After Install on Dell Inspiron N7110 - system not found

I have a Dell inspiron N7110. I installed Zorin 17.2 and on reboot I gen a message " No system found. This machine is a legacy version, no UEFI. It is set for compatibility mode and has the latest BIOS. I have tried multiple times. Previously I hade Linux Mint 21.2 and it worked fine. I reinstalled Mint 21.2 and it still works. I did have to install Mint 18 first then 21.2. I have gone through everything and am not finding answers.

Gene

Welcome to the forum!

So from a quick google this appears to be an older dual core laptop, if my search is correct? I'd wager that you're using BIOS and not UEFI, and that that message is confirming that. How did you make the USB drive?

I would recommend a tool like Rufus in this scenario so that you can select most likely an MBR partition scheme as well as BIOS rather than UEFI for the boot method. That's from what I can see in your post, anyway.

I used my Windows 11 to create the usb. I will try the Rufus method. I’ve used it before to install windows 11 on a non conforming machine. Thanks.

Rufus didn’t work. Still no system found. As a check, I reinstalled Mint. Then started up the zorin install again and it sees there is a mint version there. The only option is to overwrite it completely. Mint on the other hand allows the boot to be undisturbed and a new system replacing the old. Zorin doesn’t have this.

That is strange. I thought it allowed to install alongside whatever is present. I your machine uses mbr method you need to be aware that you re limited to 4 Primary partitions. Notebooks are notorious for having 4 Primary partitions comprising of Drivers partition at start, then C:\ partition that holds Windows, then factory reset partition and lastly, media creator for re-installation. I have had no issues installing Zorin 17 using Ventoy.

Actually I don’t want it “along side.” I want it as the only one. This machine is MBR only as it’s old, released in 2011.

Yes, there should stand ''Install zorinalongside Linux Mint'' or similar to that.

So, you want only install Zorin? Then you only need to choose the Option under it. It is called ''Erase disk'' that You see here on the 2nd Position:

That will completely wipe Your Disk and install Zorin. And when you used Rufus: did You checked that under ''Partition Sheme'' MBR is chosen? Look here:

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Yes, I made sure it was mbr. Prior to this, I had brought this laptop up to windows 11 using Rufus without problems. This also required it be mbr.

I decided today to put back windows 11. No problems. I have another laptop from
HP. It’s newer and is UEFI. Tomorrow I will try Zorin on that one.

Thanks for the Rufus suggestion.

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