BIOS continually resetting to UEFI [Solved]

[fredbisard]

What's the harm in using EFI boot? Most machines nowadays are.

i was going to ask the same thing as OP now has the system installed and doesn't say it's causing any issues?

[xtac]

It does have UEFI, however, it wouldn't boot from the Live USB unless I change to Legacy. Thus I installed it on Legacy and saved BIOS settings because I tested it multiple times and the only time I could boot the Live was when BIOS was in Legacy. Mine must be different because there was also no way to switch of Secure Boot either in UEFI or Legacy. I thought at first that could be the reason why I wasn't able to boot the Live. Live USBs were created with Rufus and another one with Ventoy. Same issue with both.

Yep and that's why I asked.
With the train wreck that was Windows Vista in 2008 coming with EFI boot support then very shortly afterwards the Windows 8 being well into it's alpha/beta testing during 2010-2011, I would be very surprised if his Acer did not have EFI boot capabilities.

[xtac]

My system gives No Bootable Device found error if not on Legacy.

What's the harm in using EFI boot? Most machines nowadays are.

i was going to ask the same thing as OP now has the system installed and doesn't say it's causing any issues?

[j2mcgreg]

@xtac wrote:

My system gives No Bootable Device found error if not on Legacy.

I find that odd because my Acer Aspire V5 which predates your machine by two years, installs into UEFI fine from a USB drive. To my knowledge there has never been a bios update performed on the V5. The question going forward is: Have you replaced the CMOS battery yet?

Edited to add QSI:

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 6.9.12-2-liquorix-amd64 [6.9-12~mx23ahs] arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0 parameters: audit=0
    intel_pstate=disable BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.9.12-2-liquorix-amd64 root=UUID=<filter> ro
    quiet splash
  Desktop: Xfce v: 4.20.0 tk: Gtk v: 3.24.38 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm v: 4.20.0 vt: 7
    dm: LightDM v: 1.32.0 Distro: MX-23.6_x64 Libretto April 13  2025 base: Debian GNU/Linux 12
    (bookworm)
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: Acer product: Aspire V5-571 v: V1.12 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: Acer model: Aspire V5-571 v: V1.12 serial: <superuser required> UEFI: Phoenix v: 1.12
    date: 06/12/2012
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 20.0 Wh (100.0%) condition: 20.0/37.0 Wh (54.1%) volts: 17.1 min: 14.8
    model: SANYO AL12A32 type: Li-ion serial: <filter> status: full
CPU:
  Info: model: Intel Core i3-2367M bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Sandy Bridge gen: core 2 level: v2
    built: 2010-12 process: Intel 32nm family: 6 model-id: 0x2A (42) stepping: 7 microcode: 0x2F
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 2 tpc: 2 threads: 4 smt: enabled cache: L1: 128 KiB
    desc: d-2x32 KiB; i-2x32 KiB L2: 512 KiB desc: 2x256 KiB L3: 3 MiB desc: 1x3 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1307 high: 1397 min/max: 800/1400 scaling: driver: acpi-cpufreq
    governor: ondemand cores: 1: 1397 2: 1277 3: 1317 4: 1240 bogomips: 11174
  Flags: avx ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: VMX disabled
  Type: l1tf mitigation: PTE Inversion; VMX: conditional cache flushes, SMT vulnerable
  Type: mds mitigation: Clear CPU buffers; SMT vulnerable
  Type: meltdown mitigation: PTI
  Type: mmio_stale_data status: Unknown: No mitigations
  Type: reg_file_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: retbleed status: Not affected
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow status: Not affected
  Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via prctl
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Retpolines; IBPB: conditional; IBRS_FW; STIBP: conditional; RSB
    filling; PBRSB-eIBRS: Not affected; BHI: Not affected
  Type: srbds status: Not affected
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics
    vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Gen-6 code: Sandybridge
    process: Intel 32nm built: 2011 ports: active: LVDS-1 empty: DP-1,HDMI-A-1,VGA-1
    bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:0116 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: Chicony HD WebCam type: USB driver: uvcvideo bus-ID: 3-4:3 chip-ID: 04f2:b336
    class-ID: 0e02
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 compositor: xfwm v: 4.20.0 driver: X:
    loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa dri: crocus gpu: i915 display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1366x768 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 362x204mm (14.25x8.03") s-diag: 416mm (16.36")
  Monitor-1: LVDS-1 model: LG Display 0x030a built: 2010 res: 1366x768 hz: 60 dpi: 101 gamma: 1.2
    size: 345x194mm (13.58x7.64") diag: 396mm (15.6") ratio: 16:9 modes: 1366x768
  API: OpenGL v: 3.3 Mesa 25.0.7-2~mx23ahs renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 3000 (SNB GT2)
    direct-render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 7 Series/C216 Family High Definition Audio vendor: Acer Incorporated ALI 7
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:1e20 class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.9.12-2-liquorix-amd64 status: kernel-api tools: alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.0.0 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse status: active
    2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 4: pw-jack type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8211/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Acer Incorporated
    ALI RTL8111/8168/8411 driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: 2000
    bus-ID: 02:00.2 chip-ID: 10ec:8168 class-ID: 0200
  IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Qualcomm Atheros AR9462 Wireless Network Adapter vendor: Lite-On driver: ath9k
    v: kernel modules: wl pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 168c:0034
    class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 473.26 GiB used: 16.73 GiB (3.5%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Western Digital model: WDS500G2B0A-00SM50 size: 465.76 GiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 20WD
    scheme: GPT
  ID-2: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 type: USB model: General UDisk size: 7.5 GiB block-size:
    physical: 512 B logical: 512 B type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 5.00 scheme: MBR
  SMART Message: Unknown USB bridge. Flash drive/Unsupported enclosure?
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 465.51 GiB size: 457.13 GiB (98.20%) used: 16.73 GiB (3.7%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/sda2 maj-min: 8:2
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 256 MiB size: 252 MiB (98.46%) used: 274 KiB (0.1%) fs: vfat
    dev: /dev/sda1 maj-min: 8:1
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 15 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default)
  ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 3 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2 file: /swap/swap
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 38.0 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: pm: dpkg pkgs: 2184 libs: 1078 tools: apt,apt-get,aptitude,nala,synaptic pm: rpm
    pkgs: 0 pm: flatpak pkgs: 0
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
    2: deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security bookworm-security main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64] https://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mx.list
    1: deb http://mirror.math.princeton.edu/pub/mxlinux/mx/repo/ bookworm main non-free
    2: deb http://mirror.math.princeton.edu/pub/mxlinux/mx/repo/ bookworm ahs
Info:
  Processes: 308 Uptime: 1m wakeups: 2 Memory: 7.56 GiB used: 1.22 GiB (16.1%) Init: SysVinit
  v: 3.06 runlevel: 5 default: graphical tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 12.2.0 alt: 12
  Client: shell wrapper v: 5.2.15-release inxi: 3.3.26
Boot Mode: UEFI

[m_pav]

It does have UEFI, however, it wouldn't boot from the Live USB unless I change to Legacy.
-- clipped--
there was also no way to switch of Secure Boot

Nothing out of the ordinary for Acer BIOS's. My wifes and my sons Acer machines have a stupid way to disable SecureBoot and both machines are wildly different. It's highly possible yours is like theirs where the path to disable SecureBoot starts by disabling CSM in the BIOS first, saving and rebooting back into the BIOS. Then and only then will the option to disable SecureBoot be displayed.

Keep in mind I am only going by memory, though I've had to do it a few time with my sons Travelmate Laptop because he is the typical 18yo still at school with no comprehension of his laptops value. Too many bumps and slap-shuts as if it's a cheap and nasty piece of junk school chromebook eventually leads to a single bump that induces a momentary battery disconnect causing his BIOS to reset, then I get a call to come into school to fix his laptop. Happened 3 times this year already - hrrrmph!

[xtac]

Yes me too. The fact that none of the Live Bootables would work unless it's in Legacy. Would you perhaps be able to suggest from personal experience another way/tool I could use to make a bootable? Then I'd gladly try it since my BIOS defaults to UEFI quite frequently now. And no, I opened the laptop yesterday actually, but found that the CMOS is a very small battery and it is somewhat enclosed in some sort of rubber and soldered onto the motherboard at the top and bottom. It's not even the standard CR2032 large size battery. I made a short video clip of it on my phone if you want to have a look and add a suggestion that'd be great!. I'll add the link here: https://icedrive.net/s/VBBwG72wvwfDRfW4ubVDf6yXxbgg

I find that odd because my Acer Aspire V5 which predates your machine by two years, installs into UEFI fine from a USB drive. To my knowledge there has never been a bios update performed on the V5. The question going forward is: Have you replaced the CMOS battery yet?

[RedGreen925]

Would you perhaps be able to suggest from personal experience another way/tool I could use to make a bootable? Then I'd gladly try it since my BIOS defaults to UEFI quite frequently now. And no, I opened the laptop yesterday actually, but found that the CMOS is a very small battery and it is somewhat enclosed in some sort of rubber and soldered onto the motherboard at the top and bottom. It's not even the standard CR2032 large size battery.

That is what I had been thinking when I mentioned that garbage method of doing it early in the thread some vendors do as sadly you have discovered in your machine. One way can be using a second machine that is an EFI one install to an external drive then take this drive boot it in the EFI mode on this machine. If it works then clone it to the internal drive partitioned as a GPT drive with the ESP/EFI partition on it and use it that way.

[xtac]

Awesome, thank you for that tip! Had no idea what CSM means but I copied your comment into an AI and it explained it to me. I'd gladly try it, but my question is this: Now that it seems that the CMOS is very low and keeps resetting my BIOS to default, would that also enable the CSM and disable the SecureBoot each time? I'm asking because I am now at the point of SERIOUSLY considering to wipe this drive completely, make new Bootable ISOs and reinstall MX again. But if I change those settings just to install Linux on UEFI and my BIOS resets again (as it frequently does now) would I be left again with the No Bootable Device screen. However, instead of switching to Legacy, and booting, it sounds like I might now have to complete an extra step each time (if I understand you correctly) by first disabling CSM, save&exit, enter BIOS, disable SecureBoot, and only then boot into the OS? I would actually love it if I can just boot the Live OS directly with my default BIOS settings and never have to even know that the CMOS is problematic as I can just boot it with default settings each time. What a dream :)

Good luck with your son, sounds like that Travelmate is having the time of it's life hehe :) Start to charge him a technician's fee on his allowance everytime you get a callout to the school. First time he sees the deduction he might just change his attitude a bit :)hehe. All in good spirit.

Nothing out of the ordinary for Acer BIOS's. My wifes and my sons Acer machines have a stupid way to disable SecureBoot and both machines are wildly different. It's highly possible yours is like theirs where the path to disable SecureBoot starts by disabling CSM in the BIOS first, saving and rebooting back into the BIOS. Then and only then will the option to disable SecureBoot be displayed.

Keep in mind I am only going by memory, though I've had to do it a few time with my sons Travelmate Laptop because he is the typical 18yo still at school with no comprehension of his laptops value. Too many bumps and slap-shuts as if it's a cheap and nasty piece of junk school chromebook eventually leads to a single bump that induces a momentary battery disconnect causing his BIOS to reset, then I get a call to come into school to fix his laptop. Happened 3 times this year already - hrrrmph!
[/quote]

[xtac]

That sounds like it could work very well indeed! Thank you for the suggestion! To be honest, it sounds a bit over my head but I'm sure if I research those steps carefully I should be able to get it done. Thanks for the problem-solving attitude, I appreciate the suggestion.

That is what I had been thinking when I mentioned that garbage method of doing it early in the thread some vendors do as sadly you have discovered in your machine. One way can be using a second machine that is an EFI one install to an external drive then take this drive boot it in the EFI mode on this machine. If it works then clone it to the internal drive partitioned as a GPT drive with the ESP/EFI partition on it and use it that way.

[j2mcgreg]

@xtac
What utility / method do you use to create you USB install drives?