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I have some problems setting up a dual boot between Win10 and Ubuntu20.04. To be specific, it seems the bootloader grub doesn't find my second hard drive. Note: I've added some pictures at the bottom.

My setup:

  • Microsoft Surface Pro (2017) with internal SSD (256GB)
  • SanDisk - High Endurance MicroSD-Card (128GB)

My Plan: Set up a dual boot with Win10 on the internal SSD and Ubuntu on the added MicroSD-Card.

What I did: Note: I've tried to install Ubuntu serveral times now and always ended up with the same grub-problem.

  • I used "rufus" to create a bootable USB-Stick. I made sure that UEFI is enabled. (pic. 1)
  • I disabled "fast-boot" in Win10 and "Secure-boot" in UEFI
  • I booted with the USB-Stick, went into live-mode and installed Ubuntu. On my...
    • ...fist try I chose "Install Ubuntu alongside Win10".
    • ...second try I chose "something different" and partitioned the drive myself (like in the answer on this question).
    • ...third try (current state) I chose "erase disk". Every time the installation went well, but not once I could boot normally.

My Problem: When I restart after installation I always end up in the "grub bash like" terminal (pic. 2). I read in a tutorial that I have to tell grub where my "root" is, but when i type "ls", the second Hard drive (MicroSD-Card) doesn't even show up. When I type "exit", Win10 boots normally. When I reboot, enter UEFI and tell it to boot into Ubuntu directly, it works (pic. 3&4). But on every "normal" boot, it sends me to the grub terminal.

What I've tried:

  • I've tried different installation methods (no difference)
  • I've tried using the Boot-Repair tool. No effect.

I've had the same problem a year ago with my main Desktop-PC (I also used a separate SSD for Linux) and had the exact same Problem. Last time I surrendered. This time I want to find a solution.

Pictures:

  1. Rufus - Bootable USB-Stick
  2. Grub2 - Bash like terminal
  3. UEFI - Boot-configuration
  4. Grub2 - Boot-menue

Edit 1: I tried boot-repair again, this time in advanced mode. These were the settings (those were default)

The returned Summaries:

Here is a Picture of the partitions in GParted

New Problem: Now I can't even boot manually into Ubuntu via UEFI anymore. The entry is still there but if i chose "boot with ubuntu" the screen goes dark for 2 sec. and I end up in UEFI again.

Note: I had to delete some pictures because i can only incluse 8 Links.

Davider
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3 Answers3

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you probably cannot select the sd card as a boot medium (like usb,cd or lan) in your bios. if not available for boot i don't think you can use it for an os.

you might stick the sd card in a usb card reader and see if a default dual boot install or boot-repair will work.

user74341
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It depends on the type of Microsoft Surface Pro you have. Model 3 can boot from SD, model 4 doesn't. Please take a look at he Microsoft Community. e.g. https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/forum/all/surface-pro-4-boot-from-sd-card/b0eeb516-50b3-4460-8492-6ebb4edd9648. It seems to be able to boot from USB. Maybe a USB-SD cardreader is an option. I'm not sure though. Boot from USB: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/boot-surface-from-a-usb-device-fe7a7323-8d1d-823d-be17-9aec89c4f9f5.

Joepie Es
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First of all, thank you for your suggestions! I found a solution:

I followed (mostly) this guide. I changed:

  • Step 21: I've chosen "erase disk and install ubuntu"
  • Step 22&23: Choose the SD-Card
  • before Step 28: check the names of your drives with "sudo fdisk -l" (see Zhihao Wu's Comment)
  • Step 30: Don't drag "ubuntu" to the top (See MegaKyurem's comment). My Boot-order is: USB - Ubuntu - Windows

Reboot and it should work! You can even turn "secure boot" in UEFI back on (if you don't want the read lock to appear on your boot-screen).

Davider
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