Failure to install Linux Mint NO longer going for Dual Boot - a disaster

[grahamm7]

Please treat this as NEW Thread - please don't stick on the end of the Dual Boot fiasco.
I am trying to install Linux Mint (or any Linux - but I like Linux Mint due to Cinamon Desk Top at first glance)

Ok I now most of the BIOS settings for installing Linux. EFI NO Secure Boot etc..
And I now realise that if using Rufus to set it to install the ISO install in DD (OK I missed that very sorry). So now using Rufus with the correct settings for Linux.

But of a laugh I thought I will install Ubuntu. Made the install USB using Etcher by balena. Easy no setting.

I clean the SSD each time using WinPE so that it is clean an unformatted and partitioned. As if it came from factory.
Ran the Ubuntu installer great worked asked me for user PWD and smoothly I get a nice Ubuntu desk top. Hallelujah.

Clean disk. Create Linux Mint with Rufus (DD of course) and install it.
Came up with the legend press the correct key to install.
And started top install. Linux icon appears centre screen.
And then an icon install Linux selected. Then left is all evening.
Didn't ask for user PWD. When I did this before trying Dual Boot - I could set the Mount points / /home and share with the amount of memory I will allocate on my 1Tb SSD.
If I tell it to boot up it comes up to install Linux.
When I look in the BIOS there is no Linux Boot loader - how strange.
I would love to know what is going on.
I get the sense that some of the experts here are bit fed up with me having all these problems and making mistake.
At my charity I don't know how many Windows 7 10 & 11 I have built from ISO install and the number of times I have had to fight may around all the BIOS settings on DELL & HP to name but a few.

I now prepose to make a Linux Mint install using Etcher. And try again to install Linux on a cleaned Disk.
But as an ex Engineer Avionics and IT I like to try and understand things.

Thanks for all your kind help. Forgive me for being a pain in trying to get to grips with Linux (in all its flavours).
I have fought Microsoft for so long I thought Linux might be more straight forward.
But here goes Linux via Etcher.

Many thanks be patient with me.

 

[CaffeineAddict]

Glad to hear it works but I'm confused what do you expect to see in BIOS?

When I look in the BIOS there is no Linux Boot loader

Boot loaders are stored on disk.

If drive has only Linux installed on it in UEFI+GPT mode you should see UEFI disk in BIOS and that all, there shouldn't be any mention of Linux.
If drive has Windows only on it you may see mention of Windows in boot menu (during boot when selecting disk)
However what exactly you get to see is irrelevant and mobo dependent.

When I did this before trying Dual Boot - I could set the Mount points / /home and share with the amount of memory I will allocate on my 1Tb SSD.
If I tell it to boot up it comes up to install Linux.

Since you installed Linux on a clean drive there is no need to allocate disk storage, the whole disk is used.
However when you install Linux to a drive that already has Windows on it (dual boot) you get the option to shrink it and allocate space for Linux.

And I'm also confused what are you at now? Linux only install or dual boot? and does Linux boot from disk when you plug out USB?

 

[grahamm7]

Yes I tried to dual boot linux Mint it was a disaster. So NOW I am only going to put Linux Mint Cinamon on it. Yes I know is has the whole of the clean 1Tb disk. But one of the User Guides said you can allocate disk to the 2 main mount points / for the OS and /home for all your data and leave sufficient for the Swap Space. Don't see why I can't allocate memory. Years ago I was a Sun Solaris engineer and understood mount points I think.

NOW with an etcher Linux Mint install USB it comes up with 4 lines in the Top LH corner. Whoever writes this could make the size of the text larger. I selected OEM install. Don't see why not I want to install Linux Mint. It sat there reading the USB for a very long time. Now I have a screen of very small text All about failure to start services???!!!

As I said in a previous Post I checked the Linux ISO download and was ok.
So I am just trying to install Linux Mint Cinamon.
Failed with Rufus install (all settings OK).
Now fails with the Etcher install USB.
For comparision I used Ether Ubuntu installation as clean as a whistle.
PS I checked the SSD is compatible with Linux.

Forget the mount points I know that is not necessary.
But some guidance on why I am having so much problem installing Linux Mint on this DELL Latitude 5400 would be helpful.
As far as I know with all the posts I have set the BIOS settings correctly. The Etcher doesn't ask me whether I want ISO or DD for installation.

I can't send you the text of all the things that are failing but they are services.

Sorry I am being such a pain trying to install Linux Mint even though I am an ex IT engineer.
Maybe I have done something wrong

So, verified ISO Linux Mint. Etcher creation from this ISO. Clean virgin disk aka WinPE DiskPart Clean Disk.
Get it to read the USB and starts the installation and a longer period after crash.
Not sure why it asked for the options to install. Maybe I missed something there.

Any ideas please

 

[grahamm7]

Yes I tried to dual boot linux Mint it was a disaster. So NOW I am only going to put Linux Mint Cinamon on it. Yes I know is has the whole of the clean 1Tb disk. But one of the User Guides said you can allocate disk to the 2 main mount points / for the OS and /home for all your data and leave sufficient for the Swap Space. Don't see why I can't allocate memory. Years ago I was a Sun Solaris engineer and understood mount points I think.

NOW with an etcher Linux Mint install USB it comes up with 4 lines in the Top LH corner. Whoever writes this could make the size of the text larger. I selected OEM install. Don't see why not I want to install Linux Mint. It sat there reading the USB for a very long time. Now I have a screen of very small text All about failure to start services???!!!

As I said in a previous Post I checked the Linux ISO download and was ok.
So I am just trying to install Linux Mint Cinamon.
Failed with Rufus install (all settings OK).
Now fails with the Etcher install USB.
For comparision I used Ether Ubuntu installation as clean as a whistle.
PS I checked the SSD is compatible with Linux.

Forget the mount points I know that is not necessary.
But some guidance on why I am having so much problem installing Linux Mint on this DELL Latitude 5400 would be helpful.
As far as I know with all the posts I have set the BIOS settings correctly. The Etcher doesn't ask me whether I want ISO or DD for installation.

I can't send you the text of all the things that are failing but they are services.

Sorry I am being such a pain trying to install Linux Mint even though I am an ex IT engineer.
Maybe I have done something wrong

So, verified ISO Linux Mint. Etcher creation from this ISO. Clean virgin disk aka WinPE DiskPart Clean Disk.
Get it to read the USB and starts the installation and a longer period after crash.
Not sure why it asked for the options to install. Maybe I missed something there.

Any ideas please

PS in BIOS there is no sign of a BOOT loader or EFI Under BOOT loader is blank.
But surely the Etcher Linux installer will create the Linux Boot Loader.
When I tried Ubuntu with the Etcher it booted up int o Ubuntu so it must have built the boot loader.
May be I could have gone back into the BIOS to see what the Ubuntu had done.
Just a thought.

 

[grahamm7]

PPS!
Lines at start of install in top LH corner
Start Linux Mint 22.3 ....
Start Linux Mint 22.3 (in compatiblity mode) ???
OEM installation for manufacturers
Boot from next volume
UEFI firmware settings
Memory Test {{ I have used DELL Software to test memory recently)

So used just Start Linux Mint 22.3 (not in compatibilty mode)
Lines and lines of text about starting this and that
Then this line where stalling:
It seems to have job idconfig.service/start running
and is showing the time with NO limit (How long do I wait?_

Hopefully I have given enough information for some diagnosis from some Linux gurus.

 

[CaffeineAddict]

one of the User Guides said you can allocate disk to the 2 main mount points / for the OS and /home for all your data and leave sufficient for the Swap Space.

This is possible however Mint installer should let you customize formatting to do so. (formatting step)
Whether Mint installer lets you customize formatting is questionable, I know Debian installer does, but don't know for Mint.

Now I have a screen of very small text All about failure to start services???!!!

This sound like Mint having problems with hardware for what ever reason, it does not mean your laptop is wrong.

The Etcher doesn't ask me whether I want ISO or DD for installation.

DD or ISO mode is rufus option, does not apply to other tools.

Lines at start of install in top LH corner
Start Linux Mint 22.3 ....
Start Linux Mint 22.3 (in compatiblity mode) ???
OEM installation for manufacturers
Boot from next volume
UEFI firmware settings
Memory Test {{ I have used DELL Software to test memory recently)

If this is what you get to boot Linux Mint USB for installation then you should choose the first option to install Mint.
I'd not use "OEM installation for manufacturers"

I selected OEM install.

Don't use OEM if 1st option works.

Any ideas

DELL bios is not like other bioses, it's tricky.

 

[Mike-BTU]

I have read so many threads about rufus or etcher problems that I've lost count.

Use Ventoy. I've never heard a single report of issues with Ventoy.

Ventoy

Ventoy is an open source tool to create bootable USB drive for ISO files. With ventoy, you don't need to format the disk again and again, you just need to copy the iso file to the USB drive and boot it.

www.ventoy.net

 

[bob466]

Ventoy is a very easy way to install Linux Mint...if you're using windoze...just download the windoze version of Ventoy.

Before you do anything disable secure boot.

Plug in a Flash Drive and install Ventoy...then drag in the Mint ISO. It's now a simple matter to boot to Ventoy...select Mint and hit Enter.

Booting to Mint the first time might take a little while...You'll first see the Grub screen with..Start Linux Mint highlighted...hit Enter.
Linux Mint will now load...once the Mint Desktop appears...you'll see in the top left side a Disk that says...Install Linux Mint...double click it to start the install.

Follow the install instructions...
https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/

Choose...Erase Disk and Install Linux Mint and don't encrypt the Drive either.
You can install Linux Mint over windoze and you don't need to format the Drive as the Mint installed does it for you.
Hope this helps.

 

[Kamalokax]

Please treat this as NEW Thread - please don't stick on the end of the Dual Boot fiasco.
I am trying to install Linux Mint (or any Linux - but I like Linux Mint due to Cinamon Desk Top at first glance)

Ok I now most of the BIOS settings for installing Linux. EFI NO Secure Boot etc..
And I now realise that if using Rufus to set it to install the ISO install in DD (OK I missed that very sorry). So now using Rufus with the correct settings for Linux.

But of a laugh I thought I will install Ubuntu. Made the install USB using Etcher by balena. Easy no setting.

I clean the SSD each time using WinPE so that it is clean an unformatted and partitioned. As if it came from factory.
Ran the Ubuntu installer great worked asked me for user PWD and smoothly I get a nice Ubuntu desk top. Hallelujah.

Festplatte reinigen. Erstellen Sie Linux Mint mit Rufus (natürlich DD) und installieren Sie es.
Mir ist die Legende eingefallen: Drücken Sie die richtige Taste, um zu installieren.
Und habe mit der Top-Installation begonnen. Das Linux-Symbol erscheint auf dem mittleren Bildschirm.
Und dann ein Symbol „Linux installieren“ ausgewählt. Dann ist der ganze Abend links.
Habe nicht nach dem Benutzer PWD gefragt. Als ich dies tat, bevor ich Dual Boot ausprobierte, konnte ich die Mount-Punkte / /home festlegen und mit der Speichermenge teilen, die ich auf meiner 1-Tb-SSD zuweisen werde.
Wenn ich ihm sage, dass es hochfahren soll, wird Linux installiert.
Wenn ich im BIOS nachschaue, gibt es keinen Linux-Bootloader – wie seltsam.
Ich würde gerne wissen, was los ist.
Ich habe das Gefühl, dass einige der Experten hier es satt haben, dass ich all diese Probleme habe und Fehler mache.
Bei meiner Wohltätigkeitsorganisation weiß ich nicht, wie viele Windows 7 10 und 11 ich aus ISO-Installationen erstellt habe und wie oft ich mich um alle BIOS-Einstellungen auf DELL und HP streiten musste, um nur einige zu nennen.

Ich gehe jetzt davon aus, eine Linux Mint-Installation mit Etcher durchzuführen. Und versuchen Sie erneut, Linux auf einer gereinigten Festplatte zu installieren.
Aber als ehemaliger Ingenieur für Avionik und IT versuche ich gerne, die Dinge zu verstehen.

Vielen Dank für all Ihre freundliche Hilfe. Verzeihen Sie mir, dass es mir schwerfällt, mich mit Linux (in all seinen Varianten) vertraut zu machen.
Ich habe so lange gegen Microsoft gekämpft, dass ich dachte, Linux wäre vielleicht einfacher.
Aber hier kommt Linux über Etcher.

Vielen Dank, haben Sie Geduld mit mir.

Try "Grub 2" its a super Tool for Boot and multiboot problems