Arch grub install error cannot find efi directory

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#1 2017-04-10 02:52:21

[SOLVED] Grub-install problem : cannot find EFI directory

This is my first time installing Arch on an actual system.
I did install previously on VMWare and i was able to install it with out any problem

When i try to install the same on my hp laptop, i have problem installing grub.
when i am inputting grub-install /dev/sda

it gives me the error grub-install:error: cannot find EFI directory
I put my laptop into legacy boot and started the installation process as the live usb is not bring detected by UEFI system

also, my partitions are like this

sda1 -1GB — boot
sda2- 3.5GB — swap
sda3 -400GB (Aprrox.) — home

Last edited by lightng29 (2017-04-10 21:30:44)

#2 2017-04-10 02:56:02

Re: [SOLVED] Grub-install problem : cannot find EFI directory

I hope you also have a root partition in addition to boot and home.

Follow the wiki (note that the commands in the wiki are different from what you used).

Last edited by 2ManyDogs (2017-04-10 02:56:50)

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#3 2017-04-10 03:27:49

Re: [SOLVED] Grub-install problem : cannot find EFI directory

Please edit your topic title to actually describe the problem you are having.

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#4 2017-04-10 04:41:38

Re: [SOLVED] Grub-install problem : cannot find EFI directory

it gives me the error grub-install:error: cannot find EFI directory
I put my laptop into legacy boot and started the installation process as the live usb is not bring detected by UEFI system

That doesn’t seem to be the fact though. Apparently the live usb is booted in UEFI mode, that’s why grub-install assumed —target x86_64-efi and hence requires the —efi-directory parameter.

If you are fine with / insist on having a legacy boot installation, you can simply proceed with

If you want a UEFI boot installation, then you need to change your partitioning scheme by having a FAT-formatted EFI System Partition (which can be used for /boot as well), and run a corresponding grub-install command.

Last edited by tom.ty89 (2017-04-10 04:43:02)

#5 2017-04-10 06:26:13

Re: [SOLVED] Grub-install problem : cannot find EFI directory

it gives me the error grub-install:error: cannot find EFI directory
I put my laptop into legacy boot and started the installation process as the live usb is not bring detected by UEFI system

That doesn’t seem to be the fact though. Apparently the live usb is booted in UEFI mode, that’s why grub-install assumed —target x86_64-efi and hence requires the —efi-directory parameter.

If you are fine with / insist on having a legacy boot installation, you can simply proceed with

I did try that command the error i got was
error: will not procced with blocklists

@WorMzy : Did edit the Subject
@2ManyDogs : I am gonna start from begining this time following wiki

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#1 2014-03-12 18:55:51

grub-install: «cannot find EFI directory» (CSM mode)

Hi,
I’m trying to install grub on the mbr with ‘grub-install /dev/sdb’, but I get «cannot find EFI directory’. I have an Asus laptop with secure boot disabled and CSM enabled (I *need* CSM because otherwise — I don’t know the reason — I can’t boot from USB/disk). I have Windows 7 installed (/dev/sdb2) and I know there’s a small partition (/dev/sdb1) which was created during Windows 7 installation which contains a ‘Boot’ directory, a ‘bootmgr’ file and other stuff. Now, my purpose is to dual boot Windows 7 and Arch while the BIOS is in CSM mode. The problem is that a simple grub-install /dev/sdX does not work as expected (under Gentoo, it simply worked out-of-the-box). By now, I can chroot into my fresh Arch installation (/dev/sdb3). Another thing: possible targets for grub-install are ‘i686-pc’ and ‘x86_64-efi’; when running grub-install the program automatically selects ‘x86_64.efi’ as target. I don’t know if it’s correct (I do have an AMD64 laptop, just to clarify). Thanks in advance.

#2 2014-03-13 02:39:39

Re: grub-install: «cannot find EFI directory» (CSM mode)

By default grub-install uses target x86_64-efi . You don’t have a UEFI system so I thing you should use:

—target=i386-pc instructs grub-install to install for BIOS systems only. It is recommended to always use this option to remove ambiguity in grub-install.

Last edited by aryklein (2014-03-13 02:40:11)

#3 2014-10-24 02:02:34

Re: grub-install: «cannot find EFI directory» (CSM mode)

I was receiving the same error during my grub-install when following this install guide. What I was missing was a vfat filesystem on the ‘EFI System’ partition. Once I had it I mounted it on /boot/efi and ran the install again as such:

I also had to re-name a file on my HP Pavilion x2 to boot as noted here.

#4 2014-10-24 13:12:44

Re: grub-install: «cannot find EFI directory» (CSM mode)

I also had to re-name a file on my HP Pavilion x2 to boot as noted here.

There are a lot of things wrong with your post:
First, don’t ever follow external guides for installing arch linux, instead refer to the beginner’s guide in the wiki if you want to receive help on this forum.
Secondly, you don’t seem to understand that your problem is a completely different one than described in the original post. The OP does not use UEFI, but CSM. Please read the first post.
Also OP does not mention that he has this specific HP model like you that requires additional steps, so your note about renaming a file is irrelevant for now.

#5 2014-10-24 18:06:08

Re: grub-install: «cannot find EFI directory» (CSM mode)

You are telling the system to act like it is a BIOS system as far as the boot process goes but I don’t think you are using a disk with a MBR, master boot record partition table. Is your disk actually GPT? This is a common gotcha when trying to use CSM mode on a UEFI based system since UEFI systems come with GPT disks. I believe this describes Grub installation in your configuration.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GR … structions

To be clear though, I don’t think this is a good direction to go. This isn’t keeping things simple though that may have been why you chose to do it. I don’t have enough information to know but it sounds like your disk expected to be in a UEFI system and was created with a GPT partition scheme. I would use it that way for Arch and for Windows if you choose to have that installed. I think it creates unneeded complexity to create a hybrid UEFI/BIOS configuration. I would always have all disks using the same partition scheme (the reason you can’t boot «USB/disk» may be that you need GPT) and all OS’s booting UEFI on a UEFI system.

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#1 2015-12-29 20:25:38

[Solved] Trouble installing GRUB, can’t find EFI directory

Hi guys, first post on here.
I’m trying to install arch using a USB to boot, on a UEFI system using a MBR partition table. I’ve attempted it several times, but always end up starting by deleting my linux partitions and rebooting. My partitions look like this:

sda1 — partition i’m too afraid to touch that was already there
sda2 — main windows partition
sda3 — partition i’m too afraid to touch that was already there (x2)
sda4 — extended
—sda5 root 90G
—sda6 boot 512M
—sda7 home 104G

I think something goes wrong when I create my partitions. I don’t use parted, because quite frankly it confuses me and I’m too afraid that I’ll delete my windows data. Instead, I use cfdisk and I think I miss a few steps. sda6 is set as Bootable, and its type is EFI (Fat-12/16/32). Is that all? The filesystem is set as fat32 using mkfs.fat -F32 /dev/sdxY

When I run the # grub-install —recheck /dev/sda command it just says that it can’t find the EFI directory. Isn’t this /boot? I then did
grub-install —recheck —efi-directory=/boot /dev/sda
which results in
Installing for x86_64-efi platform.
grub-install: error: efibootmgr: not found.
and then nothing happens.

How do I install GRUB successfully in this situation? Sorry for any noobishness, and thanks in advance!

Last edited by Piexes (2015-12-29 21:49:01)

#2 2015-12-29 20:34:57

Re: [Solved] Trouble installing GRUB, can’t find EFI directory

Presuming that Windows is installed in UEFI mode, you will need to share the Windows-generated EFI system partition (sda3?) and mount that to /boot

Use `gdisk -l /dev/sda` to find the EFI system partition.

Post the output of that command if you’re not 100% sure.

EDIT: Just out of curiosity, why are you using GRUB?

Most newbies seem to prefer it in spite of the fact that the Beginner’s Guide has instructions for systemd-boot in UEFI systems.

You are following the Beginner’s Guide, right?

EDIT2: Just to clarify: I think you have created a GNU/Linux partition type (8300) at /dev/sda6 and formatted in to FAT32 when you actually need a specific EFI system partition type (EF00) for GRUB to install successfully.

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2015-12-29 20:39:07)

#3 2015-12-29 20:46:56

Re: [Solved] Trouble installing GRUB, can’t find EFI directory

I was following this section, but I guess I’ll try to go and do the systemd one. I’ll edit/post with an update.
The output of that command:
http://imgur.com/MXipX1K

Edit: I tried running bootctl install, and it spat out:
File system «/boot» is not on a GPT partition table
hmm
lsblk still shows me that sda6 is still mounted at mountpoint /mnt/boot
it’s fat32 for sure
The wiki says that the boot partition needs gdisk type EF00. I doubt I did this.

Last edited by Piexes (2015-12-29 20:52:22)

#4 2015-12-29 20:50:40

Re: [Solved] Trouble installing GRUB, can’t find EFI directory

Right, sorry, my mistake — you are *not* using a UEFI system (or a GPT disk) so you should be following the non-UEFI instructions:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Be … BIOS.2FMBR

Also, in this case, /boot should probably use a POSIX-compliant filesystem rather than FAT.

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2015-12-29 20:54:12)

#5 2015-12-29 20:54:12

Re: [Solved] Trouble installing GRUB, can’t find EFI directory

Ok, now I’m pretty confused. The wiki tells me to run ls /sys/firmware/efi/efivars and if it’s populated I’m in UEFI mode. It’s definitely populated, it spits out a ton of stuff.
Should I reinstall the .iso again on my flashdrive and delete the linux partitions for a completely fresh start?

Last edited by Piexes (2015-12-29 20:55:53)

#6 2015-12-29 20:57:18

Re: [Solved] Trouble installing GRUB, can’t find EFI directory

It’s definitely populated, it spits out a ton of stuff.

Yes you may be booted in UEFI mode but your Windows system appears to be installed in non-UEFI mode — there is no EFI system partition present.

If you wish to be able to switch between the two without toggling «Legacy» mode, you must install Arch in non-UEFI mode also.

It may be that a UEFI-installed GRUB can actually boot a non-UEFI Windows system if you create the requisite EFISYS partition but I don’t know and have of way of testing.

EDIT: You can attempt to force GRUB to install a non-UEFI loader with:

EDIT2: Can you check from Windows if it is booted in UEFI mode?

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2015-12-29 21:33:31)

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#1 2018-09-19 17:20:30

[solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

When using «grub-install» I always get «grub-install: error: cannot find EFI directory»

A couple of month ago I could just use grub-install without any error and I didn’t change any hardware since then

«LS /sys/firmware/EFI/efivars» returns a whole bunch of files.

I tried creating a partition on a GPT drive with the type EFI system out of desperation but can’t mount it to /mnt/boot. I am getting this error
mount: /mnt/boot: wrong fs type, bad option, bad superblocks on /dev/sdc2, missing codepage or helper program, or other error

I have no clue what to do now. I’ve been trying to partition differently a couple of times but nothing worked.

Last edited by Belph (2019-01-05 19:40:14)

#2 2018-09-19 17:32:44

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

What guide are you following to install Arch?

Please post the output of

Making lemonade from lemons since 2015.

#3 2018-09-19 17:41:01

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

Oof, I don’t know how to post the output here without typing it in. But it shows me that the partition table is loop and not GPT. I assume that is he important information there, right?

#4 2018-09-19 17:48:22

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

I suspect that loop device will be the iso you are booted into.

Making lemonade from lemons since 2015.

#5 2018-09-19 17:50:48

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

I suspect that loop device will be the iso you are booted into.

If you mean if that is the USB stick that I am booted it right now, then no, that one has msdos as partition table.

It is actually the SSD I want to install Arch on that has loop as partition table.

#6 2018-09-19 17:52:21

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

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#7 2018-09-19 17:59:34

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

Model: ATA HGST HTS545050A7 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 500GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: loop
Disk Flags:

Number Start End Size File system Flags
1 0.00B 500GB 500GB ext4

Model: ATA TOSHIBA DT01ACA1 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 1000GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: loop
Disk Flags:

Number Start End Size File system Flags
1 0.00B 1000GB 1000GB ext4

Model: ATA Samsung SSD 840 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdc: 120GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: loop
Disk Flags:

Number Start End Size File system Flags
1 0.00B 120GB 120GB ext4

Model: Sony Storage Media (scsi)
Disk /dev/sde: 7801MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags:

Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 1049kB 7801MB 7800MB primary fat32 boot, lba

#8 2018-09-19 18:30:25

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

Also, you forgot to answer my earlier question:

What guide are you following to install Arch?

That may well answer my next question: do you know how you ended up with loop partition tables on all but one of your physical disks?

Please also post the output of

Making lemonade from lemons since 2015.

#9 2018-09-19 18:32:05

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

Also, you forgot to answer my earlier question:

What guide are you following to install Arch?

That may well answer my next question: do you know how you ended up with loop partition tables on all but one of your physical disks?

Please also post the output of

I am sorry, I’ve been using the Arch Installation guide here on the website. And for grub just the wiki page about grub.

I have no clue how they all became loop.

#10 2018-09-19 18:34:03

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

Also, you forgot to answer my earlier question:

What guide are you following to install Arch?

That may well answer my next question: do you know how you ended up with loop partition tables on all but one of your physical disks?

Please also post the output of

I am sorry, I’ve been using the Arch Installation guide here on the website. And for grub just the wiki page about grub.

I have no clue how they all became loop.

I used the wipefs command on sdc since that is the drive I want to install arch on but it’s still loop

#11 2018-09-19 18:37:35

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

The wipefs output is for diagnosis purposes, please post the output as requested.

Making lemonade from lemons since 2015.

#12 2018-09-19 18:39:25

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

The wipefs output is for diagnosis purposes, please post the output as requested.

DEVICE OFFSET TYPE UUID LABEL
sdc 0x438 ext4 5e3ac50f-e4a9-42e9-a40e-acfb09b45858

#13 2018-09-19 18:51:24

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

Again, please edit your posts to use code tags.

So it looks like you’ve created the filesystem on the raw disk (/dev/sdc), rather than on a partition (e.g. /dev/sdc1). I’m not sure if it’s possible to remedy that without starting over, but I’m going to go ahead an recommend that you do that anyway. It seems you have a habit of skim reading, which may be how you found yourself in this situation. Read the wiki carefully, and take your time. Make sure you understand what you are doing before you do it.

Making lemonade from lemons since 2015.

#14 2018-09-19 18:57:33

Re: [solved] Grub cannot find EFI directory

Again, please edit your posts to use code tags.

I’ve tried a lot of things after it didn’t work the first time. Also a reason why I might get I information wrong is due to a language barrier. Would you say I should start over the guide from the very beginning? I’ve done that several times already. I just seen to mess up the partitioning every time, also I am confused since it doesn’t work like it used to anymore.

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