Installing Linux Mint 19 on HP6910P notebook.

[Rendrick]

I've installed Linux Mint 19 on a 6910p but it won't boot. The notebook hangs at a screen with the horizontal cursor flashing in the top left. I think that means it can't find the OS? Maybe something needs changing in the BIOS but the BIOS looks unfamiliar to me. Anyone? Thanks.

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Hi

Is the Boot Manager Grub?

Was/Is the OS installed as a SECURE boot OS?

[Rendrick]

Oh dear... I don't know the answers to those questions. I don't even know what the questions mean! How would I find out the answers?

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Hi

No idea.

You did the install, and either selected options or went with the defaults, which may have used all your drive.

So is Windows installed and working?

[Rendrick]

Hi.

I chose to install Mint and obliterate Windows. I worked through the dialog boxes as they came up. I was installing from an ISO I'd put on a USB stick. I've installed Mint many times before on other machines. I have occasionally had to fiddle with BIOS.

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

So

re-install and note where grub is installed.

/dev/sda1    or  in the boot manager area.

OR try a repair using the original USB.

[Rendrick]

Windows 10 seems to be installed on sdb1, Linux Mint on sdb2

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Hi

Well lack of details mean I need to guess...

/dev/sda is usually the FIRST HDD, /dev/sdb can, in my case, be a USB stick.

For you?  Single HDD, Hybrid or 2 "disks" ???

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-compaq-6910p-notebook-pc/3357377/document/c01045343

Hard drive(s)

SATA 80/120/160-GB 5400 rpm, 80/100-GB 7200 rpm, HP 3D DriveGuard

Look at your drives with either Gparted or Paragon Partition Manager.

https://www.paragon-software.com/free/pm-express/#

[Rendrick]

It's a single HDD and not the original one. This one is a 500g HDD. I managed to harvest the following information:

Boot Info Script 0.77 [10 June 2018]

============================= Boot Info Summary: ===============================

=> Syslinux MBR (4.04-4.07) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda.
=> Grub2 (v2.00) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sdb and looks at sector 1 of
the same hard drive for core.img. core.img is at this location and looks
for (,msdos1)/boot/grub. It also embeds following components:

modules
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
fshelp ext2 part_msdos biosdisk
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

sda1: __________________________________________________________________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: SYSLINUX 4.07 2013-07-25
Boot sector info: Syslinux looks at sector 19896 of /dev/sda1 for its
second stage. SYSLINUX is installed in the /uui
directory. No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /efi/BOOT/grubx64.efi

sdb1: __________________________________________________________________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Linux Mint 19.1
Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab
/boot/grub/i386-pc/core.img

============================ Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive: sda _____________________________________________________________________
Disk /dev/sda: 3.8 GiB, 4009754624 bytes, 7831552 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disklabel type: dos

Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sda1 * 32 7,831,551 7,831,520 b W95 FAT32

Drive: sdb _____________________________________________________________________
Disk /dev/sdb: 465.8 GiB, 500107862016 bytes, 976773168 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disklabel type: dos

Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sdb1 * 2,048 976,771,071 976,769,024 83 Linux

"blkid" output: ________________________________________________________________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/loop0 squashfs
/dev/sda1 B41F-9D44 vfat UUI
/dev/sdb1 8dbf6e38-56a6-499a-b34e-6cd0f6086985 ext4

========================= "ls -l /dev/disk/by-id" output: ======================

total 0
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 9 May 10 07:51 ata-MAT**bleep**ADVD-RAM_UJ-842S -> ../../sr0
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 9 May 10 07:51 ata-ST500LM021-1KJ152_W6246FJC -> ../../sdb
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 May 10 07:51 ata-ST500LM021-1KJ152_W6246FJC-part1 -> ../../sdb1
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 9 May 10 07:51 usb-Verbatim_STORE_N_GO_12100000000077D0-0:0 -> ../../sda
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 May 10 07:51 usb-Verbatim_STORE_N_GO_12100000000077D0-0:0-part1 -> ../../sda1
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 9 May 10 07:51 wwn-0x5000c50082bb0691 -> ../../sdb
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 10 May 10 07:51 wwn-0x5000c50082bb0691-part1 -> ../../sdb1

================================ Mount points: =================================

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/loop0 /rofs squashfs (ro,noatime)
/dev/sda1 /cdrom vfat (ro,noatime,fmask=0022,dmask=0022,codepage=437,iocharset=iso8859-1,shortname=mixed,errors=remount-ro)

=========================== sda1/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

if loadfont /boot/grub/font.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=auto
insmod efi_gop
insmod efi_uga
insmod gfxterm
terminal_output gfxterm
fi

set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray

menuentry "Start Linux Mint 19.1 Cinnamon 64-bit" {
set gfxpayload=keep
linux /casper/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/linuxmint.seed cdrom-detect/try-usb=true noprompt floppy.allowed_drive_mask=0 ignore_uuid boot=casper iso-scan/filename=${iso_path} quiet splash --
initrd /casper/initrd.lz
}
menuentry "Start Linux Mint 19.1 Cinnamon 64-bit (compatibility mode)" {
linux /casper/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/linuxmint.seed cdrom-detect/try-usb=true noprompt floppy.allowed_drive_mask=0 ignore_uuid boot=casper xforcevesa iso-scan/filename=${iso_path} ramdisk_size=1048576 root=/dev/ram rw noapic noacpi nosplash irqpoll --
initrd /casper/initrd.lz
}
menuentry "OEM install (for manufacturers)" {
set gfxpayload=keep
linux /casper/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/linuxmint.seed oem-config/enable=true only-ubiquity cdrom-detect/try-usb=true noprompt floppy.allowed_drive_mask=0 ignore_uuid boot=casper iso-scan/filename=${iso_path} quiet splash --
initrd /casper/initrd.lz
}
menuentry "Check the integrity of the medium" {
linux /casper/vmlinuz cdrom-detect/try-usb=true noprompt floppy.allowed_drive_mask=0 ignore_uuid boot=casper integrity-check iso-scan/filename=${iso_path} quiet splash --
initrd /casper/initrd.lz
}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sda1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

?? = ?? boot/grub/grub.cfg 1

=========================== sdb1/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
if [ "${next_entry}" ] ; then
set default="${next_entry}"
set next_entry=
save_env next_entry
set boot_once=true
else
set default="0"
fi

if [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
menuentry_id_option="--id"
else
menuentry_id_option=""
fi

export menuentry_id_option

if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}
function recordfail {
set recordfail=1
if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}
function load_video {
if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
insmod all_video
else
insmod efi_gop
insmod efi_uga
insmod ieee1275_fb
insmod vbe
insmod vga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
fi
}

if [ x$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
font=unicode
else
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd1,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1 8dbf6e38-56a6-499a-b34e-6cd0f6086985
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8dbf6e38-56a6-499a-b34e-6cd0f6086985
fi
font="/usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2"
fi

if loadfont $font ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
set locale_dir=$prefix/locale
set lang=en_GB
insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ] ; then
set timeout=30
else
if [ x$feature_timeout_style = xy ] ; then
set timeout_style=hidden
set timeout=0
# Fallback hidden-timeout code in case the timeout_style feature is
# unavailable.
elif sleep --interruptible 0 ; then
set timeout=0
fi
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode {
set gfxpayload="${1}"
if [ "${1}" = "keep" ]; then
set vt_handoff=vt.handoff=1
else
set vt_handoff=
fi
}
if [ "${recordfail}" != 1 ]; then
if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
export linux_gfx_mode
menuentry 'Linux Mint 19.1 Cinnamon' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-8dbf6e38-56a6-499a-b34e-6cd0f6086985' {
recordfail
load_video
gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd1,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1 8dbf6e38-56a6-499a-b34e-6cd0f6086985
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8dbf6e38-56a6-499a-b34e-6cd0f6086985
fi
linux /boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-20-generic root=UUID=8dbf6e38-56a6-499a-b34e-6cd0f6086985 ro quiet splash $vt_handoff
initrd /boot/initrd.img-4.15.0-20-generic
}
submenu 'Advanced options for Linux Mint 19.1 Cinnamon' $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-advanced-8dbf6e38-56a6-499a-b34e-6cd0f6086985' {
menuentry 'Linux Mint 19.1 Cinnamon, with Linux 4.15.0-20-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-4.15.0-20-generic-advanced-8dbf6e38-56a6-499a-b34e-6cd0f6086985' {
recordfail
load_video
gfxmode $linux_gfx_mode
insmod gzio
if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd1,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1 8dbf6e38-56a6-499a-b34e-6cd0f6086985
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8dbf6e38-56a6-499a-b34e-6cd0f6086985
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 4.15.0-20-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-20-generic root=UUID=8dbf6e38-56a6-499a-b34e-6cd0f6086985 ro quiet splash $vt_handoff
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-4.15.0-20-generic
}
menuentry 'Linux Mint 19.1 Cinnamon, with Linux 4.15.0-20-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-4.15.0-20-generic-recovery-8dbf6e38-56a6-499a-b34e-6cd0f6086985' {
recordfail
load_video
insmod gzio
if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd1,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1 8dbf6e38-56a6-499a-b34e-6cd0f6086985
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8dbf6e38-56a6-499a-b34e-6cd0f6086985
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 4.15.0-20-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-20-generic root=UUID=8dbf6e38-56a6-499a-b34e-6cd0f6086985 ro recovery nomodeset
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-4.15.0-20-generic
}
}

### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry 'Memory test (memtest86+)' {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd1,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1 8dbf6e38-56a6-499a-b34e-6cd0f6086985
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8dbf6e38-56a6-499a-b34e-6cd0f6086985
fi
knetbsd /boot/memtest86+.elf
}
menuentry 'Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)' {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='hd1,msdos1'
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root --hint-bios=hd1,msdos1 --hint-efi=hd1,msdos1 --hint-baremetal=ahci1,msdos1 8dbf6e38-56a6-499a-b34e-6cd0f6086985
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 8dbf6e38-56a6-499a-b34e-6cd0f6086985
fi
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f ${config_directory}/custom.cfg ]; then
source ${config_directory}/custom.cfg
elif [ -z "${config_directory}" -a -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== sdb1/etc/fstab: ================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
# device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
# that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
# / was on /dev/sdb1 during installation
UUID=8dbf6e38-56a6-499a-b34e-6cd0f6086985 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
/swapfile none swap sw 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sdb1: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

62.294979095 = 66.888724480 boot/grub/grub.cfg 1
406.340229034 = 436.304498688 boot/grub/i386-pc/core.img 1
74.146175385 = 79.613849600 boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-20-generic 1
74.146175385 = 79.613849600 vmlinuz 1
4.726642609 = 5.075193856 boot/initrd.img-4.15.0-20-generic 1
4.726642609 = 5.075193856 initrd.img 1
4.726642609 = 5.075193856 initrd.img.old 1