Editing Openai/690f8ac2-4e38-8012-b650-1cba68fd0972 (section)

==  ==

===  ===

* When you boot the Zorin installer, your HP boot menu (usually F9) should show two options for the USB:

<pre>
UEFI: <USB name>
USB: <USB name>

</pre>

* Select the one starting with UEFI.
* Boot into “Try Zorin” from the UEFI entry.

You can confirm UEFI mode in the live session:

<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">
[ -d /sys/firmware/efi ] && echo "UEFI mode" || echo "Legacy mode"

</syntaxhighlight>

It must print:

<pre>
UEFI mode

</pre>

===  ===

Once you are in a UEFI Live session:

<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">
# Mount root and EFI
sudo mount /dev/sda3 /mnt
sudo mount /dev/sda2 /mnt/boot/efi

# Bind mounts for chroot
for i in /dev /dev/pts /proc /sys /run; do
  sudo mount --bind $i /mnt$i
done

# Enter chroot
sudo chroot /mnt

# Create fallback directory
mkdir -p /boot/efi/EFI/BOOT

# Install GRUB to HP fallback path
grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi --bootloader-id=Zorin --removable

# Update GRUB
update-grub

# Exit chroot
exit

# Unmount everything
for i in /run /sys /proc /dev/pts /dev; do
  sudo umount /mnt$i
done
sudo umount /mnt/boot/efi
sudo umount /mnt

# Reboot
sudo reboot

</syntaxhighlight>

===  ===

# UEFI Live USB is required — Legacy Live sessions cannot install UEFI GRUB.
# --removable installs to /EFI/BOOT/BOOTX64.EFI, which HP firmware will recognize.
# After this, your EliteBook should boot Zorin without looping.

If you want, I can write a full copy-paste script optimized for your SSD layout that you can run directly from a UEFI Live session — it will do all mounts, chroot, GRUB fallback install, update GRUB, and unmount.

Do you want me to do that?


'''Prompt:'''
At step 1, my options are: Notbook Upgrade BAy (UEFI), OS Boot Manager, Notebook Ethernet (UEFI) Boot From EFI Ile, Notebook Upgrade Bay, Notebook Hard drive, USB Hard Drive 1 - USB DISK 2.0

'''ChatGPT:'''
Perfect — that actually clarifies everything. On your HP EliteBook 8460p, the boot menu shows the real UEFI options you need. Here’s what they mean:

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===  ===

# Boot the Live USB in UEFI mode:

* Press F9 at boot → look for a UEFI option for your USB stick.
* It might appear as:

<pre>
UEFI: USB DISK 2.0

</pre>

* Select that.
* Once booted, confirm you are in UEFI mode:

<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">
[ -d /sys/firmware/efi ] && echo "UEFI mode" || echo "Legacy mode"

</syntaxhighlight>

It must print: UEFI mode.

# Once in a UEFI session, you can then do the fallback GRUB install:

* Mount /dev/sda3 (root)
* Mount /dev/sda2 (EFI)
* Chroot
* Install GRUB with --removable to /EFI/BOOT/BOOTX64.EFI

This will make the HP firmware detect Zorin via OS Boot Manager.

# Important:

* When done, reboot and press F9.
* Choose OS Boot Manager → Zorin.
* If it boots successfully, go into BIOS → Boot Options and make OS Boot Manager first in the list.

💡 Key point:
You cannot use the Legacy USB option for a UEFI install — that’s why grub-install failed before. The UEFI USB boot is essential for installing GRUB in UEFI mode.

I can now give you a ready-to-run script for your setup, including mounts, chroot, fallback GRUB install, and update — optimized for the UEFI Live session.

Do you want me to provide that script?


'''Prompt:'''
I do not see a UEFI option for my USB stick, only the USB Hard Drive I mentioned above.

'''ChatGPT:'''
Ah — that explains why the UEFI GRUB install keeps failing. On the HP EliteBook 8460p, if your USB stick does not appear as a UEFI boot option, it means the Live USB was created in a Legacy/MBR-only format.

HP firmware can only boot UEFI from a properly prepared GPT/UEFI USB stick. Legacy-only sticks will never appear as a UEFI option.