Dual boot - UEFI boot only, no Bios mode?

[bodge99]

Hi,

When trying to boot from USB, have a **close** look on your screen for an "initramfs unpacking failed" error message. It might only appear momentarily.

If the boot hangs here, then you might be hitting the issue that I've described (& fixed) here: viewtopic.php?f=46&t=347379

I've nearly sorted the Linux boot from the Windows EFI partition. I've got it working perfectly on a test Windows machine. I then attempted it on another Windows machine (stock install with Windows installer sized partitions.).

I've now run into a space shortage problem on the EFI partition. Normally, I would just expand the EFI partition and go from there.. Here, I can't.. Obviously, if you can't boot a Mint flashdrive then you can't resize the EFI partiton. I don't want to use Windows tools for this as I've found that the stock recovery tools aren't very good. I'm placing the Grub modules (et. al.) into the EFI partition and I'm going to place the kernel & initrd into the Windows partition.

I'll then look at adding the Linux boot to the Windows bootloader. I don't want to remove the Windows bootloader (even temporarily) as a Linux boot fail means that you are stuffed (assuming that you really cannot boot from a flashdrive).

I'll "hang fire" here until I hear what you have found.

Bodge99

[willem_deboer]

Good point. Actually, I'm beginning to think the error is not in the machine. Perhaps I should try an earlier image and see what happens.

[willem_deboer]

Hi,

When trying to boot from USB, have a **close** look on your screen for an "initramfs unpacking failed" error message. It might only appear momentarily.

If the boot hangs here, then you might be hitting the issue that I've described (& fixed) here: viewtopic.php?f=46&t=347379

I've nearly sorted the Linux boot from the Windows EFI partition. I've got it working perfectly on a test Windows machine. I then attempted it on another Windows machine (stock install with Windows installer sized partitions.).

I've now run into a space shortage problem on the EFI partition. Normally, I would just expand the EFI partition and go from there.. Here, I can't.. Obviously, if you can't boot a Mint flashdrive then you can't resize the EFI partiton. I don't want to use Windows tools for this as I've found that the stock recovery tools aren't very good. I'm placing the Grub modules (et. al.) into the EFI partition and I'm going to place the kernel & initrd into the Windows partition.

I'll then look at adding the Linux boot to the Windows bootloader. I don't want to remove the Windows bootloader (even temporarily) as a Linux boot fail means that you are stuffed (assuming that you really cannot boot from a flashdrive).

I'll "hang fire" here until I hear what you have found.

Bodge99

Not sure I want to go down this route.

[bodge99]

#### Ignore, Please see post No. 41 #####

Hi,

If you actually have this problem.. and I mean **if**.. then you only need to copy some files to a flashdrive.. I can email you the corrected initrd.img if required.

Could you have a look for the error message please??

Bodge99

[willem_deboer]

@bodge99 Ok, thank you. There is no error message at all.

[bodge99]

#### Ignore, Please see post No. 41 #####

Hi,

Would you like to try my modified 'initrd.img' ??

If you would, then could you PM me with your email address and I'll send a copy of this and the modified 'grub.cfg'

I'll then write up the instructions here. It's very easy to do and will just take a few minutes.. You'll need a flashdrive 5GB or larger.

Question. Are you familiar with Midnight Commander??

Bodge99

[willem_deboer]

Hi,

Would you like to try my modified 'initrd.img' ??

If you would, then could you PM me with your email address and I'll send a copy of this and the modified 'grub.cfg'

I'll then write up the instructions here. It's very easy to do and will just take a few minutes.. You'll need a flashdrive 5GB or larger.

Question. Are you familiar with Midnight Commander??

Bodge99

Ok, yes. Just tell me what to do. I know Midnight Commander, but didn't like it, like I didn't like Norton Commander.

[bodge99]

#### Ignore, Please see post No. 41 #####

Hi.

Modified boot flashdrive.

Format a flashdrive to fat32. Mintstick (USB Stick Formatter) is fine for this.

Ensure that you have the downloaded 'initrd.img', 'grub.cfg' and a verified copy of the Mint 20.1 Iso on your machine.

EDIT: If anybody wants these files:-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lGqM85 ... sp=sharing and
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qjxd77 ... sp=sharing

Run 'Gparted', select the flashdrive partition and set the 'boot' and 'esp' flags.
Quit 'Gparted'.

I'll assume that your flashdrive is 'sda'. You'll need to check this. Adjust the following as required.
In a terminal, run Midnight Commander as Root.

Code: Select all

sudo su {Become Root}
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt {mount the flashdrive to /mnt}
mc      {Run Midnight Commander} 

In Midnight Commander (left pane), browse to your Mint Iso file. Press 'Enter' twice to access the contents.
Press 'Tab' to move to the right hand pane. Now navigate to '/mnt' (your flashdrive).
Press 'Tab' again, to return to the left hand pane.

Cursor down to the first directory (.disk here). Press 'F5' to copy the directory across.
Repeat for the other directories and the remaining two files. Copying will take a little time as you are using a flashdrive.
Open another terminal and enter

Code: Select all

sync

Wait until the command prompt returns. This shows that the copy process has finished.
Cursor up and press 'Enter' to leave the Iso.

Now browse to the directory where the downloaded 'initrd.img' & 'grub.cfg' are located.

'Tab' to the right hand pane. Browse to '/mnt/boot/grub'. Enter the directory. 'Tab' to the left hand pane.
Browse to my 'grub.cfg'. Press 'F5' to copy the file across, confirming the overwrite.

'Tab' to the right hand pane. Browse to '/mnt/casper/'. Enter the directory.
'Tab' to the left hand pane again. Browse to my 'initrd.img' and press 'F5' to copy.

All done..

Now try booting your new computer from this flashdrive.


Bodge99

[willem_deboer]

Hi.

Modified boot flashdrive.

Format a flashdrive to fat32. Mintstick (USB Stick Formatter) is fine for this.

Ensure that you have the downloaded 'initrd.img', 'grub.cfg' and a verified copy of the Mint 20.1 Iso on your machine.

EDIT: If anybody wants these files:-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lGqM85 ... sp=sharing and
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qjxd77 ... sp=sharing

Run 'Gparted', select the flashdrive partition and set the 'boot' and 'esp' flags.
Quit 'Gparted'.

I'll assume that your flashdrive is 'sda'. You'll need to check this. Adjust the following as required.
In a terminal, run Midnight Commander as Root.

Code: Select all

sudo su {Become Root}
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt {mount the flashdrive to /mnt}
mc      {Run Midnight Commander} 

In Midnight Commander (left pane), browse to your Mint Iso file. Press 'Enter' twice to access the contents.
Press 'Tab' to move to the right hand pane. Now navigate to '/mnt' (your flashdrive).
Press 'Tab' again, to return to the left hand pane.

Cursor down to the first directory (.disk here). Press 'F5' to copy the directory across.
Repeat for the other directories and the remaining two files. Copying will take a little time as you are using a flashdrive.
Open another terminal and enter

Code: Select all

sync

Wait until the command prompt returns. This shows that the copy process has finished.
Cursor up and press 'Enter' to leave the Iso.

Now browse to the directory where the downloaded 'initrd.img' & 'grub.cfg' are located.

'Tab' to the right hand pane. Browse to '/mnt/boot/grub'. Enter the directory. 'Tab' to the left hand pane.
Browse to my 'grub.cfg'. Press 'F5' to copy the file across, confirming the overwrite.

'Tab' to the right hand pane. Browse to '/mnt/casper/'. Enter the directory.
'Tab' to the left hand pane again. Browse to my 'initrd.img' and press 'F5' to copy.

All done..

Now try booting your new computer from this flashdrive.


Bodge99

Ok, did all that. There's nothing on the flashdrive. but in MC ik look fine.

[bodge99]

#### Ignore, Please see post No. 41 #####

Hi,

I'd guess that the flashdrive didn't mount..

If you do a 'ls /mnt' (after a reboot, with nothing "plugged in") I'll bet that you see the modified Iso contents.

To save having to repeat everything, do this:
Plug your flashdrive in.

Code: Select all

sudo su
fdisk -l

You should see your flashdrive partition listed as 'sda1', 'sdb1' or 'sdc1' etc.

Code: Select all

ls /mnt

If this returns:

Code: Select all

boot dists MD5SUMS README.diskdefines
bootmgr EFI pool 'System Volume Information'
casper isolinux preseed

.. then continue.

Code: Select all

mkdir /mnt1
mount /dev/sd'X'1 /mnt1 { whatever the 'X' is from the 'fdisk -l' command }
cp -R /mnt/* /mnt1/ {Copy everything over}

Open another terminal, enter 'sync' and press enter. Wait for the command prompt to return.
Finally,

Code: Select all

umount /mnt1

You should be "good to go"..

Bodge99

[bodge99]

#### Ignore, Please see post No. 41 #####

Hi,

For future reference, to save having to mess with Midnight Commander you can use this:
Mount the iso directly.

Code: Select all

sudo su
mount {path to Iso file}/{isofilename} /mnt    {e,g. 'mount /MyIso/linuxmint-20.1-cinnamon-64bit.iso /mnt'}
mount /dev/sd'X'1/ /mnt1	{Whatever your 'X' actually is.}
cp -R /mnt/* /mnt1
sync				{Wait for it.. wait for it..}

You now add the 'initrd.img' and overwrite the existing 'grub.cfg' on the flashdrive (on '/mnt1').
Ensure that you have set the 'boot' and 'esp' flags on the flashdrive partition.

I didn't use this in my earlier post, as I've recently been working with a couple of other distros..
One of the recent ones that I've been working with has a buggy mount command (with Iso's).
I couldn't remember if it was with Mint or not. I couldn't test it at the time I made the earlier post as I was sitting in a hospital car park and I wanted to "be safe".

I'm home now and have tested it... Mint is fine..

Bodge99

[willem_deboer]

"Mount point does not exist" = sdf1 and "Access denied" = ISO. I am SU. The flashdrive now apparently looks like a floppy drive tot Mint.

[bodge99]

#### Ignore, Please see post No. 41 #####

Hi,

With the flashdrive plugged in, what does ' sudo fdisk -l ' return?

You can redirect the output to a text file with:

Code: Select all

sudo fdisk -l > fdiskoutput.txt

Bodge99

[willem_deboer]

Hi,

With the flashdrive plugged in, what does ' sudo fdisk -l ' return?

You can redirect the output to a text file with:

Code: Select all

sudo fdisk -l > fdiskoutput.txt

Bodge99

Schijf /dev/loop0: 99,22 MiB, 104030208 bytes, 203184 sectoren
Eenheid: sectoren van 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sectorgrootte (logisch/fysiek): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
In-/uitvoergrootte (minimaal/optimaal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes


Schijf /dev/loop1: 99,15 MiB, 103964672 bytes, 203056 sectoren
Eenheid: sectoren van 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sectorgrootte (logisch/fysiek): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
In-/uitvoergrootte (minimaal/optimaal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes


Schijf /dev/loop2: 74,7 MiB, 78311424 bytes, 152952 sectoren
Eenheid: sectoren van 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sectorgrootte (logisch/fysiek): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
In-/uitvoergrootte (minimaal/optimaal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes


Schijf /dev/sda: 670,71 GiB, 720150552576 bytes, 1406544048 sectoren
Disk model: SSD 720GB
Eenheid: sectoren van 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sectorgrootte (logisch/fysiek): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
In-/uitvoergrootte (minimaal/optimaal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Schijflabeltype: dos
Schijf-ID: 0x606c26f4

Apparaat Op. Begin Einde Sectoren Grootte ID Type
/dev/sda1 * 2048 1048866815 1048864768 500,1G 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda2 1048866816 1049915391 1048576 512M 27 verborgen NTFS WinRE
/dev/sda3 1328949312 1406539839 77590528 37G 27 verborgen NTFS WinRE
/dev/sda4 1049915392 1328949310 279033919 133,1G f W95 uitgeb. (LBA)
/dev/sda5 1049917440 1328949247 279031808 133,1G 83 Linux

Partitietabel-items liggen niet in schijfvolgorde.

Schijf /dev/sdf: 7,22 GiB, 7743995904 bytes, 15124992 sectoren
Disk model: USB DISK 2.0
Eenheid: sectoren van 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sectorgrootte (logisch/fysiek): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
In-/uitvoergrootte (minimaal/optimaal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Schijflabeltype: dos
Schijf-ID: 0x24b89e4a

Apparaat Op. Begin Einde Sectoren Grootte ID Type
/dev/sdf1 * 2048 15124479 15122432 7,2G ef EFI (FAT-12/16/32)

[rene]

Pardon the meddling oneliner thread-interjections but it was sort of interesting to know whether or not that initramfs issue was the problem here but this thread is a bit painful to follow. I for example quite expect OP to with "Mount point does not exist = sdf1" to simply say/mean that /mnt1 did not exist; he reports very imprecisely...

[willem_deboer]

Pardon the meddling oneliner thread-interjections but it was sort of interesting to know whether or not that initramfs issue was the problem here but this thread is a bit painful to follow. I for example quite expect OP to with "Mount point does not exist = sdf1" to simply say/mean that /mnt1 did not exist; he reports very imprecisely...

I am very sorry.

[bodge99]

#### Ignore, Please see post No. 41 #####

Hi,

O.K. then, you appear to have an 8GB flashdrive as 'sdf'.

Format the flashdrive (again) using Mintstick (USB Stick Formatter).
Unplug the flashdrive, wait a few seconds and then reinsert it.
The system should now automount it. Something like: ( '/media/{username}/USB STICK' or even '/media/{username}/{filesystem UUID' }.
If it's a UUID, it will look something like this: 'C291-7F2A'
Try this:

Code: Select all

sudo su
ls /media/{username} {This will show what has been automounted}
touch '/media/{username}/USB STICK/markerfile.txt'
  {or..}
touch /media/{username}/C291-7F2A/markerfile.txt  

Change {username} to yours.. This create a zero length file on the flashdrive.
We're going to use this to prove that a partition is actually mounted where we want it.

*** The following assumes that you have the modified Iso file contents in /mnt. Use 'ls /mnt' to prove this. ***
*** If the directory is empty, then stop and report this here. ***

Code: Select all

sudo su {If you are not already Root}
mount /dev/sdf1 /mnt1
ls /mnt1

The listing should show

Code: Select all

markerfile.txt

If not, stop and report here as something is wrong.

Code: Select all

cp -R /mnt/* /mnt1/
ls /mnt1

This listing should show the modified Iso contents as well as the 'markerfile.txt' file.
Now run 'gparted'.
Select your flashdrive partition and 'right click' on it. Select 'Unmount'.
Now set the 'boot' and 'esp' flags.

All done.

Bodge99

[willem_deboer]

Hi,

O.K. then, you appear to have an 8GB flashdrive as 'sdf'.

Format the flashdrive (again) using Mintstick (USB Stick Formatter).
Unplug the flashdrive, wait a few seconds and then reinsert it.
The system should now automount it. Something like: ( '/media/{username}/USB STICK' or even '/media/{username}/{filesystem UUID' }.
If it's a UUID, it will look something like this: 'C291-7F2A'
Try this:

Code: Select all

sudo su
ls /media/{username} {This will show what has been automounted}
touch '/media/{username}/USB STICK/markerfile.txt'
  {or..}
touch /media/{username}/C291-7F2A/markerfile.txt  

Change {username} to yours.. This create a zero length file on the flashdrive.
We're going to use this to prove that a partition is actually mounted where we want it.

*** The following assumes that you have the modified Iso file contents in /mnt. Use 'ls /mnt' to prove this. ***
*** If the directory is empty, then stop and report this here. ***

Code: Select all

sudo su {If you are not already Root}
mount /dev/sdf1 /mnt1
ls /mnt1

The listing should show

Code: Select all

markerfile.txt

If not, stop and report here as something is wrong.

Code: Select all

cp -R /mnt/* /mnt1/
ls /mnt1

This listing should show the modified Iso contents as well as the 'markerfile.txt' file.
Now run 'gparted'.
Select your flashdrive partition and 'right click' on it. Select 'Unmount'.
Now set the 'boot' and 'esp' flags.

All done.

Bodge99

Unfortunately, it keeps saying that mountpoint mnt1 does not exist. And my flashdrive turns into a floppy after setting the flags, and files cannot be copied to it. I am going to leave this for now and get back to it later. Mounting the ISO can be done by right clicking and choosing "mount", by the way. What I see here is also a difference between being terminal focussed and being GUI focussed. I am the latter. For me, I don't use the terminal window unless I really have to. For you, I guess, the terminal window is the prime interface, right? I am quite comfortable with the terminal window, though. When I started in IT that was all there was ....

[willem_deboer]

Hi,

O.K. then, you appear to have an 8GB flashdrive as 'sdf'.

Format the flashdrive (again) using Mintstick (USB Stick Formatter).
Unplug the flashdrive, wait a few seconds and then reinsert it.
The system should now automount it. Something like: ( '/media/{username}/USB STICK' or even '/media/{username}/{filesystem UUID' }.
If it's a UUID, it will look something like this: 'C291-7F2A'
Try this:

Code: Select all

sudo su
ls /media/{username} {This will show what has been automounted}
touch '/media/{username}/USB STICK/markerfile.txt'
  {or..}
touch /media/{username}/C291-7F2A/markerfile.txt  

Change {username} to yours.. This create a zero length file on the flashdrive.
We're going to use this to prove that a partition is actually mounted where we want it.

*** The following assumes that you have the modified Iso file contents in /mnt. Use 'ls /mnt' to prove this. ***
*** If the directory is empty, then stop and report this here. ***

Code: Select all

sudo su {If you are not already Root}
mount /dev/sdf1 /mnt1
ls /mnt1

The listing should show

Code: Select all

markerfile.txt

If not, stop and report here as something is wrong.

Code: Select all

cp -R /mnt/* /mnt1/
ls /mnt1

This listing should show the modified Iso contents as well as the 'markerfile.txt' file.
Now run 'gparted'.
Select your flashdrive partition and 'right click' on it. Select 'Unmount'.
Now set the 'boot' and 'esp' flags.

All done.

Bodge99

Unfortunately, it keeps saying that mountpoint mnt1 does not exist. And my flashdrive turns into a floppy after setting the flags, and files cannot be copied to it. I am going to leave this for now and get back to it later. Mounting the ISO can be done by right clicking and choosing "mount", by the way. What I see here is also a difference between being terminal focussed and being GUI focussed. I am the latter. For me, I don't use the terminal window unless I really have to. For you, I guess, the terminal window is the prime interface, right? I am quite comfortable with the terminal window, though. When I started in IT that was all there was ....

And again, thank you for all your effort!

[bodge99]

Hi,

############# STOP. I've found a problem with the uploaded file.. I need to see what is going on. Reported to Host. #############

###### I've found the problem.. My router is failing.. it's sometimes sending garbage when it feels like it.. #######
###### I'll be offline until I've replaced it. I have also deleted the files on Googledrive. #######

** 'Initrd.img' differences between Cinnamon, Cinnamon Edge, Mate & Xfce. See below. **

There is something not quite right here.. It might be an idea to start again with no assumptions made.

With your file manager, delete anything in '/mnt'. Delete any other directories that you have created. e.g. '/mnt1' etc.

Format your flashdrive and copy across a text file or something else small, that you can use as a marker file. Unmount your flashdrive and reinsert it.
Prove that you can see your marker file.

Mount your Iso and copy the contents to your flashdrive.
Browse to the flashdrive and check the flashdrive contents..

Now copy over the 'grub.cfg' (overwrite the existing one in '{sdf1}/boot/grub/')
Copy the 'initrd.img' to '{sdf1}/casper/'
Finally set the flashdrive's 'boot' and 'esp' flags.

CLI equivalent:

Code: Select all

sudo su
mkdir /mnt1
mount /{path-to-isofile}/{isofilename}} /mnt
mount /dev/sdf1 /mnt1
cp -R /mnt/* /mnt1
sync

Now copy over the 'grub.cfg' (overwrite the existing one in '/mnt1/boot/grub/')
Copy the 'initrd.img' to '{sdf1}/casper/'
Finally set the flashdrive partition's 'boot' and 'esp' flags.


'Initrd.img' differences between Iso's:

I've had some time to look at the different Iso's 'initrd.lz' (the original files) and have found some differences between them.
I've now reworked all four and have them available.

The one you have is from the Mint Cinnamon 20.1 Iso.

If you require any of the others, then just ask here.

Bodge99