Installed system doesn't boot w/o UEFI

We have got a new computer Dell optiplex XE3.

The new computer doesn’t have option to boot legacy from hard disk.

I can install SUSE from an USB-connected-external-DVD But when I tries to start boot the installed system it will not boot.

But a strange thing is that it is possible to boot from harddisk if I have the USB-connected-external-DVD connected when I boot.

Does anyone have a idea if it is possible to solve this system and still use SUSE11SP3?
Bios setting? Partitioning? UEFI settings?

Regards
Anders

[QUOTE=andersgulliksson1;56762]We have got a new computer Dell optiplex XE3.

The new computer doesn’t have option to boot legacy from hard disk.

I can install SUSE from an USB-connected-external-DVD But when I tries to start boot the installed system it will not boot.

But a strange thing is that it is possible to boot from harddisk if I have the USB-connected-external-DVD connected when I boot.

Does anyone have a idea if it is possible to solve this system and still use SUSE11SP3?
Bios setting? Partitioning? UEFI settings?

Regards
Anders[/QUOTE]
Hi and welcome to the Forum :slight_smile:
I’m guessing it’s using elilo to boot? In your system BIOS, do you have secure boot disabled, fastboot disabled?

When the system is booted via USB, can you switch to root user and post the output from;

efibootmgr -v
ls /boot/efi/EFI/
lsblk

Thank you for the answer Malcolm.

Unfortunately I don’t have the efiboomgr program nor the /boot/efi folder.
I installed the elilo rpm and googling if I can use that.

Is there a way to set up my system for EFI boot? ( SUSE11SP3)

Regards
Anders

[QUOTE=andersgulliksson1;56766]Thank you for the answer Malcolm.

Unfortunately I don’t have the efiboomgr program nor the /boot/efi folder.
I installed the elilo rpm and googling if I can use that.

Is there a way to set up my system for EFI boot? ( SUSE11SP3)

Regards
Anders[/QUOTE]
Hi
Can you post the infoemation from the lsblk command (see if you have a /boot/efi partition)…

Are you happy to re-install the system if need be? Just need to make sure there is a small partition ~260MB type ef00 and I’m guessing since it’s UEFI only the disk is gpt and not dos.

gdisk -l /dev/sda

Or is this an nvme device?

[QUOTE=malcolmlewis;56767]Hi
Can you post the infoemation from the lsblk command (see if you have a /boot/efi partition)…

Are you happy to re-install the system if need be? Just need to make sure there is a small partition ~260MB type ef00 and I’m guessing since it’s UEFI only the disk is gpt and not dos.

gdisk -l /dev/sda

Or is this an nvme device?[/QUOTE]
Hi
Another thought, do you really need SLE 11 SP3 running on real hardware, perhaps look at virtualization to run an instance of SLE 11 SP3?

linux:~ # fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0009e720

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 2048 4208639 2103296 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda2 * 4208640 328400895 162096128 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 328400896 652593151 162096128 83 Linux
/dev/sda4 652593152 976773119 162089984 83 Linux

linux:~ # lsblk
NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO MOUNTPOINT
sda 8:0 0 465.8G 0
├─sda1 8:1 0 2G 0 [SWAP]
├─sda2 8:2 0 154.6G 0 /
├─sda3 8:3 0 154.6G 0
└─sda4 8:4 0 154.6G 0 /home
sr0 11:0 1 1024M 0
sr1 11:1 1 4.3G 0

[QUOTE=andersgulliksson1;56771]linux:~ # lsblk
NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO MOUNTPOINT
sda 8:0 0 465.8G 0
├─sda1 8:1 0 2G 0 [SWAP]
├─sda2 8:2 0 154.6G 0 /
├─sda3 8:3 0 154.6G 0
└─sda4 8:4 0 154.6G 0 /home
sr0 11:0 1 1024M 0
sr1 11:1 1 4.3G 0[/QUOTE]
Hi
So there is no efi partition, I’m guessing it’s using the install media as UEFI booting…

To fix, it’s a re-install, else what about a later version of SLED and use virtualization?

I have reinstalled a couple of times but always come to this setup.

Do you think is possible to come to a solution with suse11sp3?

In worst case I Will try Virtual box installation…

If I upgrade to newer Suse version I got problem with compability to installed base.

[QUOTE=andersgulliksson1;56775]I have reinstalled a couple of times but always come to this setup.

Do you think is possible to come to a solution with suse11sp3?

In worst case I Will try Virtual box installation…

If I upgrade to newer Suse version I got problem with compability to installed base.[/QUOTE]
Hi
That’s because the disk itself is incorrectly configured…

So, from the install media boot into rescue mode and wipe the disk…

wipefs -a /dev/sda4
wipefs -a /dev/sda3
wipefs -a /dev/sda2
wipefs -a /dev/sda1
wipefs -a /dev/sda
gdisk /dev/sda

Now in gdisk create (press n for each new partition to create);
partition1 size 260M type ef00 (/boot/efi)
partition2 size 154G type 8300 (/)
partition3 size 154G type 8300 (?)
partition4 size 154G type 8300 (/home)
partition5 size what’s left type 8200 (swap)
[/CODE]
Press w to write and save

Format the efi partition to be sure…

mkfs.vfat /dev/sda1

Reboot the system, now you need to ensure you press (I think F12) to get to the hardware boot menu, here you want to select the install media and it should indicate UEFI, if not there should be an option to browse to an efi file, if so browse the install media for the elilo efi file and make sure you boot from that.

At the partitioning point, select the expert option and configure partitions and select sda1 to mount as /boot/efi and not to format, rest as required.

At the final summary screen before starting the install, ensure elilo is the bootloader and you should be good to go.

Thank you very much!
I Will try tomorow
I dont now if I have gdisk program.

Is it possible to use fdisk in the same way?

[QUOTE=andersgulliksson1;56781]Thank you very much!
I Will try tomorow
I dont now if I have gdisk program.

Is it possible to use fdisk in the same way?[/QUOTE]
Hi
If you have a SLE 15 DVD to boot in rescue mode, or an openSUSE Tumbleweed Rescue Live USB and use that?

Select Live tab from here: https://software.opensuse.org/distributions/tumbleweed

If your not sure about anything, just ask :slight_smile:

Hi
I got error message on one partion:

#wipefs -a /dev/sda2
wipefs: WARNING: /dev/sda2 appears to contain ‘dos’ partition table

I will try if I can solve this before I continue

I solved the wipefs warning problem.

Next question
The gdisk prompt to set First and last sector. How do write ?

[QUOTE=andersgulliksson1;56816]I solved the wipefs warning problem.

Next question
The gdisk prompt to set First and last sector. How do write ?[/QUOTE]
Hi
Let the system set the First sector, so just press enter here, for the Last sector enter the size of the partiton, eg for sda1 the last sector would be 260M then press enter. select type ef00 press enter. Then press n again for the next one, etc.

You can do it all via the installer as well if you want the critical thing for UEFI booting is running gdisk to ensure it’s set to a gpt type disk.

I have tried to follow your instruction.

I have no permissions to insert a picture here, but during the installation it looks like…

Booting

Lilo boot loader is not supported

  • Boot Loader Type: LILO
  • Location: /dev/sda2
  • Sections:
  • SLED11_SP3 (default)
  • Failsafe

Try to install but the installation stopped at “Finishing Basic installation” “Installing boot manager”

Any idea whats wrong?

[QUOTE=andersgulliksson1;56868]I have tried to follow your instruction.

I have no permissions to insert a picture here, but during the installation it looks like…

Booting

Lilo boot loader is not supported

  • Boot Loader Type: LILO
  • Location: /dev/sda2
  • Sections:
  • SLED11_SP3 (default)
  • Failsafe

Try to install but the installation stopped at “Finishing Basic installation” “Installing boot manager”

Any idea whats wrong?[/QUOTE]
Hi
Not ELILO? Let me try an install on a spare laptop here…

[QUOTE=malcolmlewis;56872]Hi
Not ELILO? Let me try an install on a spare laptop here…[/QUOTE]
Hi
So on the ‘Expert’ Tab at Installation Overview, I see;

'Booting'
Boot loader type: ELILO
Create EFI BootManager Entry SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop SP3

I booted from a DVD image as well, so I would guess it’s not booting in EFI mode… So when you selected F12 to boot it said it was UEFI?

Hi

In the “Installation overview” I only have GRUB, LILO, “Do Not Install Any Boot Loader” options.

What DVD-image do you use?

Hi
SLED 11 SP3 Install DVD on a USB attached DVD drive…

So in your system BIOS, secure and fast boot are disabled? When you
boot the system and select the ‘system’ bootloader eg F12, do you get a
boot menu to select where to boot. Perhaps take a photo and upload to
say imagebam or https://susepaste.org/


Cheers Malcolm °¿° SUSE Knowledge Partner (Linux Counter #276890)
SLES 15 | GNOME Shell 3.26.2 | 4.12.14-25.28-default
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