Linux Mint 19.1 stops installing when it gets to Grub2 installation

[jgn2112]

I'm re-editing my initial post to supply more details. I'm hoping someone can highlight something I'm doing wrong or a variable unknown to me that needs to be addressed in my installation process.

Here's everything I can think of:

I've now attempted no less than 12 installs with no success. I've attempted to install Linux Mint 19.1 and 19 in both Cinnamon and MATE (all in 64-bit config) from multiple different mirrors.

Every single time when I get to the "Installing the 'grub2' package..." it will loop endlessly with the details stating:

"Feb 3 13:55:38 mint kernel: [ 702767603] elan_i2c i2c-ELAN0609:00: invalid report id data (ff)"



Every now and then a different line will show up in the details, like,

"Feb 3 14:03:28 mint system[1]: Started Run anacron jobs."

but given enough time, it will eventually begin spitting out the invalid report id data lines again.

The laptop I'm installing to is a Lenovo ideapad 320-15IAP (purchased new in 2018). Here are the stats:
CPU: Intel Celeron N3350 @ 1.1GHz (64-bit)
System memory: 4096 MB
Hard Disk: WDC WD10SPZX-24Z10T0 (1TB)

I disabled secure boot in the BIOS. And speaking of BIOS, it is UEFI...is there a configuration in that that I should change?

Additionally, someone on YouTube suggested I open Gparted before running the install and create a partition using the gpt format, then reboot into the USB and run the install from there. That generated some new lines during the Installing the grub2 package phase, but as before, it eventually began looping the invalid report id data.

Maybe I'm not configuring things right in Gparted? I'm not sure. I can send a screenshot if you'd like.

Speaking of gpt, I've created live USBs using both LiLi and Rufus. On I believe Rufus, one of the options is to create the live USB with gpt. I've used both that and the default options to no avail.

Thank you in advance to anyone who can help resolve this issue.

[deepakdeshp]

Please verify your ISO

https://linuxmint.com/verify.php
What's the size os the partition you are installing Mint to? More than 25GB at least?
Paste output of following command in code tags.

Code: Select all

.  inxi -Fxz  

[jgn2112]

I ran the command you asked me to run and here's what came back (edited 4 Feb 14:56EST for proper format):

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System:
  Host: mint Kernel: 4.15.0-20-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc 
  v: 7.3.0 Desktop: Cinnamon 4.0.8 Distro: Linux Mint 19.1 Tessa 
  base: Ubuntu 18.04 bionic 
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: LENOVO product: 80XR v: Lenovo ideapad 320-15IAP 
  serial: <filter> 
  Mobo: LENOVO model: LNVNB161216 v: SDK0J40700 WIN serial: <filter> 
  UEFI: LENOVO v: 5RCN30WW date: 10/23/2017 
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 29.7 Wh condition: 30.0/30.6 Wh (98%) 
  model: CPT-COS L16C2PB2 status: Unknown 
CPU:
  Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Celeron N3350 bits: 64 type: MCP 
  arch: Goldmont rev: 9 L2 cache: 1024 KiB 
  flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 4377 
  Speed: 1089 MHz min/max: 800/2400 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 975 2: 902 
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel vendor: Lenovo driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.19.6 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa 
  resolution: 1366x768~60Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 500 (Broxton 2x6) 
  v: 4.5 Mesa 18.0.5 direct render: Yes 
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Celeron N3350/Pentium N4200/Atom E3900 Series Audio Cluster vendor: Lenovo driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:0e.0 
  Sound Server: ALSA v: k4.15.0-20-generic 
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8101/2/6E PCI Express Fast/Gigabit Ethernet 
  vendor: Lenovo RTL810xE driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: 2000 
  bus ID: 02:00.0 
  IF: enp2s0 state: down mac: <filter> 
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8821AE 802.11ac PCIe Wireless Network Adapter 
  vendor: Lenovo driver: rtl8821ae v: kernel port: 1000 bus ID: 03:00.0 
  IF: wlp3s0 state: up mac: <filter> 
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 960.58 GiB used: 9.71 GiB (1.0%) 
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Western Digital model: WD10SPZX-24Z10T0 
  size: 931.51 GiB temp: 37 C 
  ID-2: /dev/sdb type: USB vendor: SanDisk model: Cruzer Glide 3.0 
  size: 29.06 GiB 
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 1.84 GiB used: 185.0 MiB (9.8%) fs: overlay source: ERR-102 
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 39.0 C mobo: N/A 
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 
Info:
  Processes: 206 Uptime: 39m Memory: 3.68 GiB used: 1.45 GiB (39.5%) 
  Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 7.3.0 Shell: bash v: 4.4.19 
  inxi: 3.0.27 

[jgn2112]

I just finished completely re-editing my initial post to include every detail I feel would be relevant to finding a solution.

Please let me know what I can do to help you discover a solution. Thank you in advance.

[Moem]

I ran the command you asked me to run and here's what came back:

That's not a correct result of inxi -Fxz. I suspect a typing error, can you cut&paste this time?

[jgn2112]

Here is the command info you requested. Incidentally, I changed the UEFI to Legacy and to boot in Legacy support first. Again, no luck. It's looping on "Invalid report data id (ff)" in the "Installing grub2 package..." portion of the install as I type this.

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System:
  Host: mint Kernel: 4.15.0-20-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc 
  v: 7.3.0 Desktop: Cinnamon 4.0.8 Distro: Linux Mint 19.1 Tessa 
  base: Ubuntu 18.04 bionic 
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: LENOVO product: 80XR v: Lenovo ideapad 320-15IAP 
  serial: <filter> 
  Mobo: LENOVO model: LNVNB161216 v: SDK0J40700 WIN serial: <filter> 
  UEFI: LENOVO v: 5RCN30WW date: 10/23/2017 
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 29.7 Wh condition: 30.0/30.6 Wh (98%) 
  model: CPT-COS L16C2PB2 status: Unknown 
CPU:
  Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Celeron N3350 bits: 64 type: MCP 
  arch: Goldmont rev: 9 L2 cache: 1024 KiB 
  flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 4377 
  Speed: 1089 MHz min/max: 800/2400 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 975 2: 902 
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel vendor: Lenovo driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.19.6 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa 
  resolution: 1366x768~60Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 500 (Broxton 2x6) 
  v: 4.5 Mesa 18.0.5 direct render: Yes 
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Celeron N3350/Pentium N4200/Atom E3900 Series Audio Cluster vendor: Lenovo driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:0e.0 
  Sound Server: ALSA v: k4.15.0-20-generic 
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8101/2/6E PCI Express Fast/Gigabit Ethernet 
  vendor: Lenovo RTL810xE driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: 2000 
  bus ID: 02:00.0 
  IF: enp2s0 state: down mac: <filter> 
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8821AE 802.11ac PCIe Wireless Network Adapter 
  vendor: Lenovo driver: rtl8821ae v: kernel port: 1000 bus ID: 03:00.0 
  IF: wlp3s0 state: up mac: <filter> 
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 960.58 GiB used: 9.71 GiB (1.0%) 
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Western Digital model: WD10SPZX-24Z10T0 
  size: 931.51 GiB temp: 37 C 
  ID-2: /dev/sdb type: USB vendor: SanDisk model: Cruzer Glide 3.0 
  size: 29.06 GiB 
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 1.84 GiB used: 185.0 MiB (9.8%) fs: overlay source: ERR-102 
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 39.0 C mobo: N/A 
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 
Info:
  Processes: 206 Uptime: 39m Memory: 3.68 GiB used: 1.45 GiB (39.5%) 
  Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 7.3.0 Shell: bash v: 4.4.19 
  inxi: 3.0.27 

[jgn2112]

Hi folks. I'm hoping someone out there has an idea of what to do. I tried installing using a different thumbdrive, (which may sound silly, but I'm at my wits end) and that didn't work...maybe a few different lines when installing the grub2 package, but right back to the neverending "...invalid report id data (ff)" string. I literally have no idea what else to do and am hoping someone can help.
Seriously...what the crap is wrong here? I don't buy for a second that the hardware I'm on is incapable of loading LM. Is that even a possibility? (if so, it's rather disappointing)
Thanks.

[MarcSharma]

I have the same issue.

- I have disabled the network, formatted a hard-drive as the following : EFI (500mb), swap (16 gb), ext4 (50gb, for /), ext4 (100gb for /home)
- I have not installed the third party software as some said that was causing the issue.
- Secure boot isn't checked up (that could cause issue for some users)
- I have checked the sha256 of the iso, it matches.

And yet, I still get the error message about Grub2 and /target/

I didn't expect to run into such a difficult issue to resolve when simply installing linux mint to a blank drive.

[jgn2112]

I'm almost glad you're having the same problem as me...at least it isn't isolated. Someone suggested it might be a hardware issue but I have serious doubts that the most popular Linux distro would be hampered by mainstream hardware compatibility (Lenovo ideapad 320...not exactly rare or some oddball third-world knockoff).

I'm hopeful someone has an idea for a solution because I really want to run Linux. And since my hd is now wiped, I'm past the point of no return anyway.

[jgn2112]

Can anyone here help or is this a dead issue?
Thank you in advance.

[JeremyB]

I would disable the touchpad and see if it works

[jgn2112]

I've tried running my Linux Mint live USB in compatibility mode, which the touchpad did not work, and still ran into the same problem.
Is that the same as what you're suggesting?

[JeremyB]

Post results for

Code: Select all

lsmod

[jgn2112]

Per your request:

Code: Select all

Module                  Size  Used by
ccm                    20480  3
hid_generic            16384  0
usbhid                 49152  0
rfcomm                 77824  16
snd_soc_skl            90112  0
bnep                   20480  2
intel_rapl             20480  0
snd_soc_skl_ipc        65536  1 snd_soc_skl
snd_hda_ext_core       24576  1 snd_soc_skl
intel_telemetry_pltdrv    20480  0
intel_punit_ipc        16384  1 intel_telemetry_pltdrv
intel_telemetry_core    16384  1 intel_telemetry_pltdrv
intel_pmc_ipc          20480  1 intel_telemetry_pltdrv
snd_soc_sst_dsp        32768  1 snd_soc_skl_ipc
snd_soc_sst_ipc        16384  1 snd_soc_skl_ipc
snd_soc_acpi           16384  1 snd_soc_skl
x86_pkg_temp_thermal    16384  0
snd_soc_core          241664  1 snd_soc_skl
intel_powerclamp       16384  0
snd_compress           20480  1 snd_soc_core
snd_hda_codec_hdmi     49152  1
coretemp               16384  0
snd_hda_codec_generic    73728  1
ac97_bus               16384  1 snd_soc_core
snd_pcm_dmaengine      16384  1 snd_soc_core
joydev                 24576  0
kvm_intel             204800  0
snd_hda_intel          40960  3
snd_hda_codec         126976  3 snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_generic
kvm                   593920  1 kvm_intel
snd_hda_core           81920  6 snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_ext_core,snd_soc_skl,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_generic
irqbypass              16384  1 kvm
crct10dif_pclmul       16384  0
crc32_pclmul           16384  0
ghash_clmulni_intel    16384  0
pcbc                   16384  0
arc4                   16384  2
snd_hwdep              20480  1 snd_hda_codec
rtl8821ae             233472  0
snd_pcm                98304  8 snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_pcm_dmaengine,snd_hda_ext_core,snd_hda_core,snd_soc_skl,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_soc_core
uvcvideo               86016  0
btcoexist             131072  1 rtl8821ae
btusb                  45056  0
btrtl                  16384  1 btusb
rtl_pci                32768  1 rtl8821ae
snd_seq_midi           16384  0
videobuf2_vmalloc      16384  1 uvcvideo
aesni_intel           188416  2
btbcm                  16384  1 btusb
videobuf2_memops       16384  1 videobuf2_vmalloc
snd_seq_midi_event     16384  1 snd_seq_midi
videobuf2_v4l2         24576  1 uvcvideo
btintel                16384  1 btusb
aes_x86_64             20480  1 aesni_intel
rtlwifi                77824  3 rtl_pci,btcoexist,rtl8821ae
crypto_simd            16384  1 aesni_intel
snd_rawmidi            32768  1 snd_seq_midi
videobuf2_core         40960  2 uvcvideo,videobuf2_v4l2
glue_helper            16384  1 aesni_intel
bluetooth             548864  43 btrtl,btintel,bnep,btbcm,rfcomm,btusb
cryptd                 24576  3 crypto_simd,ghash_clmulni_intel,aesni_intel
videodev              184320  3 uvcvideo,videobuf2_core,videobuf2_v4l2
intel_cstate           20480  0
mac80211              778240  3 rtl_pci,rtlwifi,rtl8821ae
media                  40960  2 uvcvideo,videodev
intel_rapl_perf        16384  0
ecdh_generic           24576  1 bluetooth
snd_seq                65536  2 snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq_midi
input_leds             16384  0
wmi_bmof               16384  0
cfg80211              622592  2 mac80211,rtlwifi
serio_raw              16384  0
snd_seq_device         16384  3 snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_midi
snd_timer              32768  2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
idma64                 20480  0
virt_dma               16384  1 idma64
lpc_ich                24576  0
intel_lpss_pci         20480  0
intel_lpss             16384  1 intel_lpss_pci
snd                    81920  18 snd_compress,snd_hda_intel,snd_hwdep,snd_seq,snd_hda_codec,snd_timer,snd_rawmidi,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_seq_device,snd_soc_core,snd_pcm
mei_me                 40960  0
soundcore              16384  1 snd
mei                    90112  1 mei_me
elan_i2c               36864  0
shpchp                 36864  0
ideapad_laptop         32768  0
sparse_keymap          16384  1 ideapad_laptop
mac_hid                16384  0
tpm_crb                16384  0
sch_fq_codel           20480  6
parport_pc             36864  0
ppdev                  20480  0
lp                     20480  0
parport                49152  3 lp,parport_pc,ppdev
ip_tables              28672  0
x_tables               40960  1 ip_tables
autofs4                40960  2
overlay                77824  1
nls_iso8859_1          16384  1
dm_mirror              24576  0
dm_region_hash         20480  1 dm_mirror
dm_log                 20480  2 dm_mirror,dm_region_hash
uas                    24576  0
usb_storage            69632  2 uas
i915                 1617920  15
i2c_algo_bit           16384  1 i915
drm_kms_helper        167936  1 i915
i2c_hid                20480  0
syscopyarea            16384  1 drm_kms_helper
sysfillrect            16384  1 drm_kms_helper
r8169                  86016  0
sysimgblt              16384  1 drm_kms_helper
fb_sys_fops            16384  1 drm_kms_helper
mii                    16384  1 r8169
ahci                   36864  0
libahci                32768  1 ahci
drm                   401408  6 i915,drm_kms_helper
i2c_i801               28672  0
hid                   118784  4 i2c_hid,hid_generic,usbhid
wmi                    24576  2 wmi_bmof,ideapad_laptop
video                  40960  2 i915,ideapad_laptop
pinctrl_broxton        40960  1

[JeremyB]

Try

Code: Select all

sudo modprobe -r elan_i2c

[jgn2112]

I'm doing the installation right now with touchpad disabled via the Mouse and Touchpad menu under Preferences.

How long does installing the grub2 package normally take? It appears hung up at the grub2 installation but I want to give it time.

I just lose patience at this point and the minute I start getting those invalid report data id messages, I'm apt to just restart.

[jgn2112]

Should I try selecting "Something else" under Installation type and running gparted beforehand?
If so, how should I set things up? I'm completely out of my element on these.

[JeremyB]

I normally use the automatic settings when installing Mint

[jgn2112]

1. The reason I ask is there was a similar issue on an ubuntu forum where the problem was resolved by selecting another method of installing and then changing the partition in gparted. It wasn't clear on specifics though.

2. Is it possible to do an installation without grub2, and then manually installing grub2 afterwards?

[JeremyB]

If you are trying to install using EFI with an internet connection, try without internet connection as there have been issues with installing in EFI mode with internet connection.

It is possible to install Mint without grub and install grub later, but it isn't any fun, can be done from terminal on Live ISO

Code: Select all

ubiquity -b