[SOLVED] Update to version 9 - fail systemd-boot

reutli · Sep 21, 2025

Hello to all,

as a new member of this forum - I hope my first post is okay? If not, please feel free to give me feedback—but don't “stone” me

I'm currently updating from 8 to 9...
So far, I've been able to fix all the errors in the Checker script, but I'm stuck on this one:
"FAIL: systemd-boot meta-package installed. This will cause problems on upgrades of other boot-related packages. Remove ‘systemd-boot’ See https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Upgrade_from_8_to_9#sd-boot-warning for more information."

If I delete this, the machine may no longer boot...

How can I find out if I can safely run a

Code:

apt remove systemd-boot

?

I've had some negative experiences with Bootmgr in recent years, so I'm more than a little apprehensive...

Here's the info:

Code:

root@pve:~# efibootmgr -v
BootCurrent: 0002
Timeout: 5 seconds
BootOrder: 0002,0003,0000
Boot0000  Windows Boot Manager  VenHw(99e275e7-75a0-4b37-a2e6-c5385e6c00cb)WINDOWS.........x...B.C.D.O.B.J.E.C.T.=.{.9.d.e.a.8.6.2.c.-.5.c.d.d.-.4.e.7.0.-.a.c.c.1.-.f.3.2.b.3.4.4.d.4.7.9.5.}...>I...............
Boot0002* proxmox       HD(2,GPT,a0e229a8-843d-4bdd-89f3-a9529fecbf35,0x800,0x200000)/File(\EFI\PROXMOX\GRUBX64.EFI)
Boot0003* UEFI OS       HD(2,GPT,a0e229a8-843d-4bdd-89f3-a9529fecbf35,0x800,0x200000)/File(\EFI\BOOT\BOOTX64.EFI)..BO
root@pve:~# grub-install --version
grub-install.real (GRUB) 2.06-13+pmx7

It's kind of similar like: https://forum.proxmox.com/threads/pve-8-to-9-in-place-upgrade.170013/post-800246

Please help out if I should go on?

thx!

reutli · Sep 22, 2025

push, something wrong with my post ?

reutli · Sep 22, 2025

solved it on my own:
as the entry

Code:

Boot0002* proxmox       HD(2,GPT,a0e229a8-843d-4bdd-89f3-a9529fecbf35,0x800,0x200000)/File(\EFI\PROXMOX\GRUBX64.EFI)

is showing GRUB as bootloader, it should be save to delete 'systemd-boot'.

Therefore I did:

Code:

apt remove systemd-boot

SUCCESS!

clemenlg · Sep 30, 2025

reutli said:
solved it on my own:
as the entry

Code:

Boot0002* proxmox HD(2,GPT,a0e229a8-843d-4bdd-89f3-a9529fecbf35,0x800,0x200000)/File(\EFI\PROXMOX\GRUBX64.EFI)

is showing GRUB as bootloader, it should be save to delete 'systemd-boot'.

Therefore I did:

Code:

apt remove systemd-boot

SUCCESS!

Hello @reutli ,
Where's the entry you described?

Code:

Boot0002* proxmox       HD(2,GPT,a0e229a8-843d-4bdd-89f3-a9529fecbf35,0x800,0x200000)/File(\EFI\PROXMOX\GRUBX64.EFI)

Regards

reutli · Sep 30, 2025

clemenlg said:
Where's the entry you described?

not sure, what you're meaning?!

If you're using the command

Code:

root@pve:~# efibootmgr -v

the result will be kind of my output.

Sammy51 · Nov 4, 2025

How to check if systemd-boot is being used — and how to safely remove it

Step 1: Check which bootloader is in use

(if it is grub for example it is saffe to remove systemd-boot)

Run the following command to inspect your current EFI boot entries:

efibootmgr -v

Look for an entry like this (with an asterisk * and matching BootCurrent number):

Boot0012* proxmox HD(...) /File(\EFI\proxmox\grubx64.efi)

If the entry points to a file under \EFI\proxmox\ (e.g. grubx64.efi, shimx64.efi), then your system is using GRUB, not systemd-boot.

️ Step 2: Inspect the contents of your EFI partition

List the directory structure of your EFI partition:

ls -lR /boot/efi/EFI/

Expected output for GRUB-based systems:

/boot/efi/EFI/ ├── BOOT/ │ └── grubx64.efi ├── proxmox/ │ ├── grubx64.efi │ └── grub.cfg

If there is no EFI/systemd/ folder, systemd-boot is not in use.

Step 3: Remove the systemd-boot package

Even if systemd-boot is not being used, Proxmox’s upgrade checker will throw an error if the package is installed.

To verify if it’s present:

dpkg -l | grep systemd-boot

If installed, remove it with:

apt purge systemd-boot

You can also remove related leftovers (optional):

rm -rf /boot/efi/EFI/systemd

Result

Once systemd-boot is uninstalled and no systemd-related boot entries or files exist, the Proxmox 8 to 9 upgrade checker (pve8to9) will no longer report this warning.

Your system will continue booting via GRUB without issue.

DannyElfman · 2026-01-08T16:32:18+0100

Hi,
Thanks for these information.
I find myself in a bit of a pickle ...

I have proxmox installed on my zfs pool (2 disks).
I did the upgrade 8 to 9. Went smoothly.
When running the checks, I get this FAIL message :

Bash:

INFO: Checking bootloader configuration...
FAIL: systemd-boot meta-package installed. This will cause problems on upgrades of other boot-related packages. Remove 'systemd-boot' See https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Upgrade_from_8_to_9#sd-boot-warning for more information.

I did not reboot yet.

Then, running the boot tool :

Bash:

proxmox-boot-tool status
Re-executing '/usr/sbin/proxmox-boot-tool' in new private mount namespace..
System currently booted with uefi
C432-5796 is configured with: grub (versions: 6.17.4-2-pve, 6.8.12-17-pve, 6.8.12-8-pve)
C433-0B68 is configured with: grub (versions: 6.17.4-2-pve, 6.8.12-17-pve, 6.8.12-8-pve)

Then the boot status :

Bash:

root@pve:~# efibootmgr -v
BootCurrent: 0000
Timeout: 0 seconds
BootOrder: 0000,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006
Boot0000* proxmox       HD(2,GPT,24b8a975-ba92-4917-a1fb-2e9414037381,0x800,0x200000)/File(\EFI\proxmox\shimx64.efi)
      dp: 04 01 2a 00 02 00 00 00 00 08 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 20 00 00 00 00 00 75 a9 b8 24 92 ba 17 49 a1 fb 2e 94 14 03 73 81 02 02 / 04 04 36 00 5c 00 45 00 46 00 49 00 5c 00 70 00 72 00 6f 00 78 00 6d 00 6f 00 78 00 5c 00 73 00 68 00 69 00 6d 00 78 00 36 00 34 00 2e 00 65 00 66 00 69 00 00 00 / 7f ff 04 00
Boot0002* UEFI OS       HD(2,GPT,2aa50463-943a-4afa-b694-6bd5c20de92e,0x800,0x200000)/File(\EFI\BOOT\BOOTX64.EFI)0000424f
      dp: 04 01 2a 00 02 00 00 00 00 08 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 20 00 00 00 00 00 63 04 a5 2a 3a 94 fa 4a b6 94 6b d5 c2 0d e9 2e 02 02 / 04 04 30 00 5c 00 45 00 46 00 49 00 5c 00 42 00 4f 00 4f 00 54 00 5c 00 42 00 4f 00 4f 00 54 00 58 00 36 00 34 00 2e 00 45 00 46 00 49 00 00 00 / 7f ff 04 00
    data: 00 00 42 4f
Boot0003* UEFI OS       HD(2,GPT,24b8a975-ba92-4917-a1fb-2e9414037381,0x800,0x200000)/File(\EFI\BOOT\BOOTX64.EFI)0000424f
      dp: 04 01 2a 00 02 00 00 00 00 08 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 20 00 00 00 00 00 75 a9 b8 24 92 ba 17 49 a1 fb 2e 94 14 03 73 81 02 02 / 04 04 30 00 5c 00 45 00 46 00 49 00 5c 00 42 00 4f 00 4f 00 54 00 5c 00 42 00 4f 00 4f 00 54 00 58 00 36 00 34 00 2e 00 45 00 46 00 49 00 00 00 / 7f ff 04 00
    data: 00 00 42 4f
Boot0004* UEFI:CD/DVD Drive     BBS(129,,0x0)
      dp: 05 01 09 00 81 00 00 00 00 / 7f ff 04 00
Boot0005* UEFI:Removable Device BBS(130,,0x0)
      dp: 05 01 09 00 82 00 00 00 00 / 7f ff 04 00
Boot0006* UEFI:Network Device   BBS(131,,0x0)
      dp: 05 01 09 00 83 00 00 00 00 / 7f ff 04 00

I do not get it. It seems the serveur is not using Grub but the message tells me to remove systemd-boot ....

I read a lot about it but it seems it is beyond my understanding

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[SOLVED] Update to version 9 - fail systemd-boot

reutli

New Member

reutli

New Member

reutli

New Member

clemenlg

New Member

reutli

New Member

Sammy51

New Member

How to check if systemd-boot is being used — and how to safely remove it

Step 1: Check which bootloader is in use

️ Step 2: Inspect the contents of your EFI partition

Step 3: Remove the systemd-boot package

Result

DannyElfman

Member

We value your privacy

[SOLVED] Update to version 9 - fail systemd-boot

reutli

New Member

reutli

New Member

reutli

New Member

clemenlg

New Member

reutli

New Member

Sammy51

New Member

How to check if systemd-boot is being used — and how to safely remove it​

Step 1: Check which bootloader is in use​

️ Step 2: Inspect the contents of your EFI partition​

Step 3: Remove the systemd-boot package​

Result​

DannyElfman

Member

We value your privacy

How to check if systemd-boot is being used — and how to safely remove it

Step 1: Check which bootloader is in use

️ Step 2: Inspect the contents of your EFI partition

Step 3: Remove the systemd-boot package

Result