Setting up Dual-boot with Windows 8 and Ubuntu 12.10 screwed up GRUB

Question

I recently purchased an Acer Aspire M5-581T that came with Windows 8 preloaded.

After several attempts at trying to install Ubuntu 12.10 64-bit, I finally managed to boot from a LiveUSB and install it. However, due to Windows finicky UEFI setup, this didn't all go as planned.

In order to boot from a LiveUSB, I entered my BIOS and changed the boot mode from UEFI to Legacy BIOS. This allowed me to change the boot order and properly install Ubuntu 12.10 onto my partitioned drive.

Ubuntu was working fine, but when I rebooted, there was no GRUB menu asking whether I'd like to load into Windows or Linux. It simply loaded me directly into Linux as if Windows wasn't there.

I figured it was due to my being in Legacy BIOS boot mode, so I changed it back to UEFI. Then, only Windows would load, with no menu for choosing Ubuntu.

In retrospect, I'd have kept this over the disaster that is currently my computer. I went back into Linux by switching into Legacy BIOS again and install boot-repair. I ran it on the Recommended Settings, thinking it would install my much needed boot menu. It didn't.

Now, I can't get either OS to load. When I reboot in UEFI, I get errors stating: Windows Boot Manager has been blocked by the current security policy and then HDD0: has been blocked...etc. I can't disable Secure Boot while still loading in UEFI mode.

Booting in Legacy BIOS leaves me in the grub rescue prompt with the error file '/boot/grub/i386-pc/normal.mod'.

Prior to rebooting after running boot-repair, I was given the pastebin: paste.ubuntu.com/1618833 and was told that my .efi file was located in sda2/EFI/ubuntu/grubx64.efi.

I am becoming desperate. Please advise me in loading into at least one of my operating systems...

NOTE: I have read many of the similar posts, but none address the problem with necessary depth. Most others' problems were solved by boot-repair, not caused by it.

Answer 1

I guess your mistake has been to install two operating systems (Windows and ubuntu) in different modes:

1. Windows 8 is istalled in UEFI Secure mode

2. ubuntu is installed in BIOS Legacy mode

You can only switch between the modes via the BIOS/UEFI.

Please try the following:

1. Restart you system with the power-button

2. Immendiately thereafter press to enter the BIOS/UEFI

3. Press F10 and set the system to UEFI Boot and Secure boot enabled. Then save the settings

4. Press F9 to enter the "boot options". In the "boot manager" try the listed files one by one. Hopefully one boots. Alternatively let us know what is listed there.

Answer 2

I did the same thing day one with the same laptop! Freaked me out. But it got better. I really learned about the UEFI bootloader and intel.

you need to youtube "intel uefi" . intel puts out a series of three videos were they install windows 8 and Ubuntu 12.10 on a machine with a uefi type device.

What you need is a shim added to the bootloader. All is explained in the videos. Just make sure you dont lock your bootloader. I mean secure boot. That locked me out of the machine totally. It would not boot from usb, cd, anything. Its like locking your keys in your car with the engine running.

After all said and done, i now dual boot with grub2. At start up i see my options for ubuntu or windows. For three months, ive used windows, three times.

I know you got into your machine by now, but this post is for others now discovering the wonderful world of the uefi bootloader with secure boot! Thanks malicious hackers.