) that in case I decide to install from this Debian live usb stick directly to Mac drive, it will not boot as well?

[Aki]

Related question:
From your explanation follows (please, correct if I am wrong) that in case I decide to install from this Debian live usb stick directly to Mac drive, it will not boot as well?

No. My guess is that your MacBook boots with UEFI firmware. Therefore, in order to get Debian to boot from an USB stick or an internal hard drive, the boot media must be installed with a UEFI-compatible partitioning. The latter requires that the boot media is partitioned using a GPT scheme and that the MacBook firmware recognizes it.

Hope this helps.