Arch linux on MintBox2
Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2013 3:47 pm
If anyone is interested in installing Arch linux on their MintBox2, it is possible and not too difficult!
The main thing to remember is that you need to create an EFI System Partition (if using pure EFI mode, which I recommend). If you don't the system won't boot!
You will also need to use efibootmgr to setup the boot loader. Be sure to specify the correct path to your boot loader as the default is to use which is probably incorrect!
When you're finished with efibootmgr you should end up with a boot entry in the list, something like which you can then select as a boot device in the UEFI configuration utility. If you do not have a boot entry added in the EFI boot table you will not be able to select anything from the UEFI configuration utility (F2 on boot).
If you accidentally create additional boot entries while experimenting with the efibootmgr command (such as incorrect path to EFI loader) be very careful when removing entries! I accidentally deleted the entry for the EFI shell and have no idea how to re-add it! If you delete an entry with efibootmgr it disappears from the UEFI configuration utility, so be careful when deleting entries. Double check before you run that command!
You will also need the x86_64 grub loader to boot, please ensure that you have the following on your EFI system partition:
Everything works pretty well, the only issue is bluetooth. The module is bt-usb and if you allow the computer to suspend you will need a resume script to disable/re-enable bluetooth (hciconfig hci0 down/up) and to reconnect with any bluetooth devices. I'm not sure if there's a more elegant way to do this, that's just how I've done it.
The main thing to remember is that you need to create an EFI System Partition (if using pure EFI mode, which I recommend). If you don't the system won't boot!
You will also need to use efibootmgr to setup the boot loader. Be sure to specify the correct path to your boot loader as the default is to use
Code: Select all
\EFI\redhat\grub.efi
When you're finished with efibootmgr you should end up with a boot entry in the list, something like
Code: Select all
Boot000D* Linux
If you accidentally create additional boot entries while experimenting with the efibootmgr command (such as incorrect path to EFI loader) be very careful when removing entries! I accidentally deleted the entry for the EFI shell and have no idea how to re-add it! If you delete an entry with efibootmgr it disappears from the UEFI configuration utility, so be careful when deleting entries. Double check before you run that command!
Code: Select all
Device Start End Size Type
/dev/sda1 2048 206847 100M EFI System
/dev/sda2 206848 976773134 465.7G Linux LVM
Code: Select all
EFI/grub/grubx64.efi