F12 boot device selection does not work after manually selecting boot order in EFI

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Linux hosts.
Post Reply
hasil
Posts: 4
Joined: 7. Aug 2021, 21:50

F12 boot device selection does not work after manually selecting boot order in EFI

Post by hasil »

This is not strictly an issue with linux host. It does happens on every other (at least mac x64), so if there is any better place for it, fell free to move.

System info:
Virtualbox Version 6.1.26 r145957 (Qt5.15.2)
Debian Bullseye
Installed from oracle repository
Intel i7 10th gen
Steps to reproduce:
  1. Install a guest linux vm, set EFI option on in settings.
  2. In linux vm set EFI boot option using efibootmgr -c. It creates a new option and makes it top.
  3. List using efibootmgr.
  4. Reboot
  5. When virtualbox screen is shown press F12 to select boot menu.
Expected result: boot menu selection appears.
Obtained result: It boot straight into the OS.

I guess it is a bug in EFI implementation.
fth0
Volunteer
Posts: 5661
Joined: 14. Feb 2019, 03:06
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Linux, Windows 10, ...
Location: Germany

Re: F12 boot device selection does not work after manually selecting boot order in EFI

Post by fth0 »

The F12 key is only used in the legacy BIOS, use the ESC key for the (U)EFI BIOS. ;)
hasil
Posts: 4
Joined: 7. Aug 2021, 21:50

Re: F12 boot device selection does not work after manually selecting boot order in EFI

Post by hasil »

Oh yeah. Thanks mate! :D
grahamperrin
Posts: 57
Joined: 27. Apr 2008, 15:19

Escape key, EFI, user manual

Post by grahamperrin »

fth0 wrote: 7. Aug 2021, 23:56 … ESC key for the (U)EFI …
I can't find this in the user manual for 6.1.48.

Am I missing something?
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20965
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: F12 boot device selection does not work after manually selecting boot order in EFI

Post by scottgus1 »

grahamperrin wrote: 5. Nov 2023, 19:56 Am I missing something?
https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch03.html#efi doesn't mention it. Could be elsewhere, but there are 322 occurrences of the characters "esc" (case-insensitive) in the 7.0.12 manual, so it may take some time to find a pertinent reference.
fth0
Volunteer
Posts: 5661
Joined: 14. Feb 2019, 03:06
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Linux, Windows 10, ...
Location: Germany

Re: F12 boot device selection does not work after manually selecting boot order in EFI

Post by fth0 »

grahamperrin wrote: 5. Nov 2023, 19:56 Am I missing something?
I don't know. ;)

Seriously, it's not documented in the VirtualBox User Manual AFAIK, but it definitely works. It might be documented somewhere in the UEFI specification or in the TianoCore EDK II documentation. At least I've read about it in some VirtualBox-agnostic UEFI documentation.
Post Reply