[z800] booting and installing opensuse leap 15.3 on hp z800 gen 2

[radu3]

Dear all,

I'm new to linux and I'm trying to install linux from a memory stick. I have difficulties in booting from the usb stick (I'd tried multiple USB ports; I had a look into BIOS and I don't remember having any settings regarding UEFI and his palls). Although I hit F9 and (in the boot menu) I'm selecting USB drive, the Windows from the HDD/SSD boots and I can't get in the screen where the linux installation is launched. Can you, please, give me a hand?

TA

R

SW
I'd downloaded OpenSuse 15.3 from here: https://download.opensuse.org/distri...iso.mirrorlist
According to this (https://en.opensuse.org/Create_installation_USB_stick), I'd used UNetbootin to write the image to the USB stick. The process went ok - it didn't yield any errors. The weird thing is this tool doesn't do any formatting of the USB drive.

HW
- HP Z800 workstation gen 2 (2 Xeons x5690; 18GB ddr3);
- ssd 120GB Kingston SA400S37120G (on SATA5); for testing I'd switch to a hdd WD 300GB @ 10.000rpms, but I get the same thing (windows boots)
- 32GB Kingston USB3.2 DataTraveler Exodia stick (https://www.kingston.com/en/usb-flash-drives/datatraveler-exodia-usb-3-2-usb-flash-drive);

BIOS
- 786G5 v03.57; boot block date 11/10/09;
- the boot sequence is USB device then hdd/ssd

PS: the same question on open suse forum didn't yield anything useful (I really, really, really have no idea how to boot from network, and I don't want to mess up other things ; https://forums.opensuse.org/showthread.php/554146-installing-OpenSuse-15-3-on-hp-z800-booting-issue).

[DGroves]

set the boot order back to factory defaults

your current setup of usb key first creates a bootloop where it always goes back to the usb key instead of continuing the install from the HD

use "F9" on power on to select the  linux usb key, when the usb key finishes it will boot from the HD and finish the linux install and default to a autologon as i recall

[radu3]

Hi DGroves,

I don't know what is the default factory order for booting, but I left the following order:

Hard Drive

-Integrated SATA

-WDC WD3000HLFS-60G6U

Embedded Ethernet Controller

Embedded Ethernet Controller (ASF)

USB Drive and saved the settings.

(the minus is not displayed in BIOS; it's just to show the sub categories)

When the PC boots (and displays the HP logo) I hit F9 and leave all the required things to be loaded.

At a certain moment the following screen is displayed and I selected USB Drive:
Press Enter to Select Boot Device, ESC to Exit
USB Device
Hard Drive
Ethernet Controller
Ethernet Controller (ASF)

The following messages are displayed very fast (I had to film it):
Attempting Boot From USB Device
Attempting Boot FromsUSB Device
Attempting Boot FromsHard Drive
(the typos are displayed too)

Unfortunately, the Windows installed on the Hard Drive boots.

I'd used one USB port from front of the PC and then one from the mainboard.

Do you have other suggestions?
Thank you!
R

[DGroves]

reset system to factory defaults (not user defined defaults)

remove all usb devices except for mouse/kbd

1 remove pwr from system, press pwr button till beep/front light stops

2. open side cover, remove cmos battery, press cmos reset button 5 sec

3 .replace cmos battery,side cover, power cord, start system and enter bios

4. set time/date

Optional:

disable AMT, (found under security section)

disable boot from ethernet (both ethernet devices)

disable LSI boot rom if not booting off LSI controller (do not disable LSI device, only boot rom)

save settings and reboot, confirm settings have been saved

attach USB key to z800 and power on press "F9" to select boot device if usb key does not show replace key with new one

if key shows in boot list but will not actually boot, redo opensuse  installer files on key

[radu3]

Hi DGroves!

Firstly thank you for patience, your time and support.

Secondly, I'd tried to follow as close as possible all your indications, but I'm not able to install Linux with the new 3.2 USB stick ... which kind of sucks/making stocks of old USB sticks is not a solution... question for HP: how am I going to install Linux in 2-3 years from now on, when most probably I would no longer find old USB 3 (not 3.2) sticks?

What I'd done:

- I'd removed all USB devices except for the keyboard
- I'd removed the PWR cable from system; then I press PWR button for more then 2 minutes (my power button doesn't have a functional LED ... I don't know why, this is the way I bought it) - till beep/front light stops
- I'd opened side cover, removed CMOS battery and then press CMOS reset button >5 sec
- placed back the CMOS battery, side cover, power cord (the system automatically started and I'd pressed the shutdown button until it shutdown), start system and enter BIOS
* F1 to save ram config (the PC restarted)
* F10 to enter BIOS
- the version I got: 786G5 v03.57
- set time/date
- I don't have anything called AMT within Security section
- I don't know how to remove LSI boot rom (I don't remember seeing this acronym anywhere)
- I had enabled Advanced > Processors > hyper-threading
- I had enabled Advanced > Device Options > NumLock @ power-on (set to on)
- my default boot order:

USB device
Hard Drive
-Integrated SATA
-WDC WD3000HLFS-60G6U
Embedded Ethernet Controller (* is this what you'd suggested me to disable???)
Embedded Ethernet Controller (ASF) (* is this what you'd suggested me to disable???)

- save settings & exit
- F10 to check all settings are saved: everything has been saved
- exit; attached the USB (during the time before loading the HP logo screen)

Experiments: (since my default is to have USB as the first boot device)

1.  pressed F9 and in the screen displaying the boot options, I selected USB -> Windows from the HDD starts;
2. (with the USB connected) restarted the PC; F10

-> in Storage > Device Configuration: the USB is detected
-> boot order: HDD, USB, etc; saved and exit; pc restarts F9 -> USB -> Windows starts

3. (with the USB not connected) restarted the PC; (before the HP logo screen, inserted the USB stick) F10 -> boot order: HDD, USB, etc; saved and exit; pc restarts F9 -> USB -> Windows starts

4. (with another USB with the same image) restarted the PC; F9 -> USB -> UNetbootin starts (the linux stuff)

Thank you!
R

[DGroves]

first of all usb 2.0 and usb 3.0 are still extremely common and available everywhere

so your rant on not being able to find them today is a pointless excuse and as for the future.......................i suspect they will still be around

stop complaining, and buy a usb 2/3 key for under 10 dollars

as for bios options,,,,,,,,,,,,,.again HP DOCUMENTATION.......use it!!

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01718191

[radu3]

Thank you DGrove for your help!

as for the the usb stick shopping ... I already did - that's why we are having this discussion:)