Zorin clean install goes awry! Any help would be appreciated!

[Ultrabenosaurus]

@CRoPs

The million... err make that the $12 question (don't have a million in my pocket) is how do I get it to show up in the BIOS and become bootable?

You could try using Super Grub2 Disk on a USB stick (I recommend using Ventoy so you can have multiple ISOs on one USB without having to re-flash to try something else) to see if that can find your Zorin install and boot you into it. If you can, then run efibootmgr to see what (U)EFI operating systems are registered on your machine, and set the correct one (Zorin?) as default. Old and mis-configured OSes can hang around in the (U)EFI register and mess things up if you're not careful.

Example output from my current PC:

efibootmgr
BootCurrent: 0002
Timeout: 1 seconds
BootOrder: 0002,0003,0000,000B,000C,000F,0001,0004,0005
Boot0000* Windows Boot Manager  HD(1,GPT,99f821a7-628b-4c84-bdd6-8c7407152b42,0x800,0x82000)
Boot0001* UEFI:CD/DVD Drive     BBS(129,,0x0)
Boot0002* Manjaro       HD(1,GPT,99f821a7-628b-4c84-bdd6-8c7407152b42,0x800,0x82000)
Boot0003* Fedora        HD(1,GPT,99f821a7-628b-4c84-bdd6-8c7407152b42,0x800,0x82000)

Use Linux efibootmgr Command to Manage UEFI Boot Menu - LinuxBabe

@CRoPs

I was not aware I had a "cursed device" As it has been running Zorin 15 perfectly fine for many years.

Chances are you installed Zorin either after another 32bit grub was on your system, or Zorin 15 still supported 32bit systems and your subsequent Zorin updates luckily didn't break grub by failing to install a 64bit version

[CRoPs]

Thanks for your reply Ultrabenosaurus.
I am looking into SuperGrub2 Disk now.
I will certainly keep Ventoy in mind as that could save me a bunch of time down the road.
I installed efibootmgr and ran it with the verbose flag as suggested by LinuxBabe to see what I have beforehand. It shows this...

I'll learn what I can about SuperGrub2 Disk and report back.

@Ultrabenosaurus

Chances are you installed Zorin either after another 32bit grub was on your system, or Zorin 15 still supported 32bit systems and your subsequent Zorin updates luckily didn't break grub by failing to install a 64bit version

Zorin15 was installed after I got tired of Windows8 which was pre-installed on the T100. Must have been lucky all this time to not have anything break ever, ignorance truly is bliss. lol

[NxtMighty]

@CRoPs

It is a Legacy BIOS, no fancy GUI or mouse support.

It is possible that a UEFI BIOS has no fancy GUI. Also in your pics above I see you have booted from UEFI mode in Sandisk(your pendrive).

One option maybe to use MBR based disk and a Legacy BIOS always as I have done it.
Can you change the option from UEFI to Legacy and boot from Legacy mode in USB pendrive?
If yes then I will suggest you the plan

[NxtMighty]

@CRoPs

how do I get it to show up in the BIOS and become bootable?

It can be done with Testdisk or Disks app.
Also are you able to boot into Live Zorin now?

[zabadabadoo]

Just a thought. is the Asus T100TA 2in1 Transformer tablet: Intel Atom Z3775 proc, 2GB RAM, 64GB ssd. 64bit or 32bit?
When you had Z15 was that a 64bit or 32bit editition. (also mentioned by @Ultrabenosaurus above)
Just want to rule out 32bit architecture which was supported by Z15 but not Z17.

EDIT: Just re-read the thread and found the answer to my question:
..."The T100 is a mixed mode EFI system (i.e. a 64-bit CPU combined with a 32-bit EFI)"
That's not good.

[NxtMighty]

Ok so this is the solution you may try.

Step 1: Turn on Legacy Boot

Step 1

1. Go to your BIOS.
2. In boot tab or somewhere search for boot option.
3. Toggle it to Legacy.
4. Do the same if you see any option for pendrive or cds. Turn it on at Legacy boot only.

Step 2: Convert Disk to MBR

Step 2

1. Open terminal in Linux Mint or Zorin Live.
2. Paste the commands

# gdisk /dev/sda
Command: r (recovery and transformation options)
Recovery command: g (convert GPT into MBR and exit)

3. Reboot again from live CD.
4. Open Disks app.
5. Click on the Drive.
6. You should see Master Boot Record in top information

Step 3. Proceed with installation

Step 3

1. Boot from Live Zorin
2. Click on Install Zorin.
3. Click on Something else when prompted.
4. Make 1 partition.

ext4 journaling file system    All the space   Mount point / 
5. Bootloader installation
/dev/mmcblck
6. It should get completed

[CRoPs]

Progress! Of a sort... I tried several options in SuperGrub2 Disk (watched the videos on their YT channel) and it can see the eMMC storage and it can even boot from it into Linux Mint Debian Edition but the drive is still absent from the BIOS and unable to BOOT without external help.

That program lead me to RescTux which I also researched and tried most every scan and fix option within and there is some headway made... my first scan turned up this...

After various fix attempts it now shows this...

It looks like an improvement to my untrained eye but not yet the result I am looking for.
I am not concerned about any data or OS install (I have backups) I just want the internal storage to show up in the BIOS again so I can boot from it directly rather than from a USB flash drive.

[CRoPs]

@NxtMighty

It is possible that a UEFI BIOS has no fancy GUI.

How would I check this? The BIOS is dated 2012.

@NxtMighty

Also in your pics above I see you have booted from UEFI mode in Sandisk(your pendrive).

Correct the flash drives with Zorin and Mint show up as UEFI.

@NxtMighty

Can you change the option from UEFI to Legacy and boot from Legacy mode in USB pendrive?

I do not think so, the BIOS is very limited with only 6 meaningful options (aside from set the clock - Exit etc) None of the options mention CSM or Legacy or MBR.

[CRoPs]

I do see Testdisk as an option in the RescaTux under "Expert Tools" but I have not learned anything about that yet.

@NxtMighty

Also are you able to boot into Live Zorin now?

No but I can boot into Mint through SuperGrub2Disk (SG2D).

@zabadabadoo

EDIT: Just re-read the thread and found the answer to my question:
..."The T100 is a mixed mode EFI system (i.e. a 64-bit CPU combined with a 32-bit EFI)"
That's not good.

I have confirmed through Intel Ark that it is a 64bit processor I do not know how to check the bit depth of the EFI.
Alas not much I can do about it. I was not consulted when they built the system.

@NxtMighty

Ok so this is the solution you may try.

Step 1: Turn on Legacy Boot

Step 1: Do not have that option in the BIOS sorry. I checked every menu and sub-menu and did not see anything like that.

[CRoPs]

@NxtMighty

• Go to your BIOS.
• In boot tab or somewhere search for boot option.
• Toggle it to Legacy.
• Do the same if you see any option for pendrive or cds. Turn it on at Legacy boot only.

The options I have are
[Main]
1.Set Date
2.Set Time

[Advanced]
1.Easy Flash (flash BIOS to newer version)
2.Network Stack (Enable or Disable<--)
3.USB Config (xHCI<-- or eHCI) which if I set to eHCI would unlock eHCI Debug Port (Enable or Diable<--)
4.Platform Trust Tech: fTPM (Enable or Disable<--)

[Boot]
1.Boot Option Priorities
Empty unless I plug a USB drive in.

[Security]
1.Admin Password: (not installed<--)
2.User Password: (not installed<--)
3.Secure Boot Menu:
3a. System Mode (Setup) This option is grayed out.
3b.Secure Boot (Not Active) This option is grayed out.
3c.Secure Boot Support (Enable or Disable<--) If enabled it unlocks 3c+ Key Mgmt.

[Save and Exit]
1.Save Changes
2.Discard Changes
3.Restore Defaults
4. Boot Override (blank as you can see below but when I have a USB device plugged in it will show up under here as you can see in the last image taken when I had SG2D on a 16GB SP Flash Drive)
5. Launch EFI Shell from filesystem device
which if clicked it says
WARNING. Not found (Ok)

** I just noticed when clicking it to see the message again that if I have a USB stick with SG2D plugged in when I click it now says "Save and Reset" (Save Config Yes or No) ** which is a new option. Anyone know what this does and should I try it?

[macfly]

@CRoPs

** I just noticed when clicking it to see the message again that if I have a USB stick with SG2D plugged in when I click it now says "Save and Reset" (Save Config Yes or No) ** which is a new option. Anyone know what this does and should I try it?

This is "normal" because it believes that you may have changed something. So it asks you to save. If you haven't changed anything, saving will have no effect.

[NxtMighty]

In this image, below boot override. I see UEFI something, can you change it?
Also please disable Secure Boot and TPM, and then try to diasble it. Search on google for your specific BIOS.

[swarfendor437]

The OP has already done all of that if you check earlier posts.

[NxtMighty]

@swarfendor437

The OP has already done all of that if you check earlier posts.

Ok then

[NxtMighty]

So here is the fix. I found solution from different sources

Step 1:
Pre Requisites

1. Make Zorin OS bootable drive.
2. Turn off Secure Boot and TPM.

Step 2.
Boot USB in Legacy Mode.

1. During Turn ON (POST), press F8 or Boot Menu Key. F8 is the key most probably.
2. Select USB (Sandisk). Don't select USB (Sandisk) UEFI.
3. Zorin Live will now boot in Legacy mode.
4. Also please click a photo of Boot menu and post it here.

Step 3.
Change Partition type on Main Disk to MBR.

1. Now upon booting up, click on Try Zorin.
2. Open the Terminal and type the commands.

sudo gdisk /dev/mmcblk1
Then r
Then g

3. After that reboot again.
4. Upon Reboot, Press F8, select USB (Sandisk) and not USB (Sandisk) UEFI.
5. Click on Try Zorin.
6. Open Disks app.
7. Now select your main drive and then you should see Master Boot Record in the first 5-6 lines of information.

Step 4.
Start installation

1. Close Disks app.
2. Click on Install Zorin
3. Uncheck all checkboxes.
4. Click on Something else when prompted and not Erase Disk and Install Zorin.
5. Delete all partitions.
6. Now create a single partition with configuration

Primary
Beginning of this Space
Type - ext4 journaling file system
Mount point - \
Size - All

6. Select the device for bootloader installation as /dev/mmcblk1 and not /dev/mmcblk1p1 or any other.
7. Proceed with installation.

[swarfendor437]

I think @ultrabenosaurus has the correct way forward. The OP does not have legacy boot option. More critically he does not have CSM which would show both SanDisk and UEFI SanDisk in BIOS boot choices, which also don't appear to be fully present in the BIOS. The big issue here is it is an eMMC machine which has built-in e-waste ... if any component dies the whole machine has to be scrapped. Would ideally be better getting a decent notebook off e-bay.

[NxtMighty]

So what can be done is a 32bit OS or nothing?

[NxtMighty]

By the way is BIOS update or downgrade possible for his laptop?

[swarfendor437]

It's a netbook. These machines are really only useful for browsing and email. I never use the term laptop as it engenders incorrect use of Notebooks!

[NxtMighty]

@swarfendor437

It's a netbook

Didn't know that. Thanks mate