Install a Linux distribution on UEFI BIOS

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jedi08 Posted messages 564 Status Membre -  
darkleopard Posted messages 7926 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   -
Hello,

I don't often ask questions, but for once here is mine:

I bought a 2-in-1 laptop, Lenovo Yoga 13 Pro, Intel M5, 8 GB RAM, SSD 256 on which I upgraded from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 version 1607. I would like to boot from a USB stick to display and try a Linux distro.
But here's the thing, I have a BIOS/UEFI!
I entered the BIOS as I have always done until now, but I can't set USB as the first option in the boot sequence. Secure Boot is enabled as well as UEFI.
If someone has a similar model, I would appreciate a solution, thank you.
Best regards

Configuration: Windows / Chrome 52.0.2743.116

5 réponses

Andromède
 
3 things to respond to all this.

1. Phil2k is not wrong. Rufus tends to format oddly in NTFS, while we requested FAT32 due to UEFI. Unetbootin works one time out of two. So, my question was justified.

2. I can't believe that you, jns55, are suggesting disabling secure boot when you know, like I do, that Ubuntu versions have had a recognized signature since at least 14.04.

3. The requester "knows" what needs to be done and looks down on people. Meanwhile, he is not asking for help and is managing on his own.
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Andromède
 
And with all due respect ...

Let’s add that what you say about the 32-bit version is not accurate either. Maxire, to quote him, posted a tutorial on the Ubuntu forum last year explaining how to install a 32-bit Ubuntu in UEFI.

https://forum.ubuntu-fr.org/viewtopic.php?pid=18424201#p18424201

Moreover, many low-end tablets use a 32-bit W8 or W10 in UEFI.
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jns55
 
@Andromeda:
I quote myself:
"start by disabling secure boot, if your Linux distribution does not have a recognized signature" because nothing indicates that Jedi08 wants to install Ubuntu. The discussion deviated to Ubuntu following phil2k's intervention.
It is understood that the key must be formatted in FAT32 for it to boot, even though it is possible to install the Linux distribution on a key in another format.
As for UNetbootin, I use it almost exclusively and I have rarely had issues with it (once with an exotic distro).
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jedi08 Posted messages 564 Status Membre 118
 
Know that I do not look down on anyone, as you say, I am simply asking a question about a USB boot that does not work on Lenovo in 64-bit mode, UEFI, and that there is no way to do it in the BIOS/UEFI that I have opened several times. As for the answer you are waiting for, I “create” my bootable USB drives with Lili USB Creator, which has always worked until today.
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Andromède
 
@jns55.

Secure boot will never prevent the USB drive from booting. It will prevent the system present on the USB drive from launching, which is different.

If a USB drive does not boot in UEFI, regardless of the OS, it is either poorly made or a BIOS option prevents booting from an external device.

Moreover, Lenovo devices have a key or key combination called "one key" that provides access to additional boot options. Finally, an advanced restart of W8/W10 offers a devices tab that should allow booting from the drive if it’s properly made. If needed, we can test another drive. A topic like this is resolved this way one out of three times on the Ubuntu forum.
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jns55 > Andromède
 
<i>Maxire, to quote him, posted a tutorial on the Ubuntu forum last year explaining how to install a 32-bit Ubuntu in UEFI.</i> <br />That's correct, but it's a hack; there is another one for Debian, but in both cases, there are issues with hardware recognition. So it's a makeshift solution for fun, but to my knowledge, there is no 32-bit Linux distribution capable of booting on a 32-bit UEFI firmware. The 32-bit version of Q4OS seems to contain everything necessary, but I don’t have a PC with a 32-bit UEFI firmware to verify it. Canonical refuses to port Ubuntu to 32-bit UEFI (too many problems according to them). <br /> <br /> <i>Moreover, many low-end touchscreen tablets use a 32-bit W8 or W10 in UEFI</i> <br />That's true, and for the moment, there's no possibility (apart from random hacks) to install Linux on them... The Linux community should react, but for now, there really aren't any signs in that direction.
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Andromède
 
Hi,

How did you create your Linux USB drive?
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jedi08 Posted messages 564 Status Membre 118
 
Hello,

The issue doesn't come from how I made my USB key (I’ve been doing this for 10 years), but how to boot this key on LENOVO YOGA 13 Pro, whose BIOS/UEFI configuration is particular.
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phil2k Posted messages 10841 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   2 339
 
Hello

What if you answered the question posed by Andromeda?
Creating a bootable key is different if it is intended for UEFI booting or not.....
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jns55 > phil2k Posted messages 10841 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention  
 
Hello,

"Creating a bootable key is different if it is intended for UEFI booting or not ....."
Where did you see that? The same USB key can be used in both EFI mode and legacy mode; it's the booting method that changes: in the boot menu, you need to choose the option that allows booting in EFI mode, otherwise it will boot in legacy mode.
To return to the initial question: start by disabling secure boot, if your Linux distribution does not have a recognized signature (but that may not be enough...
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jedi08 Posted messages 564 Status Membre 118
 
Hello JNS55,

Okay, here’s a start to the answer that I appreciate. So if I disable Secure Boot, what happens?
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phil2k Posted messages 10841 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   2 339 > jns55
 
The same USB key can be used in both EFI mode and legacy mode

That is not correct.
Depending on how the USB key is created, it will boot in UEFI or not.

Furthermore, some Linux distributions do not allow booting in UEFI
https://doc.ubuntu-fr.org/uefi?redirect=1#versions_d_ubuntu_amorcables_en_mode_efi
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jedi08 Posted messages 564 Status Membre 118
 
Hello everyone,

I'm coming back to my boot question. I created a bootable USB stick of 7 GB on which I placed Voyager 16.04 LTS using the LiliUsbCreateur software. I also tried with Rufus.

But here it is, I still can't boot from this USB stick at the Windows 10 startup. In the BIOS, I have no option to change the boot order, only Enabled and Disabled.

What should I do?
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jns55
 
I doubt that Voyager has a signature recognized by secure boot... In that case, you need to disable secure boot
Instead of trying to modify the boot order in UEFI, go through the UEFI boot menu by pressing the key briefly indicated on the screen during power on.
Is it indeed a 64-bit version that you downloaded?

There are many BIOSes that are restricted, which prevents access to certain options

https://doc.ubuntu-fr.org/liste_portables_lenovo
https://doc.ubuntu-fr.org/lenovo_yoga_13
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Andromède
 
Disable secure-boot if you want... It won't affect functionality, anyway.

As I mentioned earlier, we do 2 tests (to which I add 2 other options):

1. We try to reboot from the USB key using the advanced boot menu of W10. The USB key should be offered as a bootable device.

2. We test another USB key. This is often the cause of the problem. Some keys are not recognized by certain BIOS, oddly enough.

Confirmed here:

https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Linux-Discussion/Yoga-13-USB-boot/td-p/1244523

3. We can finally use the one key button (special button or F12). If the key is recognized, it will appear.

4. We go through a DVD, external if necessary.

As for the BIOS, some UEFI are locked by the manufacturer. On others, you need to enable the CSM option to boot from a USB key. On some, you need to set Other systems or old systems to enabled...

Nothing more to add.
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jedi08 Posted messages 564 Status Membre 118
 
Thank you Andromede and jns55, I will test what you told me. I will return to the site as soon as I can. Since I have 5 PCs, one of which is 64-bit, I just realized that I had mixed up the various 32 and 64-bit ISOs stored on my external drive. Maybe I put a 32-bit ISO instead of a 64-bit ISO.
My bad! I will try again as soon as I can.
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jedi08 Posted messages 564 Status Membre 118
 
I just "made" a USB key with Xubuntu 16.04 64-bit. I booted on the Lenovo PC using the tiny button next to the power button. There it worked because it offered me the boot option for the USB key. However, for certain distros, particularly mini-Linuxes, it doesn't work; maybe I need to disable secure boot. We'll see, I haven't tried that.

Thanks again, it's resolved.
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Andromède
 
Oh yes... Let's say that...
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jedi08 Posted messages 564 Status Membre 118 > Andromède
 
Why: Let's say that!, clarify your thoughts.
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tontonsebastien Posted messages 3532 Status Contributeur 479
 
Hi
just for info, out of curiosity,
I created a USB key in FAT32, copied Voyager 16.04 onto it, Secure Boot enabled, restarted the PC, and it boots fine in UEFI, no issues (in 64 bits, of course)
it's been a while since I tried an Ubuntu, I'm on live now, it hasn't changed, I find my bearings right away, quite pleasant ^^
keep it up
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Andromède
 
Hello TS,

Linux Voyager, "based on Xubuntu 16.04.1 LTS"... Nothing to add.
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darkleopard Posted messages 7926 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   1 184 > Andromède
 
hello.

on the other hand, secure boot and UEFI are problematic (particularly for me) on a Debian Jessie for example, it only works in legacy mode.
same with Manjaro, just in legacy.
same with Fedora.

but everything that runs on Ubuntu works perfectly.
for proof.
triple boot

Mint Cinnamon
Cubuntu Mate
and Ubuntu

and it runs perfectly

I wanted to try Kubuntu, but I'm having persistent graphics issues, haven't found solutions yet..
even KDE crashes when I install it on Ubuntu....

that's my little experience as a new Linux user
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Andromède
 
Hi,

I confirm that installing Debian in UEFI is not easy. Despite the Debian website. But it can be done, the same goes for Fedora.... I still have some tutorials lying around on ccm...
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darkleopard Posted messages 7926 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   1 184
 
I confirm that it seems simple on the Debian site, just like for Ubuntu, but personally, I still haven't succeeded..

I need to get my hands on your tutorials then ;)
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Andromède
 
Debian has the same flaw as Fedora. The automatic installation creates an additional EFI partition that causes chaos and tends to crash Windows.

http://debian-facile.org/doc:install:uefi

Instead, you should use the existing EFI partition and assign it the mount point /boot/efi. This way, GRUB will be added to the Windows boot files.

If the PC is not pre-programmed to boot from bootmgr (like Toshiba or HP), it should boot, even with secure boot.
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darkleopard Posted messages 7926 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   1 184 > Andromède
 
I never choose the automatic installation.
But the manual one, so I can manage it myself..

But with Debian, I can't even boot my USB stick, which was booting a month ago..
So good luck figuring out what's going on..

My goal would be to do
mint
ubuntu
debian or fedora

and Windows on my second SSD safely.

But for that, I first need to be able to boot from my USB, even after trying it 1,000 times, it gets stuck..
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Andromède
 
Check that the key contains the file /boot/efi/bootx64.efi.
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darkleopard Posted messages 7926 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   1 184 > Andromède
 
The file is indeed present.
It's the first thing I thought to check..
This USB drive was created with LiLi without persistence.
Like all my other live Linux USB drives...
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