[Bug 1025555] Re: Ubuntu i386 images are not compatible with recent (UEFI) computers

[Dmitrijs Ledkovs]

** 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.
+ 
+ * 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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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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