Are you sure it's not trying to boot to the USB device, seeing grub is not showing up? Check your bios boot priority when the USB is plugged in.
Linux
Welcome to c/linux!
Welcome to our thriving Linux community! Whether you're a seasoned Linux enthusiast or just starting your journey, we're excited to have you here. Explore, learn, and collaborate with like-minded individuals who share a passion for open-source software and the endless possibilities it offers. Together, let's dive into the world of Linux and embrace the power of freedom, customization, and innovation. Enjoy your stay and feel free to join the vibrant discussions that await you!
Rules:
-
Stay on topic: Posts and discussions should be related to Linux, open source software, and related technologies.
-
Be respectful: Treat fellow community members with respect and courtesy.
-
Quality over quantity: Share informative and thought-provoking content.
-
No spam or self-promotion: Avoid excessive self-promotion or spamming.
-
No NSFW adult content
-
Follow general lemmy guidelines.
Thanks. I didn't think this was the solution because I haven't touched the BIOS, but I tried anyway and it worked. I have no clue how or why, but the external drive somehow got priority over the internal SSD, even though I didn't even touch the BIOS for at least a month. I have excluded the device from booting in the BIOS and hope it won't change again.
Glad it works. 👍
I've seen this issue before caused by buggy BIOS/UEFI implementations interacting with some USB devices where they seem to get stuck initializing. It's not clear to me how those packages could affect a problem that stops your bootloader from reaching the menu.
Check your grub config, it's more likely to be that rather than fstab.