Unable to Access BIOS on Acer Swift SFG16-72-91TX After BIOS Update and Linux Installation

jonas_enge
jonas_enge Member Posts: 4 New User
edited October 2024 in Swift and Spin Series

I recently got an Acer Swift SFG16-72-91TX, updated the BIOS, and installed Linux. Booting into Linux works fine; however, now I can't access the BIOS. When I press F2 during startup, I only see the Acer splash screen. The fans are spinning, but nothing else happens. Any suggestions on how to fix this?

BIOS Information
Insyde Corp.
Version: V1.14
Release Date: 08/25/2024

Best Answer

  • jonas_enge
    jonas_enge Member Posts: 4 New User
    Answer ✓

    Thanks for your support.

    I reached out to Acer Support in hopes of resolving the issue, but it turned out to be one of the worst customer service experiences I've ever had. Because of that, I won't be considering Acer for my next computer, nor would I recommend it to anyone else.

    Anyway, I finally mustered the courage to delete the entry \systemd\systemd-bootx64.efi using efibootmgr, despite the risk of potentially bricking my device, as I couldn't access the firmware or boot menu. Thankfully, once I removed it, I was able to access the firmware setup successfully.

    From there, I followed these steps:

    • Set the supervisor password.
    • Enable Secure Boot.
    • Mark the UEFI file as trusted: EFI\systemd\systemd-bootx64.efi.
    • Disable Secure Boot again.
    • Re-add my bootloader entry in EFI.

    And that finally resolved the issue.

    Wrote a wiki page about the process here: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Acer_Swift_Go_SFG16-72

Answers

  • Alejandro_AC
    Alejandro_AC ACE Posts: 13,727 Trailblazer

    Hi @jonas_enge although the Fn function is enabled by default, Linux may not interpret it, try pressing Fn+F2 at startup to access the BIOS.

    Regards.

    • Un saludo / All the best
    • Haga clic en "Me gusta" si mi respuesta fue útil o márquela como solución si se resolvió, ¡gracias!
      • Colaborador pro bono, no trabajo ni hablo en nombre de Acer
    • Please click "Like" if my answer was helpful or mark it as solution if it was solved, thanks!
      • Pro bono contributor, I do not work or speak on behalf of Acer
    • MVP de MSFT (2003-21) & Windows Insider & X (alezmvp)
  • jonas_enge
    jonas_enge Member Posts: 4 New User

    When I hold F2, F12 or Fn+F2, it seems to register the key press because the system doesn’t boot into Linux. Instead, it stays stuck on the Acer splash screen indefinitely.

  • Alejandro_AC
    Alejandro_AC ACE Posts: 13,727 Trailblazer

    Well, I don't know what the problem could be. When updating the BIOS and before installing Linux, were you able to check if you could access it?

    Regards.

    • Un saludo / All the best
    • Haga clic en "Me gusta" si mi respuesta fue útil o márquela como solución si se resolvió, ¡gracias!
      • Colaborador pro bono, no trabajo ni hablo en nombre de Acer
    • Please click "Like" if my answer was helpful or mark it as solution if it was solved, thanks!
      • Pro bono contributor, I do not work or speak on behalf of Acer
    • MVP de MSFT (2003-21) & Windows Insider & X (alezmvp)
  • AnhEZ28
    AnhEZ28 ACE, Member Posts: 4,527 Pathfinder

    @jonas_enge

    try to open terminal and type in this command "systemctl reboot --firmware-setup"

    Please remember to include @AnhEZ28 when you want to reply back to my comment so that I can check your response.
    Thank you and have a nice day!
  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,881 Trailblazer

    Yes, several of the Linux distributions pretty much disable the waiting time before a keypress to enter the BIOS. Sometimes you can get it by holding the key while powering instead of trying to hit the key when the splash screen is displayed.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • jonas_enge
    jonas_enge Member Posts: 4 New User 
    systemctl reboot --firmware-setup

    Get's me into Acer splash screen indefinitely, just like F2, F12 and Fn+F2

  • AnhEZ28
    AnhEZ28 ACE, Member Posts: 4,527 Pathfinder

    @jonas_enge

    Check this post here:

    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/622277/cant-get-into-bios-after-linux-install-attempt

    Please remember to include @AnhEZ28 when you want to reply back to my comment so that I can check your response.
    Thank you and have a nice day!
  • jonas_enge
    jonas_enge Member Posts: 4 New User
    Answer ✓

    Thanks for your support.

    I reached out to Acer Support in hopes of resolving the issue, but it turned out to be one of the worst customer service experiences I've ever had. Because of that, I won't be considering Acer for my next computer, nor would I recommend it to anyone else.

    Anyway, I finally mustered the courage to delete the entry \systemd\systemd-bootx64.efi using efibootmgr, despite the risk of potentially bricking my device, as I couldn't access the firmware or boot menu. Thankfully, once I removed it, I was able to access the firmware setup successfully.

    From there, I followed these steps:

    • Set the supervisor password.
    • Enable Secure Boot.
    • Mark the UEFI file as trusted: EFI\systemd\systemd-bootx64.efi.
    • Disable Secure Boot again.
    • Re-add my bootloader entry in EFI.

    And that finally resolved the issue.

    Wrote a wiki page about the process here: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Acer_Swift_Go_SFG16-72

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