Tried repeatedly, computer won't boot from usb

[dos2unix]

If you're getting the Mint logo, you're starting to load from the USB. Whether or not it's loading the kernel after that is another story.

 

[KGIII]

You can also press one of the function buttons (like F3) at that logo to see what's going on.

Also, it can take a long time to load an OS into RAM from a USB stick.

 

[deadclown6]

If you're getting the Mint logo, you're starting to load from the USB. Whether or not it's loading the kernel after that is another story.

Ok then tell me how long it takes. Because I’ve waited 15+ minutes every time

You can also press one of the function buttons (like F3) at that logo to see what's going on.

Also, it can take a long time to load an OS into RAM from a USB stick.

how long? More than 15 minutes of no activity light blinking? Also when I said nothing happens, I mean nothing happens. Not a single button press (besides the power button) will do anything.

~~~~~~~

Also thanks for ignoring my other question again. I appreciate it

 

[bob466]

If your computer has a USB port...it will boot from a Flash Drive.

Did you disable secure boot when trying to install Linux and are you tapping the correct key to bring up the Boot Menu.

 

[Brickwizard]

I've repeatedly explained this is where it stops so obviously the usb path isn't working

this is not nesasaraly so, the light on the USB will only blink when information is being read from it, it will go/stay dark whilst the machine precesses what it has taken in, sometimes these processing spots can take longer than you may expect and make you think there is a problem,

 

[deadclown6]

this is not nesasaraly so, the light on the USB will only blink when information is being read from it, it will go/stay dark whilst the machine precesses what it has taken in, sometimes these processing spots can take longer than you may expect and make you think there is a problem,

The usb doesn’t have a light. I’m talking about the computer’s activity light

 

[wizardfromoz]

One thing nobody is answering is: Is there another way without using usb?

Short answer is Yes, but it is conditional. You can do it with GRML-rescueboot. BUT in order to do that, you have to have a working install of a Linux Distribution on your hard drive to install GRML. Catch 22.

If you downloaded your Mint .iso from Mint's website there is a reference there on how to get the SHAsum that you need to check. From the download mirror you chose/choose, download the text file for sha256

In Windows 10 , Google have the following:

To check a SHASUM (SHA-256) on Windows 10,
use the built-in PowerShell Get-FileHash command or Command Prompt certutil utility. Open PowerShell, type Get-FileHash -Path "C:\path\to\file" -Algorithm SHA256, and compare the output to the provider's hash. Alternatively, use certutil -hashfile "C:\path\to\file" SHA256 in Command Prompt.

Method 1: Using PowerShell (Recommended)

1. Open PowerShell: Right-click the Start button and select Windows PowerShell.
2. Run Command: Type the following command and press Enter (replace the path with your file's actual path):
   Get-FileHash -Path "C:\Users\Name\Downloads\file.iso" -Algorithm SHA256
   • Tip: You can type Get-FileHash -Path and then drag and drop the file into the PowerShell window to automatically populate the path.
3. Verify: Compare the output hash string with the expected SHA256 hash provided by the source.

Method 2: Using Command Prompt (certutil)

1. Open Command Prompt: Press Windows Key + R, type cmd, and hit Enter.
2. Run Command: Type the following command and press Enter:
   certutil -hashfile "C:\path\to\file" SHA256
3. Verify: The command will output the SHA-256 hash, which you can compare to the provided hash.

Further, they have the following on burning the .iso from within Windows 10 itself. Both Ventoy and BalenaEtcher are (usually) working alternatives to Rufus. They are cross-platform so just make sure you choose the Windows version.

The Etcher and Ventoy references below have links to get them.

AI Overview



To burn a Linux ISO from Windows 10,
use a tool like Rufus or balenaEtcher to flash the image onto a USB drive (at least 4GB recommended). Connect your drive, select the ISO file, and start the process, which will erase all data on the USB before making it bootable.
Best Methods to Burn Linux ISO (Windows 10):

• Rufus (Recommended):
  1. Download and run Rufus (e.g., from rufus.ie).
  2. Select your USB drive.
  3. Click "Select" to choose the downloaded Linux ISO file.
  4. Keep default settings (usually GPT/MBR) and click "Start".
  5. Select "Write in ISO image mode" if prompted.
• balenaEtcher:
  1. Download and open balenaEtcher (e.g., from balena.io).
  2. Click "Flash from file" and select the ISO.
  3. Click "Select target" and pick your USB drive.
  4. Click "Flash!".
• Ventoy (Allows multiple ISOs):
  1. Download and run Ventoy (e.g., from ventoy.net).
  2. Install it to the USB drive.
  3. Copy and paste the ISO file directly onto the USB drive

Hope this helps

Chris Turner
wizardfromoz

 

[Rocketing-warp9]

Only other thing that I can think of is trying on a SD card if your laptop has one. I did something similar not too long ago with Lubuntu on my MBP, but that has a DVD drive. On your PC, to do it without USB would require taking it apart, and flashing it on a pc with working usb ports. Sadly I don't see any other way around it.. unless you flash the installer onto the SSD itself/Maybe a Frugal install?

 

[deadclown6]

Only other thing that I can think of is trying on a SD card if your laptop has one. I did something similar not too long ago with Lubuntu on my MBP, but that has a DVD drive. On your PC, to do it without USB would require taking it apart, and flashing it on a pc with working usb ports. Sadly I don't see any other way around it.. unless you flash the installer onto the SSD itself/Maybe a Frugal install?

Something like this? Not this one exactly per se, but am I reading your reply correct? I’m not opposed to getting inside this laptop, it won’t be the first time

Edit: typo corrected

 

[Rocketing-warp9]

As long as you can remove your SSD and put it in there, it should be just fine. The IFixit guide for yours is right here- https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/ASUS+TUF+Gaming+FX505DY+Hard+Drive+Replacement/149562
Then Install Linux on to your SSD through another PC. Then Put your SSD back into the laptop, and it should work. I actually did something similar (Albeit, not with Linux) when I was semi-restoring the MBP I put Lubuntu on. In a similar case, my usb ports also did not work. (Mine are completely dead all the time).. Take that same principle and it should work. If you have another PC laying around, you just install the full OS using that PC onto your Laptop's SSD and you should be just fine.

 

[KGIII]

how long? More than 15 minutes of no activity light blinking?

It could be. When the logo first appears, press F3. It should start showing you text at that point. Do this before it freezes.

 

[osprey]

It could be. When the logo first appears, press F3. It should start showing you text at that point. Do this before it freezes.

These are the keys that I've used during installation of debian and a few debian derivatives (from my notes):

(Ctrl+)Alt+F2 : installer shell
(Ctrl+)Alt+F3 : installer shell
(Ctrl+)Alt+F4 : installer logs
Alt+F1: back to the text installer
Alt+F5: back to the graphic installer
Ctrl is needed only from the graphic installer.

 

[KGIII]

(Ctrl+)Alt+F3 : installer shell

It should work with just the F3, as far as I recall. I haven't done a clean install in a long time, but that's what my memory is telling me.

Hmm... You made me go look, albeit in a VM.

Pressing F3 brings up the text that shows what's going on behind the scenes with Linux Mint 22.3. I didn't need Alt for it. I hit the button to start the live boot and then pressed F3.

Man, you made me doubt myself. LOL It has been a while since I've done a clean installation.

 

[osprey]

It should work with just the F3, as far as I recall. I haven't done a clean install in a long time, but that's what my memory is telling me.

Hmm... You made me go look, albeit in a VM.

Pressing F3 brings up the text that shows what's going on behind the scenes with Linux Mint 22.3. I didn't need Alt for it. I hit the button to start the live boot and then pressed F3.

Man, you made me doubt myself. LOL It has been a while since I've done a clean installation.

For post #32, the info was from notes which were written at the time of past experience as mentioned. Hopefully the reader could factor that in. That experience was from hardware installations rather than virtual machine installs.

Prompted by your post #33, I installed debian 13.4 in a virtual machine using KVM/qemu, on wayland, but was unable to get to a console of the virtual installation at all, no matter which keys I pressed: F3, alt+F3, or ctrl+alt+F3. When I pressed ctrl+alt+F3, I was taken to the console, tty3, of the host system, not the virtual machine. Since it was debian rather than Mint, that may make a difference. Unfortuately I don't have a machine here at the moment to test on a hardware installation, so all I can report at the moment is the above.

 

[Brian Alex]

I just ran across this thread because I had the same problem and spent many hours doing exactly what you are trying except I am on a Linux machine. I gave up completely.

I noticed that you said "Windows gave up on it...." So what exactly happened to the Windows that is on there? I mean, maybe there is a hardware problem that caused that issue.That might be a clue in this. -BA

 

[APTI]

I stopped replying because I got very frustrated with the replies I'm getting. Everyone wants me to try the usb thing a different way when I've tried multiple sticks and multiple builds and it always halts at the same spot, when the logo shows. I've repeatedly explained this is where it stops so obviously the usb path isn't working and everyone is also completely ignoring my other question about installing from within windows. Least I could get would be a "no" but not even that. Please give me other options than the usb. When it halts there's no activity light blinking. It feels like nobody believes me. I don't want to give up on this laptop. Windows gave up on it but its still a good laptop for what I need a laptop to do and I can see life in it if I can only get mint installed and like I said before, I'm not interested in other distros

I will handle your 2nd question. NO.. that is the answer. you can't install linux from inside windows. You can not install any operating system from within another. it just does not work that way.

 

[KGIII]

Since it was debian rather than Mint, that may make a difference.

That may very well be it. It could also be an artifact of virtualization, I suppose.

I haven't used plain Debian in ages. I just looked and Debian flashes by very quickly and goes to the installer, without a live environment. I may have the wrong Debian .iso file. Their downloads are a hot mess.

 

[deb_user]

Debian provides live images, full installation images, and netinstall images which will fit on a 500MB USB drive but require internet access to install. It's no mess, it's well thought through. Different users have different needs, and they're pretty much all covered. You can try before you buy, you can do a full installation without internet access, or you can do it with internet access. You pays your money and takes your choice, depending on your needs. Lots of smaller distros provide only one .iso, a live version because users don't know them and usually want to see what they're getting. Debian is a known quantity.