Grub problem

[SUDIP22]

Hello all,
I tried to install Ubuntu 16.04 in my HP Envy X360 but have faced some problems.
1. The grub does not appear when I start my computer. I have to press F9 every time I open my computer to open Ubuntu. If I do not do that then windows open every time.
2. It also does not show any wireless connections when logged in Ubuntu.

How can I solve these problems?

[WAWood]

@SUDIP22

Hello;

Allow me to welcome you to the HP forums!

Sorry, but this is just a community self-help forum staffed by volunteers helping folks with MS Windows-related problems.

For Ubuntu issues, you really need to post on the Ubuntu Forums: http://ubuntuforums.org/

Folks there deal with Ubuntu installations all the time and can provide the detailed assistance you need.

In the meantime, here is some information about installing Ubuntu in UEFI systems: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2147295

Good Luck

[LuigiWriter]

I am sorry, but this is a HP unique problem when installing any Non-Windows Operating Systems. There is only one other manufacturer who presents this problem with their BIOS programming. Please aleart other HP volunteers to this.

Even in HP computers bought in the last two years, the HP BIOS will only look for and load "bootmgfw.efi" which is the Microsoft boot loader file who's entries are Windows 8 and later specific and exclusive.

It will Only boot Windows.

Debian distros of which Ubuntu is a part, uses the Grub2 EFI file "grubx64.efi" or "grubx32.efi" who's entries are Lunix and Debian specific which also has the option of "chaining" or passing the boot process on to other Operating System's boot loaders including Windows. [Much more freindly]

The workaround is to rename grubx64.efi or grubx32.efi to bootmgfw.efi and place this file in not one but three different directories [to cover BIOS varients] Namely:

This requires using Linux [Debian, Ubuntu, etc] Terminal commands. [These instructions apply only to 2012 and later manufacture Hard Disks which have or can have EFI boot partitions added.]

Get into the EFI directory [cd = See Directory]

cd /mnt/EFI

Then create the following directories [mkdir = Make Directory]

mkdir Microsoft

mkdir Microsoft/boot

mkdir boot

Then copy and rename the existing grubx64.efi or 32.efi to the directories just created [cp = CoPy and the space between ….efi [and] /mnt... below is the equivelent of the word “to”]

cp /mnt/EFI/ubuntu/grubx64.efi /mnt/EFI/Microsoft/boot/bootmgfw.efi

cp /mnt/EFI/ubuntu/grubx64.efi /mnt/EFI/Microsoft/bootmgfw.efi

cp /mnt/EFI/ubuntu/grubx64.efi /mnt/EFI/boot/bootmgfw.efi

Confirm bootmgfw.efi file is in proper locations with:

ls -l /EFI/boot

ls -l /EFI/Microsoft/boot

ls -l /EFI/ubuntu

Indead, For any other problems booting or otherwize refer to any and all of the following help web sites.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UEFI

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WikiGuide

http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Teaching/Unix/

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2#Links

https://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/

These are just the basic ones. There are plenty more. Search using your particular distros name [i.e.: Lbuntu] or a quote of any message you are presented with.

[LuigiWriter]

I should also ad that since this is an HP related problem, many at any of the Lunix forums are un-aware and will lead the unsuspecting HP user up a number of dead ends. I am afraid I am one of those victoms. Being percistant I finally hit on the right question and had an OMG instant. :catvery-happy:

[PHewson]

First - thank you so much for this information! I have been scripting and compiling for over a week to get an HP 840 to boot for a custom Debian distro using Grub. The darn computer just locks when I boot it. Now I have real clue to solve this riddle.

This bios seems to have been slapped together with bubble gum and duct tape. So many options, none of them work, and no where is there any documentation that the path for the EFI boot loader are hard coded. And the answer? Go to Umbuto? Ridiculous. 

What other manufacture do you know of or suspect might have this same behavior with Grub? 

[LuigiWriter]

Yes, glad to have cleared some of the fog out.

I say some, because there is another glitch you may be hitting.  It has me stopped cold for now.

The hidden partition problem.

Even removing all my data and reformatting the hard drive keeps Lbuntu** from  installing grub2.

Here is a work around and some further recommended reading.

Go to

      https://www.supergrubdisk.org/super-grub2-disk/

for the intro, then

     https://www.supergrubdisk.org/category/download/supergrub2diskdownload/super-grub2-disk-stable/

and download the latest Super Grub2 disk

1. Boot up and set the bios boot order so that the DVD loads first [probably you have been there and done that.]

2. Load the Super Grub2 disk at boot.

3. Select [Everything]

4. Look for your Debian boot loader.

5. If none, then you know it did not install correctly, or the install was interrupted.

     If several, select the most recient.

6. You should see your Distro loading.

If it works, as I say a work around, but more info on what is there.

As to the HP problem, Find out everything you can about backing up, then removing the hidden partition.

Or, [and why did I not think of this months ago? ] if you have a non-OEM formatted hard disk lying around [Not formatted as a boot drive at HP] or can purchace a second hard drive,  put it in as the primary and boot drive, and install the OS distro on it. [It could work. It would have to be USB compatable as that is how the hard drive is connected to the motherboard.]

Check the specs and make sure there is an internal USB port on the main board for a second drive.  If so, I may just go shopping myself!   The cheapist, new, hard drive today should have more than enough storage for a Lunix distro. I hate the idea of spending more mony but it could save a bunch of time.

The hidden partition will be no problem for a data disk drive.

** One of the light Debian-Ubuntu versions that the HP110-220z processor can handle as Unity would require not only a processor replacement but a motherboard replacement.]

[LuigiWriter]

The other computer producers who use that same BIOS. But cannot quote right now.

Also I would give up on dual boot.  Microsoft will screw Grub with every update. [on purpose? Naw!]

Please let me know how you do on this because as you can see from my other reply, I am still stuck,

[PaoloHolzl]

Is it possible to correct it using under Ubuntu efibootmgr

(but attenction in ubuntu don't reboot, in some version reboot corrupt EFI, do only shutdown).

Here you can find a tutorial How To

[LuigiWriter]

Yep, even after more research, just giving up for months I deleted everything Windows I could find, but installs of Ubuntu using gparted kept failing. 

Finally I came across a rumor was that HP had succumed to a microsoft demand for a hidden boot partion, making it a windows exclusive machine.

What was happening was that gparted could not replace the DOS [Yes, DOS] partition table but was not putting up any error messages to that effect.

With 18.04.1 LTS live disk things changed slightly. At least grub was now showing up, but then the boot would fail.

Every time I tried to reinstall, I would be looking at the same original partitions created for the dual boot.

But now Booting using the "repair" option in grub would bring a [Root=???] error. Ahah, moment. The root partition was not getting created.

The final solution with Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS was to select the option that reformatted the whole drive, placing everything in one partition, bypassing gparted.  This finally removed the hidden partition and Ubuntu and I are happy now.

If I get time I will use Gparted Live to create a seperate /user partition.

Sorry this has taken so long for me to figure out. Just didn't have all the information needed until now.