Bugzilla – Bug 1178338
[installation-images] Support for 64-bit processors on motherboards with 32-bit UEFI (mixed-mode support)
Last modified: 2022-11-22 05:52:33 UTC
+++ This bug was initially created as a clone of Bug #1172292 +++ On some devices (In my case a Lenovo Ideapad 100s-11iby) have 64 bit processors, but a 32-bit UEFI, so the 64-bit installation mediums are not recognized by it. Steps to Reproduce: 1. Grab a device with a 64-bit processor and a 32-bit UEFI 2. Try to boot from a 64-bit installation medium Actual Results: The installation medium is not listed in the boot menu. Expected Results: The installation medium is listed correctly, just like on a machine with a 64-bit UEFI. I did a bit of research, and found out the following: Fedora has natively supported 32-bit UEFI for 64 bit installs since Fedora 27. There seems to be a a workaround, but this is not very practical for new users, which adds a file from Github (https://github.com/hirotakaster/baytail-bootia32.efi) to the installation medium. ===================== Could x86_64 installation media contain this file on the installation media in the EFI partition: EFI/boot/bootia32.efi ? It should be copied from /usr/share/efi/i586/grub.efi from grub2-i386-efi package, the same as is EFI/boot/bootx64.efi from grub2-x86_64-efi. This will add support for 32bit FW with 64-bit CPUs. It used to work fine when I tried last time on such a machine. I had EFI/boot/bootia32.efi on an USB stick and loaded config from a DVD. Then continued the installation the usual way.
I see no problem adding the 32 bit grub efi variant. But there is secure boot and we route things through shim. Is there a 32 bit shim that starts grubia32.efi and a 64 bit shim that starts grubx64.efi (for example)? Or is there no secure boot on ia32 efi? Gary, could you comment on the shim side?
(In reply to Steffen Winterfeldt from comment #1) > I see no problem adding the 32 bit grub efi variant. But there is secure > boot and > we route things through shim. > > Is there a 32 bit shim that starts grubia32.efi and a 64 bit shim that > starts grubx64.efi (for example)? > > Or is there no secure boot on ia32 efi? > > Gary, could you comment on the shim side? We don't have plan to build ia32 shim so far. There are probably some machines with 32-bit UEFI supporting Secure Boot, but I think they are diminishing due to the 4GB limitation and RAM is getting much cheaper now.
Ok, thanks. In that case adding bootia32.efi would be sufficient for the install media to boot. Should be a relatively straightforward change.