Not booting after installing Vera. PXE-E32: TFTP open timeout

[iegarcia]

Hi

I had been running Linux Mint 19.1 Tessa Cinnamon since 2019 with practically no issues. As support is coming to an end, I tried installing Linux Mint 21.1 Vera Cinnamon.
It installs with no obvious problems (I haven't tried looking for an installation log), but when restarting it does not boot.
I get the following messages:

PXE-E32: TFTP open timeout
PXE-M0F: Exiting intel Boot Agent
Boot failure

For context, preceding this message, it tells me: Intel Boot Agent GE v1.3.27 and a series of MAC address, IPs

Troubleshooting I've done so far:
Re-installed Linux Mint 21.1 Vera Cinnamon - same result
Installed Linux Mint 21.1 Vera Xfce - same result
Installed Linux Mint 21 Vanessa Cinnamon - same result
Installed Linux Mint 20 Ulyana Cinnamon - boots fine

I would rather install Linux Mint 21.X for the long term support.

Googling the error, most issues seem to be related to server installs; I haven't found one applicable to PC operative system install.

I'd appreciate help troubleshooting.

Thanks!

[kato181]

One question...
Were you trying to upgrade from LM19.1 to LM21.1? if so then that will not work. If you want to use LM21.1 then do a fresh install and at the installation question you can select OTHER or just select erase and install.
but always back up your important files first.

[iegarcia]

Were you trying to upgrade from LM19.1 to LM21.1?

No, always fresh install.

If you want to use LM21.1 then do a fresh install and at the installation question you can select OTHER or just select erase and install.

That's what I did, erase and install. I had done a fresh backup.

I'm now trying upgrading from the LM20 fresh install. I upgraded to LM20.3 and overnight upgrading to LM21. This morning on a quick check there were issues with foreign packages, but I had to run to work. I'll revert with more details tonight, including system details.

[iegarcia]

So, I upgraded using mintupgrade and now it boots fine.

I did not solve the issue, but worked around it. I have no idea what was wrong with the fresh installs.

[kato181]

To upgrade from LM20 to LM20.3 you need to upgrade from 20.0, 20.1, 20.2, then 20.3. It is always best to do fresh installs of LM21. The reason being is that files in previous versions are no longer compatible with LM21.

[iegarcia]

It is always best to do fresh installs of LM21. The reason being is that files in previous versions are no longer compatible with LM21.

Sounds fantastic, but the system wasn't booting. No idea why. But it's working fine after the mintupgrade.

[MiZoG]

The message you originally got when you tried to fresh-install indicated that your system attempted a PXE boot.
Obviously you had to dig into your UEFI (or BIOS) settings and disable or de-prioritize PXE boot.