[SOLVED] Linux mInt Cinnamon boots to a screen saying "Press Enter to continue (or press ctrl-D)"

Quick to answer questions about finding your way around Linux Mint as a new user.
Forum rules
There are no such things as "stupid" questions. However if you think your question is a bit stupid, then this is the right place for you to post it. Stick to easy to-the-point questions that you feel people can answer fast. For long and complicated questions use the other forums in the support section.
Before you post read how to get help. Topics in this forum are automatically closed 6 months after creation.
Locked
ruinedcentipede
Level 1
Level 1
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2021 2:58 am

[SOLVED] Linux mInt Cinnamon boots to a screen saying "Press Enter to continue (or press ctrl-D)"

Post by ruinedcentipede »

VERY NEW Linux user here.
I installed Linux Mint Cinnamon on an external HDD and dual-booted it alongside WIndows 10.
It was working fine for a few days, but now, on startup, a screen saying
"Press Enter to continue (or press ctrl-D)"
shows up
Pressing ctrl-D just loops back into the same message, which is
"Press Enter to continue (or press ctrl-D)"

However, pressing ENTER takes me to the root command line (I'm sorry I don't know what it's called)
I tried checking fstab, but I didn't see anything unnecessary there.
My system boots in, but only after I type in "mount -a" after it takes me to the #root command line after pressing ENTER.
I have to do that every single time I boot, and it's extremely annoying.
Please help me out.
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
User avatar
SMG
Level 25
Level 25
Posts: 31047
Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2020 6:15 pm
Location: USA

Re: Linux mInt Cinnamon boots to a screen saying "Press Enter to continue (or press ctrl-D)"

Post by SMG »

Can you think of anything which might have changed between when it working and when it stopped? (Were there any Windows updates, for example?)

Please give us information about your install by entering this command in a terminal: inxi -Fxxxrz
Click </> from the mini toolbar above the textbox where you type your reply and then place your cursor between the code markers and paste the results of the command between the code markers [code]Results[/code]. This will let us know how Mint sees your hardware.
Image
A woman typing on a laptop with LM20.3 Cinnamon.
ruinedcentipede
Level 1
Level 1
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2021 2:58 am

Re: Linux mInt Cinnamon boots to a screen saying "Press Enter to continue (or press ctrl-D)"

Post by ruinedcentipede »

Hey. here's what it shows when I type

Code: Select all

inxi -Fxxxrz

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 5.4.0-58-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0 
  Desktop: Cinnamon 4.8.5 info: plank wm: muffin 4.8.0 dm: LightDM 1.30.0 
  Distro: Linux Mint 20.1 Ulyssa base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: ASUSTeK product: GL502VMZ v: 1.0 serial: <filter> 
  Mobo: ASUSTeK model: GL502VMZ v: 1.0 serial: <filter> 
  UEFI: American Megatrends v: GL502VMZ.301 date: 03/29/2017 
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 49.9 Wh condition: 51.6/64.4 Wh (80%) volts: 15.2/15.2 
  model: ASUSTeK ASUS Battery type: Li-ion serial: <filter> 
  status: Not charging cycles: 642 
CPU:
  Topology: Quad Core model: Intel Core i7-7700HQ bits: 64 type: MT MCP 
  arch: Kaby Lake rev: 9 L2 cache: 6144 KiB 
  flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx 
  bogomips: 44798 
  Speed: 3502 MHz min/max: 800/3800 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 2866 2: 2605 
  3: 2863 4: 2800 5: 2833 6: 2862 7: 2663 8: 2397 
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA GP106M [GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile] vendor: ASUSTeK 
  driver: nouveau v: kernel bus ID: 01:00.0 chip ID: 10de:1c20 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.8 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa 
  resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: NV136 v: 4.3 Mesa 20.0.8 direct render: Yes 
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel CM238 HD Audio vendor: ASUSTeK driver: snd_hda_intel 
  v: kernel bus ID: 00:1f.3 chip ID: 8086:a171 
  Device-2: NVIDIA GP106 High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel 
  v: kernel bus ID: 01:00.1 chip ID: 10de:10f1 
  Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-58-generic 
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Wireless 8260 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel port: e000 
  bus ID: 03:00.0 chip ID: 8086:24f3 
  IF: wlp3s0 state: up mac: <filter> 
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet 
  vendor: ASUSTeK driver: r8169 v: kernel port: d000 bus ID: 04:00.0 
  chip ID: 10ec:8168 
  IF: enp4s0 state: down mac: <filter> 
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 1.94 TiB used: 38.70 GiB (2.0%) 
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: SanDisk model: SD8SNAT128G1002 size: 119.24 GiB 
  speed: 6.0 Gb/s serial: <filter> rev: 7002 scheme: GPT 
  ID-2: /dev/sdb vendor: Toshiba model: MQ01ABD100 size: 931.51 GiB 
  speed: 6.0 Gb/s rotation: 5400 rpm serial: <filter> rev: 5J scheme: GPT 
  ID-3: /dev/sdc type: USB vendor: Lenovo model: USB Hard Drive 
  size: 931.51 GiB serial: <filter> rev: 0A scheme: MBR 
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 457.33 GiB used: 13.27 GiB (2.9%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/dm-1 
  ID-2: /boot size: 7.63 GiB used: 140.9 MiB (1.8%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdc2 
  ID-3: /home size: 445.02 GiB used: 25.25 GiB (5.7%) fs: ext4 
  dev: /dev/dm-3 
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 63.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: nouveau temp: 67 C 
  Fan Speeds (RPM): cpu: 4500 
Repos:
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list 
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list 
  1: deb http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list 
  1: deb [arch=amd64] http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/maarten-fonville-android-studio-focal.list 
  1: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/maarten-fonville/android-studio/ubuntu focal 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
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscode.list 
  1: deb [arch=amd64,arm64,armhf] http://packages.microsoft.com/repos/code stable main
Info:
  Processes: 322 Uptime: 9h 06m Memory: 15.59 GiB used: 2.08 GiB (13.3%) 
  Init: systemd v: 245 runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 9.3.0 alt: 8/9 
  Shell: bash v: 5.0.17 running in: gnome-terminal inxi: 3.0.38 
Edit 1: And no, I don't think anything odd happened which could have led to this error. No Windows updates either. I have also disabled fast boot from the Windows settings

Edit 2: I tried the same command in the emergency mode before I type "mount -a" to boot my computer.
Here's what it shows:

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 5.4.0-58-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0 
  Desktop: Cinnamon 4.8.5 info: plank wm: muffin 4.8.0 dm: LightDM 1.30.0 
  Distro: Linux Mint 20.1 Ulyssa base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: ASUSTeK product: GL502VMZ v: 1.0 serial: <filter> 
  Mobo: ASUSTeK model: GL502VMZ v: 1.0 serial: <filter> 
  UEFI: American Megatrends v: GL502VMZ.301 date: 03/29/2017 
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 49.9 Wh condition: 51.6/64.4 Wh (80%) volts: 15.2/15.2 
  model: ASUSTeK ASUS Battery type: Li-ion serial: <filter> 
  status: Not charging cycles: 642 
CPU:
  Topology: Quad Core model: Intel Core i7-7700HQ bits: 64 type: MT MCP 
  arch: Kaby Lake rev: 9 L2 cache: 6144 KiB 
  flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx 
  bogomips: 44798 
  Speed: 3502 MHz min/max: 800/3800 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 2866 2: 2605 
  3: 2863 4: 2800 5: 2833 6: 2862 7: 2663 8: 2397 
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA GP106M [GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile] vendor: ASUSTeK 
  driver: nouveau v: kernel bus ID: 01:00.0 chip ID: 10de:1c20 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.8 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa 
  resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: NV136 v: 4.3 Mesa 20.0.8 direct render: Yes 
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel CM238 HD Audio vendor: ASUSTeK driver: snd_hda_intel 
  v: kernel bus ID: 00:1f.3 chip ID: 8086:a171 
  Device-2: NVIDIA GP106 High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel 
  v: kernel bus ID: 01:00.1 chip ID: 10de:10f1 
  Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-58-generic 
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Wireless 8260 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel port: e000 
  bus ID: 03:00.0 chip ID: 8086:24f3 
  IF: wlp3s0 state: up mac: <filter> 
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet 
  vendor: ASUSTeK driver: r8169 v: kernel port: d000 bus ID: 04:00.0 
  chip ID: 10ec:8168 
  IF: enp4s0 state: down mac: <filter> 
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 1.94 TiB used: 38.70 GiB (2.0%) 
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: SanDisk model: SD8SNAT128G1002 size: 119.24 GiB 
  speed: 6.0 Gb/s serial: <filter> rev: 7002 scheme: GPT 
  ID-2: /dev/sdb vendor: Toshiba model: MQ01ABD100 size: 931.51 GiB 
  speed: 6.0 Gb/s rotation: 5400 rpm serial: <filter> rev: 5J scheme: GPT 
  ID-3: /dev/sdc type: USB vendor: Lenovo model: USB Hard Drive 
  size: 931.51 GiB serial: <filter> rev: 0A scheme: MBR 
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 457.33 GiB used: 13.27 GiB (2.9%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/dm-1 
  ID-2: /boot size: 7.63 GiB used: 140.9 MiB (1.8%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdc2 
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 63.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: nouveau temp: 67 C 
  Fan Speeds (RPM): cpu: 4500 
Repos:
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list 
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/additional-repositories.list 
  1: deb http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list 
  1: deb [arch=amd64] http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/maarten-fonville-android-studio-focal.list 
  1: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/maarten-fonville/android-studio/ubuntu focal 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
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscode.list 
  1: deb [arch=amd64,arm64,armhf] http://packages.microsoft.com/repos/code stable main
Info:
  Processes: 322 Uptime: 9h 06m Memory: 15.59 GiB used: 2.08 GiB (13.3%) 
  Init: systemd v: 245 runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 9.3.0 alt: 8/9 
  Shell: bash v: 5.0.17 running in: gnome-terminal inxi: 3.0.38 

Upon examining, I found out that it does not show "ID-3" under "Partition" (which is the /home directory) during the emergency mode.

I'm guessing it's something related to /home but I'm not sure how to proceed now. Thanks for replying.
User avatar
SMG
Level 25
Level 25
Posts: 31047
Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2020 6:15 pm
Location: USA

Re: Linux mInt Cinnamon boots to a screen saying "Press Enter to continue (or press ctrl-D)"

Post by SMG »

When the LM20.1 ISO was created, all the files were frozen at the time it was created. That means after installing it, you would need to run the updates available in Update Manager. The data you posted indicates you have not run updates. Cinnamon, muffin, the kernel, XOrg, mesa and many others have been updated since the ISO was released. I recommend you run the updates.

Your info appears to indicate your system is set up UEFI and not Legacy BIOS mode. Normally, Win10 is set up EFI mode, so that is expected. However, when using EFI, one normally uses GPT for the disk. I presume that is the case for your Win10 install, but it seems your Mint install is MBR instead of GPT. Both should really be set up the same, however, I do not know if that may be a factor in this issue.

Machine:
Type: Laptop System: ASUSTeK product: GL502VMZ v: 1.0 serial: <filter>
Mobo: ASUSTeK model: GL502VMZ v: 1.0 serial: <filter>
UEFI: American Megatrends v: GL502VMZ.301 date: 03/29/2017
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 1.94 TiB used: 38.70 GiB (2.0%)
ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: SanDisk model: SD8SNAT128G1002 size: 119.24 GiB
speed: 6.0 Gb/s serial: <filter> rev: 7002 scheme: GPT
ID-2: /dev/sdb vendor: Toshiba model: MQ01ABD100 size: 931.51 GiB
speed: 6.0 Gb/s rotation: 5400 rpm serial: <filter> rev: 5J scheme: GPT
ID-3: /dev/sdc type: USB vendor: Lenovo model: USB Hard Drive
size: 931.51 GiB serial: <filter> rev: 0A scheme: MBR
Partition:
ID-1: / size: 457.33 GiB used: 13.27 GiB (2.9%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/dm-1
ID-2: /boot size: 7.63 GiB used: 140.9 MiB (1.8%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdc2
ID-3: /home size: 445.02 GiB used: 25.25 GiB (5.7%) fs: ext4
dev: /dev/dm-3
ruinedcentipede wrote: Sat Jun 19, 2021 1:43 pmUpon examining, I found out that it does not show "ID-3" under "Partition" (which is the /home directory) during the emergency mode.

I'm guessing it's something related to /home but I'm not sure how to proceed now. Thanks for replying.
I do not have experience with logical volume management (how you have set up your root and home partitions) but normally, partition information in blkid and cat /etc/fstab should match. Given your /home is not automatically mounting, I suspect something may not match between those two commands.
Image
A woman typing on a laptop with LM20.3 Cinnamon.
ruinedcentipede
Level 1
Level 1
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2021 2:58 am

Re: Linux mInt Cinnamon boots to a screen saying "Press Enter to continue (or press ctrl-D)"

Post by ruinedcentipede »

So I just found a way out, I think.
Since home wasn't getting mounted, and it was a fairly new issue, I rebooted my system, and when it booted into emergency mode, I typed:

Code: Select all

fsck -y /dev/dm-d3
(/dev/dm-3 is the /home partition that wasn't getting mounted)

This ran some repair process on the /home partition and the problem does not seem occur anymore.
I rebooted my computer a few times just to make sure, and to my relief, it booted directly in without taking me to the emergency mode.
However, when using EFI, one normally uses GPT for the disk. I presume that is the case for your Win10 install, but it seems your Mint install is MBR instead of GPT. Both should really be set up the same, however, I do not know if that may be a factor in this issue.
I still think that the my disk being MBR and not GPT could lead to problems in the future, though (especially from Windows' end). So I think the first thing I'll do is convert my disk to GPT.

But for now, the issue that I was experiencing seems to be resolved.
Thank you so much for helping me out.
User avatar
SMG
Level 25
Level 25
Posts: 31047
Joined: Sun Jul 26, 2020 6:15 pm
Location: USA

Re: Linux mInt Cinnamon boots to a screen saying "Press Enter to continue (or press ctrl-D)"

Post by SMG »

ruinedcentipede wrote: Sat Jun 19, 2021 4:06 pmBut for now, the issue that I was experiencing seems to be resolved.
Thank you so much for helping me out.
Glad to hear it is working. Please go to your first post in this thread, click the pencil icon, and add [SOLVED] to the beginning of the title so others know you no longer need help on this issue.
Image
A woman typing on a laptop with LM20.3 Cinnamon.
ruinedcentipede
Level 1
Level 1
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2021 2:58 am

Re: [SOLVED] Linux mInt Cinnamon boots to a screen saying "Press Enter to continue (or press ctrl-D)"

Post by ruinedcentipede »

Done!
Thank you once again :)
Locked

Return to “Beginner Questions”