Auto Dual Boot on HP Zbook 15 G2 and unrecognized NVMe M.2 SSD

[darien217]

Can anyone advise on what I'm missing to make GRUB appear at boot-up to show me an operating system menu choice screen?

Disk Layout:
sudo fdisk -l
Disk /dev/nvme0n1: 476.96 GiB, 512110190592 bytes, 1000215216 sectors
Disk model: WDC PC SN520 SDAPMUW-512G               
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: gpt
Disk identifier: A16A36D5-BDC5-4E5C-B93E-9A15325B81F2

Device             Start        End   Sectors   Size Type
/dev/nvme0n1p1      2048     718847    716800   350M EFI System
/dev/nvme0n1p2    718848     751615     32768    16M Microsoft reserved
/dev/nvme0n1p3    751616  999292927 998541312 476.1G Microsoft basic data
/dev/nvme0n1p4 999292928 1000214527    921600   450M Windows recovery environment


Disk /dev/sda: 223.58 GiB, 240057409536 bytes, 468862128 sectors
Disk model: INTEL SSDSC2CW24
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: gpt
Disk identifier: 038C8C0C-F6FF-4991-BF98-485679C53EC8

Device       Start       End   Sectors   Size Type
/dev/sda1     2048   1050623   1048576   512M EFI System
/dev/sda2  1050624 468860927 467810304 223.1G Linux filesystem

sudo parted --list
Model: ATA INTEL SSDSC2CW24 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 240GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start   End    Size   File system  Name                  Flags
 1      1049kB  538MB  537MB  fat32        EFI system partition  boot, esp
 2      538MB   240GB  240GB  ext4


Model: WDC PC SN520 SDAPMUW-512G (nvme)
Disk /dev/nvme0n1: 512GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start   End    Size    File system  Name                          Flags
 1      1049kB  368MB  367MB   fat32        EFI system partition          boot, esp
 2      368MB   385MB  16.8MB               Microsoft reserved partition  msftres
 3      385MB   512GB  511GB   ntfs         Basic data partition          msftdata
 4      512GB   512GB  472MB   ntfs         Basic data partition          diag


GRUB Current:
grep menuentry /boot/grub/grub.cfg
if [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
  menuentry_id_option="--id"
  menuentry_id_option=""
export menuentry_id_option
menuentry 'Linux Mint 20 Cinnamon' --class linuxmint --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-e8309828-bd55-4a54-85ec-b3819f01bdd2' {
submenu 'Advanced options for Linux Mint 20 Cinnamon' $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-advanced-e8309828-bd55-4a54-85ec-b3819f01bdd2' {
	menuentry 'Linux Mint 20 Cinnamon, with Linux 5.4.0-84-generic' --class linuxmint --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-5.4.0-84-generic-advanced-e8309828-bd55-4a54-85ec-b3819f01bdd2' {
	menuentry 'Linux Mint 20 Cinnamon, with Linux 5.4.0-84-generic (recovery mode)' --class linuxmint --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-5.4.0-84-generic-recovery-e8309828-bd55-4a54-85ec-b3819f01bdd2' {
	menuentry 'Linux Mint 20 Cinnamon, with Linux 5.4.0-26-generic' --class linuxmint --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-5.4.0-26-generic-advanced-e8309828-bd55-4a54-85ec-b3819f01bdd2' {
	menuentry 'Linux Mint 20 Cinnamon, with Linux 5.4.0-26-generic (recovery mode)' --class linuxmint --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-5.4.0-26-generic-recovery-e8309828-bd55-4a54-85ec-b3819f01bdd2' {
menuentry 'Windows Boot Manager (on /dev/nvme0n1p1)' --class windows --class os $menuentry_id_option 'osprober-efi-22A6-391C' {
menuentry 'UEFI Firmware Settings' $menuentry_id_option 'uefi-firmware' {
d-hex@dhex-HP-Zbook-15-G2:~$ cat /boot/grub/grub.cfg | grep prober
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry 'Windows Boot Manager (on /dev/nvme0n1p1)' --class windows --class os $menuentry_id_option 'osprober-efi-22A6-391C' {
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
d-hex@dhex-HP-Zbook-15-G2:~$ cat /etc/default/grub
# If you change this file, run 'update-grub' afterwards to update
# /boot/grub/grub.cfg.
# For full documentation of the options in this file, see:
#   info -f grub -n 'Simple configuration'

GRUB_DEFAULT=0
GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE="menu"
GRUB_TIMEOUT=45
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="splash"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="nvme_core.default_ps_max_latency_us=0"

# Uncomment to enable BadRAM filtering, modify to suit your needs
# This works with Linux (no patch required) and with any kernel that obtains
# the memory map information from GRUB (GNU Mach, kernel of FreeBSD ...)
#GRUB_BADRAM="0x01234567,0xfefefefe,0x89abcdef,0xefefefef"

# Uncomment to disable graphical terminal (grub-pc only)
#GRUB_TERMINAL=console

# The resolution used on graphical terminal
# note that you can use only modes which your graphic card supports via VBE
# you can see them in real GRUB with the command `vbeinfo'
#GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480

# Uncomment if you don't want GRUB to pass "root=UUID=xxx" parameter to Linux
#GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_UUID=true

# Uncomment to disable generation of recovery mode menu entries
#GRUB_DISABLE_RECOVERY="true"

# Uncomment to get a beep at grub start
#GRUB_INIT_TUNE="480 440 1"

[YukKevChuHau]

@337harvey @Aravisian @StarTreker
Looks like HP is making it harder than usual to dual-boot Windows with something else.

Alternative is to clone your Windows partitions and recovery and then turn it into a VM to run within GNU/Linux using free Oracle VirtualBox or other FOSS solutions. I'm thinking of doing it eventually.

One reason is because I'm unable to get 2nd Extended Desktop on Android to work. VM Windows on my GNU/Linux should resolve that. I can also free up the Windows partition to reallocation to my Zorin OS 16.

How to Convert a Physical Windows or Linux PC to a Virtual Machine

Windows 10 Physical to VirtualBox

StarWind V2V Converter - Converting VM Formats

Boot Your Windows Partition from Linux using KVM

Convert & Use Your Physical Machine In VMware, VirtualBox & Virtual PC

Boot a native OS on a hard disk as a virtual machine

But, think any of you have free time to help him out some more? He's been going at it for weeks and HP isn't giving up on making him go bonkers trying to solve this problem. Thanks!

[StarTreker]

I never done a succesful dual boot situation, so I got no experience in that area. I only have one thing to give you to try that may or may not work.

sudo update-grub

[YukKevChuHau]

@StarTreker

never done a succesful dual boot situation, so I got no experience in that area.

I guess I've been lucky with the systems I built or bought. I've gotten dual boot working relatively easy whenever I tried.

[Aravisian]

I recommend changing your grub timeout to under 20 seconds. Ten seconds would be enough, really. At 45 seconds, you are giving your computer enough time to come up with ideas of its own.

@darien217

GRUB_TIMEOUT=45

Are you using EFI with GPT or just EFI?
Is Linux Mint20 still installed on the Drive? IS Zorin Installed? Are either or both installed on a partition on the same dirve that contains the EFI partition?

Is the EFI partition at the Beginning of the disk (It must be in order to work properly).
If it is not, it must be moved.

[darien217]

Lol, well the computer is stubborn so yes it's got time to change it's mind during the 45 seconds.

I'll try 20.

It's EFI with GPT on both hard drives. Linux Mint 20 is installed, since I can't get the GRUB Menu to show up to allow me to select operating systems I'm not at the point of introducing a third operating system into the mix to make things more complicated.

Minit (GRUB) is installed to the (first partition) EFI Partition on the NVMe drive which then loads the Mint system located on the second partition of the 2.5" SSD drive.

sudo fdisk -l
Disk /dev/nvme0n1: 476.96 GiB, 512110190592 bytes, 1000215216 sectors
Disk model: WDC PC SN520 SDAPMUW-512G               
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: gpt
Disk identifier: A16A36D5-BDC5-4E5C-B93E-9A15325B81F2

Device             Start        End   Sectors   Size Type
/dev/nvme0n1p1      2048     718847    716800   350M EFI System
/dev/nvme0n1p2    718848     751615     32768    16M Microsoft reserved
/dev/nvme0n1p3    751616  999292927 998541312 476.1G Microsoft basic data
/dev/nvme0n1p4 999292928 1000214527    921600   450M Windows recovery environment


Disk /dev/sda: 223.58 GiB, 240057409536 bytes, 468862128 sectors
Disk model: INTEL SSDSC2CW24
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: gpt
Disk identifier: 038C8C0C-F6FF-4991-BF98-485679C53EC8

Device       Start       End   Sectors   Size Type
/dev/sda1     2048   1050623   1048576   512M EFI System
/dev/sda2  1050624 468860927 467810304 223.1G Linux filesystem

[YukKevChuHau]

Found a relatively underutilized USB 3.0 SATA 2.5" External HDD to test. On physical Win10 for conversion I used vCenter Converter to convert my entire internal m.2 SATA SSD to the external drive. Then just added the *.vmx file from the external HDD to Oracle Virtual Box on Zorin and clicked the proper settings for my host system in the GUI.

I got Win10 OEM of my Dell Laptop to load as a VM within Zorin OS 16. Since, the external drive is slow, the response is slow. I then deleted the dual boot Zorin Partition in the VM, and then shrunk the entire virtual SSD.

But, it shows, it's possible. Very easy to do. Once I get a bigger m.2 SATA SSD, I could move the *.vmx and *.vmdk files on the the new internal drive for better responsiveness.

Entire process took less than 1.5 hours.

Conversion Summary:

Converstion Start:

Conversion Finished:

VM Win10 Loaded:

VM Win10 Logged In:

On a continued try to test, I converted my Win10 P2V using disk2vhd. Then converted the *.vhd file to *.vdi using Windows version of VBoxManage. *.vhdx files will not convert.

On Windows, but, GNU/Linux is the same:

c:> cd "C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox"
c:> VBoxManage clonehd --format VDI mydisk.vhd mydisk.vdi

I then booted the VM Guest into a Win10 ISO and used diskpart in command prompt to quick format the EFI partition to fat32.

D:/diskpart
sel vol # "# is volume of EFI"
format quick fs=fat32 label=EFI

Immediately:

bcdboot Drive:/Windows
"Drive is volume of Windows"

This fixes and eliminate dual boot, since the 2nd OS would be missing or deleted. VM Guest will boot directly into Windows.

I like *.vdi files form since it's a single file, and compactable or resizable VHDD as needed. VCenter Converter made a few dozen *.vmdk files for the single new virtual drive instead.

This time, it took less than 45 minutes.

I also setup to boot the other OS partition as a VM Guest.

[StarTreker]

My favorite part is the cat

[YukKevChuHau]

@StarTreker

My favorite part is the cat

Me too. But, you don't like my birdies? They were one of three batches by a single pair of parents one spring a few years ago. They lived on the wall outside my window. 5+5+4 = 14 total babies from them that year. It's mostly the same numbers every year when the swallows return at the beginning of Spring, then leave when Summer arrives.

[StarTreker]

My fault, I am tired and need a nap, so I missed the cuties in a basket. They sure are a family alright. As long as they don't become 200 birds around the property everything will be ok. You seen the birds horror movie? lol

[YukKevChuHau]

@StarTreker

As long as they don't become 200 birds around the property everything will be ok. You seen the birds horror movie? lol

We have hundreds return to the neighborhood every year and raise hundreds more, then leave. Maybe thousands. LOL.

[StarTreker]

Well, cutie patootie snuggles laying their looking cute will have to go to work, and chase em out. Apologies, but when I look at your cat, makes me wanna call him snuggles lol. As long as their are birds around, always keeps cats busy. Looking out at the window at them, making those weird cat sounds at them. Cats can be so silly.

But the birdies int he basket are looking down and they are saying, whats up human, you can't get us, were way above you. And your like, wanna bet, ever heard of a ladder? Oh wait, did he say ladder? Oh sheeeeeeet, time to fly the coup and get outta dodge.

Yeah, just be careful where you fly this time fred, or you will slam into a dodge on the highway.

[YukKevChuHau]

@StarTreker

when I look at your cat, makes me wanna call him snuggles

Apt name. He always snuggles with me. LOL.

[StarTreker]

Awwwww, I love that! We gonna use sudo for this one.

sudo apt install snuggles

[anon96359095]

Here is my cat @StarTreker

[StarTreker]

Awwww, oh my gosh, so cute! Big hugs for kitty, pets on the head, good solid neck scratch lol. Now grabs cat toy, proceeds to get cats paws with cat toy. Cat bites toy, mission accomplished. Meow

[darien217]

@337harvey

Just curious, but have you tried modifying grub (/etc/default/grub) so that the following entry:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=””

Looks like:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=nvme_core.default_ps_max_latency_us=0

Then:

sudo update-grub

I keep forgetting to update this, Thank you @337harvey This is the solution that worked for me with the NVMe drive. It took a while as I needed to first get GRUB to actually show itself as it wouldn't show up at all. I finally found an obscure response on the Linux Mint forums that worked for me that I didn't see posted in any other forum responses as answers across all the forums and internet places I searched. I guess not a common answer based on what I noticed in my findings and searches to other users forum posts regarding troubleshooting GRUB menu's not showing or displaying during start-up.

This finally made GRUB show itself for me after all other attempts failed:

Changing the line in /etc/default/grub 

from #GRUB_TERMINAL=console to GRUB_TERMINAL=console 

sudo update-grub 

and reboot.

Source Credit - third to last post in this thread, credit: senjoz

https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=354886&p=2052378&hilit=GRUB+missing+displaying#p2052378

Thank you @Aravisian - I also went and installed rEFInd while searching for the elusive GRUB menu as I was getting tired of having to switch scripts in order to select which operating system to boot into.

@Aravisian

I wonder if rEFInd might help you:

uefi - How do I get my HP laptop to boot into grub from my new efi file? - Ask Ubuntu