Issue with live USB

[Gator4ever]

For the past few days I have been trying to boot into a live linux environment from USB, but none of the distros that I have tried have worked (Debian KDE, Endeavour, and mint).

The message I get before the debian logo screen appears, is

mount: /sys/firmware/efi/efivars: unknown file system type 'efivars'.
dmesg(1) may have more information after failed mount system call.

The pc reboots and boots into windows. In mint, the live environment begins to open, showing the green [OK] processes, then stalls at the network manager process and shuts down. I was able to open the live environment on a different computer, so I don't think it is an issue with flashing the USB. (I used rufus and balenaEtcher)

I have linux mint on my laptop and on another pc, so I know how the installation process should go. Secure boot, fast boot, tpm, and CSM are all off, the boot order has the USB first. I am baffled. Here are my pc specs if it helps:

Motherboard: Gigabyte B550 M K
CPU: Ryzen 5600xt
GPU: Radeon 6600x

Thanks for taking the time to read this

 

[Condobloke]

G'day Gator4ever, Welcome to Linux.org

What is the pc/laptop that is giving the problem? ..make, model

Is uefi boot mode enabled ?

From the BIOS Main menu screen, select Boot. From the Boot screen, select UEFI/BIOS Boot Mode, and press Enter. The UEFI/BIOS Boot Mode dialog box appears. Use the up and down arrows to select Legacy BIOS Boot Mode or UEFI Boot Mode, and then press Enter. To save the changes and exit the screen, press F10.

 

[wizardfromoz]

Likewise welcome.

Choose UEFI boot mode if it is not currently set to that.

Chris Turner
wizardfromoz

 

[Brickwizard]

if you have updated windows, Then check it hasn't re-enabled quick start/fast boot, if it has disable and do a full power re-boot [not a restart from windows]

 

[CaffeineAddict]

I used rufus

In rufus use UEFI and MBR option and dd option for writing.

a full power re-boo

Don't overlook this because if you don't understand what needs to be done, basically reset CMOS to clear BIOS variables.

 

[deb_user]

The best way to prepare a USB drive is to use Ventoy Run the installer, and it makes a tiny boot partition, and formats the rest of the drive as exFAT. You then just do a normal copy of as many .iso files as you like, or as there is room for on the drive. You can also use the drive to hold normal files. When you boot from the drive, you get a menu which lets you select the .iso you want to boot, and you're ready to go. Rufus, etcher, et al are obsolete, and I see no need to use them at all.

 

[tpkusr]

Hi Gator4ever
If you like to try lightweight Linux live environment, I would suggest Porteus Linux.

You just need an iso and no need for USB Drive either. You can dual boot with windows and if you want, you can save your changes too and without any dedicated Partition.

If you interested, you can visit my step by step tutorial on how to dual boot porteus Linux with windows. Here is the link

https://fixmyos.hashnode.dev/dual-boot-linux-with-windows-11-without-usb-drive-or-creating-partition

 

[Brickwizard]

Please read the OP's first post, his problem is not which distribution, but all distributions he has tried,
[this would seem to indicate either hardware problem or method problem]

 

[tpkusr]

I also gone through some difficulties while try to run live iso using grub2win. I tried debian, Lubuntu, mint all stuck at same point looking for net endlessly. Only porteus and slax Linux able to boot from iso.

 

[Brickwizard]

Right let's get down to it, your machine is new enough that it should be ok with any distribution, and i would not expect serious problems.
HAVE YOU
1] disable windows secure boot in the BIOS/UEFI
2] have you disabled windows quick star/fast boot and done a power re-boot
3] did you check the SHA sum when you downloaded Linux to see if you goy a clean version
4] are you using a relatively new branded clean USB formatted FATS [old or cheap ones often cause trouble]

 

[oledummy]

Right let's get down to it, your machine is new enough that it should be ok with any distribution, and i would not expect serious problems.
HAVE YOU
1] disable windows secure boot in the BIOS/UEFI Yes
2] have you disabled windows quick star/fast boot and done a power re-boot Yes
3] did you check the SHA sum when you downloaded Linux to see if you goy a clean version .Upgraded Through mint.no download
4] are you using a relatively new branded clean USB formatted FATS [old or cheap ones often cause trouble] Will try, but since ALL of my isos usbs have same issue I doubt that will help

 

[Condobloke]

@oledummy, you would do better to open a fresh topic. This one dates back to November 2025, and may not be seen by sufficient people to bring you a solution.

More detail would be good. You upgraded via mint from which version to which version....etc

 

[bob466]

OP must have worked out the problem.