[Bug 1082418] Re: Ubuntu UEFI install locks out UEFI firmware (~bios) access

[viking777]

I am not at all familiar with Uefi workings, so the following comment is
neither a solution nor even a theory, simply a question for others that
are familiar with Uefi to consider.

I see that in my /boot/efi folder I have the following files:

ls -l /boot/efi/EFI/Microsoft/Boot/
total 480
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 122880 Nov 24 12:01 bootmgfw.efi*
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 122880 Nov 24 12:01 bootmgfw.efi.grb*
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 122880 Nov 24 12:01 bootx64.efi*
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 122880 Nov 24 12:01 bootx64.efi.grb*

So the question is why have I got Microsoft files in my /boot/efi folder
when I have no Microsoft installation, and could this have any bearing
on this bug?

One thing is obvious, the only thing that can have put them there is
Ubiquity. Bear in mind that I used the 'Replace Windows' option to
install Ubuntu, not 'Install alongside'. Given that, then Ubiquity
really has no need to create such files. Obviously dual booters would
probably find these files very necessary but not anyone who is
completely removing Windows.

The thought springs to mind that these might be some sort of signatures
required to implement 'Secure Boot'. But since my machine does not
support 'Secure Boot' again they are surely unnecessary.  I can't read
the files (hex?) so I don't know what is in them.

Anyway it is just something for you to think about, I might be very wide
of the mark in believing this has anything to do with the basic problem.

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1082418

Title:
  Ubuntu UEFI install locks out UEFI firmware (~bios) access

Status in Ubiquity:
  New
Status in “grub2” package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed

Bug description:
  lsb_release -rd
  Description:	Ubuntu 12.10
  Release:	12.10

  apt-cache policy grub-efi-amd64
  grub-efi-amd64:
    Installed: 2.00-7ubuntu11
    Candidate: 2.00-7ubuntu11

  
  Pheonix Secure Core Tiano bios version 1.09

  New laptop Fujitsu Lifebook AH532. Windows 7 preinstalled. All
  functions worked normally when running Win7. Ubuntu 12.10 installed
  using whole disk. Installation successful Ubuntu boots and runs
  normally, however all access to the bios has now been lost. Pressing
  the default key (f2) during boot up is acknowledged by bios beep, but
  ignored and Ubuntu continues booting. In addition the 'boot choices'
  menu (f12) contains nothing but Ubuntu making it impossible to boot
  from USB or CD/DVD.

  The latter (f12) problem was overcome by opening up the machine,
  removing the ram and shorting the cl1/cl2 posts with a screwdriver.
  This restores the ability to boot from USB/CD by pressing f12 but does
  not restore bios access.

  The following recovery actions have been tried.
  1) Install Boot-Repair, run repair, no change occurred. Boot repair report here:
  http://paste.ubuntu.com/1375041/

  2) Restore Windows from Clonezilla disk image (factory settings) -
  result - bios access is no longer possible from windows either, f2 now
  launches the Windows boot menu.

  3) Update all drivers using Fujitsu driver update tool from within
  windows (which included a bios update). Result - no change, no bios.

  4) Restored Ubuntu from Clonezilla disk image - no change.

  5) Added second distro to disk. Installed successfully (uefi mode as
  that is all I have) no change to bios access.

  So overall result I have lost all bios access even from a reinstalled
  Windows. I repeat that bios access was perfectly normal before
  installing Ubuntu.

  I strongly suggest you read the contents of this thread in addition to
  the information here:

  http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2086602

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.10
  Package: grub-efi 2.00-7ubuntu11
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.5.0-18.29-generic 3.5.7
  Uname: Linux 3.5.0-18-generic x86_64
  ApportVersion: 2.6.1-0ubuntu6
  Architecture: amd64
  Date: Fri Nov 23 15:50:07 2012
  InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-11-22 (1 days ago)
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release amd64 (20121017.5)
  MarkForUpload: True
  SourcePackage: grub2
  UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

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