Unable to boot from USB

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FanOfLinux
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Unable to boot from USB

Post by FanOfLinux »

First time I burned LM Cinnamoninto the USB, I was able to boot it from USB.
But when I burn another LM version on it, I can no longer boot the same USB.

However, the Grub menu did showed up at boot time, and
this time, I then selected to "Check integrity of the medium"

I get messages like these:

Code: Select all

./isolinux/en.tr: Nosuch file or directory
... ... (dot dot dot  is to indicate the process is continuing)
./isolinux/mg.tr: Nosuch file or directory
...
./isolinux/miq.tr: Nosuch file or directory

...  (at here, it is still doing checking....)
What does these messages mean?

On the boot USB, I notice there are two partitions
created by USB Image Writer (default n LM) software.
Why two partitions?
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.
"Bad company corrupts good character." - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menander
Dual boot : Linux Mint Edge 20.1 Cinnamon, Win 11
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spamegg
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Re: Unable to boot from USB

Post by spamegg »

First you should verify the ISO you burned. https://linuxmint.com/verify.php
Then format the USB stick completely clean, and burn the image to the USB again, and check integrity once again.
bodge99

Re: Unable to boot from USB

Post by bodge99 »

Hi,

The flashdrive problem that you are describing seems to occur occasionally as a result of an interaction between some flashdrive tools and the controller electronics that is built into the flashdrive.

Please note that I'm **not** saying that there is a problem with either the flashdrive formatting tool and/or Iso image writing tool that you are using.
Equally, I'm not saying that you are using a poor quality flashdrive.

Each is performing the task they were designed to do. This is important to understand. I have seen this particular problem with many tools (on both Windows & Linux) and with various flashdrive makes.

The flashdrive electronics are designed to handle a simple filesystem that handles an "uncomplicated" set of files.. e.g your 20,000 picture set of cat photos.

The technique of creating a Live Mint flashdrive has been developed to allow anyone to easily create a bootable Live operating system on a flashdrive using basic tools that are available for any operating system. This generally works remarkably well.

I think that it is fair to state that this method is approaching the limits of what a typical flashdrive is designed to handle.

O.K. then.. But what can I do about my particular problem...

The easy solution here is to use a more powerful tool that will return the flashdrive to its original state.
For those folk that only have access to a Windows machine: Google freeware drive formatting tools.. Something that is not specifically aimed for use with a flashdrive. Use this to create a new partition table (type: msdos) and then format the flashdrive as fat32.

Linux users can use Gparted for this task.

If any new users require specific instructions on how to do this, then please ask a question here.

Bodge99
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Re: Unable to boot from USB

Post by FanOfLinux »

HI:

I spent quite a lot of time trouble shooting the burning of Linux Mint Cinnamon (LMC) ISO on USBs and
trying to boot them. I used both LMC Standard and Edge 20.1 edition.
I did all the integrity and authentication checking for each ISO also.

Here is my machine I want to setup dual boot along with WIn 10:

Code: Select all

ASUS ROG GA502IV Zephyrus R7 RTX 2060 16GB/512GB Gaming Laptop; 
15.6" 144Hz FHD Display, AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS, 16GB DDR4, 
512GB PCIe NVMe SSD, 
Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Max Q, 
Win 10 Home, GA502IV-WS74
Two USBs were used, a new Verbatim 3.0 USB 64GB, and an older USB 2.0 8GB.
The USB 2.0 8GB has been very reliable over many years!

I burned the ISOs onto the two USBs using an older Hewlett-Packard (HP) DV7 laptop,
and the new ASUS ROG GA502IV Zephyrus laptop.

Formatted both USBs as msdos with FAT32 using USB Stick Formatter.

a) Experiments on LMC (Linux Mint Cinnamon) Standard 20.1:
a.1) Burn LMC Standard using HP DV7 with no error using USB Image Writer.
a.2) Burn LMC Standard using Asus laptop with no error using USB Image Writer.
I did a.1) and a.2) to make sure the Asus was not the problem.
The HP DV7 laptop has been very reliable.
This means I burned the USBs twice for each USB for LMC Standard 20.1,
and try to boot ISO USBs on the new ASUS laptop.


a.3) Observations for both USB were the same when booting off the above two USBc
under these 4 scenarios:
a.3.1) Boot LMC Standard that was burned using HP DV7 laptop on Verbatim 3.0 USB 64GB,
a.3.2) Boot LMC Standard that was burned using HP DV7 laptop on on older USB 2.0 8GB
a.3.3) Boot LMC Standard that was burned using ASUS laptop on Verbatim 3.0 USB 64GB,
a.3.4) Boot LMC Standard that was burned using ASUS laptop on on older USB 2.0 8GB

a.3.4) Console output during USB LMC ISO boot

Code: Select all

[b]Initramfs unpacking failed:  Decoding failed[/b]
… 
... 
[b]… nouveau …. SCHED_ERROR [/b]
...
...
…   [b][u]( a lot of nouveau related errors here )[/u][/b]
…
[b]… nouveau …. SCHED_ERROR [/b]
...

(Then MANY other error messages….
Eventually the console error outputs stopped. 
And console went into [b]freeze[/b] mode!)

Conclusion:
The ASUS laptop does not play with LMC 20.1 standard.
May be some hardware is "too new" for my case.

=======================================
B) Experiments on LMC Edge 20.1:
b.1) Burn LMC Edge using HP DV7 with no error using USB Image Writer.
b.2) Burn LMC Edge using Asus laptop with no error using USB Image Writer.
Again:
I did b.1) and b.2) to make sure the Asus laptop was not the problem.
The HP DV7 laptop has been very reliable.
This means I burned the USBs twice for each USB for
LMC Edge 20.1, and try to boot them on the new ASUS laptop.


b.3) Observations for both USB were the same when booting off the above two USBc
under these 4 scenarios:
b.3.1) Boot LMC Edge that was burned using HP DV7 laptop on Verbatim 3.0 USB 64GB,
b.3.2) Boot LMC Edge that was burned using HP DV7 laptop on on older USB 2.0 8GB
b.3.3) Boot LMC Edge that was burned using ASUS laptop on Verbatim 3.0 USB 64GB,
b.3.4) Boot LMC Edge that was burned using ASUS laptop on on older USB 2.0 8GB

b.3.4) Console output during USB LMC boot

Code: Select all

[b]Initramfs unpacking failed:  Decoding failed[/b]
…..
[b](The graphical LM logo shows up.
I think I waited for a long time, [u][i]may be several minutes[/i][/u], before it 
completed loading up LMC Edge from USB)[/b]
.

I am surprise that it booted up when initramfs failed to unpack for LMC Edge 20.1 on USB boot!
======================

Comments:
It seems initramfs cannot be unpacked for both LMC Standard and Edge 20.1
I never have this initramfs problem before.

May be Clem and other LM developers can look into this.
I hope this report helps.
"Bad company corrupts good character." - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menander
Dual boot : Linux Mint Edge 20.1 Cinnamon, Win 11
bodge99

Re: Unable to boot from USB

Post by bodge99 »

Hi,

The 'initrd' unpack fail is due to a bug with the handling of the Initrd at boot time. See viewtopic.php?f=42&t=348419

The Initrd format used in Mint consists of a compressed microcode archive that precedes the "real" initrd. i.e. the first section of the binary file.

The compression used here is 'lz4'.
On kernel start, what appears to be a poorly designed decompression routine (for the initial initrd unpack) fails. This causes the error message.
See the link for the subsequent fix (Change the initrd compression from 'lz4' to 'gzip'.).

I have a laptop here that won't boot a standard Live flashdrive (lockup at the initrd unpack stage,). This appears to be an interaction between the Bios and undefined memory at unpack time. A "corrected" Live flashdrive gives a perfect boot.
I've reported it.. it has been "passed up the chain".
The interesting thing is that Ubuntu Focal has had 3 Iso releases. This bug was fixed "ages ago" there.

BTW, I don't mess much with flashdrives unless I'm working on Iso mods etc. that others might want to use.
It's much faster and certainly more reliable to boot the Iso **contents** from an external hard drive/SSD.
You can also use the technique on a fat32 flashdrive ('boot' & 'esp' flags set) that has been prepared with Gparted.
The advantage here is that you can add extras e.g. add 32-bit UEFI support with a one line command (the same is required for Legacy boot anyway).
No more "writing Iso's"..

Just ask here if you would like more info.

Nearly forgot: I'm going to change the above linked tutorial.. I need to change the kernel version to an earlier one (header file dependency problem) and add 32-bit UEFI support to the Live environment. This will give the installed system full booting ability on anything..
See viewtopic.php?f=46&t=348777 for what I'm working on now.. ( a little way down in the thread.)

Bodge99
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ricardogroetaers
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Re: Unable to boot from USB

Post by ricardogroetaers »

FanOfLinux wrote: Fri May 14, 2021 10:58 pm What does these messages mean?

On the boot USB, I notice there are two partitions
created by USB Image Writer (default n LM) software.
Why two partitions?
The messages mean that the files and directories cited do not exist or have not been found.
Stamping the contents of the iso file on the flash media may not have been done correctly or the iso file is defective.
Check the integrity of the iso file as instructed on the Linux Mint website.

The iso 9660 file system partition is active (bootable). It is to boot BIOS machines.
The EFI partition with the fat file system is for booting UEFI machines.
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FanOfLinux
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Re: Unable to boot from USB

Post by FanOfLinux »

HI bodge99:

Thanks for the details.
Q1) Since I was able to boot LMC (Linux Mint Cinnamon) Edge 20.1, despite the
failed unpacking of initramfs error, do you think there is any potential issue with installing
LMC Edge 20.1 on to the laptop?
I did not want the dual boot install to fail mid-way in the process!


Q2) While LMC Standard 20.1 has same the failed unpacking of initramfs error as LMC Edge 20.1, what causes the rest of the errors of these types:

Code: Select all

… nouveau …. SCHED_ERROR 
It is graphics related.
It seems LMC Standard 20.1 is totally incompatible with my ASUS laptop.
No?
Iis there a workaround?
"Bad company corrupts good character." - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menander
Dual boot : Linux Mint Edge 20.1 Cinnamon, Win 11
Etienne9
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Re: Unable to boot from USB

Post by Etienne9 »

Have you disabled secure boot in bios ? If not please try
bodge99

Re: Unable to boot from USB

Post by bodge99 »

Hi,

The edge Iso is identical, apart from the kernel & initrd, the modules and some possibly some firmware..

You'll see the kernel unpack error with all Mint 20.1 Iso's.

If your boot survives this, (most hardware does) then you're fine. If this is going to be a problem, you'll get a stalled boot.

After install, (before updating) edit the '/etc/initramfs-tools/initramfs.conf' file (as Root)
Change line 53 from "COMPRESS=lz4' to "COMPRESS=gzip". Save & exit your editor. Now update. This will bring in a newer kernel which forces an 'initrd' rebuild.

Nouveau/Nvidia problems are best looked at post install if possible.. See if the "Driver Manager" detects anything.. If it does, let it handle the drivers for you.
Exactly what else you might need to do depends on exactly where your GPU is (hardware wise) If it's "built in" to the CPU (A SOC, system on a chip package) then you probably just need minimal driver support (the kernel handles most of this). It depends on exactly what hardware you have and how it is implemented at board level. Just don't try following 2 year old posts on how to install any Nvidia driver.. Things change rapidly here.

Bodge99
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Re: Unable to boot from USB

Post by FanOfLinux »

Thank Bodge99:
After install, (before updating) edit the '/etc/initramfs-tools/initramfs.conf' file (as Root)
Change line 53 from "COMPRESS=lz4' to "COMPRESS=gzip". Save & exit your editor. Now update. This will bring in a newer kernel which forces an 'initrd' rebuild.
What are the side effects if we leave this bug alone?
"Bad company corrupts good character." - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menander
Dual boot : Linux Mint Edge 20.1 Cinnamon, Win 11
FanOfLinux
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Re: Unable to boot from USB

Post by FanOfLinux »

I did the changes, and update.
Including updating the NVidia drivers.

Now I notice the air out of laptop is much warmer than before the update.
With only Firefox, Nemo, and terminal running.
Firefox has gmail, google calendar, and mint forum tabs.


Before updates I did the change from "COMPRESS=lz4' to "COMPRESS=gzip" change
for '/etc/initramfs-tools/initramfs.conf' file,
And I purposely ran Firefox with 30 or so tabs of various websites.
It produced barely any heat at the fan outlets.
... ... ...
I figured out that the GPU is being used instead of the AMD Renoir graphics chip.
Notice the applications (bottom 4 rows) using the GPU in nvidia-smi command outputs below, which explains the warmer air flow in laptop after the upgrades.

Code: Select all

~$ nvidia-smi 
Mon May 17 16:50:37 2021       
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| NVIDIA-SMI 460.73.01    Driver Version: 460.73.01    CUDA Version: 11.2     |
|-------------------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
| GPU  Name        Persistence-M| Bus-Id        Disp.A | Volatile Uncorr. ECC |
| Fan  Temp  Perf  Pwr:Usage/Cap|         Memory-Usage | GPU-Util  Compute M. |
|                               |                      |               MIG M. |
|===============================+======================+======================|
|   0  GeForce RTX 206...  Off  | 00000000:01:00.0 Off |                  N/A |
| N/A   50C    P0    27W /  N/A |    262MiB /  5934MiB |     30%      Default |
|                               |                      |                  N/A |
+-------------------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
                                                                               
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Processes:                                                                  |
|  GPU   GI   CI        PID   Type   Process name                  GPU Memory |
|        ID   ID                                                   Usage      |
|=============================================================================|
|    0   N/A  N/A       997      G   /usr/lib/xorg/Xorg                198MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A      1590      G   cinnamon                           57MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A      2323      G   /usr/lib/firefox/firefox            1MiB |
|    0   N/A  N/A      2409      G   /usr/lib/firefox/firefox            1MiB |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

I do not want to use GPU for normal uses like web browsing.
How do I disable GPU temporarily, and revert to the AMD Renoir graphics chip?

This capability would make it more environmentally friendlier!

Thanks for all the help from everybody!

Addendum:

I just saw this, "Disabling NVIDIA card on hybrid graphics laptop",
https://askubuntu.com/questions/741677/ ... ics-laptop
"Bad company corrupts good character." - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menander
Dual boot : Linux Mint Edge 20.1 Cinnamon, Win 11
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