Acer 2012 BIOS bug: "No boot device detected" after entering BIOS, even though Mint is installed

[distant sapphire]

Hi everyone! I’m struggling with a persistent boot issue on an old Acer desktop PC (2012 motherboard).

I installed Linux Mint on a 250GB SATA SSD. I've tried both MBR/Legacy (with CSM set to Always) and GPT/UEFI modes using Rufus.

The issue is:

1. I complete the installation from the USB drive.
2. The PC reboots and Linux Mint starts up and works perfectly.
3. However, if I enter the BIOS (even without changing absolutely anything) and save/exit, upon reboot the PC fails with the error: "No boot device detected or the disk has failed".
4. The SSD is still visible in the BIOS and set as the 1st Boot Priority, but it just won't boot anymore.
5. If I plug the USB drive back in and reinstall Mint from scratch, it works perfectly again... until the next time I enter the BIOS.

It seems like the Acer BIOS corrupts or wipes the bootloader from its NVRAM/memory every time I exit the BIOS menu. Secure Boot is already DISABLED.

Any ideas on how to permanently fix the boot path or workaround this specific Acer motherboard glitch? Thanks in advance!

[mortal crest]

Hello,
it looks like the Acer BIOS is resetting NVRAM boot entries every time you save/exit, so Mint only boots as long as the installer’s temporary boot entry remains. After entering BIOS, that entry is erased. This is a "known issue" for some Acer boards of that era.

boot to Mint from the SSD and then run:

sudo efibootmgr -v
and
lsblk -f

and share the output with us.

[distant sapphire]

Hi , ty for the fasta answer

[mortal crest]

ok let's fix that EFI partition:

first run these 2
sudo mkdir -p /mnt/efi
sudo mount /dev/sda2 /mnt/efi

then this
sudo mkdir -p /mnt/efi/EFI/Microsoft/Boot

and then this
sudo cp /mnt/efi/EFI/ubuntu/shimx64.efi /mnt/efi/EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi

if you run into errors let me know, otherwise we move on.

[mortal crest]

Sweet,
Reboot → Enter BIOS → Set Windows Boot Manager as the first boot option

Mint should now boot permanently, even after entering BIOS.

[distant sapphire]

It doesent see the pny 250 gb sata now

Secure boot is disabled

[mortal crest]

we need UEFI not legacy, change the
Launch PXE OpROM: UEFI
Video OpROM: UEFI

[distant sapphire]

I can only change launch csm a select disabled , it’s the same?

[mortal crest]

“Launch CSM: Disabled” is correct. On your Acer board, disabling CSM forces pure UEFI mode, and in UEFI mode the SSD will NOT appear as a separate boot device anymore.

Instead, you must boot through “Windows Boot Manager”, because we replaced its file with Mint’s bootloader. So set “Windows Boot Manager” as the first boot option and save.

If you see Windows Boot Manager in the list, that’s your Mint install now. The SSD won’t show up by name anymore in UEFI mode.

[distant sapphire]

There is no windows boot manager

[mortal crest]

launch CSM change first

[distant sapphire]

Same, do I have to reboot first?

[mortal crest]

yes save & exit and reboot

[mortal crest]

ah bugger, yea you installed on legacy this time. so there isn't a UEFI bootloader. 🤦‍♂️

ok cleanest fix is to leave the bios as is,
boot from the USB in UEFI mode, reinstall mint and then we may or may not need to apply the windows boot manager workaround again.

[distant sapphire]

I made the Linux Mint bootable USB using Rufus, and set the partition scheme to MBR, do I have to redo the usb?

[mortal crest]

yes sorry dude that's the only way. Use Rufus → Partition scheme: GPT → Target system: UEFI (non‑CSM).

[distant sapphire]

Ok ok ty, now I have a game ill text u later bye

[mortal crest]

yea, the fix is clean but we just got to set up the system properly. these old "windows centric" boards are a bit of a dance to get working well

[distant sapphire]

Now I Js have to wait?

[mortal crest]

yes

[distant sapphire]

I installed it , now I Js reboot?

Or do I have to redo the commands?

[mortal crest]

redo the commands, at least start with these to see how it looks:

sudo efibootmgr -v
and
lsblk -f

[mortal crest]

ok that looks good. but you have tried this before, right and last time it wiped the bootloader when you installed with these settings?

[distant sapphire]

When I installed with this config it didnt even start once it said immediately error:no boot detected or the disk has failed

[mortal crest]

ok then yes, do the fix again;
sudo mkdir -p /mnt/efi
sudo mount /dev/sda2 /mnt/efi

sudo mkdir -p /mnt/efi/EFI/Microsoft/Boot

sudo cp /mnt/efi/EFI/ubuntu/shimx64.efi /mnt/efi/EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi

After running those commands, reboot into BIOS and set "Windows Boot Manager" as the first boot option.

[distant sapphire]

It is ok or no?

[mortal crest]

give me a sec

no problem, keep going.

but wait, that means it's mounted already from the boot usb.
we are gonna have to run this:
sudo mkdir -p /target/boot/efi/EFI/Microsoft/Boot
sudo cp /target/boot/efi/EFI/ubuntu/shimx64.efi /target/boot/efi/EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi

instead of this:
sudo mkdir -p /mnt/efi/EFI/Microsoft/Boot
sudo cp /mnt/efi/EFI/ubuntu/shimx64.efi /mnt/efi/EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi

[distant sapphire]

Ok

[slim sedge]

why is username 'mint'?

[distant sapphire]

Im logged with the usb

[slim sedge]

oh ur reinstalling from live

[slim sedge]

u probably booted in legacy, and that needs a special technique to install Mint as legacy mode

else, switch BIOS to uefi pure mode

and fix ur bbs boot priorities to 'ubuntu' at top

'ubuntu' is the UEFI-mode loader name

[distant sapphire]

Look

[distant sapphire]

Im already in launch csm disabled

[slim sedge]

ok

have u reinstalled already?

[distant sapphire]

Yes

[slim sedge]

open DISKS app in ur live environment

and show the drive u installed upon

[mortal crest]

ok, follow Stunner_619, i think Acer BIOS is resetting NVRAM boot entries every time you save/exit, and that's why it only boots once. but worth checking if we can find other reason for the repeated failure

[slim sedge]

click the ext4 and reshow plz

[mortal crest]

i'm gonna head out, nuclear option is to just to with the fallback loader.

[slim sedge]

need to go in that option for BBS uefi priorities

[slim sedge]

but i wish to see the ext4 partition if it is right

56-41

about 15 gigs used, some of it for formatting. mint occupies about 10 gigs

[slim sedge]

go into this. red line

[distant sapphire]

So now i reboot , remove the usb and log into the bios?

[slim sedge]

u mounted that partition wrong but nevermind this for now

yes please

[distant sapphire]

Here

[slim sedge]

no loaders found

ok please go back to the boot mode

where it says 'launch csm'

and put that on.

2012 UEFI is always flaky af. best use legacy mode only for that

[distant sapphire]

And reboot?

[slim sedge]

i'd like to see it

before reboot

i want to be sure there's absolutely NO UEFI in play at all

[distant sapphire]

I installed with rufus gpt

[slim sedge]

doesnt matter as long as can live boot in legacy

[slim sedge]

show hard disk priority now, plus 'removable device priority' also

[slim sedge]

save an exit

see if ur usb stick boots via the boot menu key

[distant sapphire]

Wait do I have to plug the usb again?

[slim sedge]

ofc.

be sure it's in

[distant sapphire]

Mb 1 sec

[slim sedge]

and make sure boot menu capability is turned on in BIOS

then hit boot menu key within half a second of power on

[slim sedge]

choose the bottom PNY thing

i presum u used a usb-to-sata bridge as a live medium?

do NOT load UEFI general UDisk

ever

in this particular case

remake ur usb on a working computer in pure legacy mode

[distant sapphire]

The pny 250 sarà is where I installed mint , i just clicked pny

[slim sedge]

what got u there?

[distant sapphire]

I cliked pny why is it showing ts? Do I have to reboot

[slim sedge]

this is UEFI boot mode. do NOT use it

u have other pc to redo usb?

[distant sapphire]

Yes

[slim sedge]

redo it

PURE LEGACY.

[distant sapphire]

In mbr mode?

[slim sedge]

yes

[distant sapphire]

So now I Js turn off this pc?

[slim sedge]

sure

pure legacy boot is supposed to look like this first pic: https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/boot.html

wallpaper will be slightly different

[distant sapphire]

Ik i already tried even with mbr mode

[slim sedge]

well u need to use proper technique

#1296130276514332742 message

[distant sapphire]

Is ts good?

[slim sedge]

yes

flash it

while you're waiting for it to flash. read all of the link i just posted

[distant sapphire]

ISO like ts?

[distant sapphire]

Okk

[slim sedge]

.

usb must boot with this mode

[distant sapphire]

Ok give me a few min

[slim sedge]

should be long-since done now

[distant sapphire]

Yh sorry i had dinner

[slim sedge]

when u boot , choose the model of usb

[distant sapphire]

The usb is now mbr but still showing uefi

[slim sedge]

fuck

god dammit

go into BIOS

i said DISABLE ALL UEFI

[slim sedge]

put removable device to top of list

[distant sapphire]

And reboot?

[slim sedge]

no

show Advanced category

[slim sedge]

show misc also integ. periphs

[slim sedge]

none of those are the brand of your USB?

show MAIN category of bios page

[distant sapphire]

2 sata and 1 hhd

[slim sedge]

and u have USB STICK ?

actual USB STICK

not a bridge wire or adapter thing

[slim sedge]

double-check this. is removable device at top?

[distant sapphire]

Yh

[slim sedge]

what is black thing?

[distant sapphire]

Keyboard

[slim sedge]

ok save and let pc restart

[distant sapphire]

Ok

[slim sedge]

dont press boot menu key

[slim sedge]

should get this

[slim sedge]

ok start top one

this pc is pissing me off

[distant sapphire]

Why cant i try to re enter the boot menu? When yesterday When I did it whit mbr it showed uefi:general udisk and general udisk

[slim sedge]

if that's the case, then do it

[distant sapphire]

Is general udisk what we are looking for right?

[slim sedge]

and pick just plain udisk

ya

[distant sapphire]

Still only uefi, maybe it showed both whe the usb was made in gpt mode? What do i do now?

[slim sedge]

shut down pc.

go to other pc

with your usb stick.

go to site: www.ventoy.net

and get ventoy windows.zip file from downloads area

[distant sapphire]

I enetered with uefi general udisk and run the command the guide said

[distant sapphire]

Ok

[slim sedge]

no good

[distant sapphire]

Why?

[slim sedge]

efibootmgr is supposed to say 'not supported'

to be TRUE legacy

make ventoy. #1295816480256163892 message

LEAVE IT ON DEFAULT MBR setting

in step 4b

[distant sapphire]

Atp is ts even fixable ahha

[distant sapphire]

Okk

Like this

[slim sedge]

yes

hit install, then do step 6 nicely from guide

after it is complete . make SURE u safely eject the usb from windows BEFORE pulling it out of the port

[distant sapphire]

Bro sorry in not that pratical , where do I have to copy the iso file?

Step 6

[slim sedge]

u see ventoy as a device in ur file manager now?

"Ventoy"

copy to that empty space.

    The USB disk labelled (VENTOY) will appear blank. You may make 'persistence' and 'ISO' folders in it with a file manager. (optional)
 
*
6a.
You may now simply use a file manager to copy an Operating System Image file ( .ISO, .IMG, or .VMD ) to the VENTOY blank area (or ISO folder) on the USB.
    DO NOT EXTRACT, EXPAND, MOUNT, OR UNPACK THE ISO IMAGE. Copy it as one file.
    After copying fully and successfully, wait half a minute to be sure USB drive is TRULY finished internally doing its recording. (ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IF USB HAS NO BLINKER LIGHT)
6b.
You may repeat step 6a to add other ISOs if you choose, and if they will fit.

7.
You are now able to reboot and boot from the USB to a particular ISO using a Ventoy selector menu.
**
Added notes: 
    the first white Ventoy screen you see when booting the USB, lets you choose the ISO, or even boot an ISO on another disk using the "Browse" feature at bottom.
    the second, subsequent white screen you choose "Normal Mode" to begin bootup, or File Checksum if you want to verify the integrity of ISO and get a sha256 or other hash to compare to the official listings on the ISO's main website.

[distant sapphire]

Done

[slim sedge]

ok let it rest bit

then right-click ventoy on left and pick 'eject' or 'safely eject'

when u see message on screen that it's safe to remove, then pull it out

[distant sapphire]

How much time?

[distant sapphire]

Okk

[slim sedge]

half minute. which by now has passed

[distant sapphire]

I removed the usb

Now I plug it in the other pc , and then straight to the bios?

[slim sedge]

yeah pluge the usb to other then turn on

see what shows in BIOS .

in the boot category

[distant sapphire]

Here

[slim sedge]

go into Hard disk priority

and also removable device priority

and show each

[distant sapphire]

Bro is this a distro proble or just the moatherboard, i had windows 11 pro on ts sata and it worked well

[slim sedge]

ok. idk why has that stupid name

it's the SHIT bios

that's the real real real problem

exit no saving.

let pc restart, and hit boot menu key

see if u get plain udisk to show

[slim sedge]

ok boot top one

show me first ventoy screen. especially include the bottom LEFT corner

[slim sedge]

frig. ok anyway boot it.

[distant sapphire]

Uefi bottom left

[slim sedge]

hit enter

normal mode

start linux mint

[distant sapphire]

Done

[slim sedge]

what u have on other three SSD's?

tell me ALL operating systems and the brand of model for each

[distant sapphire]

1 sata 250 gb pny the one where i want install Linux , 1 sata 120gb that had windows 10 pro but i formatted it , and 1 hdd formatted also

[slim sedge]

ok i see now

close disks

open 'boot repair' app from start menu

dont need to update it

skip that

choose 'advanced' options in that app

show first AND second tab then

[slim sedge]

ok those settings are fine

click 'repair'

or apply. whatever

[distant sapphire]

Reccomended repair?

Now it says upload the report to a pastebin

[slim sedge]

say no

but save the file

log into discord on firefox and send the file to me

pastebin ubuntu is HOT GARBAGE

[distant sapphire]

Ok

[slim sedge]

the damn locked NVRAM crap again.....

[distant sapphire]

Bro i cannot open the folder were the txt is saved

[slim sedge]

isn't it open in the text editor in front of you?

[distant sapphire]

Yes

Imma js copy and paste ok?

[slim sedge]

well u can also just open a REGULAR FILE MANAGER

hit ctrl+L

and put /root as the address (just that) and hit enter

and drag the file into firefox discord chat

[distant sapphire]

Ctrl L did nothing , i tried drag and drop

[slim sedge]

log in to discord......

wtf

[slim sedge]

or just copy the whole text and save to a new file one that is in ur userhome

[distant sapphire]

here

[slim sedge]

ty

ok exit those things

choose restart from the start menu, and as the pc restarts, go into BIOS again: boot category

look for 'uefi ubuntu' or similar

[distant sapphire]

The usb has to be still plugged in?

[slim sedge]

it will saywhen to remove it

[slim sedge]

second pic

put pny to top

[distant sapphire]

Done

[slim sedge]

also first pic . pny to top

[distant sapphire]

Done

[slim sedge]

save and restart

[distant sapphire]

Am i cooked ?

[slim sedge]

ctrl-alt-delete

and press boot menu key

choose pny

this piece of SHIT

disable legacy if that doesnt work

supposed to show fucking UBUNTU PNY UEFI or very similar

[distant sapphire]

Same output

[distant sapphire]

Ok

[distant sapphire]

Same

Again

[slim sedge]

im sure u can do it but you will have to research how the FUCK to make it boot the usb as legacy mode (ventoy in bottom left corner must show as "BIOS"

[mortal crest]

dug up this:
https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/369884/remove-windows-bootloader-or-at-least-set-a-different-default-loader-uefi

[slim sedge]

im out.

[distant sapphire]

Ok, ty

[mortal crest]

from what i see this hardware is all over the Arch Linux and Ubuntu forums with people having issues. I think your best bet is either trying the forum fix there and seeing if you can trick the system to save it. Otherwise the "hardcoded" fallback option that we were on to,
Set Launch CSM to never, so we get an UEFI version,
Boot into the installed Mint, open a terminal, and run:

sudo mkdir -p /boot/efi/EFI/BOOT
sudo cp /boot/efi/EFI/ubuntu/grubx64.efi /boot/efi/EFI/BOOT/BOOTX64.EFI

After that, reboot → enter BIOS → save & exit → Mint should boot every time.

but if that don't work i'm out of ideas.

[slim sedge]

ok put legacy general udisk to very top

and boot it

make sure ventoy says "BIOS" in left

then we redo install

[slim sedge]

udisk uefi to bottom

[distant sapphire]

So now is finally good?

[slim sedge]

yes contineu ventoy

start mint

[distant sapphire]

Im in

Now install Linux mint?

[slim sedge]

not yet

u must make mbr disk on pny

open gparted

choose PNY drive in top right

then go to device menu: new partition table: as msdos

[distant sapphire]

Done

[slim sedge]

go to view menu

'device info '

sidebar thing

show good pic of all gparted

[slim sedge]

ok sda. remember this

close gparted,

installer: something else option

[distant sapphire]

Ok

[slim sedge]

scroll lower

pick free space under sda

click +

PRIMARY partition; use as: EXT4 mountpoint: /

[slim sedge]

mp

last part i said

[distant sapphire]

Done

[slim sedge]

click add and show chart

with the proper line IN VIEW

[distant sapphire]

Wait , Im here, now?

[slim sedge]

click install

ignore efi warning

[distant sapphire]

Installing ill text u when done

One installed are we done? Btw im going to shower ill come back in 20min

[slim sedge]

just set pny to top in bios and should be all

then u can format the other two drives using the DISKS app (not gparted) from real Mint

[distant sapphire]

So restart unplug usb , bios , 1st boot priority and done

If I enter the bios again and restart it should still load mint right?

[distant sapphire]

If when I enter the bios again and it says error should I Js get a Chaep newer moatherboard?

[slim sedge]

other options are possible also

such as supergrub

[distant sapphire]

What is that?

[slim sedge]

a usb utility to boot OS's

this finished the install?

on ssd takes 10 minutes

@distant sapphire

[distant sapphire]

Sorry bro i was in the shower

Now its all good in logged into mint, should i try to enter the bios and exit without saving ?

[slim sedge]

did the thing boot or what?

dont fkn touch bios if it worked and ur in ur real installed OS rn

[distant sapphire]

Im in the real OS, so if enter the bios by mistake I lose everything?

Tysm for the help btw

[slim sedge]

if u got welcome app show up in mint ur done

dont go into bios ever

just use the OS