Howto Install bootloader afterwards? (discuss.tchncs.de)

submitted 4 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Coming from Manjaro, I had Manjaro in dual boot with Windows for a few years now. I have now also installed Arch Linux. During the Arch installation, I skipped the part with the boot partition and the bootloader. I have been using the bootloader/grub from Manjaro. That works quite well.

But now I want to switch to a bootloader from Arch. With the Arch bootloader I would like to continue to have the choice between Arch, Manjaro and Windows.

I assume that I have to install a corresponding bootloader for Arch in the EFI parallel to the others. But how should I proceed in detail? I have not yet been able to find any corresponding howtos. Which bootloader would you recommend?

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[-] [email protected] 7 points 4 weeks ago

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/GRUB

Then make sure your CMOS has the Arch drive as the first boot target.

[-] [email protected] 4 points 4 weeks ago

Yup, simple answer but an answer. I followed that too.

And don't be scared of the long page. Most things there are fairly specific to certain specific scenarios only. It's like "open here" on a can, except it also has instructions on what to do if the tab breaks off, you cut your finger, drop it on your toes and break them, start eating and hear a tornado warning, etc...

[-] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago

Don't forget:

Legacy consumption interface (for ancient mouths/hardware)
Password-protected can contents
Multiple cans connected in parallel
Multiple cans connected in series
Usage with backup cans
Safe can disposal following current best practices
Making the can look pretty

[-] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

Many thx. Worked fine.

If I install a new kernel, I have to recreate the entries with grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg. But do I have to do that also for kernel updates?

I don't think so, because the filename should not change, if I'm right?

[-] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

Uuuuhh, I don't know. I never did that manually, it seems to auto-update after upgrades.

To be honest I haven't thought of it. I only know it is recommended to re-install GRUB with GRUB updates. But simply pacman -Syu has so far always left me with a bootable system.

Edit: Didn't find anything in pacman hooks.

[-] [email protected] 7 points 4 weeks ago

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/GRUB#Installation

[-] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago

I have one additional question. Sorry. According to the wiki I should use grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg to generate a new menu after removing or installing other kernels. But obviously /boot/grub/grub.cfg is wrong, at least for me (the subdir grub doesnt exist here). In my case the file is under /efi/grub/grub.cfg. Is that also OK? When mounting ESP I followed https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/EFI_system_partition#Mount_the_partition#Typical_mount_points and chose the 2nd variant.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

you can even have multiple, I keep grub and systemd-boot on hand in case one or the other gets messed up

this post was submitted on 20 May 2025

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