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.