I want to try Linux Mint Cinnamon from a USB drive I created but struggle after pressing F10

[muirbabe]

I want to try Linux Mint Cinnamon from a USB drive I created but struggle after pressing F10 and entering ?BIOS-its very unlike BIOS on my old WIN 7 desktop, any help at all would be great! I am a bit technophobe I am afraid. Thanks for reading.

[old_geekster]

Muirbabe, welcome to the forum.

What you are seeing is UEFI.  On my computer the option that you want is under Storage / Boot Order.

Please click the Thumbs up + button if I have helped you and click Accept as Solution if your problem is solved.

[muirbabe]

Thanks very much Geekster for your quick reply. I wont get chance to try till tomorrow, but what you suggest sounds right, thanks again, I will let you know how I get on. Anthony

[old_geekster]

You are welcome, @muirbabe.  I would appreciate hearing the results.

[muirbabe]

Hi Geekster, I am really sorry for taking so long to get back to you.

I have just tried your suggestion but was unsure of which option to choose from boot options. I have taken a pic of screen but not sure whether I can post it so will list them and see if you can suggest one. I am guessing it's USB Floppy/CD and then F10?

UEFI BOOT SOURCES

Windows Boot Manager

USB Floppy/CD

USB Hard Drive

UEFI : IPv4 realtec PCIe GBE Family Controller

UEFI : IPv6 realtec PCIe GBE Family Controller

F5= disable  Enter=drop   F10=accept   Esc=cancel

As you will have gathered I am clueless with Win 8.1 but fairly competent with my old Win 7. Thank you for your patience. Anthony

[old_geekster]

You are very welcome, Anthony.  Thank you for the additional information.

I would definitely try the Floppy/CD option to see what happens.  I believe that it should do the trick.

Now, you are becoming more familiar with Win 8.  There is always a learning curve.  I was just getting very familiar with Win 8 and MS decided to confuse me further with Win 10.   They just won't leave well-enought alone.

[muirbabe]

Thanks very much Geekster, I will try that tomorrow or as soon as I get chance. Many thanks. Anthony

[muirbabe]

Hello Geekster, 

I am dreadfully sorry for taking so long to let you know what was happening and would quite understand if you dont reply.

Essentially, I went into UEFI and mucked it up a couple of weeks ago shortly after our last messages. At that point I threw up my hands in despair and gave up. And reverted to old computer.

This evening I resolved to at least update you and to see what HP computer was doing.

Now, when I switch on HPcomputer it boots to GNU GRUB.

It gives me the option of Linux Mint 17.3 Cinamon 64bit or the same option in compatibility mode. It also offers to check the integrity of medium.

I am not offered the WIN 8.1 option.

I did use Linux for an hour or so and it was running ok but slow(from USB drive)

I would like to be able to boot from either OS including installing Linux on hard drive but thats a long way off I fear!

Kindest regards,

Anthony faulkner

[old_geekster · Accepted solution]

@muirbabe

Please don't feel bad about no answering sooner.  I am always notified when one of the threads that I am working on has a new addition.

I don't know if you have a specific reason for wanting to use the distro of Linux that you chose or if you would consider a recommendation.  I used Ubuntu (prn. oo-boon-too) for several years as a dual boot with Windows.  Not only is it a great distro, but there is an extremely good Forum.  Not as good as this one :smileywink:, but very good.  The members of the Forum are very helpful.  You might give it some thought.  I believe they would get you up and running very quickly.

[muirbabe]

Thanks very much Geekster for being so understanding.

I was advised to try Linux Mint several months ago and had it on a USB stick on other computer and have familiarised myself a little bit with it-but not sufficiently to guard against disaster!

But I will take your advise and post on the Mint forum where some kind soul will advise me.

One question though, I read that one should access UEFI through WINDOWS rather than F10 at start up and wondered what your thoughts were?  Though I wont be experimenting in near future!

Kind regards,

Anthony