Linux Mint Installation

Anonymouse · 22-11-2025, 19:19

I'm installing Linux Mint, to dual-boot it with Win 11 (I was concerned that I couldn't find the drive on opening the laptop; the existing drive is an M2, and I simply didn't recognise it as a drive - until I got the new one, after which installation was almost embarrassingly easy!). I booted from a USB stick. But it's only gotten as far as the 'Find help' splash screen, and it's 'getting the time from a network time server'.

The time displayed, bottom right of the taskbar, is correct. The cursor/pointer is doing the Linux version of the hourglass. It hasn't changed in a while (except for what appears to be a screen saver). It doesn't seem to have crashed, though; other things like Files are working. No mention yet of dual booting.

What's happening? Has it, in fact, crashed? Should I try again, or leave it a while?

(sigh) I really hoped that just once. just once, something would go smoothly for me - not unreasonable to expect given the rep of Linux. But no, it's business as usual!

Anonymouse · 23-11-2025, 00:10

Okay, I give up. Trying again...

Since it didn't work, I decided to start completely afresh. But even recreating the bootable USB was a hassle - after trying several, ISO To USB did it. Here we go again...
Ah! Result! This time it's asked about dual booting! Now copying files...installing system...looks more promising...

Installer crashed. Of course it did. Now what?

Odd. Linux seems to be installed. Win 11 boots up normally. So does Mint.

Whaddya know? Somehow it worked!

Interesting that it puts Linux first...

tweetiepooh · Yesterday, 16:27

There are settings you can make in GRUB so it defaults to the last selected O/S. This is really useful especially when Windows does it update and reboot several times thing.

Mint is a good option for people trying out Linux. I've stuck with SuSE but the next version look like dropping Yast, its own config tool. This works in both graphical and text mode so if something happens that prevents the graphical interface starting you still have a tool that works.

Anonymouse · Today, 04:52

Windows doesn't do that on mine - I found and used a Registry hack which delays updates till next year.

Risky in theory, but Norton is on the case, so I'm not worried. The main thing for me is that ATM Windows works, so I don't want any changes - particularly not Recall or Copilot. Seems you can't pick and choose as you could on Win 8.1 (in fact my Win 8.1 laptop was never updated, and it worked from 2016 until it died a couple of weeks ago). Some updates have reportedly broken Windows, and I definitely don't want to know about that! When I first got Win 11 I tried installing Photoshop Elements 6, as I like it - somehow this destroyed the system so badly I had to do a factory reset and fiddle with UEFI to make a restore package work!
It did, and it's been okay since. I have not tried that again. I'll manage with GIMP.

tweetiepooh · Today, 10:31

I understand fully Mr Mouse, may I call you Anony? Windows updates are just a pain in the neck and since I now have Steam working in Linux I've not booted to Windows in ages. I hate to think how long it would take my Windows 10 to get up, patch, reboot, fall over, patch some more and then Norton to do it's work, update, scan etc. My PC is too old for Windows 11.

Anonymouse · Today, 14:30

Yeah, just because something's old doesn't mean you throw it away. Case in point: museums. Scotty in Next Gen.

Me.

Well, 60 isn't old, but I'm no youngster any more.

Linux users understand this. It's why they've migrated from 10, rather than throwing out a perfectly good PC. In fact...ATM I'm dual booting between 11 and Mint, but I still have my old 2TB drive holding 11. The boot is on a 4TB drive. I'm wondering whether to give Mint the entire drive - erase the 11 partition and reclaim the space. 4TB is plenty for Linux.

Carth · Today, 15:02

I've given a fair few old laptops (5 to 10 yrs old) a new lease of life by installing various Linux flavours on them (played around a lot with Ubuntu Studio)

Most work 'straight out of the box', occasionally you may need a little nudge with different drivers for network or GFX, but there are many forums out there with the perfect answer . . because they've already overcome whatever slight issue you have.

I'm almost 72, and if I can do it . . . .