UNRESOLVED - Change boot order (dualboot with Windows)

[Pridanc]

Citfta, thanks for your words. As an FYI this is what I've found.
Advanced mode is found under the Exit button at the upper right of my screen. Once I've clicked that here is what I see.

Clicking on the last choice, Advanced Mode, brings up several screen with one showing the status of the drives (Legacy)

BTW I've run Boot Repair from within the "booted" USB Zorin stick to no luck.

I then ran lsblk and got this report

OH, and I disconnected all hard drives except for the drive that has ONLY Zorin on it. The computer did not start and on failure it presented this screen.

Please understand, that the USB stick loaded with Zorin is the same stick that I used to "load" Zorin onto its own HD. I am not sure why the computer feels the installation has no boot device on it but I wouldn't know.
Everyone....THANKS so much for helping and I will continue to try my best to follow your instructions and guidance. PC

[Bourne]

It wrote you lost efi partition. So you need creating a boot partition EFI. @Aravisian is expert from this and i know this problem exist here and described somewhere on this forum.

[Aravisian]

@Pridanc

Have you tried with Legacy Disabled on both?

[Pridanc]

I will try both suggestions and reply back. TY all for these suggestions.

[carmar]

Edited title.

[Pridanc]

Good idea but changed nothing. Only lost the use of some of my USB ports for key boards, mouse etc. I put the choice back to Legacy Enabled.
Since all of this, I've removed all but the single 3tb hard drive I want Zorin to reside on. Removed all manual partitions, booted the computer up via the Zorin USB installation stick and then let Zorin install itself without any manual partion creations. Sadly, computer boots fine on the USB stick but still will not start from the HD.

I may start a new thread as I've given up trying to boot between HD's and OS's. I now have only the one HD with Zorin installed. Seems to be clean and the computer simply asks to reboot once the install from the USB stick has completed its job. But as mentioned from the start, the system refuses to boot from the HD.

Very strange that the computer starts on the USB but not on the HD.
Thoughts? Many thanks everyone. PC

[Aravisian]

@Pridanc

Removed all manual partitions, booted the computer up via the Zorin USB installation stick and then let Zorin install itself without any manual partion creations. Sadly, computer boots fine on the USB stick but still will not start from the HD.

Is this a Spinning HHD or an SSD?
If it is SSD, is it nVME or eMMC?

If it is spinning HDD, does the Boot Order Device have any Jumpers on it?

[Pridanc]

Aravisian, it is a spinning HHD. WD Part Number # WDBAAU0030HBK-01

I will try to find a mechanical boot order device but on the motherboard this drive is the first in the list for the system to look at when starting. I will look hard on the MB to see if there are any jumpers or dip switches.

TY for your suggestions, Pridanc

[Aravisian]

The jumper would be on the HDD, not the MB.
https://www.google.com/search?q=hdd+jumper&sxsrf=AOaemvKvYqMU2X3uPsyOgU-DXfZMZ2juIw:1643322314325&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjzqa_W_NL1AhVJnWoFHfbKD_cQ_AUoAnoECAEQBA&biw=1418&bih=743&dpr=1

[Pridanc]

Folks, I've been here under dual boot hardware as I thought my issue was hardware. Long story short I've removed all HD's except the one that I have just installed Zorin on.

This time, I let the Zorin Install do its own thing without any manual partioning by me and it sure seemed to go smoothly. Once done I was told to reboot and did as well as removed the USB installation stick.

The computer came back with a "Reboot and select proper boot device". Hmm. I then went to the BIOS utility to tell it that I wanted the computer to start from my the new Zorin installation. Each time the computer comes back with the same words, yet, when I put the Installation USB stick back in I can get the computer to start from it in Zorin.

What is missing from the HD that keeps it from booting? Remember this is now the only HD on my computer.

I appreciate everyone's help on this. Sincerely, Pridanc

[zabadabadoo]

I wonder if you have not got a boot loader in place on your Zorin HD.
Can you run Gparted from the Zorin USB and check the partitions and boot loader flag that have been set up on that latest install.

[Pridanc]

Zaba, I will do that but what am I looking for? PLEASE understand I'm not computer savvy but can happily poke around with guidance.

Again, let me know what to look for or tell me to snag a snap shot after running Gparted to share with you.

All the best and Thanks! Pridanc

[carmar]

I merged the 3 posts from your new thread into this one.
As I understand it, your OP issue is still unresolved and removing the other drives is one of the many steps in this troubleshooting process. Best to keep this process together or it can confuse the ones trying to help you.

[citfta]

Here is a recent post that might help.

[HOW TO] resolve Boot manager works but Zorin doesn't boot

Hi Guys, sorry to solve my own issue but maybe this will save someone some grey hairs. My environment. I duel boot Zorin and Windows. Zorin is on ext not nfts partition. Safe boot/fast boot is disabled. Acer Swift 5 laptop. Situation. Windows update failed, PC wouldn't shut down so I had to do a hard shutdown. Windows booted up fine but a terminal screen would appear instead of the Zorin desktop. I tried to use a live Zorin USB to see if I could use the boot repair. The boot manager was fu…

Pridanc, in that post he suggests making sure your sata drives are set to AHCI. Since your bios and mine are very close I think you will find that setting in the Advanced settings area.

[zabadabadoo]

Maybe this post by @Aravisian on another thread will be of use:

Zorin 16 installation error

If a hard drive does not have an existing EFI partition, then launching from EFI USB will not work, as there is no EFI start point. An ESP is a FAT32 partition with a flag that tells the EFI BIOS to look inside it for boot information. You can try reburning your USB stick as not EFI and that should work. Otherwise, let's cover what to do if your only option is to boot from what you have: Boot up your USB and choose "Try Zorin" - do not run the installer, yet. Hit ctrl+alt+t to open a terminal…

You could also run Gparted from USB and post screenshot/s of your HD partition setup. That would give us something to look at.

[Pridanc]

Carmar, you are correct and thanks.

[Pridanc]

Zaba, here is the screen shot of the 3tb hard drive per your suggestions.

If there are any other thoughts let me know.
I'm going to look at the sata drives and if they are set to AHCI. If not I will set it there and see what happens. If let everyone know if that works or not.
Huge thanks to everyone. Greatly appreciated.
Sincerely, Pridanc

[zabadabadoo]

Two observations.

I cannot see any EFI partition on that drive. (But I do now if your system is set up EFI/UEFI)

In Gparted, Can you click on the large 2.73TiB ext4 partition, to expand the view and see how that is made up. Post a screenshot.

[Pridanc]

No jumpers. Thanks for the thought. I'm starting to guess that this hard drive and my motherboard are not compatible. Next thing I will do is to purchase another SSD and install it. After all said and done, nothing has ever changed the behavior of the computer with this HD. So strange but life moves on right? Anymore thoughts are appreciated but at least I know running Zorin and windows from two different "drives" is indeed possible. In my case it is Zorin from my USB drive and of course Windows via it's own hard drive. See, there is hope! Again, any thoughts are appreciated. Pridanc

[Pridanc]

Zaba, as always sorry for the delay but travel always gets in the way.
Here is the screen shot of the ext 4 partition as asked.

Let me know if you see anything and TY.