I think I am over my head in this......

I have to leave for my evening in Australia in less than 30 minutes, but Kim, whatever problems you are encountering with installing Linux Mint Cinnamon may well be reproduced or repeated with Debian or Fedora, until/unless we can get a better handle on what is going wrong.

Typically, it is better to install Windows first, and then Linux, because Windows will try to screw over the booting sequence into Linux (referred to as Grub and the Grub Menu).

So you should put Windows back on first (if you wish to), and then we'll handle the Linux install. After Linux is installed we can blow away Windows if you wish.

If you would rather just install Linux only, then that can be done with any of the Linux distributions (distros) - for Mint you would just boot a USB stick with Mint burned to it, and when you run the installers, choose "Erase disk and install Linux".

Hope this helps a little.

Wizard/Chris (call me anything you like except late for dinner) ;)

BTW you should do anything of this when you are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ie well -rested, not tired.
 


I have to leave for my evening in Australia in less than 30 minutes, but Kim, whatever problems you are encountering with installing Linux Mint Cinnamon may well be reproduced or repeated with Debian or Fedora, until/unless we can get a better handle on what is going wrong.

Typically, it is better to install Windows first, and then Linux, because Windows will try to screw over the booting sequence into Linux (referred to as Grub and the Grub Menu).

So you should put Windows back on first (if you wish to), and then we'll handle the Linux install. After Linux is installed we can blow away Windows if you wish.

If you would rather just install Linux only, then that can be done with any of the Linux distributions (distros) - for Mint you would just boot a USB stick with Mint burned to it, and when you run the installers, choose "Erase disk and install Linux".

Hope this helps a little.

Wizard/Chris (call me anything you like except late for dinner) ;)

BTW you should do anything of this when you are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ie well -rested, not tired.
absolutley agree! I am just past a deadline though for paper work.Thank you!!
 
Your machine may have an NVMe drive, in some instances this may have a small hidden partition at the beginning of the drive,, this will stop Linux installing and will need to be removed, check and delete if using partition magic,
if yo re-install windows, then it must be done first, then the secure boot and fast boot disabled and a full power re--start done before you start to install Linux,

If you put a USB pen-drive in the machine with Mint on it and switch on can you boot into trial mode? if so does everything work?
if no then try again using a different pen-drive, preferably a good quality branded one.
 
Surprised nobody's yet mentioned this - many Linux users often forget what it's like to once again be a complete noob, and assume that a certain level of technical competence goes without saying; we're all guilty of it, even me - but it could be that the actual download of the Mint ISO image is itself corrupt.

It DOES happen.

T'internet's a wonderful thing, but given its nature - a real hodge-podge of inter-connected & conjoined networks, and billions of folks all busy using it at any given moment in time - it's a freakin' miracle it works as well as it does, as often as it does.

What I'm trying to say here, is.....re-download the Mint ISO image, and try re-installing via the new download. Better still, re-download it but then allow us to help guide you through an install correctly.

Make sense?


Mike. ;)
 
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Hi @Time4change,
I am very sorry to hear about your problems.

I would suggest to follow the only sane advice here given by @wizardfromoz: if you have a deadline first go back and install windows finish what is important and then consider other OS options.
Also while i stalling Windows, close your eyes and think how malware got on your system: browsing habits? email? USB from a friend?
With some hygiene you can protect your system.
If you have free time and are set on changing OS then I would consider first OSX and get older Apple laptop. I think that technically this is most viable option though it imposes some costs.
Linux will require some time of learning including breakage and if after 6mos you decide that this is not for you all this time is lost.
Ideally you will need someone that can efficiently help.
I would also consider diffenent distro to try. The error that you reported in your first post is most often seen by Mint users. There are other relatively easy Linux distros that you can try. When you have time and still want to learn Linux pick up few distros and check relevant forums for possible issues particularly related to your hardware.
I think that you will find at least few candidates that you will be able to install without any errors.

Good luck
 
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Better still, re-download it but then allow us to help guide you through an install correctly.

Make sense?
Yes, that makes sense.
 
My computer was hacked two weeks ago with 4 trojan horses and 34 hacker malewares.. and so I Decided to go with Linux Mint..and wiped the whole hard drive and installed Linux.. And I can not update anything, keeps giving errors, now I can not figure out the mounting of the USB port, because sudo wants my password and I put it in and it says its wrong. I am so overwhelmed... Does anyone live in Reno Nevada??? I think I am going to throw my computer in the street...any help would be so greatly appreciated!!!
Sometimes for whatever reason, a new first install doesn't quite catch on, it's happened to me before. I'd recommend burning a new clean iso from a different absolutely working computer. Linux Mint is a popular Distro, but in your situation, I would probably start with Ubuntu, since it is very, very compatible with most every and all Laptops. Maybe when you get into your UEFI, you might switch off Secure Boot, at least initially. I was living in Reno back in 2023, near W 7th St and N McCarran Blvd, walking distance from Walmart.
 
and this is what I keep getting, even if I use mirrors to a local host......... someone!!!!!!! please help me format the drive and install Debian or Fedora? PLEASE
Fedora is a great Distro. You don't have to format your drive, Doing a fresh install will handle that for you. Just burn a new clean fresh iso of Fedora then boot into it straight away. I would suggest that you take a look at any YouTube videos that show you how to install Fedora. Fedora is my Distro of choice, I also like and use Kubuntu, which is super easy to install.
 
Fedora is a great Distro. You don't have to format your drive,
this appllies to most of the popular distributions including, Mint 22, Mint LMDE, all the Ubuntu family, MX ,Parrot home, Linux lite & the list goes on,
 
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I think a lot more than my computer is going wrong.. lol Ok, so moments before I wanted to throw the laptop in the street.. (didn't because it is raining and windy) hahahaha.. I reinstalled it from the boot menu.. then... when it came on the screen it said download mint. I tried, and then a huge report came up and said error all files are on a freeze. So, I tried to reboot again same thing. I borrowed my neigbors computer and downloaded win 10 and tool on my usb. and rebooted the computer.... just for it to go right back to linux. and I think just maybe.. crossing my toes... that it might finally be updating. uggggggggggggggg. I am just about done with technology.. cause ya know AI will be doing everything now anyway...
I just tried to install Parrot Linux like yesterday, and it made quite a mess. It looks like it tried to reboot without syncing or unmounting the root file system. e2fsck had a lot of work to do. I've seen this kind of problem before. Developers that write installation software really need to test their software before releasing it. You can download Debian straight from the source and install it. I started with Debian at Debian 10.4 I think. Does that laptop use amd64 or equivalent? Let's start with this:


Signed,

Matthew Campbell
 
Hi @Time4change,
I am very sorry to hear about your problems.

I would suggest to follow the only sane advice here given by @wizardfromoz: if you have a deadline first go back and install windows finish what is important and then consider other OS options.
Also while i stalling Windows, close your eyes and think how malware got on your system: browsing habits? email? USB from a friend?
With some hygiene you can protect your system.
If you have free time and are set on changing OS then I would consider first OSX and get older Apple laptop. I think that technically this is most viable option though it imposes some costs.
Linux will require some time of learning including breakage and if after 6mos you decide that this is not for you all this time is lost.
Ideally you will need someone that can efficiently help.
I would also consider diffenent distro to try. The error that you reported in your first post is most often seen by Mint users. There are other relatively easy Linux distros that you can try. When you have time and still want to learn Linux pick up few distros and check relevant forums for possible issues particularly related to your hardware.
I think that you will find at least few candidates that you will be able to install without any errors.

Good luck
I don't like your advice at all. The Lady wants a clean install of a reliable and easy to use Distro. You bring Windows and MacOS (no longer called OSX) into the discussion. If she wanted to buy a new PC Laptop or a MacBook, I'm sure she would. It appears she has fully adequate hardware (Laptop) to begin with, quit telling her how to spend her time and money. Mint is a fine Distro, I've used it though not for long. She probably just wants something secure and reliable, without a steep learning curve. Install once, use forever. Oh, reinstalling Windows 10/11 is probably even more difficult than installing Linux.
 
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Your machine may have an NVMe drive, in some instances this may have a small hidden partition at the beginning of the drive,, this will stop Linux installing and will need to be removed, check and delete if using partition magic,
if yo re-install windows, then it must be done first, then the secure boot and fast boot disabled and a full power re--start done before you start to install Linux,

If you put a USB pen-drive in the machine with Mint on it and switch on can you boot into trial mode? if so does everything work?
if no then try again using a different pen-drive, preferably a good quality branded one.
I hope you do realize that much of the terminology you used, is probably a bit beyond what she usually has to deal with. Like, has she ever used Partition Magic? I upgraded an older MacBook with a used NVMe and yes, there was a still a small Windows recovery partition on the NVMe, anyway MacOS installed just fine, paid no attention to it. Imagine my surprise booting up my Mac after deleting MacOS and then seeing the Windows Logo?
 
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I hope you do realize that much of the terminology you used, is probably a bit beyond what she usually has to deal with.
As you are a fairly new Young member I will let you off that one, If the OP doesn't Know how to use PM or similar they only need to ask, at this stage a full tutorial would not help
 
Linux Mint Cinnamon is an excellent Distro and is very stable.
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Here are two videos that may help you understand the installation process etc.


:)
 

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