Bug#1024346: cdrom: debian-11.5.0-amd64-netinst.iso boots to Grub CLI on Dell Optiplex 5090

Rob - see below, you might want to subscribe to the bug too.

Suggestion is to use firmware .iso and a more verbose dd line to ensure
you've actually written the whole image correctly.

Also, I would suggest enabling TPM and secure boot unless you are *absolutely*
sure that you don't need them. Secure boot is well supported in Debian.

Hope this helps,

Andy Cater

On Fri, Nov 18, 2022 at 08:33:29PM +0100, Franco Martelli wrote:
> On 17/11/22 at 23:11, Andrew M.A. Cater wrote:
> > On Thu, Nov 17, 2022 at 04:46:30PM -0500, Rob Klingsten wrote:
> > > Package: cdrom
> > > Severity: important
> > > Tags: d-i
> > > 
> > > Dear Maintainer,
> > > 
> > > *** Reporter, please consider answering these questions, where appropriate ***
> > > 
> > >     * What led up to the situation?
> > >     * What exactly did you do (or not do) that was effective (or
> > >       ineffective)?
> > >     * What was the outcome of this action?
> > >     * What outcome did you expect instead?
> > > 
> > > *** End of the template - remove these template lines ***
> > > 
> > > Downloaded debian-11.5.0-amd64-netinst.iso, verified SHA512 signature and flashed to USB stick (dd if=<debian.iso> of=/dev/sdb). The
> > > Dell Optiplex 5090 is a UEFI-only system. In the BIOS, I previously disabled TPM, Secure Boot and Absolute (computer Lojack).
> > > 
> > > Booting from the netinst USB stick, the computer boots into the Grub CLI. 'ls' shows the following:
> > > 
> > > (proc) (hd0) (hd0,gpt4) (hd0,gpt3) (hd0,gpt2) (hd0,gpt1) (cd0) (cd0,msdos2)
> > > 
> > > There does not appear to be any usable partition detected on the USB stick that contains a kernel. The contents of (cd0,msdos2) are
> > > just an 'efi' directory.
> > > 
> > > I have tried multiple USB sticks, downloaded the ISO several times all with a good SHA512, tried dd and also cp <iso> /dev/sdb, makes
> > > no difference. I've tried the live Gnome image as well, same problem.
> > > 
> > > I expect the computer to boot properly into the Debian installer.
> > > 
> > 
> > First of all:
> > 
> > It may be better to use a longer dd line and also to use the unofficial
> > firmware image available at https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unofficial/non-free/cd-including-firmware/11.5.0+nonfree/amd64/iso-cd/firmware-11.5.0-amd64-netinst.iso
> > 
> > dd if=firmware-11.5.0-amd64-netinst.iso of=/dev/sdb bs=4M oflag=sync status=progress
> > 
> > That makes absolutely sure that the transfer is synced to ensure that it is
> > written to the stick and also gives you some idea of how well the transfer
> > is going.
> > 
> > Using the firmware .iso will potentially solve any problems with missing
> > firmwware.
> > 
> > The writing to a stick *should* work well.
> > 
> > All the very best, as ever,
> > 
> > Andy Cater
> > 
> I'm not sure but maybe Rob Klingsten is not on the list so I'm not sure that
> he has read your reply please consider to re-send your answer to
> [email protected]
> 
> kind regards
> -- 
> Franco Martelli
>