How to install MeX Linux to hard drive

About Grub2 if you already have one Linux system installed

If you already have one Linux system (for example Ubuntu) installed on your computer you can refrain from installing Grub during the installation of MeX (for example on /dev/sda5). Instead just add the lines below in Ubuntu. I.e. to /boot/grub/grub.cfg. Or start up Ubuntu and run the command sudo update-grub. Start data for MeX will then be added to Grub automatically. Example Grub configuration – see below – when MeX has been installed on /dev/sda5.

menuentry ‘MeX (sda5) 201031’ –class gnu-linux –class gnu –class os $menuentry_id_option ‘gnulinux-simple-ccde3409-b7fc-4759-af5e-69b557c97467’ {
insmod gzio
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
set root=’hd0,gpt5′
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search –no-floppy –fs-uuid –set=root –hint-bios=hd0,gpt9 –hint-efi=hd0,gpt5 –hint-baremetal=ahci0,gpt5 ccde3409-b7fc-4759-af5e-69b557c97467
else
search –no-floppy –fs-uuid –set=root ccde3409-b7fc-4759-af5e-69b557c97467
fi
linux /boot/vmlinuz-5.9.1-exton root=UUID=ccde3409-b7fc-4759-af5e-69b557c97467 rw
initrd /boot/initrd.img-5.9.1-exton
}

NOTE:On certain computers you may have to add nomodeset to the boot line so it looks like this:
linux /boot/vmlinuz-5.9.1-exton root=UUID=ccde3409-b7fc-4759-af5e-69b557c97467 rw nomodeset

Special notes about using Refraca Installer on non-efi computers
MeX runs very well live in VirtualBox and VMware. If you want to install MeX in VirtualBox/VMware or on a non UEFI-enabled computer you’ll have to replace grub-efi-amd64 with grub-pc. Do it like this.
1. Start up Refracta Installer a go through all installation steps. In the end of the installation you will get a message saying that the installation has failed. That’s because MeX is made for UEFI-enabled computers. Just close Refracta Installer.
2. To be able to boot MeX in VirtualBox or VMware from the virtual hard drive you’ll have to chroot into the install partition (normally /dev/sda1) and manually install Grub. Run the following commands:
mkdir /mnt/sda1
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/sda1
mount -t proc proc /mnt/sda1/proc
mount -o bind /sys /mnt/sda1/sys
mount –bind /dev /mnt/sda1/dev
mount -o bind /dev/pts /mnt/sda1/dev/pts
chroot /mnt/sda1 /bin/bash
apt update
apt install grub-pc
grub-install /dev/sda
update-grub
exit
umount /mnt/sda1/proc
umount /mnt/sda1/sys
umount /mnt/sda1/dev/pts
umount /mnt/sda1/dev
umount /mnt/sda1

3. Close down VirtualBox or VMware and remove the MeX ISO file. Start up MeX from the virtual hard drive. Everything will be alright. NOTE: Normally just replace grub-efi-amd64 with grub-pc before you start up Refracta Installer on a non UEFI-enabled computer. Running MeX on any computer you can refrain from installing Grub2 in MBR providing that you already have Grub2 installed (on another partition). Just edit your Grub2 configuration when the installation of MeX is ready – see my example above.

Using Calamares Installer

Calamares can be used on UEFI computers and non UEFI computers (such as VirtualBox and VMware). Just start Calamares and follow the instructions.

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