[Bug 1025555] Re: Ubuntu32bits is incompatible with recent (UEFI) computers

[Dmitrijs Ledkovs]

"""
3) Installing grub-efi from an already installed Ubuntu32 creates /efi/ubuntu/boot.efi , and /efi/ubuntu/grubia32.efi . Both EFI entries fail.
"""

And how exactly was that done? 32bit installer does not create UEFI partition to correctly place efi bootloader image.
Thus to test this one has to do manual paritioning while installing 32bit installer, leave a small partition (e.g. 200MB) at the front of the disk, formatted as FAT (EFI) partition and only then install grub-efi and I would then expect the UEFI boot in 32bits to work.

I have a MacBook early 2006 edition, which is 32bit EFI-only boot with
an option for bios emulation. And I have used grub-efi (grub2 that is)
successfully with it in the distant past. (~Hardy time)

It is true that we do not have 32bit UEFI bootable installation media.
And we have no plans on fixing that, as on the other end of the stick
older 32-bit BIOS-only computers may fail to boot when detecting
gpt/multiparition CD images with dual bios/uefi boot stack.

I highly daubt it's a bug in grub2-efi, and ubiquity has support for
efi. The bug here is against ubuntu-cdimage project that we don't
generate any 32-bit uefi capable installation media. But i'd like to see
a significant market share of 32bit-only-UEFI machines before we do
introduce such an image.


** Also affects: ubuntu-cdimage
   Importance: Undecided
       Status: New

** Summary changed:

- Ubuntu32bits is incompatible with recent (UEFI) computers
+ Ubuntu i386 images are not compatible with recent (UEFI) computers

** Changed in: grub2 (Ubuntu)
       Status: Confirmed => Invalid

** Changed in: ubiquity (Ubuntu)
       Status: Confirmed => Invalid

** Changed in: ubuntu-cdimage
       Status: New => Confirmed

** Description changed:

  64bits EFI computer (with GPT disk) with pre-installed 64bits Windows7.
  AND 32bits EFI computer without legacy boot support
  
  1) Installing Ubuntu 12.04 64bit creates a valid /efi/ubuntu/grubx64.efi
  entry. At reboot, the GRUB menu appears and allows to boot Ubuntu.
  
  2) Installing Ubuntu 12.04 32bits installs grub-pc, which creates no EFI
  entry. Ubuntu can't be booted (except if it is possible to deactivate
  EFI mode).
  
  3) Installing grub-efi from an already installed Ubuntu32 creates
  /efi/ubuntu/boot.efi , and /efi/ubuntu/grubia32.efi . Both EFI entries
  fail.
  
  4) Installing grub-efi in an already installed Ubuntu32 in chroot via an
  Ubuntu64 live-CD ( so that grub-efi has access to EFI variables) also
  creates two invalid EFI entries (/efi/ubuntu/boot.efi , and
  /efi/ubuntu/grubia32.efi ).
  
  CONCLUSION:
  - grub-efi 32bits always creates invalid entries.
  - Installing Ubuntu32 bits on an EFI system should be blocked by Ubiquity (the Ubuntu installer). In this case, Ubiquity should ask the user to install Ubuntu64 instead.
  - the Download page should warn that the 32bits ISO is not compatible with recent (EFI) computers
+ 
+ === Workarounds ==
+ 
+ If you have UEFI-only machine, please use amd64 (64-bit) images. That
+ image will most likely work for you as your machine is highly likely a
+ 64-bit one.
+ 
+ If you truly have 32-bit-only CPU and UEFI-only machines please post
+ exact Manufacturer, OEM, make, brand and model number as a comment on
+ this bug report.

-- 
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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1025555

Title:
  Ubuntu i386 images are not compatible with recent (UEFI) computers

Status in Ubuntu CD image build software:
  Confirmed
Status in “grub2” package in Ubuntu:
  Invalid
Status in “ubiquity” package in Ubuntu:
  Invalid

Bug description:
  64bits EFI computer (with GPT disk) with pre-installed 64bits Windows7.
  AND 32bits EFI computer without legacy boot support

  1) Installing Ubuntu 12.04 64bit creates a valid
  /efi/ubuntu/grubx64.efi entry. At reboot, the GRUB menu appears and
  allows to boot Ubuntu.

  2) Installing Ubuntu 12.04 32bits installs grub-pc, which creates no
  EFI entry. Ubuntu can't be booted (except if it is possible to
  deactivate EFI mode).

  3) Installing grub-efi from an already installed Ubuntu32 creates
  /efi/ubuntu/boot.efi , and /efi/ubuntu/grubia32.efi . Both EFI entries
  fail.

  4) Installing grub-efi in an already installed Ubuntu32 in chroot via
  an Ubuntu64 live-CD ( so that grub-efi has access to EFI variables)
  also creates two invalid EFI entries (/efi/ubuntu/boot.efi , and
  /efi/ubuntu/grubia32.efi ).

  CONCLUSION:
  - grub-efi 32bits always creates invalid entries.
  - Installing Ubuntu32 bits on an EFI system should be blocked by Ubiquity (the Ubuntu installer). In this case, Ubiquity should ask the user to install Ubuntu64 instead.
  - the Download page should warn that the 32bits ISO is not compatible with recent (EFI) computers

  === Workarounds ==

  If you have UEFI-only machine, please use amd64 (64-bit) images. That
  image will most likely work for you as your machine is highly likely a
  64-bit one.

  If you truly have 32-bit-only CPU and UEFI-only machines please post
  exact Manufacturer, OEM, make, brand and model number as a comment on
  this bug report.

  * ACER W510 tablet

  (potential work-around disable secure boot, prepare usb-stick with
  32bit grub-efi image installed, boot of that and perform manual  -
  "debootstrap" based installation: manually partition, manually install
  grub-efi, debootstrap packages, attempt to boot.)

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