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Windows fat32 efi too small for MX23 dual boot.

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2024 2:21 am
by Mzee
I have been trying to dual boot MX23.4 with Windows 11. The problem is that the Fat32 boot partition is too small for MX23.4.
I could move the Windows partition, & enlarge the Fat32 partition. I could also make a Macrium image of it, and restore Windows to another partition, preceded by ext4 partition for MX root. Mint 22 installs straight away, as is, but I prefer MX23. Any suggestions?

Re: Windows fat32 efi too small for MX23 dual boot.

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2024 3:26 am
by Eadwine Rose
QSI please, and the output of

Code: Select all

lsblk -f

Re: Windows fat32 efi too small for MX23 dual boot.

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2024 3:39 am
by 8bit
Do you have the option to add another drive to the system?
See:
viewtopic.php?p=774891#p774891

2³bit

Re: Windows fat32 efi too small for MX23 dual boot.

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2024 3:51 am
by lars_the_bear
Sorry if I'm missing the point, but is there something about MX that requires extra space in an EFI partition? I didn't notice that, and my EFI partition only has 20M of stuff in it. As I understand it, it isn't conventional to install much in an EFI partition. Linux, in general, doesn't need to; Linux doesn't even need a separate /boot partition these days.

But maybe there's something different about MX?

BR, Lars.

Re: Windows fat32 efi too small for MX23 dual boot.

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2024 4:21 am
by DukeComposed
lars_the_bear wrote: Tue Nov 19, 2024 3:51 am Sorry if I'm missing the point, but is there something about MX that requires extra space in an EFI partition? I didn't notice that, and my EFI partition only has 20M of stuff in it. As I understand it, it isn't conventional to install much in an EFI partition.
This is why the QSI and output of lsblk has been requested.

Re: Windows fat32 efi too small for MX23 dual boot.

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2024 8:19 am
by dolphin_oracle
nope, we don't need much space. a basic EFI install needs about 280 KB. (not MB, KB).

20MB of stuff in an efi is a lot. are you sure its the EFI space that's an issue, or the nvram on your motherboard? That can also get full.

Re: Windows fat32 efi too small for MX23 dual boot.

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2024 9:48 am
by fehlix
Mzee wrote: Tue Nov 19, 2024 2:21 am I have been trying to dual boot MX23.4 with Windows 11. The problem is that the Fat32 boot partition is too small for MX23.4.
Maybe you are right: "the Fat32 boot partition is too small for MX23.4",
b/c a boot partition is not the ESP "EFI System Partition" - ok I admit ESP is marked as "esp,boot" so this might be confusing.
And for normal non-encrypted install you would not need a extra boot-partition.
Perhaps, post QSI "Quick System Info", and the partition layout "lsblk -f" - already requested
and additionally the MX Installer log, which you can find after the Installer was closed under /var/log/minstall.log,
or simpler within the left-pane of the QSI-tool "Quick System Info".
Note: In case the Windows-provided ESP (of default size 100MB) is really full and does not have left any free space left of about 300KB (= 0.3 MB) , you are not bound to use the existing Windows-ESP, just do create your own "MX-ESP" and select that one to be "used for" ESP.

Re: Windows fat32 efi too small for MX23 dual boot.

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2025 9:49 pm
by Mzee
I use Windows in Gnome-Boxes now, so duel booting not required. I only use Windows for Rufus anyway.