Error during installation?

thk · December 26, 2025, 9:38am

Hey I am a windows refugee trying to instal Zorin to use as daily drive.

I followed the steps from installation guide, but i keep getting an error ??? ???

My system is quite complex, i have several hard disk drives, most of them ntfs.

I have installed Windows 11 and PopOS on different nvme drives. I want to replace PopOS with Zorin.

My system:

Cpu: AMD Ryzen 5950x
Gpu: AMD 5700XT
Ram: 2x32 (using profile without overclocking)
I also have a KVM which has a couple if devices attached to it, and the KVM is attached to usb on my desktop

[updated] Fastboot and Secure Boot are disabled, Fast Start-Up option not displayed on windows
Windows shut down properly before the installation
[updated] Used balenaEtcher 2.1.4, Rufus 4.x.x
BIOS Mode is UEFI
[updated] Secure Booting is set to Other os
I tried different usb sticks the behavior is the same
[updated] tried without network
I tried un checking
- Download updates while installing Zorin OS
- Install third party software... media formats
The error occurs in both v18 and v17 of the os, so probably it is something that has to do with my system config?

The error happens during installation after

Updates and Software step after some time.

The logs display momentarily after i close the error pop up. This does not happen every time I close it.

[updated] I tailed installation logs and here are the results:

zorin@zorin:/var/log/installer$ tail -f ./debug
(ubiquity:26547): Gtk-WARNING **: 11:15:30.687: GtkGrid does not have a child property called fill

(ubiquity:26547): Gtk-WARNING **: 11:15:30.687: GtkGrid does not have a child property called position
/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/apt/cache.py:562: Warning: W:Failed to fetch http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'archive.ubuntu.com', W:Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble-security/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'security.ubuntu.com', W:Failed to fetch http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble-updates/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'archive.ubuntu.com', W:Failed to fetch https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/dists/stable/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com', W:Failed to fetch https://packages.zorinos.com/stable/dists/noble/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'packages.zorinos.com', W:Failed to fetch https://packages.zorinos.com/patches/dists/noble/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'packages.zorinos.com', W:Failed to fetch https://packages.zorinos.com/apps/dists/noble/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'packages.zorinos.com', W:Failed to fetch https://packages.zorinos.com/drivers/dists/noble/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'packages.zorinos.com', W:Failed to fetch https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/zorinos/apps/ubuntu/dists/noble/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'ppa.launchpadcontent.net', W:Failed to fetch https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/zorinos/drivers/ubuntu/dists/noble/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'ppa.launchpadcontent.net', W:Failed to fetch https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/zorinos/patches/ubuntu/dists/noble/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'ppa.launchpadcontent.net', W:Failed to fetch https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/zorinos/stable/ubuntu/dists/noble/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'ppa.launchpadcontent.net', W:Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead.
  res = self._cache.update(fetch_progress, slist, pulse_interval)
No such schema “org.gnome.nautilus.desktop”
XDG_RUNTIME_DIR (/run/user/1000) is not owned by us (uid 0), but by uid 1000! (This could e.g. happen if you try to connect to a non-root PulseAudio as a root user, over the native protocol. Don't do that.)

(canberra-gtk-play:26837): dbind-WARNING **: 11:15:39.223: Couldn't connect to accessibility bus: Failed to connect to socket /home/zorin/.cache/at-spi/bus_0: Permission denied
update_release_notes_label()
XDG_RUNTIME_DIR (/run/user/1000) is not owned by us (uid 0), but by uid 1000! (This could e.g. happen if you try to connect to a non-root PulseAudio as a root user, over the native protocol. Don't do that.)
XDG_RUNTIME_DIR (/run/user/1000) is not owned by us (uid 0), but by uid 1000! (This could e.g. happen if you try to connect to a non-root PulseAudio as a root user, over the native protocol. Don't do that.)
Could not translate page (prepare): 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'replace'
XDG_RUNTIME_DIR (/run/user/1000) is not owned by us (uid 0), but by uid 1000! (This could e.g. happen if you try to connect to a non-root PulseAudio as a root user, over the native protocol. Don't do that.)
/usr/lib/ubiquity/plugins/ubi-console-setup.py:70: Warning: Source ID 757 was not found when attempting to remove it
  GLib.source_remove(self.keyboard_layout_timeout_id)
/usr/lib/ubiquity/plugins/ubi-console-setup.py:72: Warning: Source ID 760 was not found when attempting to remove it
  GLib.source_remove(self.keyboard_variant_timeout_id)
XDG_RUNTIME_DIR (/run/user/1000) is not owned by us (uid 0), but by uid 1000! (This could e.g. happen if you try to connect to a non-root PulseAudio as a root user, over the native protocol. Don't do that.)
/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/apt/cache.py:562: Warning: W:Failed to fetch http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'archive.ubuntu.com', W:Failed to fetch http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble-security/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'security.ubuntu.com', W:Failed to fetch http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble-updates/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'archive.ubuntu.com', W:Failed to fetch https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/dists/stable/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com', W:Failed to fetch https://packages.zorinos.com/stable/dists/noble/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'packages.zorinos.com', W:Failed to fetch https://packages.zorinos.com/patches/dists/noble/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'packages.zorinos.com', W:Failed to fetch https://packages.zorinos.com/apps/dists/noble/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'packages.zorinos.com', W:Failed to fetch https://packages.zorinos.com/drivers/dists/noble/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'packages.zorinos.com', W:Failed to fetch https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/zorinos/apps/ubuntu/dists/noble/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'ppa.launchpadcontent.net', W:Failed to fetch https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/zorinos/drivers/ubuntu/dists/noble/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'ppa.launchpadcontent.net', W:Failed to fetch https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/zorinos/patches/ubuntu/dists/noble/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'ppa.launchpadcontent.net', W:Failed to fetch https://ppa.launchpadcontent.net/zorinos/stable/ubuntu/dists/noble/InRelease  Temporary failure resolving 'ppa.launchpadcontent.net', W:Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead.
  res = self._cache.update(fetch_progress, slist, pulse_interval)
XDG_RUNTIME_DIR (/run/user/1000) is not owned by us (uid 0), but by uid 1000! (This could e.g. happen if you try to connect to a non-root PulseAudio as a root user, over the native protocol. Don't do that.)
XDG_RUNTIME_DIR (/run/user/1000) is not owned by us (uid 0), but by uid 1000! (This could e.g. happen if you try to connect to a non-root PulseAudio as a root user, over the native protocol. Don't do that.)
XDG_RUNTIME_DIR (/run/user/1000) is not owned by us (uid 0), but by uid 1000! (This could e.g. happen if you try to connect to a non-root PulseAudio as a root user, over the native protocol. Don't do that.)
XDG_RUNTIME_DIR (/run/user/1000) is not owned by us (uid 0), but by uid 1000! (This could e.g. happen if you try to connect to a non-root PulseAudio as a root user, over the native protocol. Don't do that.)

Ponce-De-Leon · December 26, 2025, 11:11am

Welcome to the Forum!

I would suggest to try it completely offline. So, unplug Ethernet Cable or disable Wifi on Your Machine.

That is good.

Is Fast Start-Up in Windows disabled?

What Tool did You use to create the bootable USB Stick? How are the USB Sticks formatted? Is Your BIOS in UEFI or Legacy Mode?

thk · December 26, 2025, 12:50pm

Hi thanks for the answer! I got auto-banned in the meantime thus the delayed reply.

I have answered all of your questions but one. Added the answers to the original post to keep everything tidy.

The only question I can't answer is which format the USB stick is. I used Etcher, on Windows Disk Management is displayed as unallocated space. So maybe a file system windows cannot understand?

I have also added installation logs which might be useful. It seems that there is some user permission issue, but I am not super familiar with linux so I can't tell if there is something deeper behind this.

Ponce-De-Leon · December 26, 2025, 2:12pm

The unallocated Space could be because Etcher creates a write-protected Space when You use it. I would suggest to use Rufus instead. And in Rufus, use on the Option ''Partition Sheme'' GPT for Your UEFI BIOS:

(on the Picture stands MBR, I know; it is only for showing where the Option is)

You can find that in the Power Settings in Windows. Here is a Video what shows it:

And another Thing: Did You checked the Checksum of the downloaded ISO?

thk · December 26, 2025, 3:19pm

I went back into BIOS and checked Secure Booting. It is set to Other OS without an option to completely disable it.

In key management there are key-value pairs like

PK Management
KEK Management
DB Management etc

Fast Start-up Option is not present in windows:

In the logs there are some seemingly harmless errors, but this one might be the issue:

Could not translate page (prepare): 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'replace'

I tried with Rufus but same results.

I did not check the checksum but i tried to re-download the iso and burned multiple iso images into different sticks, so it can't be some issue there.

Ponce-De-Leon · December 26, 2025, 5:52pm

Here are Instructions:

thk · December 26, 2025, 5:59pm

Indeed, it matches the hash.

Btw, I added a few more details in the original post.

I am particularly suspicious of this error, and maybe some of my volumes might cause issue? Maybe tomorrow i will try to remove as much to see if that helps, even though reconnecting them will probably cause extra headaches.

I also tried the Zorin 17 legacy and I get the same error there as well.

Ponce-De-Leon · December 26, 2025, 6:06pm

I would think that this could be a Thing too:

Aravisian · December 26, 2025, 6:46pm

The unknown glyphs (??? ???) are caused by a font rendering error, not the error itself.
Two things that come to mind are GPU stack failure or Bad .iso

Since you have AMD 5700XT, this seems unlikely to have a direct graphics error on Zorin OS.

So a Bad USB stick, a corrupted .iso download or a bad write of that .iso - are your primary suspects.

thk · December 26, 2025, 7:00pm

I tried without the KVM still the same behavior

thk · December 26, 2025, 7:08pm

Thanks for replying back!

The unknown glyphs (??? ???) are caused by a font rendering error, not the error itself.

Ah good to know

Since you have AMD 5700XT, this seems unlikely to have a direct graphics error on Zorin OS.

That is good to hear

So a Bad USB stick, a corrupted .iso download or a bad write of that .iso - are your primary suspects

I tried two different usb sticks, re-downloaded iso, checksum checked it, Etcher and zorin during installation also validated files. Finally tried zorin 17 and still the process is failing at this ver step every time.

I am not very familiar with linux. Is there a way to watch the logs andbtry and locate the root of the issue?

Aravisian · December 26, 2025, 7:13pm

Sounds like what I would do.
I would like to believe you are not particularly unlucky...

thk · December 26, 2025, 7:32pm

It seems that when spin a vm with Zorin with thr same iso passes the step where i get the error.

I start to suspect that it might have to do with my volumes. I think i failed to mention that i also have popos installed, but i face some gpu issues with the drivers there and it glitches as well (i am a bug magnet trust me).

Now i also tried the Boot repair tool while trying Zorin, but it also fails to scan and hangs at some point after several minutes.

Aravisian · December 26, 2025, 8:04pm

I think your KVM.
Looking at your O.P.:

If you can physically disconnect all that, using only your basics; keyboard mouse - plugged directly into the computer - then try the installer...

thk · December 26, 2025, 8:44pm

I tried with KVM unplugged, but still the same error.

Atm I have wireless keyboard/mouse. I tried with wired mouse, but I doubt i have a wired mouse around.

I will give it a try tomorrow. If that doesn't work i will start unplugging HDDs that host some OS.

Aravisian · December 26, 2025, 8:59pm

I think that DNS failure cannot be ignored. Other drives should not affect that.

Can you try in LiveUSB:

sudo sysctl -w net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6=1

sudo sysctl -w net.ipv6.conf.default.disable_ipv6=1

Then check that communication is working:

ping -c3 archive.ubuntu.com

And if it is - then run the installer?

thk · December 26, 2025, 9:10pm

I can definitely give it a try tomorrow (today I'm spent) and I will let you know.

When i boot into live cd, my cable internet doesn't work, because as far as I recall I disabled DHCP. If i disable/enable the connection it connects to the internet. I've tried both with and without internet, and every thing in between when it comes to installation options.

The DNS originally is not working for sure, but as I said, when i disable/enable then i can access websites etc, which means that I get some kind of DNS.

thk · December 27, 2025, 12:52pm

Ok so issue solved! Thank you both for the help

I unplugged my 8tb and a very old 250gb SSD that I had connected in my case, and also disconnected the KVM, and this time I passed the error and i was able to continue the installation. Right now I am typing from Zorin OS 18! It's super snappy and I love it!

I believe that the issue was the 250gb drive which probably has some issues. It might have some OS installed that is not even operational.

After the installation i reconnected KVM and 8tb drive and they both work. The 250gb remains disconnected!