Bootloader
Available Bootloaders
Grub2
Grub2 on Legacy MBR/GPT
systems
GRUB2 (with or without graphical menu) will be used
exclusively as the bootloader for a Legacy/MBR or Legacy/GPT
system.
By default, a new bootloader will be written into either the
MBR (Master Boot Record) of your first hard drive or in the BIOS
boot partition.
Grub2-efi on UEFI
systems
GRUB2-efi or rEFInd may be used as the bootloader for a UEFI
system.
By default, a new bootloader (Grub2-efi) will be written into
the ESP (EFI System Partition).
If there are already UEFI-based operating systems installed on
your computer (Windows 8 for example), the Mageia installer will
detect the existing ESP created by Windows and add grub2-efi to it.
If no ESP exists, then one will be created. Although it is possible
to have several ESPs, only one is required, whatever the number of
operating systems you have.
rEFInd
rEFInd on UEFI systems
rEFInd has a nice graphical set of options, and can
auto-detect installed EFI bootloaders. See:
http://www.rodsbooks.com/refind/
Please note that in order to be able to use the
rEFInd option, an installed EFI System Partition
must match your system architecture: if you have a 32bit EFI System
Partition installed on a 64bit machine for instance, then the rEFInd
option will not be displayed/available to you.
Bootloader Setup
Bootloader main options
Bootloader to use
GRUB2 (with either a graphical
or a text menu), can be chosen for both Legacy
MBR/BIOS systems and UEFI
systems.
rEFInd (with a graphical menu)
is an alternative option solely for use with
UEFI systems.
Boot device
Don't change this unless you really know what you are
doing.
There is no option to write GRUB to the boot sector of a
partition (e.g: sda1), as this method is
considered unreliable.
When using UEFI mode, then the Boot
device will be listed as EFI System
Partition.
Delay before booting the default
image
This text box lets you set a delay, in seconds, before the
default operating system is started up.
Security
This allows you to set a password for the bootloader. This
means a username and password will be required when booting in order
to select a booting entry or change settings. This is optional, and
most people are not likely to have a need for it. The username is
root and the password is the one chosen
hereafter.
Password
Choose a password for the bootloader (optional)
Password (again)
Retype the password and DrakX will check that it matches with
the one set above
Advanced
Enable ACPI
ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) is a
standard for power management. It can save energy by stopping unused
devices. Deselecting it could be useful if, for example, your
computer does not support ACPI or if you think the ACPI
implementation might cause some problems (for instance random
reboots or system lockups).
Enable SMP
This option enables/disables symmetric multiprocessing for
multi-core processors
Enable APIC
Enabling this gives the operating system access to the
Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller. APIC devices permit more
complex priority models, and Advanced IRQ (Interrupt Request)
management.
Enable Local APIC
Here you can set Local APIC, which manages all external
interrupts for a specific processor in an SMP system
Bootloader Configuration
If, in the previous section you selected rEFInd
as the bootloader to use, you would then be presented with the options
shown in the screenshot directly below. Otherwise, please instead move
on to the subsequent screenshot for your options.
Your rEFInd configuration options:
Install or update rEFInd in the EFI
system partition.
Install in /EFI/BOOT.
This option installs the bootloader in the /EFI/BOOT directory
of the ESP (EFI System Partition). This can be useful when:
(a) Installing onto a removable drive (e.g. a USB stick) that
can be removed and plugged into a different machine. If the
bootloader is stored in /EFI/BOOT, UEFI BIOS's will detect it and
allow you to boot from that drive).
(b) As a workaround where, due to a buggy UEFI BIOS, the newly
written bootloader for Mageia will not be recognized at end of the
installation.
If you did not select rEFInd as the bootloader to use in the
previous section, then your bootloader configuration options are shown
below:
Default
The operating system to be started up by default.
Append
This option lets you pass information to the kernel or tell
the kernel to give you more information as it boots.
Probe foreign OS
If you already have other operating systems installed, Mageia
attempts to add them to your new Mageia boot menu. If you don't want
this behaviour, then untick the Probe Foreign
OS option.
Install in /EFI/BOOT. (Note:
this menu option only becomes available where the installer detects
that a machine is in UEFI mode).
This option installs the bootloader in the /EFI/BOOT directory
of the ESP (EFI System Partition). This can be useful when:
(a) Installing onto a removable drive (e.g. a USB stick) that
can be removed and plugged into a different machine. If the
bootloader is stored in /EFI/BOOT, UEFI BIOS's will detect it and
allow you to boot from that drive).
(b) As a workaround where, due to a buggy UEFI BIOS, the newly
written bootloader for Mageia will not be recognized at end of the
installation.
Advanced
Video mode
This sets the screen size and colour depth to be used by the
boot menu. If you click the down-triangle you will be offered other
size and colour depth options.
Do not touch ESP or MBR
Select this option if you don't want a bootable Mageia, but
would rather chain-load it from another OS. You will get a warning
that the bootloader is missing. Click Ok
only if you are sure you understand the implications,
and wish to proceed.
Chain-loading via legacy bootloaders (GRUB Legacy and LiLo)
is no longer supported by Mageia as it is likely to fail when
attempting to boot this resulting installation of Mageia. If you
use anything other than GRUB2 or rEFInd for this purpose, then you
do so at your own risk!
Other Options
Using an existing bootloader
The exact procedure for adding Mageia to an existing bootloader is beyond the scope of this documentation. However, in most cases it will involve running the relevant bootloader installation program, which should detect Mageia and automatically add an entry for it in the bootloader menu. See the documentation for the relevant operating system.
Installing Without a Bootloader
While you can opt to install Mageia without a bootloader (see
section 2.1 Advanced), this is not recommended unless you absolutely
know what you are doing, as without some form of bootloader your
operating system will be unable to start.