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How to switch between installed kernels

Hello to all,

I am total beginner to Artix and to Linux in general (although I already tried several other distributions like Lubuntu, Mint, Manjaro).

On different distributions there is core-management GUI where you can browse, download and install cores. Switching between installed cores is possible on startup.

My goal was to switch to linux-lts = I always started with installation using terminal
linux-lts
linux-lts-headers

Subsequently I tried 2 approaches, both to no avail:
1.) Installing rEFInd
According to https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/REFInd
Result = I can see LTS kernel in rEFInd enviroment as second icon, but it won't start from there
2.) Update initramfs and grub.cfg
According to https://forum.artixlinux.org/index.php/topic,4167.0.html
Result = boot-loop

Could you please advise me reliable approach - step by step - how can I switch between installed kernels?

Installation ISO: 5.19.4-artix1-1 openrc
Notebook used for test-runs: HP ProBook 455 G1

Re: How to switch between installed kernels

Reply #1 –
>2.) Update initramfs and grub.cfg
>Result = boot-loop

Add these paramaters to your kernel command line when editing the grub entry: rd.debug rd.log=file

These activate debug output for the initramfs, and we can get a glimpse of what the problem might be

If you do not know what kernel parametrs are and how to add them, you can follow the Arch Wiki.

Re: How to switch between installed kernels

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Lancia – on
>2.) Update initramfs and grub.cfg
>Result = boot-loop

Add these paramaters to your kernel command line when editing the grub entry: rd.debug rd.log=file

These activate debug output for the initramfs, and we can get a glimpse of what the problem might be

If you do not know what kernel parametrs are and how to add them, you can follow the Arch Wiki.


I did not manage to add kernel parameters you recommend - sorry for my lameness.

However I tried out grub-customizer ... result was the same boot-loop, but this time I managed to note output:

[    0.010548] __common_interrupt: 1.55 No irq handler for vector
:: running early hook [udev]
Warning: /lib/modules/5.15.70-2-lts/modules.devname not found - ignoring
Starting version 251.4-1-artix
:: running hook [udev]
:: Trigerring uevents...
:: running hook [keymap]
:: Loading keymap...done.
:: performing fcsk on '/dev/sda2'
/dev/sda2: clean, 239515/7225344 files, 2714610/28874294 blocks
mount: /new_root: uknown filesystem type 'ext4' .
       dmesg(1) may have more information after failed mount system call.
You are now being dropped into an emergency shell.
sh: can't access  tty; job control turned off
[rootfs ]#

Re: How to switch between installed kernels

Reply #4 –
I found out how to launch the system, but it is FAR from optimal process.

I will repeat all my steps leading to this point:

01. installation of artix-lxqt-openrc-20220713-x86_64.iso
02. connecting to internet
03. pacman -Syu
04. pacman -S linux-lts
05. pacman -S linux-lts-headers
05. pacman -R linux
06. grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
07. mkinitcpio -p linux-lts
08. RESTART = boot-loop
09. Hitting F9 just after start = boot options
10. selected "Boot From EFI File" (all others cause return to boot-loop)
11. only 1 option: NO_LABEL,Acpi(PNP0A03,3)/Pci(11|0)/Sata(Port 0)/HD(Part1,SigF0ACB87F-0AB8-564E-B4DB-3C658D277710)
12. browse to 1 working efi file (all others cause return to boot-loop): \EFI\refind\refind_x64.efi
13. selecting \EFI\refind\refind_x64.efi launches rEFInd enviroment with 2 Artix icons
14. ICON1: "Boot EFI\Artix\grubx64.efi from NO_LABEL" = boot-loop
15. ICON2: "Boot boot\vmlinuz-linux-lts from root" = launches Artix!

Output of "efibootmgr":
BootCurrent: 0000
Timeout: 0 seconds
BootOrder: 0001,0000
Boot0000* Artix HD(1,GPT,f0acb87f-0ab8-564e-b4db-3c658d277710,0x1000,0x96000)/File(\EFI\Artix\grubx64.efi)
Boot0001* refind        HD(1,GPT,f0acb87f-0ab8-564e-b4db-3c658d277710,0x1000,0x96000)/File(EFI\refind\refind_x64.efi)

Re: How to switch between installed kernels

Reply #5 –
Source of the problem is notebook used for test-runs: HP ProBook 455 G1.

Regardless of selected Boot Mode (Legacy, UEFI Hybrid or UEFI Native) it won't allow you booting into GRUB menu.

The only option for this particular HP notebook is using rEFInd Boot Manager.

Detailed steps in order to achieve selecting among installed kernels on HP ProBook 455 G1:

01. installation of artix.iso
02. connecting to internet
03. pacman -Syu
04. pacman -S refind
05. pacman -S linux-PREFERRED_KERNEL
06. pacman -S linux-PREFERRED_KERNEL-headers
07. reboot + pressing "delete" key
08. F10 BIOS setup
09. System Config -> Boot Options -> Boot Mode: UEFI Hybrid (With CSM)
10. Boot Options -> UEFI Boot Order: 1.)Customized Boot; 2.)OS Boot Manager;...
11. Boot Options -> Define Customized Boot Option -> Add -> Enter Custom Boot Path: \EFI\refind\refind_x64.efi
12. save setting and exit
13. reboot = rEFInd enviroment with kernel selection

Procedure described in "Topic: Having trouble switching to LTS kernel" https://forum.artixlinux.org/index.php/topic,4167.0.html was working without any problems on my 2nd PC (MB GA-H310N-2.0 rev1 + i5 9400F + RTX 2070).