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Topic: Can I convert a non-EFI system disk to be EFI bootable? (Read 367 times) previous topic - next topic
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Can I convert a non-EFI system disk to be EFI bootable?

Well, it never occurred to me that I'd have trouble with UEFI, but here I am. I think the root of the problem is, as mentioned here:
https://forum.artixlinux.org/index.php/topic,1910.msg12892.html#msg12892
that I failed to boot the proper version from the flash drive. Really, I didn't know I had to look for that.

When I moved the SSD over to my other PC, the BIOS can't find any bootable media.

I'm hoping there's a recovery method that doesn't involve starting over. I've been reading:
https://wiki.artixlinux.org/Main/Installation#Boot_Loader - is suggestive, but I used the GUI installer from a live USB stick.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/GRUB#GUID_Partition_Table_%28GPT%29_specific_instructions
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/EFI_system_partition

My "test" Artix system does not have an EFI partition. The partition table is MSDOS.

Before I run off and start messing with things, I figured I'd ask here, and see whether there's hope.

I have a thought that I can possibly shrink the SDA1 partition, and make an EFI partition, then do grub-install (might be a bit more to it).

Or, I can attempt backing up SDA1, repartition the drive as GPT, with an EFI, then restore, but then I'll have a little mess with /boot in the restored partition, which will just be unused.

Hey, it isn't the end of the world if I just start over, it'll just be more time spent, and I'll have the benefit of having done it already. :P

Yes, I've read the stuff on the Arch wiki about making a list of installed packages, to use to restore:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Pacman/Tips_and_tricks - section 2.17 and following

That's fine for stuff in the repos. I have a bunch of stuff from AUR too.

I think it'd be a good idea to add some language on the Installation page, up there where it says, "Artix can either be installed through the console or the GUI installer.", to alert folks about needing to select the UEFI-enabled option.

(I'm not sure, at this point, what the boot menu options looked like when I installed. If that information is helpful, I can surely boot from the USB drive again.)

Any advice appreciated.

Update: I booted from the USB install media, and it gives me these choices:
Code: [Select]
Please select boot device:
P3: MATSHITA DVD-RAM UJ8E1
PO: CT240BXS00SSD1 (228936MB)
PNY USB 3.0 FD 1100) (62260MB)
UEFI: PNY USB 3.0 FD 1100 (62260M6)
Enter Setup
^ and v to move sellection
ENTER to select boot device
Q/q to boot using defaults
If I select the UEFI option, it boots from the main drive, not the USB.

I also went into setup, with the USB drive still plugged in, and set the UEFI PNY as the primary boot device. Still boots from the system device.

Re: Can I convert a non-EFI system disk to be EFI bootable?

Reply #1 –
Yes, speaking generally and not necessarily in the correct order while possibly omitting parts, add all the required components and partitions, rewrite your fstab, install  (be careful you choose the right location) and update grub, remake the kernel image with mkinitcpio,  look at your BIOS UEFI boot menus and / or use efibootmgr, possibly repeat some stages if you got the order wrong, and you should be fine. Check the Artix wiki re the basic install procedure. You could delete anything in the boot dir with a live usb if you are using it as a mount point now, or just cp -a then delete the contents if you might want it later.


https://wiki.artixlinux.org/Main/Installation#Partition_your_disk

Re: Can I convert a non-EFI system disk to be EFI bootable?

Reply #2 –
Wow. I mean you probably have a bios setting set to UEFI only and setting it to UEFI and legacy or just legacy should get you booted.    But yah I guess what they said.
Cat Herders of Linux

Re: Can I convert a non-EFI system disk to be EFI bootable?

Reply #3 –
Quote from: cat herders of linux – on
Wow. I mean you probably have a bios setting set to UEFI only and setting it to UEFI and legacy or just legacy should get you booted.    But yah I guess what they said.
Yeah, I had expected I'd be able to boot it by fussing with the BIOS, but apparently not. I certainly tried.
Quote from: ####### – on
... install ...
That's the key word there. If I start from scratch, with a new install, then I think my easiest option is to try to get Calamares to do an EFI-enabled system.

https://calamares.io/docs/partitions/#use-the-entire-drive
Quote
FAT32 EFI partition also created if the system is UEFI, with swap assigned if disk size allows and your distribution has a swap option set. This will remove all data and installed systems from the selected drive.
 ... you have to make a decision what partitiontable to use. Default in the installer is GPT ...
Which isn't something I thought about, since the system I'm using for this Artix install came with Win10 on it.

I can see what happens when I make sure the BIOS is set to UEFI. I suppose I might as well erase the drive, so there's no way Calamares can see an existing partition table.

Re: Can I convert a non-EFI system disk to be EFI bootable?

Reply #4 –
If it's a fresh install with no setup then you don't lose anything by re-installing. But on numerous occasions I've just copied the root dir of an existing installation to a suitably partitioned disk on another computer and made it bootable, it's just some files and config to do, like in the base install procedure, and pretty easy if you are familiar with that, plus giving much more control over the setup. If you want to use Calamares then a reinstall is a simple option. You ought to be able to dual boot W10 too, if that's what you are trying to achieve.

Re: Can I convert a non-EFI system disk to be EFI bootable?

Reply #5 –
No, not trying to dual boot. I have a Win10 box here I almost never turn on, since I use for only a few things.

The system I'm using for getting an Artix install going is being very picky about UEFI boot - it simply won't bring up the USB disk as a UEFI device, even when I set the BIOS options to UEFI only. This makes me wonder whether it'll boot from the SSD if I mange to make it a UEFI system. And that messes with my plan of avoiding a marathon weekend install - what I wanted to do was work on Artix over time, until I had a system ready to live in, and then move that system drive into my daily driver.

I'll let this situation percolate for a bit. I probably won't get back to it for a couple weeks.

Re: Can I convert a non-EFI system disk to be EFI bootable?

Reply #6 –
There's kind of a hidden menu in the BIOS of one of my laptops to add new UEFI devices, I had to read the manufacturer's documentation to find it.

Re: Can I convert a non-EFI system disk to be EFI bootable?

Reply #7 –
I ended up connecting the Artix SSD to my main system, booting from the Artix live USB, and setting it up as GPT with the proper /boot/efi partition, and re-installing. Then booted from it.

Back to the build system, no boot.

Did a web search, and found a clue: https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=353655
Quote
in some bios you have to set a master password to make chances to the bios

The "secret sauce" is to delete the secure boot keys, and then also set the boot sequence. I had deleted the keys before, but hadn't changed the boot sequence. Possibly, the option was there anyway, but I hadn't thought to change it. This particular bios was also a bit different from what I've encountered for UEFI, in that in other systems, I could use "Legacy OS" or something like that, but IIRC they would still boot using EFI. So, the method for disabling secure boot will vary. In this case, also leaving it set to "Windows UEFI" is correct.

So, I can now boot Artix over on the other system, but will have to re-install a lot of stuff.

Keywords: American Megatrends BIOS ASUS
 

Re: Can I convert a non-EFI system disk to be EFI bootable?

Reply #8 –
that's the kinda thing you would find in the arch wiki