Unable to install 20.1 or format ext4 on DELL Workstation

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Keith.A
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Unable to install 20.1 or format ext4 on DELL Workstation

Post by Keith.A »

So, I have just spent half a day trying to install Mint 20.1 64 bit on my new (2nd user) T3620i DELL workstation.

Has anyone seen anything like this or can anyone suggest what the problem might have been.

Config is:-
Intel i7-6700 4 core
32 gb memory
1 x 256gb M.2 2280 NVME SSD
2 x 2 TB HDD
1 x DVDRW

I can boot the Mint 20.1 DVD no problem. But....

Install of 20.1 fails on trying to format/create file system-

Creating ext 4 file system for /in partition #5 of /dev/nvme0n 1...
Failed to create a file system as super user
The ext4 file system creation in partition 5 of /dev/nvme0n1 failed.

I tried this on both the nvme drive and one of the HDD's - Same result. So I loaded up gparted from within the 20.1 dvd boot and tried to create partitions. I could create NTFS partitions, no problems, but could not create ext4, ext3 or ext2 partitions on any disk including the nvme.
This time getting:
The efi file system creation partition #1 of scsi 1 (0,0,0)(sda) failed.

Suspecting some kind of hardware fault, I found a copy of Windows 7 64 bit. This installed on a HDD no problem. Obviously couldn't see the nvme because of no driver.
So I tried 20.1 again. Same results. Unable to format any device in ext4.

Last resort. Booted a copy of Mint 19.3 from same dvdrw drive.
Partitions formatted in ext4, no problems.
Mint 19.3 installed first time, no errors. !!!!
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
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Larry78723
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Re: Unable to install 20.1 or format ext4 on DELL Workstation

Post by Larry78723 »

Without some technical information we can’t help you. Please post an inxi -Fxxxzr report. This will give us a concise overview of your hardware and on how Mint sees it.

Here is how to generate the report and post it:

Boot from your LM20.1 installation media (USB/DVD)
Open a terminal window (Ctrl-Alt-t). Make it fullscreen to avoid unneeded linebreaks or chopped lines. Execute the command

Code: Select all

 inxi -Fxxxzr 
exactly as it has been typed here.

Mark the complete text output which the command will display with your mouse.
Press the keyboard shortcut <Shift><Ctrl>C to copy the marked text into the clipboard.
Enclose the results between the code markers by selecting </> from the mini toolbar above the textbox where you type your reply then paste <Ctrl>V them in your reply between the code markers [code]Results [/code].

The results will help us to help you.
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Keith.A
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Re: Unable to install 20.1 or format ext4 on DELL Workstation

Post by Keith.A »

Code: Select all

mint@mint:~$ inxi -Fxxxzr
System:    Kernel: 5.4.0-58-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0 Desktop: MATE 1.24.0 info: mate-panel 
           wm: marco 1.24.0 dm: LightDM 1.30.0 Distro: Linux Mint 20.1 Ulyssa base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:   Type: Desktop System: Dell product: Precision Tower 3620 v: N/A serial: <filter> Chassis: type: 3 serial: <filter> 
           Mobo: Dell model: 09WH54 v: A00 serial: <filter> UEFI [Legacy]: Dell v: 2.16.2 date: 08/13/2020 
CPU:       Topology: Quad Core model: Intel Core i7-6700 bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Skylake-S rev: 3 L2 cache: 8192 KiB 
           flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 54398 
           Speed: 802 MHz min/max: 800/4000 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 800 2: 800 3: 800 4: 800 5: 800 6: 800 7: 800 8: 800 
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel HD Graphics 530 vendor: Dell driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 chip ID: 8086:1912 
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.8 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa compositor: marco v: 1.24.0 
           resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz 
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 530 (SKL GT2) v: 4.6 Mesa 20.0.8 direct render: Yes 
Audio:     Device-1: Intel 100 Series/C230 Series Family HD Audio vendor: Dell driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1f.3 
           chip ID: 8086:a170 
           Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-58-generic 
Network:   Device-1: Intel Ethernet I219-LM vendor: Dell driver: e1000e v: 3.2.6-k port: f040 bus ID: 00:1f.6 
           chip ID: 8086:15b7 
           IF: enp0s31f6 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter> 
Drives:    Local Storage: total: 3.87 TiB used: 137.9 MiB (0.0%) 
           ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 model: M Series NVMe SSD 256G size: 238.47 GiB speed: 31.6 Gb/s lanes: 4 serial: <filter> 
           rev: V1.0 scheme: MBR 
           ID-2: /dev/sda vendor: Western Digital model: WD2004FBYZ size: 1.82 TiB speed: 6.0 Gb/s rotation: 7200 rpm 
           serial: <filter> rev: D3N3 temp: 26 C scheme: MBR 
           ID-3: /dev/sdb vendor: Western Digital model: WD2004FBYZ size: 1.82 TiB speed: 6.0 Gb/s rotation: 7200 rpm 
           serial: <filter> rev: D3N3 temp: 25 C scheme: MBR 
Partition: ID-1: / size: 15.63 GiB used: 137.9 MiB (0.9%) fs: overlay source: ERR-102 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 35.0 C mobo: 26.0 C 
           Fan Speeds (RPM): cpu: 952 mobo: 1122 
Repos:     Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list 
           1: deb cdrom:[Linux Mint 20.1 _Ulyssa_ - Release amd64 20210103]/ focal contrib main
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list 
           1: deb http://packages.linuxmint.com ulyssa main upstream import backport #id:linuxmint_main
           2: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal main restricted universe multiverse
           3: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted universe multiverse
           4: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse
           5: deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-security main restricted universe multiverse
           6: deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ focal partner
Info:      Processes: 209 Uptime: 6m Memory: 31.26 GiB used: 994.8 MiB (3.1%) Init: systemd v: 245 runlevel: 5 Compilers: 
           gcc: 9.3.0 alt: 9 Shell: bash v: 5.0.17 running in: mate-terminal inxi: 3.0.38 
mint@mint:~$ 
Keith.A
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Re: Unable to install 20.1 or format ext4 on DELL Workstation

Post by Keith.A »

This obviously doesn't ring any bells......so after some thought

I've recently retired from the computer industry and not much experience with uefi, but the error:-

"The efi file system creation partition #1 of scsi 1 (0,0,0)(sda) failed"

If I'm in legacy mode should I see that?

Does Mint 20.1 require UEFI boot?

I'm sure that my DELL Workstation is in Legacy Mode. 19.3 installs and boots no problems. I have Secure Boot Disabled.

Any thoughts? Thanks. Keith.
Qurcus
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Re: Unable to install 20.1 or format ext4 on DELL Workstation

Post by Qurcus »

Have you tried to install it from a usb drive rather than a DVD ?

I did have one computer that i had to change UEFI settings to Legacy in more than one place in the BIOS. I could not install from USB until i switched it in both places but i don't remember if it was a Dell or HP computer. I had to examine the BIOS carefully to find both places to switch. I believe i had the same message to turn off UEFI.
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AndyMH
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Re: Unable to install 20.1 or format ext4 on DELL Workstation

Post by AndyMH »

Check in BIOS that sata mode is set ahci.
No, LM20 does not require UEFI, I'm booting legacy (cos I think it's simpler).
Thinkcentre M720Q - LM21.3 cinnamon, 4 x T430 - LM21.3 cinnamon, Homebrew desktop i5-8400+GTX1080 Cinnamon 19.0
Keith.A
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Re: Unable to install 20.1 or format ext4 on DELL Workstation

Post by Keith.A »

Thanks for the thoughts guys.

Check in BIOS that sata mode is set ahci......... Yes it is.

Have you tried to install it from a usb drive rather than a DVD ? ....... Have to admit that I haven't tried that but,

Booting the live 19.3 DVD and installing that went like clockwork. No errors creating the partitions or installing Mint.

Think I'll stick with 19.3 for now, was using it on my previous set up and printer, scanner video calling etc all work fine. By the time that it becomes unsupported 21 will be out.
Reddog1
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Re: Unable to install 20.1 or format ext4 on DELL Workstation

Post by Reddog1 »

By the time 19 is out of support, maybe the bugs in the 2X.x series will be worked out. There appears to be quite a few of them (especially with laptops) judging by the activity on this forum. There are a number of questions regarding installation of 20 on NVME drives. I have none of those so I'm no help, other than to suggest the 'search' function.
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AndyMH
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Re: Unable to install 20.1 or format ext4 on DELL Workstation

Post by AndyMH »

Keith.A wrote: Fri May 14, 2021 11:16 am Booting the live 19.3 DVD and installing that went like clockwork. No errors creating the partitions or installing Mint.
Welcome to the club! My desktop will not boot a linux usb stick with BIOS set UEFI (and it won't boot from the M.2 pcie nvme drive unless the BIOS is set UEFI). The only way I was able to install mint was boot from DVD. :(
Thinkcentre M720Q - LM21.3 cinnamon, 4 x T430 - LM21.3 cinnamon, Homebrew desktop i5-8400+GTX1080 Cinnamon 19.0
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