[SOLVED] Boot error installing the 1.5 version on old laptop (missing UEFI entry)

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I installed Umbrel OS on an SSD for use in an ASUS N76VZ laptop and ran into a persistent boot issue. Posting the fix here for anyone who hits the same problem.

:puzzle_piece: The Problem

After installing Umbrel OS:

  • The SSD appeared in the BIOS SATA information

  • But it did NOT appear in the BIOS Boot Options

  • The laptop would not boot from the SSD

  • Super Grub2 Disk could detect and boot the SSD, proving the drive and OS were fine

This meant the SSD was detected electrically, but the BIOS didn’t recognize it as a bootable device.

:magnifying_glass_tilted_left: Root Cause

The system was missing a UEFI boot entry for the Umbrel OS installation.

Umbrel OS itself was installed correctly, but the EFI bootloader was not present or not registered, so the BIOS had nothing to boot from.

:white_check_mark: The Solution

Boot into Umbrel OS using Super Grub2 Disk, then reinstall the UEFI bootloader.

1. Install GRUB EFI tools

bash

sudo apt update
sudo apt install grub-efi-amd64

2. Mount the EFI partition

bash

sudo mkdir -p /mnt/efi
sudo mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/efi

3. Reinstall GRUB in UEFI mode

bash

sudo grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/mnt/efi --bootloader-id=umbrel --recheck
sudo update-grub

GRUB automatically created the correct EFI boot files, including the fallback loader, so no manual copying was required.

:tada: Result

After rebooting into BIOS:

  • The SSD appeared in the Boot Options list

  • The system booted Umbrel OS normally without Super Grub2

  • No further configuration was needed

:light_bulb: Summary

If your ASUS N76VZ (or similar Aptio BIOS laptop) detects the SSD in SATA info but not in Boot Options, the issue is likely a missing UEFI bootloader. Reinstalling GRUB fixes the problem and restores normal boot behavior.

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Nicely documented. This should help others and would have helped me on one of the Mini PCs that I originally bought that would not boot after installing UmbrelOS on and I had to send the device back.

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