Grub: start_image() returned Invalid Parameter (but still boots OK)

[Paddy Landau]

I'm curious about what this error message means, and if I should bother to do something about it.

Installation

• When I installed, I chose to wipe the entire drive and replace it with Ubuntu 20.04 with full-disk encryption. That means…
  
  • A UEFI partition (/boot/efi when booted)
  • A boot partition (/boot when booted)
  • An encrypted partition using LUKS, and inside that LVM, containing just one partition for my entire system.

What happens normally

1. When I boot, the system goes straight into the Grub prompt, where I can choose the default (continue into Ubuntu) or one of the recovery options.
2. After continuing to Ubuntu or one of the recovery options, I'm asked for the LUKS passphrase.
3. The boot continues correctly.

What's changed

• Before getting to step 1, i.e. the Grub prompt, the following message flashes on the screen:
  

  start_image() returned Invalid Parameter, falling back to default loader

• However, the system still works correctly, so I don't have a problem.

My questions

1. What does this error message mean?
2. Is it advisable to do something about this, or would I be wasting my time?

Thank you

[VMC]

https://edk2-docs.gitbook.io/edk-ii-...and_startimage

I had some strange grub error. It turned out to be a UEFI folder that I no longer needed. I cleaned up the UEFI folders to reflect only what is installed and the error went away.

[Paddy Landau]

https://edk2-docs.gitbook.io/edk-ii-...and_startimage
I had some strange grub error. It turned out to be a UEFI folder that I no longer needed. I cleaned up the UEFI folders to reflect only what is installed and the error went away.

Thank you. The link is a little over my head, unfortunately. I wouldn't know where to start cleaning up UEFI folders, so I shan't do it lest I break Grub!

[VMC]

Do a

sudo ls -la /boot/efi/EFI

so we see what's in there.

[Paddy Landau]

Here we are:

$ sudo ls -lA /boot/efi/EFI
total 12
drwx------ 2 root root 4096 Sep  5  2020 BOOT
drwx------ 4 root root 4096 Nov  1 07:53 Dell
drwx------ 3 root root 4096 Sep 17 07:22 ubuntu

$ sudo ls -lA /boot/efi/EFI/BOOT
total 1860
-rwx------ 1 root root 955656 Aug 21 08:09 BOOTX64.EFI
-rwx------ 1 root root  85672 Aug 21 08:09 fbx64.efi
-rwx------ 1 root root 856232 Aug 21 08:09 mmx64.efi

$ sudo ls -lA /boot/efi/EFI/Dell
total 8
drwx------ 3 root root 4096 Sep 17 07:26 Bios
drwx------ 2 root root 4096 Nov  1 07:53 logs

$ sudo ls -lA /boot/efi/EFI/ubuntu
total 3548
-rwx------ 1 root root     108 Aug 21 08:09 BOOTX64.CSV
drwx------ 2 root root    4096 Sep 17 07:22 fw
-rwx------ 1 root root   62024 Jul 26 08:50 fwupdx64.efi
-rwx------ 1 root root     112 Aug 21 08:09 grub.cfg
-rwx------ 1 root root 1734528 Aug 21 08:09 grubx64.efi
-rwx------ 1 root root  856232 Aug 21 08:09 mmx64.efi
-rwx------ 1 root root  955656 Aug 21 08:09 shimx64.efi

[VMC]

That looks normal. Does your error look like this guy's?
https://githubmemory.com/repo/rhboot/shim/issues/370

[Paddy Landau]

That looks normal. Does your error look like this guy's?

No. It's just the one message, by itself, on the screen. It shows for just a second or two, then the normal Grub screen replaces it.