In BIOS non-legacy mode, Grub countdown doesn't start

[BryanFRitt]

In boot non-legacy mode, Grub countdown doesn't start (and can't start any OS/Change selection, etc...) with external keyboard/mouse attached.

Wanted to add to my prior thread* that that the issue also happens when just the external keyboard is attached. (even with mouse, etc... detached.)

Note: Somewhere I got the impression that the mouse identifies as a keyboard.

In addition to enabling legacy mode, and/or taking out the external keyboard/mouse, I can press F1 or F9 which will show up something, exit that, then the countdown, etc... will happen for that boot, even with external keyboard/mouse attached. (Does that mean BIOS isn't finishing something in time for Grub?)

Note: I have 'secure boot' working for Linux and Windows, but to enable 'secure boot', I have to disable legacy mode in the BIOS, and disabling legacy mode causes the issue with Grub/keyboard/mouse that this thread is about.

<P>*Previous thread: "In boot non-legacy mode, Grub countdown doesn't start unless mouse is not attached." is now locked. "It has been a while since anyone has replied. <A href="https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/forums/postpage/board-id/Laptop-Freeze">Simply ask a new question if you would like to start the discussion again</A>."</P>

[ub6424]

Hello @BryanFRitt 

(1) Change the boot order of the devices in the BIOS so that the first device is (always) the hard disk containing the masterboot record of your operating system ( whatever it is ).

(2) Check in the BIOS if USB charging is enabled when the notebook is turned off and disable it if this option exists.

[BryanFRitt]

"(1) Change the boot order of the devices in the BIOS so that the first device is (always) the hard disk containing the masterboot record of your operating system ( whatever it is ).

(2) Check in the BIOS if USB charging is enabled when the notebook is turned off and disable it if this option exists."

This is the way I had/have it set up, even tried the opposite way(s), and the same results occur.

[ub6424]

HP support for your notebook is limited to Windows operating systems only...

You should install/use only one operating system.

If you:
(1) install Linux, turn off Secure Boot.
or
(2) install Windows, turn on Secure Boot.

Dual boot will cause problems in your current situation.

[BryanFRitt]

"HP support for your notebook is limited to Windows operating systems only..."

That's one of the reasons why I'm here instead of contacting HP Support.

"You should install/use only one operating system."

Um... No. Everybody is different, and I'm fine with both.

"If you: (1) install Linux, turn off Secure Boot."

Well even though it's a lot harder to get Linux working with Secure Boot, it's still possible. I've successfully got Linux set up so I can enable Secure Boot without issue. Shim, MOK, Kernel, NVidia, Oracle, and other modules are signed and setup as needed. And I can do what's needed in case any of them change. Note: Linux will still work if I turn off Secure Boot, and I bet for most people, Secure Boot in Linux (as it is now), isn't worth the effort.

"If you: (2) install Windows, turn on Secure Boot."
Windows will still work if Secure Boot is disabled. (unless something has changed since I last tried it) It just won't have the added 'protection' of Secure Boot.

"Dual boot will cause problems in your current situation."

The problem isn't that it's dual/multi boot.

This problem happens when the BIOS has legacy mode disabled, irregardless of rather or not Secure boot is enabled. Secure Boot requires legacy mode to be disabled. Legacy mode being disabled is what I'm calling non-legacy mode. Non-legacy mode can have Secure Boot enabled or disabled.

	Secure Boot disabled	Secure Boot enabled
Legacy mode enabled	valid mode, no Grub countdown issue	invalid mode combination
Non-Legacy mode (aka Legacy mode disabled)	valid mode, has Grub countdown issue (*)	valid mode, has Grub countdown issue

(*) perhaps I should try this combination again, It's been a while last I tried it, and I've probably updated things since last try.

[JKenn1]

Hi Bryan,

Have you tried updating the grub file to display the menu:

GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=menu

GRUB_TIMEOUT=30

[BryanFRitt]

---

@JKenn1 wrote:

Hi Bryan,

Have you tried updating the grub file to display the menu:

GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=menu

GRUB_TIMEOUT=30

---

I haven't tried the "GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=menu" until I read your post.

edited /etc/default/grub

added in a "GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=menu" line near the already existing "GRUB_TIMEOUT" line

saved the file

sudo update-grub

reboot

Just tried and it seems to be the same as before.

"In addition to enabling legacy mode, and/or taking out the external keyboard/mouse, I can press F1 or F9 which will show up something, exit that, then the countdown, etc... will happen for that boot, even with external keyboard/mouse attached. (Does that mean BIOS isn't finishing something in time for Grub?)"

Currently on BIOS F.46 Rev.A dated May 20, 2022

[JKenn1]

If you press SHIFT in legacy mode does the menu appear?

I looked at the BIOS version and can only see that the UEFI code has been updated again - this may be part of the issue as Intel have been phasing out legacy since 2020 and the UEFI standard seems to be tightening up all the time!

[BryanFRitt]

"If you press SHIFT in legacy mode does the menu appear?"

Not sure what you mean by this. The Grub menu always showed up, it's the countdown starting and ability to select efi to load part that doesn't work. (when in non-legacy mode with external keyboard or mouse are attached)

In non-legacy mode I can detach all external keyboards/mice before boot, and reconnect them after the countdown begins to avoid the freeze.