Score:0

Bootable USB does not work as described

ru flag

I have a new laptop to which I want to install Ubuntu. (I don't want live sessions or a duel partition, my goal is to have only Ubuntu installed on the new laptop.)

  1. I downloaded ubuntu-20.04.3 on my old laptop, from ubuntu.com .
  2. I successfully changed the boot order on the new laptop (which has the default windows). It has Uefi and 0 seconds or whatever so that the usual method of pressing F12 didn't work, but I resolved that.
  3. I initially tried turning a USB 3.0 with plenty of gb to spare into a bootable stick using command lines in the terminal, but the resulting stick did not work, and after a short pause, Windows loaded when I turned on the new laptop.
  4. I made the bootable USB stick using Ubuntu's Startup Disk Creator. The program informed me I had successfully completed the operation.
  5. On using that stick, I successfully got to the boot menu and selected to have the computer boot from the usb device, but then a black screen came up with the text "GNU GRUB version 2.04. Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported." instructions on how to see the list of available commands (TAB), and the prompt: "grub>"
  6. On Askubuntu.com I was given the unhelpful comment that I had done something wrong, which is highly improbable, seeing as how Startup Disk Creator is an automatic program and the user doesn't have many opportunities to do anything, much less do something wrong. Perhaps the commenter thought I had plugged the USB stick in the wrong way?
  7. On the advice of Unhelpful Commenter, I downloaded balenaEtcher and I referred to the following tutorial, https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/install-ubuntu-desktop#3-create-a-bootable-usb-stick which I must say was almost identical to the tutorial I had already been using, although with better layout.
  8. I also downloaded Ubuntu a second time (after deleting the first version) from the official Ubuntu website.
  9. I made a bootable USB stick using Etcher, which verified the flash.
  10. I booted up the new laptop with the USB stick and got the exact same results: the grub screen.

What is wrong?

Matthias Lenmher avatar
nl flag
Perhaps you could provide some info about what ubuntu distro are you installing and you can check about [what is GRUB](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_GRUB) here.
Nmath avatar
ng flag
It sounds like you're probably doing something wrong. We have an [official tutorial](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/install-ubuntu-desktop) for installing Ubuntu, including the creation of bootable installation media using Etcher. It's not clear if you want to set up dual boot config, but the only difference is that you will need enough unpartitioned free space for Ubuntu after Windows is installed. You will need to consult with your motherboard documentation if you need help booting viable installation media. Booting from a USB is a feature of your motherboard, not Ubuntu
Nmath avatar
ng flag
It's also recommended that you [verify your download](https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/how-to-verify-ubuntu) before flashing. If the download is corrupted, it is likely that the installation media will be invalid. Similarly, the flash should be verified. Etcher will perform an automated verification of the flash (but it does not verify the download)
ru flag
Your suggestion that I was "doing something wrong" is hardly helpful, considering that I was using an Ubuntu program for automatically making startup disks. Are you suggesting I put the USB stick in upside down?
ru flag
I followed the "official tutorial" you linked to, which was almost identical to the other tutorial I was following. I followed every single step to a t. I used your recommended program for bootable installation media, Etcher. Etcher informed me that I had successfully made the flash, and verified it. I booted the new laptop with the USB. I got sent to the exact same GRUB screen. Please tell me how the verified bootable installation USB is directing me to GRUB rather than installing Ubuntu.
Nmath avatar
ng flag
Clearly something is not right. Did you verify the download? Or just the flash? What ISO are you flashing and what is the make/model of your CPU?
ru flag
I re-asked the question with more info and got a helpful response: the issue is probably that I am using very new hardware and need to wait for 22.04. I appreciate all the free labour and support but generally it is not a good idea to talk down to people and assume that they are ignorant or doing something wrong if the goal is to create a community in which inevitably there will be a large range of skill levels.
ru flag
Your "reask" is closed as a duplicate of this. **Do not repost questions**, instead edit your question if you want to include more information. This is not a site you can just go and 'repost' your original posts.
cc flag
You can try the alpha version of 22.04 from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/daily-live/current/ What model hardware are you using?
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