Mint won't install, Ubuntu installs fine.

[lilleyen]

My wife's HP laptop has been working for years with Linux Mint. It is a HP notebook 15-db0108ga, Product 6SH74UA.

Something happened to ti recently that made it not want to boot.

Upon trying to reinstall Mint and even later versions of Mint, I hit a brick wall nothing but error messages or if it did try to install, crapped out about half way through.

I tried turning off secure boot, messing with EFI, UEFI, etc.

Yesterday on a hunch I downloaded Ubuntu 24,04 and it installed with NO problems at all.

What gives?

Is it a driver problem?

[Raj_05]

Hi @lilleyen,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like there might be a compatibility issue or a driver problem specific to Linux Mint, especially since Ubuntu installed without any issues. Here are a few possibilities and steps to consider.

• Kernel Differences: Ubuntu and Linux Mint use different kernels, even though they are based on the same Ubuntu releases. Ubuntu might have better hardware support or newer drivers in its kernel that Linux Mint doesn’t.
• Boot Parameters: Linux Mint might need specific boot parameters for your hardware. You can try adding parameters like nomodeset, acpi=off, or noapic when booting from the Live USB to see if that helps with the installation process.
• UEFI/BIOS Settings: Ensure that your BIOS settings are configured correctly. You mentioned you turned off Secure Boot; also, make sure that Legacy Mode is disabled and that UEFI is enabled if your system supports it.
• Partitioning Issues: Double-check your partitioning scheme. If there are remnants of a previous installation that might be causing conflicts, consider wiping the partitions and creating new ones.
• Corrupt ISO: Sometimes, the issue could be with a corrupt ISO image. Redownload the Linux Mint ISO from the official site and create a new bootable USB.
• Logs and Error Messages: Pay attention to the specific error messages you’re receiving during the installation. They can provide clues about what’s going wrong. You can also check logs from the live environment for more details.
• Compatibility: Sometimes, newer versions of Linux Mint might have changes that affect compatibility with certain hardware. If you’re using an older version of Mint, try installing a newer version or vice versa.
• Alternative Distributions: If the issue persists and you need a Mint-like experience, you might try other derivatives of Ubuntu that are similar to Linux Mint, such as Xubuntu or Lubuntu.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support