Dualboot in guix linux

Dual Boot Configuration in Guix Linux

Setting up a dual-boot system in Guix Linux involves configuring the GRUB bootloader to recognize both Guix and your secondary operating system. Here’s how you can configure the bootloader step-by-step.

Default Bootloader Configuration

The default bootloader configuration for Guix Linux is straightforward. Here’s an example:

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(bootloader (bootloader-configuration
            (bootloader grub-efi-bootloader)
            (targets (list "/boot/efi"))
            (keyboard-layout keyboard-layout)))

• grub-efi-bootloader: Specifies the GRUB bootloader in EFI mode.
• targets: Points to the EFI System Partition (ESP), usually mounted at `/boot/efi`.
• keyboard-layout: Configures the keyboard layout used in GRUB.

Adding a GRUB Entry for Dual Boot

To enable dual boot with Windows 11 (or another operating system), you need to add a custom entry to the GRUB configuration. Here’s how:

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(bootloader (bootloader-configuration
            (bootloader grub-efi-bootloader)
            (targets (list "/boot/efi"))
            (keyboard-layout keyboard-layout)
            ;; Add a menu entry for Windows 11
            (menu-entries
            (list
            (menu-entry
                (label "Windows 11")
                (device (uuid "65A0-06CA" 'fat32)) ; UUID of the boot partition
                (chain-loader "/EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi"))))))

Key Components

1. menu-entries:
   • Adds a custom menu entry for the GRUB boot menu.
2. menu-entry:
   • label: The name displayed in the GRUB menu (e.g., “Windows 11”).
   • device: Specifies the UUID of the boot partition where Windows is installed. Replace "65A0-06CA" with the UUID of your Windows EFI partition.
   • chain-loader: Points to the Windows EFI bootloader (bootmgfw.efi), usually located in /EFI/Microsoft/Boot/.

Finding the UUID of the Boot Partition

To find the UUID of the Windows boot partition, run the following command:

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lsblk -o NAME,FSTYPE,UUID,MOUNTPOINT

Locate the partition with the `fat32` filesystem type and note its UUID.

Applying the Configuration

After modifying your config.scm, reconfigure your system to apply the changes:

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sudo guix system reconfigure /path/to/config.scm

Testing the Dual Boot Setup

1. Reboot your system.
2. In the GRUB menu, you should see an entry labeled “Windows 11” alongside your Guix Linux entry.
3. Select “Windows 11” to boot into Windows.

Tips for Troubleshooting

• If the Windows entry doesn’t appear, double-check the UUID of the boot partition.
• Make sure your BIOS/UEFI settings allow booting in EFI mode.
• Ensure the Windows EFI bootloader (bootmgfw.efi) exists in the specified path.

This setup ensures that both Guix Linux and Windows 11 are easily accessible via the GRUB menu, providing a seamless dual-boot experience. If you have any questions or run into issues, feel free to ask!