Re: EFI for Dummies?

On Fri, Jun 21, 2013 at 09:41:57AM -0400, Thomas Altfather Good wrote:
> Hello.
> 
> I am running slackware64-current on an HP Pavilion p2-1334 dual boot machine.
> 
> I'm not into bleeding edge but the 64 bit 14.1 (aka current) is the
> only slackver that sports the EFI directory, that I'm aware of. I
> tried stable version to no avail. Current seems to be viable.
> 
> Here are the details -
> 
> The HP p2, afflicted with windows 8, has been modified:
> 1) recovery partition removed, /dev/sda3 split and /dev/sda4 formatted as ext4
> 2) legacy bios support turned on, secure boot off, fast boot off, post
> messages on - atapi cd/dvd drive successfully used to install slack on
> sda4
> 3) usb boot stick set to boot /dev/sda4 works fine, win8 boots when
> stick is removed (a boot menu appears but win8 is the lone option)
> 4) X working, after initial hiccup atheros NIC working fine...in
> general slack 14.1 appears to be a nice version
> 
> I can seen now that the current /boot directory has several elilo
> efi-related files that got planted during install.
> 
> I also have a src tarball for the efibootmgr, I am going to build it now.
> 
> Can any kind soul tell me what I must do (beginning with "remove the
> shrinkwrap") to:
> 
> 1) properly configure (and install?) elilo and get it operational
> 2) get the p2 to dual boot
> 
> Many, many thanks. I have researched this and every doc on the web
> contradicts its siblings. I am confused. I do know that I have zero
> interest in grub(2) - I've been using lilo since Slack 2.3 and really
> want to use elilo, esp. as I already have it in place.
> 
> Once I get this going I intend to write the process up so that any of
> my fellow nitwits out there don't have to trip over themselves as much
> as I have.
> 
> In terms of prep, I have a bottle of Laphroaig, a pack of Camels,
> aspirin, and a Slayer CD at the ready (God Hates Us All).
> 
> Please advise and thanks for your patience and assistance.

This is not good news. Like you, I had a deep abhorrence of all things grub
until I encountered EFI. In my experience Grub2 is really the easiest way to 
go and maintain your EFI boxes. I have tried other methods with varying
degrees of success/disaster but IMHO grub2 is the only way.

John