Package: grub-efi-amd64-bin
Version: 2.06-13+deb12u1
Severity: important
File: installer
Tags: d-i

Dear Maintainer,

When I install Debian 12 from an netinst ISO file on an USB sticker, the Debian installer doesn't ask to install the GRUB on the EFI/ESP partition previously made by d-i on the sticker.
Thus, when the installation process is over, the computer cannot boot on the USB sticker. A special sequence must be made afterwards by hand on the USB sticker, involving chroot:

grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi --removable --bootloader-id=debian
update-grub

After that, the computer is able to boot the newly installed Debian 12 on the USB sticker.
Is is possible to add that process in the d-i just after the disk partitioning? It would consist in a question asking where to install GRUB.

Thank you in advance
Foggy67


-- Package-specific info:

*********************** BEGIN /proc/mounts
/dev/sda2 / ext4 rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 0
/dev/sda1 /boot/efi vfat rw,relatime,fmask=0077,dmask=0077,codepage=437,iocharset=ascii,shortname=mixed,utf8,errors=remount-ro 0 0
*********************** END /proc/mounts

*********************** BEGIN /boot/grub/grub.cfg
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
if [ "${next_entry}" ] ; then
set default="${next_entry}"
set next_entry=
save_env next_entry
set boot_once=true
else
set default="0"
fi

if [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
menuentry_id_option="--id"
else
menuentry_id_option=""
fi

export menuentry_id_option

if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}
function load_video {
if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
insmod all_video
else
insmod efi_gop
insmod efi_uga
insmod ieee1275_fb
insmod vbe
insmod vga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
fi
}

if [ x$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
font=unicode
else
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,gpt2'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt2 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt2 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt2 f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0 fi
font="/usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2"
fi

if loadfont $font ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
set locale_dir=$prefix/locale
set lang=fr_FR
insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ] ; then
set timeout=30
else
if [ x$feature_timeout_style = xy ] ; then
set timeout_style=menu
set timeout=5
# Fallback normal timeout code in case the timeout_style feature is
# unavailable.
else
set timeout=5
fi
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=cyan/blue
set menu_color_highlight=white/blue
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode {
set gfxpayload="${1}"
}
set linux_gfx_mode=
export linux_gfx_mode
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0' {
load_video
insmod gzio
if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,gpt2'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt2 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt2 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt2 f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 6.1.0-37-amd64 ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-37-amd64 root=UUID=f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0 ro quiet consoleblank=180
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-6.1.0-37-amd64
}
submenu 'Advanced options for Debian GNU/Linux' $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-advanced-f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0' {
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 6.1.0-37-amd64' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-6.1.0-37-amd64-advanced-f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0' {
load_video
insmod gzio
if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,gpt2'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt2 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt2 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt2 f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 6.1.0-37-amd64 ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-37-amd64 root=UUID=f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0 ro quiet consoleblank=180
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-6.1.0-37-amd64
}
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 6.1.0-37-amd64 (recovery mode)' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-6.1.0-37-amd64-recovery-f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0' {
load_video
insmod gzio
if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,gpt2'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt2 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt2 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt2 f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 6.1.0-37-amd64 ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-37-amd64 root=UUID=f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-6.1.0-37-amd64
}
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 6.1.0-32-amd64' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-6.1.0-32-amd64-advanced-f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0' {
load_video
insmod gzio
if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,gpt2'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt2 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt2 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt2 f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 6.1.0-32-amd64 ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-32-amd64 root=UUID=f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0 ro quiet consoleblank=180
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-6.1.0-32-amd64
}
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 6.1.0-32-amd64 (recovery mode)' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-6.1.0-32-amd64-recovery-f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0' {
load_video
insmod gzio
if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
set root='hd0,gpt2'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd0,gpt2 --hint-efi=hd0,gpt2 --hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt2 f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 6.1.0-32-amd64 ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-32-amd64 root=UUID=f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-6.1.0-32-amd64
}
}

### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###
menuentry 'UEFI Firmware Settings' $menuentry_id_option 'uefi-firmware' {
fwsetup
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f ${config_directory}/custom.cfg ]; then
source ${config_directory}/custom.cfg
elif [ -z "${config_directory}" -a -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
*********************** END /boot/grub/grub.cfg

*********************** BEGIN /proc/mdstat
cat: /proc/mdstat: No such file or directory
*********************** END /proc/mdstat

*********************** BEGIN /dev/disk/by-id
total 0
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 13 Jul 17 19:55 mmc-AJTD4R_0xf5794e90 -> ../../mmcblk0 lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 15 Jul 17 19:55 mmc-AJTD4R_0xf5794e90-part1 -> ../../mmcblk0p1
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 15 Jul 17 19:55 mmc-AJTD4R_0xf5794e90-part2 -> ../../mmcblk0p2
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 15 Jul 17 19:55 mmc-AJTD4R_0xf5794e90-part3 -> ../../mmcblk0p3
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 9 Jul 17 19:55 usb-Kingston_DataTraveler_3.0_E0D55E6CE772F4C1591823E6-0:0 -> ../../sda
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 Jul 17 19:55 usb-Kingston_DataTraveler_3.0_E0D55E6CE772F4C1591823E6-0:0-part1 -> ../../sda1
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 Jul 17 19:55 usb-Kingston_DataTraveler_3.0_E0D55E6CE772F4C1591823E6-0:0-part2 -> ../../sda2
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 Jul 17 19:55 usb-Kingston_DataTraveler_3.0_E0D55E6CE772F4C1591823E6-0:0-part3 -> ../../sda3
*********************** END /dev/disk/by-id

*********************** BEGIN /dev/disk/by-uuid
total 0
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 Jul 17 19:55 66451f73-7e36-4007-ba9f-67351f6f7778 -> ../../sda3
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 15 Jul 17 19:55 8694-76C0 -> ../../mmcblk0p2
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 15 Jul 17 19:55 9C24-03B0 -> ../../mmcblk0p3
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 Jul 17 19:55 C54B-3FF4 -> ../../sda1
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 Jul 17 19:55 f8f601ed-43cf-46b5-88a4-a6f8166886e0 -> ../../sda2
*********************** END /dev/disk/by-uuid

-- System Information:
Debian Release: 12.11
APT prefers stable-updates
APT policy: (500, 'stable-updates'), (500, 'stable-security'), (500, 'stable')
Architecture: amd64 (x86_64)

Kernel: Linux 6.1.0-37-amd64 (SMP w/4 CPU threads; PREEMPT)
Locale: LANG=fr_FR.UTF-8, LC_CTYPE=fr_FR.UTF-8 (charmap=UTF-8), LANGUAGE not set
Shell: /bin/sh linked to /usr/bin/dash
Init: systemd (via /run/systemd/system)
LSM: AppArmor: enabled

Versions of packages grub-efi-amd64-bin depends on:
ii grub-common 2.06-13+deb12u1

Versions of packages grub-efi-amd64-bin recommends:
ii efibootmgr 17-2
ii grub-efi-amd64-signed 1+2.06+13+deb12u1

grub-efi-amd64-bin suggests no packages.

-- no debconf information

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 17/07/2025 at 20:56, foggy67 wrote:

Package: grub-efi-amd64-bin

When I install Debian 12 from an netinst ISO file on an USB sticker,

What is a "USB sticker" ? A USB stick (flash drive) ?
What is the use case ? Boot it on other computers ?

the Debian installer doesn't ask to install the GRUB on the EFI/ESP partition previously made by d-i on the sticker.

GRUB is automatically installed in the ESP mounted on /boot/efi, so
there is no point in asking where to install it. If GRUB installation
fails, an error message should pop up. Do you have installation logs (in /var/log/installer/syslog) ?

The only ambiguity is that if multiple partitions are marked "use as
ESP" during disk partitioning, then the installer will choose either one without asking and mount it on /boot/efi. If you want the installer to
use a specific ESP, then it is up to you to mark all the others "do not
use".

Thus, when the installation process is over, the computer cannot boot on the USB sticker.

This can have other causes that GRUB not being installed in the ESP,
e.g. faulty UEFI firmware. Besides, grub-efi-amd64-bin has nothing to do
with this: it only provides GRUB boot loader binaries, it does not
install them in the ESP. grub-installer is the installer component in
charge of installing the GRUB boot loader.

A special sequence must be made afterwards by hand on the USB sticker, involving chroot:

grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi --removable --bootloader-id=debian
update-grub

--bootloader-id is irrelevant with --removable.

If you want to install GRUB in the ESP removable media path, you must do
an expert install and answer yes when prompted. If a Debian system is
already installed on this machine, you should also answer "no" to
"update NVRAM" in order to not break this system boot.

After that, the computer is able to boot the newly installed Debian 12 on the USB sticker.
Is is possible to add that process in the d-i just after the disk partitioning? It would consist in a question asking where to install GRUB.

As explained above, that would be pointless.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)