Invisible Installation [SOLVED]

[Walltumbler]

I just installed a copy of mint 18.1 onto my laptop's SSD along side windows 10. I had to re partition my solid state drive using the Mint installation, and I gave the mint partition 75 Gb. The installation preceded normally and everything seemed set.

However when I boot from the SSD it goes strait to windows. According to Windows Computer Management the 75 gb partition never got set up. When I boot to Linux form a USB the 75 gb partition does indeed show! I have no idea what is going on.

Any ideas?

Thanks for the help,
- Josh

[gold_finger]

Windows doesn't recognize Linux file systems -- that's why it doesn't see Mint.

However when I boot from the SSD it goes strait to windows.

There are a few possible reasons for this. Best thing to do is boot computer with the Mint USB/DVD that you used for install, open a terminal (Menu -> Accessories -> Terminal) and enter the following commands one-at-a-time:

Code: Select all

ls /sys/firmware
sudo blkid -c /dev/null
sudo parted --list

Follow directions shown here to copy/paste the full output of those commands back here for us to see. From output we'll be able to tell what boot mode your install USB/DVD is/was using, what boot mode Windows was installed in, and the current partition setup on the drive(s). With that info we'll probably be able to tell what problem is and recommend a solution.

P.s.
Let us know exact make/model of computer also. Or you can add output of following command which will give us that info:

Code: Select all

inxi -b

P.s.s.
Don't panic. This is a fairly common problem on newer computers due to most people's lack of experience dealing with UEFI firmware on the machines, but it's usually not hard to fix.

[michael louwe]

@ Walltumbler

Try Steps 17 & 18 at .......
https://www.tecmint.com/install-linux-m ... uefi-mode/

[Walltumbler]

Hey, Thanks for all your help!

This was the output of the commands:

Code: Select all

mint@mint ~ $ ls /sys/firmware
acpi  dmi  efi  memmap
mint@mint ~ $ sudo blkid -c /dev/null
/dev/loop0: TYPE="squashfs"
/dev/sda1: LABEL="ESP" UUID="9ABB-772D" TYPE="vfat" PARTLABEL="EFI system partition" PARTUUID="6371fe78-2cac-4817-9870-0d0dd9f7fb93"
/dev/sda2: PARTLABEL="Microsoft reserved partition" PARTUUID="0886985d-fd4b-48d9-a720-fb2878c790c8"
/dev/sda3: LABEL="Acer" UUID="3ABCC4A5BCC45D4F" TYPE="ntfs" PARTLABEL="Basic data partition" PARTUUID="f2b4f475-1d29-439f-9920-d9e8de391ed2"
/dev/sda4: LABEL="Recovery" UUID="C04AC59D4AC59098" TYPE="ntfs" PARTLABEL="Basic data partition" PARTUUID="e6a98153-0253-4a30-a78d-d2f3e7de93db"
/dev/sdb1: LABEL="Disk Drive" UUID="6C9AC2709AC235FC" TYPE="ntfs" PARTUUID="5b06c988-01"
/dev/sdb5: UUID="cea5e6fb-b7db-4598-9c5d-9db2eed1c88b" TYPE="ext4" PARTUUID="5b06c988-05"
/dev/sdb6: UUID="efbeb958-93f9-46a2-b037-9396ef85f8d6" TYPE="swap" PARTUUID="5b06c988-06"
/dev/sdc1: LABEL="LINUX MINT" UUID="3678-4165" TYPE="vfat" PARTUUID="0005e3b0-01"
mint@mint ~ $ sudo parted --list
Model: ATA HFS512G39TND-N21 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 512GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags: 

Warning: failed to translate partition name
Number  Start   End    Size    File system  Name                          Flags
 1      1049kB  106MB  105MB   fat32        EFI system partition          boot, esp
 2      106MB   123MB  16.8MB               Microsoft reserved partition  msftres
 3      123MB   511GB  511GB   ntfs         Basic data partition          msftdata
 4      511GB   512GB  1074MB  ntfs                                       hidden, diag


Model: ATA Hitachi HTS54505 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 500GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start   End    Size    Type      File system     Flags
 1      1049kB  425GB  425GB   primary   ntfs
 2      425GB   500GB  75.5GB  extended
 5      425GB   483GB  58.5GB  logical   ext4
 6      483GB   500GB  17.1GB  logical   linux-swap(v1)


Model: CENTON  (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdc: 1993MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start   End     Size    Type     File system  Flags
 1      1049kB  1993MB  1992MB  primary  fat32        boot, lba

System Information:

Code: Select all

mint@mint ~ $ inxi -b
System:    Host: mint Kernel: 4.4.0-53-generic x86_64 (64 bit)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.2.6  Distro: Linux Mint 18.1 Serena
Machine:   System: Acer (portable) product: Aspire VN7-593G v: V1.02
           Mobo: KBL model: Pluto_KLS v: V1.02
           Bios: Insyde v: V1.02 date: 01/25/2017
CPU:       Quad core Intel Core i7-7700HQ (-HT-MCP-) speed/max: 800/2801 MHz
Graphics:  Card-1: Intel Device 591b
           Card-2: NVIDIA Device 1c20
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1920x1080@60.02hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Kabylake GT2
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 11.2.0
Network:   Card-1: Qualcomm Atheros QCA6174 802.11ac Wireless Network Adapter
           driver: ath10k_pci
           Card-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: r8169
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 1014.2GB (1.8% used)
Info:      Processes: 225 Uptime: 10 min Memory: 1042.8/15932.7MB
           Client: Shell (bash) inxi: 2.2.35

[Walltumbler]

@ Walltumbler

Try Steps 17 & 18 at .......
https://www.tecmint.com/install-linux-m ... uefi-mode/

Hey, thanks for the input.
I did load up my computers BIOS and Boot loader. I have played around with all the relevant settings. The only option it gives me to boot to is Windows Boot Manager, which boots directly to windows.

Thanks
- Josh

[michael louwe]

@ Josh

Confirm your computer has 2 internal drives/disks, a 512GB SSD and a 500GB HDD.? If so, dual-booting Win 10 and LM 18.1 on 2 internal drives requires special or non-normal procedures.

Seems the problem also lies with Linux Mint 18.1 being installed in ms-dos/MBR/Legacy mode while Win 10 was preinstalled in UEFI/GPT mode.

[Walltumbler]

@ michael louwe

I do indeed have two internal drives. One SSD for the OS and engineering software I use, and a normal disk drive for backups. However Mint and Windows are both installed on my primary SSD drive.

- Josh

[michael louwe]

@ Josh

Gotta go. gold_finger or others can take it from here, ie to guide you. Or you can try googling/searching this forum.

[Pjotr]

Is this of any help:
https://sites.google.com/site/easylinux ... rity-order
(item 2.2, left column)

[Walltumbler]

Is this of any help:
https://sites.google.com/site/easylinux ... rity-order
(item 2.2, left column)

I have secure boot disabled. HDD0 is the drive with my windows and Linux Partitions.

Boot priority order:
1. USB FDD
2. USB HDD
3. HDD0
4. HDD1
6. Windows Boot Manager
7. Network Boot

[Pjotr]

Try a re-installation ("repair") of bootloader Grub:
https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/6

[Walltumbler]

Try a re-installation ("repair") of bootloader Grub:
https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/6

I don't see any EFI partitions on the drive.

[michael louwe]

@ Walltumbler

From the output of your computer; ...
SSD = HDD0 = /sda where Win 10 was preinstalled and your engineering software was installed.
HDD = HDD1 = /sdb where your back-ups are stored.

Seems, you have "mistakenly" installed LM 18.1 on HDD1 or /sdb and in Legacy/ms-dos/MBR mode, ie not in UEFI/GPT mode. Hence, you could not boot LM 18.1 while the computer is in UEFI mode and Boot Order was set to boot first from internal HDD0 or the SSD//sda.
....... Try to boot LM 18.1 by putting the computer in Legacy/BIOS mode, ie enable CSM(= Compatibility Support Module), and setting the Boot Order to boot first from HDD1 or /sdb.

In a dual-boot, both OS should be installed in the same mode for the Linux Grub Menu to display both OS options for booting, ie either both installed in UEFI mode or both installed in Legacy/BIOS mode.

[gold_finger]

As michael louwe pointed out, Windows is installed in UEFI mode and Mint is installed in Legacy mode. This works but is cumbersome because you'll need to go into UEFI settings and change boot mode according to which ever OS you want to boot. For both OSs to be shown as a choice on bootup (without needing to go into UEFI settings) they both need to be installed in the same mode. However, as michael also pointed out, the drive Mint is currently installed to is using MBR/msdos partitions instead of GPT. For UEFI mode installs the hard drive must be using GPT partitions.

I've never read about anyone trying to convert a Legacy mode install of Mint on an MBR drive by installing necessary EFI related grub files to an EFI System Partition on a second, GPT formatted drive (while keeping the installed system on the MBR drive) -- so I don't know for sure that that won't work, but suspect it will not. It might be doable -- I just have never heard of anyone trying that.

Three main options I see are:

1. Keep things as they are -- but you'll need to change boot mode of computer depending on which OS you want to use. (Not optimal solution in my eyes.)
2. If there is room to shrink one of the Windows partitions on /dev/sda to make room for Mint install there, you could then do a proper UEFI mode install. (You could install Mint system partition -- 20-25GB root partition -- there and just use partitions on /dev/sdb for all data storage needs and swap. I don't think having data and swap partitions on an MBR disk would pose a problem. If anyone knows otherwise please chime in here.)
3. Convert the second drive (/dev/sdb) to GPT partitions, then install Mint in UEFI mode there. You've got a 425GB NTFS partition on that drive now and I'm assuming you're using that for Windows data storage. If you have the ability to copy off that data temporarily to another place (external drive or large USB stick), convert the drive to GPT, then make partition again and restore data to it, then this is the option I would recommend over the other two.

Think about these options and decide which you would like to do. We can provide more detailed instructions on option you pick if you need them.

[Walltumbler]

Ok guys I figured it out! Thank you all for your help.

I uninstalled mint from the disc drive and shrank my windows system partition using Computer Management in windows. Then I installed mint to that partition. It still would not boot up, so I went back into my Bios and had to add GRUB to the trusted boot files under the Secure Boot settings. So that's it. Everything works now.

Thanks!

- Josh

[JerryF]

I love it when a plan comes together!