Booting problems following a Mageia 7 install

[rodgoslin]

I recently raised an issue with a new Mageia 7 install on an Asus laptop running Windows 10. The problem, involving the creation of a BIOS boot partition, is now [Solved], and the install complete and running. However what should have been a GRUB dual boot scenario, for Mageia7 or Windows 10, has turned out to be for Mageia only, the Windows 10 option being missing. Running DiskDrake reveals that all the Windows partitions are there and mounted, but booting it is not an option. I've been installing Mageia and its earlier invocation since the early days of mandrake, and this is the first, and thankfully the only instance where the dual boot has been left off the boot options. I've few concerns about the loss of Windows, since apart from a few instances, I do not use it, but I did pay for it, and the installation of the thing occupies half the disk capacity. Any ideas, anyone? I did do all the updates on the Mageia, after I'd booted it, but will hang back on my usual added applications and customisations.

[benmc]

was windows installed in UEFI mode, and you installed Mageia in Bios mode?

Running DiskDrake reveals that all the Windows partitions are there

is there a EFI partition listed, about 200MB?

if so, turning UEFI back on should allow you to boot into windows.

[rodgoslin]

In the Mageia Control Centre, Manage Disk Partitions, the leftmost partition (Windows to the left, Mageia to the right) identifies as a VFAT partition of 260MB. The 'View' option identifies this as EFI.
I wasn't aware that you could 'turn off' EUFI, or how it could be done. Or undone. On my initial forays ito the mares nest of EUFI, there seemed no way to make the BIOS acknowledge the external DVD drive. the only option, seemingly available was the Windows Boot Manager. Disabling Fast Boot and enabling Launch CSM got the DVD identified for the install. Disabling Launch CSM brings back Windows, but now the GRUB option has disappeared, and in the boot section of BIOs the only boot option is back with Windows Boot Manager. The DVD drive, no longer required has gone back into the drawer.

[rodgoslin]

Another quick foray into the dark. with Launch CSM disabled the only boot option is Windows Boot Manager, which will only boot Windows. By enabling launch CSM, a second option to boot from the HDD (Or from the SSD, which I gather this unit is fitted with (?)). selecting the first option brings up Windows only and the second option Mageia only. So I can get something of a result, but only by modifying the boot options each time. Which is a bit of a faff. Oh for the easy life of yore!

[benmc]

Unfortunately, different manufacturers seem to interpret the UEFI standard in different ways, and as a result, the bios is setup differently for each manufacturer.
it appears you and Google are going to have to get fairly intimate, but you should be able to find out how your bios can be made to "see" your UEFI Mageia DVD and re-install in UEFI
mode.
it may just be a case of pressing "F7" (for example) with the DVD reader / Mga7 DVD attached during POST.
secure boot would have to be turned off in the bios, and UEFI /CSM set to UEFI or both.
or setting the DVD as the first boot device in the boot order.
I have heard that a master bios password, when set up, can give extra switches / options available in the bios.

I have a Toshiba R930 that will only boot Mageia in legacy / CSM mode.
no windows on that machine, and I just cannot be faffed finding out how to go about setting it up in UEFI mode.
I also have a Acer B113 Travelmate that installed in UEFI mode without issue.

[rodgoslin]

I'm not too concerned with the DVD drive. The install is complete, except for all those nice things that the install listing does not mention. I've unticked the DVD install options from the software installation listing so all installs/updates come from the repositories, and are therefore up to date. The thing is unlikely to get used for Windows, very much, about once a month to download a data logger, so I'll leave it in boot Mageia mode. I'll leave this thread as current for a while in case someone comes up with an easy solution. Or at least one I can understand.