KaOS installs but doesn't boot

LostLombard

Hi all,

KaOS 2018.08 seemed to install alongside Windows fine, but it won't boot.

Error message: mount: /new_root: can't find UUID....

I added the boot file to the secure boot list and it will pass to Windeows fine, just won't boot KaOS.

Happy oto provide any further info.

demm

See the Download page, secure boot is not supported. https://kaosx.us/pages/download/#known-issues

LostLombard

Thanks, but I think this notebook doesn't support anything other than UEFI secure boot.

I tried the install with secure boot off and that didn't work either. No boot menu appeared and it always booted to Windows (even if the liveCD did bring up the boot menu).

Seems the HDD requires secure boot to offer any options.

Should I attempt an install with legacy (non-UEFI) boot?

leo4kusuma

LostLombard After fresh install EFI KaOS, you have to boot into EFI/BIOS, then you will find KaOS boot on the boot list.

LostLombard

Happy to use this notebook as a test case to overcome this issue if that will help.

demm

Secure boot is handled in the system BIOS (UEFI-BIOS), no difference if you use legacy boot or not, make sure you do the install with it set to off. How are you setting secure boot to off?
See the link in the download page, secure boot will not be implemented in KaOS, it purely is a Windows feature (and mostly stopping you from using your hardware with anything BUT Windows).

LostLombard

demm Yes, when the install was done when secure boot was off.
But the boot process does not show anything related to KaOS.
If HDD is before Windows Boot Manager it still goes to Windows.
Enabling secure boot does allow me to set KaOS option in boot menu, but I understand this is not supported.

What other info can I provide?

leo4kusuma

LostLombard After fresh install, enter into EFI/BIOS, then look at your panel on boot list. Choose boot from the boot list as shown as KaOS

demm

Make sure KaOS is visible in the UEFI-BIOS boot menu options, and set it as first, not the HDD. It will show as systemd-boot in your UEFI-BIOS settings options.

LostLombard

demm I think this is the problem. You can't change the boot menu options without enabling secure boot 🙁.

I will send some pics of the bios settings.

raul338

leo4kusuma
Press F7, then go to the boot menu. DIsable the Secure Boot option (the boot mode will be uefi, not legacy)

demm

raul338 Press F7, then go to the boot menu. DIsable the Secure Boot option (the boot mode will be uefi, not legacy)

Every vendor uses different keys to access the BIOS settings, it can be F7, but just as likely F12, F11, F5, DEL or Esc

raul338

demm Yes, for Asus the F7 goes to full bios options, not to enter the bios
(Its in the picture)

I assume @leo4kusuma already know how to enter bios

LostLombard

Oh yes, just to let everyone know I had secure boot turned off and followed the proper installation procedure. KaOS partitioned and installed fine but just won't boot. The HDD is the first boot order, before Windows Boot Manager. Here are the screenshots.

AcerBios1

AcerBios2

AcerBios3

AcerBios4

BootFail

eqlucky

LostLombard
I also have an Acer with almost the same (and shitty) BIOS. Just a couple of questions:
1.- Did you disable the "fast boot" feature on Windows? That's the most common problem with dual boot systems.
2.- I saw you've already (like I always do with this BIOS) enabled secure boot, selected the .efi file with the former enabled and then disabled secure boot. But, did you install it in the Windows EFI partition? If so, I'd recommend to make another 512MB fat32 partition to install KaOS efi there. I know it sounds silly, but worked for me.
That won't let you choose Windows within systemd-boot menu, but you could always select it in the EFI menu.

And @demm has a good point about the UUIDs: Check the partition schema carefully.

demm

Better post the full installation.log, since the above shows, the UUIDs changed. See:
http://kaosx.us/docs
Also add the lspci & blkid output. The last image also shows if you reuse the boot partition without formatting and had a previous KaOS install on it.

bvbfan

Windows has intelligent feature to note shout down but hibernate, you can see it on 4 line.

LostLombard

eqlucky I also have an Acer with almost the same (and shitty) BIOS.

You said it 🙂

1.- Did you disable the "fast boot" feature on Windows? That's the most common problem with dual boot systems.

Yes. And as @demm noted, I have installed it a few times over.

2.- I saw you've already (like I always do with this BIOS) enabled secure boot, selected the .efi file with the former enabled and then disabled secure boot. But, did you install it in the Windows EFI partition? If so, I'd recommend to make another 512MB fat32 partition to install KaOS efi there. I know it sounds silly, but worked for me.

Not silly at all, it worked THANKS!

That won't let you choose Windows within systemd-boot menu, but you could always select it in the EFI menu

How do i do that? Will I need to select the boot menu (BIOS) with every start?

Thanks again.

gohlip

Boot up to windows and In windows command prompt as administrator, issue command

powercfg /h off

Reboot to windows again. Then reboot to KaOS.

LostLombard

gohlip Thanks. That didn't work but I am resetting the PC to try again now I know how to get KaOS running on it with another boot partition.

eqlucky

LostLombard
Afaik, if you install KaOS efi file in the Windows efi partition, systemd-boot will let you choose between them, like in GRUB.
But if you install it separately, it won't, and then you must choose it from the EFI menu (in our Acers, F12 just after switching the PC/laptop on). I no longer have a dual boot system (it only gave headaches), but that's the way I had it installed and used it.
Again, it's just my own personal experience. I'm sure others would differ or give a more technical answer to this matter.