Grub2Win / Discussion / General Discussion: TOO Many ESP partitions

robert misita - 2021-11-07

Too Many EFI Partitions. Found = 6 Max Allowed = 5
Should I just remove a disc for the install; or can I change something.
This is a first time with this new system and an M.2 disc.

update - Copy.log

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Drummer - 2021-11-08

Hi Robert,

I'm trying to fathom why a new system would have six EFI partitions.
There is normally only one.

Would you mind running the Grub2Win diagnostics and sending them to me.
I'll try to understand what is going on.

Thanks,

Dave

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- robert misita - 2021-11-08
  
  Here is some info. The diagnostic button only opened a mail window. The
  contents of the windata directory is listed in the 211108_dirlist.txt file
  and in the "7z" file.
  
  From: Drummer drummerdp@users.sourceforge.net
  Sent: Sunday, November 7, 2021 8:26 PM
  To: [grub2win:discussion] general@discussion.grub2win.p.re.sourceforge.net
  Subject: [grub2win:discussion] TOO Many ESP partitions
  
  Hi Robert,
  I'm trying to fathom why a new system would have six EFI partitions.
  There is normally only one.
  Would you mind running the Grub2Win diagnostics and sending them to me.
  I'll try to understand what is going on.
  Thanks,
  Dave
  
  TOO Many ESP partitions
  https://sourceforge.net/p/grub2win/discussion/general/thread/0690c768d5/?li mit=25#f6b3
  
  Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in
  https://sourceforge.net/p/grub2win/discussion/general/
  To unsubscribe from further messages, please visit
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  211108_dirlist.txt
  
  All_Disk_Partitions.jpg
  
  Screenshot 2021-11-08 003916.jpg
  
  Screenshot 2021-11-08 003947.jpg
  
  alternate
  
  partlist.txt
  
  system.info.txt
  
  windata.7z
  
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- robert misita - 2021-11-08
  
  I have SIX win 10 system discs and three different linux systems also on
  them. This is less tan I had on the previous build; but it was not UEFI. I
  had to build all the GPT disc configurations. The file I sent was real and
  accurate. I have to figure out how to run the "diagnostic".,
  Thks for the fast response.
  
  From: Drummer drummerdp@users.sourceforge.net
  Sent: Sunday, November 7, 2021 8:26 PM
  To: [grub2win:discussion] general@discussion.grub2win.p.re.sourceforge.net
  Subject: [grub2win:discussion] TOO Many ESP partitions
  
  Hi Robert,
  I'm trying to fathom why a new system would have six EFI partitions.
  There is normally only one.
  Would you mind running the Grub2Win diagnostics and sending them to me.
  I'll try to understand what is going on.
  Thanks,
  Dave
  
  TOO Many ESP partitions
  https://sourceforge.net/p/grub2win/discussion/general/thread/0690c768d5/?li mit=25#f6b3
  
  Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in
  https://sourceforge.net/p/grub2win/discussion/general/
  To unsubscribe from further messages, please visit
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Drummer - 2021-11-08

Hi again Robert,

I'm afraid Grub2Win is not going to work for you in this configuration.

Multiple EFI partitions cause many problems,

There is confusion both for the user and the machine's EFI firmware which can only load a single module from a single EFI partition at boot time.

There is no way for the firmware or Grub2Win to determine which is the "Real" EFI partition to be used for boot.

Also, Grub2Win updates the machine's EFI pointers to select a boot module. Which partition do these point to?

You should probably consider consolidating your EFI partitions to minimize these issues, and removing the extra partitions.

Dave

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- robert misita - 2021-11-10
  
  I removed the last disc and ran the program with 5 esp showing. I added
  three linux partitions, and tried to boot. The esp partitions on all discs
  were made to have grub2win directories added from the grub2win program. THE
  COMPUTER DOES NOT BOOT TO GRUB. The message shown on the monitor is (
  0x57ec4bbd unaligned pointer aborted ) The computer then proceed to show
  the normal multi boot screen and boots correctly. The firmware has the
  grub2win as the first boot device. Seems this EFI type computer gives us
  all problems. Years ago on a bios computer this software worked.
  How can I uninstall it? Just delete all directories?
  
  From: Drummer drummerdp@users.sourceforge.net
  Sent: Monday, November 8, 2021 9:17 AM
  To: [grub2win:discussion] general@discussion.grub2win.p.re.sourceforge.net
  Subject: [grub2win:discussion] TOO Many ESP partitions
  
  Hi again Robert,
  I'm afraid Grub2Win is not going to work for you in this configuration.
  Multiple EFI partitions cause many problems,
  There is confusion both for the user and the machine's EFI firmware which
  can only load a single module from a single EFI partition at boot time.
  There is no way for the firmware or Grub2Win to determine which is the
  "Real" EFI partition to be used for boot.
  Also, Grub2Win updates the machine's EFI pointers to select a boot module.
  Which partition do these point to?
  You should probably consider consolidating your EFI partitions to minimize
  these issues, and removing the extra partitions.
  Dave
  
  TOO Many ESP partitions
  https://sourceforge.net/p/grub2win/discussion/general/thread/0690c768d5/?li mit=25#4d13
  
  Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in
  https://sourceforge.net/p/grub2win/discussion/general/
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Drummer - 2021-11-10

Hi again Robert,

The unaligned pointer messages suggests that there are multiple versions of Grub in your many EFI partitions. Probably from various Linux distributions. The Grub kernels are incompatible with the libraries on your Linux drives. This is not a good situation.

To uninstall Grub2Win, use the Windows Control Panel "Programs and Features" menu and run the uninstall for Grub2Win.

Good luck,

Dave

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- robert misita - 2021-11-10
  
  I was successful in uninstalling grub2win in all drives. I also installed
  grub2 under linux and it boots ALL systems as in my previous system build.
  Thanks for trying.
  Bobm
  
  From: Drummer drummerdp@users.sourceforge.net
  Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2021 2:01 PM
  To: [grub2win:discussion] general@discussion.grub2win.p.re.sourceforge.net
  Subject: [grub2win:discussion] TOO Many ESP partitions
  
  Hi again Robert,
  The unaligned pointer messages suggests that there are multiple versions of
  Grub in your many EFI partitions. Probably from various Linux distributions.
  The Grub kernels are incompatible with the libraries on your Linux drives.
  This is not a good situation.
  To uninstall Grub2Win, use the Windows Control Panel "Programs and Features"
  menu and run the uninstall for Grub2Win.
  Good luck,
  Dave
  
  TOO Many ESP partitions
  https://sourceforge.net/p/grub2win/discussion/general/thread/0690c768d5/?li mit=25#a165
  
  Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in
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Drummer - 2021-11-11

Hi Robert,

I'm very happy this worked out for you. Please be careful.

You should realize that having multiple EFI partitions is the number one cause of boot problems that I encounter. These errors become more likely as the number of EFI partitions increases.

This happens even if you have never installed Grub2Win.
On all EFI machines that multiboot various operating systems.

Take care,

Dave

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- robert misita - 2021-11-11
  
  Thank you for the feedback. I would be very interested to hear about
  specific errors.
  Bobm
  
  From: Drummer drummerdp@users.sourceforge.net
  Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2021 9:30 AM
  To: [grub2win:discussion] general@discussion.grub2win.p.re.sourceforge.net
  Subject: [grub2win:discussion] TOO Many ESP partitions
  
  Hi Robert,
  I'm very happy this worked out for you. Please be careful.
  You should realize that having multiple EFI partitions is the number one
  cause of boot problems that I encounter. These errors become more likely as
  the number of EFI partitions increases.
  This happens even if you have never installed Grub2Win.
  On all EFI machines that multiboot various operating systems.
  Take care,
  Dave
  
  TOO Many ESP partitions
  https://sourceforge.net/p/grub2win/discussion/general/thread/0690c768d5/?li mit=25#3e1f
  
  Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in
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Drummer - 2021-11-11

Hi again Robert,

Specific errors: where to begin.

The most common thing is that the wrong EFI partition gets updated by Linux or Windows.
Or the pointer to the EFI partition is altered by Linux or Windows.

The Grub kernel in the booted EFI must exactly match the supporting Grub libraries in the Linux /boot /grub directory.
The same applies to the supporting libraries in Grub2Win's C:\grub2 directory.

These libraries are x86_64-efi, i386-efi, and i386-pc.

If the kernel and the libraries do not exactly match, you get unpredictable boot crashes, black screens and invalid pointer errors.

When there are multiple EFI partitions, they often contain kernels from different gen levels of GNU Grub.

For instance, Grub2Win and Open Suse Linux are running the GNU Grub 2.06 kernel. Ubuntu is running 2.04. And so on.

It's a little like Russian Roulette, most of the time things are OK.

But when you have a kernel mismatch, Boom!

I hope this helps.

Dave

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- robert misita - 2021-11-11
  
  Great info! Thanks - I have 3 different Linux on different discs.
  Bobm
  Ps - the attached file is a copy of the C drive esp partition for you
  perusal.
  Pps - the reply did not go thru with the EFI.7z file. Let me know how.
  
  From: Drummer drummerdp@users.sourceforge.net
  Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2021 12:34 PM
  To: [grub2win:discussion] general@discussion.grub2win.p.re.sourceforge.net
  Subject: [grub2win:discussion] TOO Many ESP partitions
  
  Hi again Robert,
  Specific errors: where to begin.
  The most common thing is that the wrong EFI partition gets updated by Linux
  or Windows.
  Or the pointer to the EFI partition is altered by Linux or Windows.
  The Grub kernel in the booted EFI must exactly match the supporting Grub
  libraries in the Linux /boot /grub directory.
  The same applies to the supporting libraries in Grub2Win's C:\grub2
  directory.
  These libraries are x86_64-efi, i386-efi, and i386-pc.
  If the kernel and the libraries do not exactly match, you get unpredictable
  boot crashes, black screens and invalid pointer errors.
  When there are multiple EFI partitions, they often contain kernels from
  different gen levels of GNU Grub.
  For instance, Grub2Win and Open Suse Linux are running the GNU Grub 2.06
  kernel. Ubuntu is running 2.04. And so on.
  It's a little like Russian Roulette, most of the time things are OK.
  But when you have a kernel mismatch, Boom!
  I hope this helps.
  Dave
  
  TOO Many ESP partitions
  https://sourceforge.net/p/grub2win/discussion/general/thread/0690c768d5/?li mit=25#f4d4
  
  Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in
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Drummer - 2021-11-11

Hi yet again Robert,

You have to attach your file in the Source Forge forum web page via the "Add Attachments" button.

Attaching it via email will not work.

Dave

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robert misita - 2021-11-11

the attached file is a copy of the C drive esp partition for you
perusal.

EFI.7z

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Drummer - 2021-11-12

Hi again Robert,

I looked through your EFI.

The Ubuntu kernel was GNU Grub 2.04
The Grub2Win kernel is GNU Grub 2.06.

The mismatch probably caused your "unaligned pointer" error.

Dave

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- robert misita - 2021-11-12
  
  Is there a file that contains that info; so I could possibly watch out for
  it in the future.
  Bobm
  
  From: Drummer drummerdp@users.sourceforge.net
  Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2021 10:14 PM
  To: [grub2win:discussion] general@discussion.grub2win.p.re.sourceforge.net
  Subject: [grub2win:discussion] TOO Many ESP partitions
  
  Hi again Robert,
  I looked through your EFI.
  The Ubuntu kernel was GNU Grub 2.04
  The Grub2Win kernel is GNU Grub 2.06.
  The mismatch probably caused your "unaligned pointer" error.
  Dave
  
  TOO Many ESP partitions
  https://sourceforge.net/p/grub2win/discussion/general/thread/0690c768d5/?li mit=25#f50c
  
  Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in
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Drummer - 2021-11-12

Hi again Robert,

No, there is no such file. Here are the steps:

You have to go through your EFI BIOS firmware to determine which GNU Grub kernel in your many EFI partitions is being booted.

Then you have to boot the appropriate kernel from that specific EFI partition to view the GNU Grub version number, which is displayed at boot time. I did this using the Ubuntu GNU Grub kernel from the file you sent me.

Then you have to match the kernel version number to the supporting x86_64-efi library in the partition you are trying to boot.

I hope this helps.

Dave

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Drummer - 2021-11-12

Hey Robert,

FYI, I have changed the EFI scan routines in the latest release of Grub2Win.

If Grub2Win finds more than 5 EFI partitions, instead of aborting, Grub2Win will now issue warning messages and ignore those additional EFI partitions.

Dave

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- robert misita - 2021-11-12
  
  Do you think Grub2Win can work alongside of Ubuntu grub?
  Bobm
  
  From: Drummer drummerdp@users.sourceforge.net
  Sent: Friday, November 12, 2021 9:52 AM
  To: [grub2win:discussion] general@discussion.grub2win.p.re.sourceforge.net
  Subject: [grub2win:discussion] TOO Many ESP partitions
  
  Hey Robert,
  FYI, I have changed the EFI scan routines in the latest release of Grub2Win.
  If Grub2Win finds more than 5 EFI partitions, instead of aborting, Grub2Win
  will now issue warning messages and ignore those additional EFI partitions.
  Dave
  
  TOO Many ESP partitions
  https://sourceforge.net/p/grub2win/discussion/general/thread/0690c768d5/?li mit=25#2910
  
  Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in
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Drummer - 2021-11-12

Hi again Robert,

I believe so.
You should install the latest Grub2Win refresh which includes the EFI tweaks.

You will receive warning messages about your extra EFI partitions, but just click OK to ignore them.

Worst case, if it doesn't work in your very unusual configuration, simply uninstall Grub2Win.

Please let me know.

Thanks,

Dave

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