How to boot from USB on Asus TUF A17

Installing Zorin OS
#28

…so based on my understanding so far and based on my goal for the install I must choose

/dev/nvme0n1 and absolutely not /dev/nvme1n1 (which seems to be c:)…nor /dev/sda which seems to be the data drive…correct?

but which one should I use?

/dev/nvme0n1 ?
/dev/nvme0n1p1 ?
/dev/nvme0n1p2 ntfs ? I imagine this one with the size?
free space ?

if I am correct with the above and based on the fact that I did only one partition I am just wondering what are the other in /dev/nvme0n1…?

I imagine that /dev/sdb is the bootable USB key with Zorin?

then…for the boot loader… I have no idea on what reason should I choose 1 drive (1 partition?) more than an another one and what implies a choice once done…

will highly appreciate clear and complete answers for all those points

#29
  1. Correct.
  2. Answered in Q1. /dev/nvme0n1
  3. Partitions on /dev/nvme0n1
  4. I don’t know what key you’re referring to. If you mean the installation medium, then it may be. If the only 3.9 GB drive you have is the USB you’re using to install Zorin then it would be so.
  5. Since you already have Windows on another drive, I recommend using: https://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/ - run this from Windows and you can set boot priority from there.
    As for Zorin, you still need to install grub, and that will be on /dev/nvme0n1
    For more details, I recommend Partitioning during installation
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#30

One more thing. If you’re installing on a separate drive and have an OS on the other drive, you don’t need a USB or DVD. Do this:

  1. Boot into your Windows.
  2. Install https://unetbootin.org/
  3. Run it and under “Type” change from USB to Hard disk.
  4. Browse to the image on your hard disk.
  5. On your next boot you will get to select Unetbootin at the boot manager - select it and it will install Zorin - then use the Something Else option.
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#31

Brilliant, Carmar. I never thought of doing it that way.

#32

thank you

so for the boot then if I am correct I have at least the choice between

GRUB
EasyBCD
unetbootin

…with “security” in mind what would be for you the more secured choice to go and why?

By “security in mind” I mean:

  • the system that will less likely cause me trouble on the long term and prevent me to boot the W10
  • the system that in the eventuality an issue occure is more easy or more fast to resolve
  • and finally the system that allow me to uninstall Zorin if I want so in the most easy way (without removing the SSD) and realloacte easily the SSD for “general windows storage use”

thank you

#33

Unetbootin is an alternative to Balena or Rufus.
When you boot with a dual boot system, the boot manager asks you Windows or Zorin, EasyBCD helps you manage the choices.
GRUB is the linux bootloader - it is not a choice.

In sum, you can choose Unetbootin/Balena/Rufus. You can choose use EasyBCD/not-use-EasyBCD.

The outcome is the same whether you use any of these applications or not.

#34

so if I correctly understand I have the following options

  1. grub anyway
  2. any 3rd party soft such easybcd/unetbootin etc

?

Then does easybcd offer same service as unetbootin/balena/rufus or they are other things?

#35

unetbootin/balena/rufus - These are etchers; they create a Bootable Media from an ISO. They do not manage the boot, they merely create a media that is able to boot.
easybcd - This does not create a bootable media- but instead manages bootable media, allowing the user choice over what to boot.

#36

thks…!

I start now to have more precise ideas…

then…between grub and easybcd which one would you recomment for security as mentioned above and maybe easy of use, covenience, stability etc and also in case of need to revert back by removing Zorin and release the sdd for regular windows data use?

#37

What precisely do you mean by security?

#38

I have never used Easybcd, so I cannot vouch for its abilities in what you require.
In reading the liturature on Easybcd, it looks viable for what you want.

I believe that it does not matter much, the method that you use. You could use Easybcd or use a regular boot menu… What matters most is only How Confident you are in that method.
You say, “easy to use.” But I wonder if what you mean is, understandable to you to use.

I would strongly encourage you to choose Zorin Lite to explore and experiment with. It is more user friendly with settings easily findable and applied.
Zorin as a distro is very easy to install and to use. It is easy to “remove” if you want. You need only delete that partition in any partition manager and then reformat the drive as you wish.
Zorin does not use a Registry nor does it ever need defragging. Perhaps you are familiar with Windows and how ‘tenacious’ it is. But Zorin does not grow roots into the drive and refuse to let go in the ways Windows does. You have Full access to all parts of the Zorin OS system.

You have an isolated and empty drive just waiting for you to try out Linux. What do you have to fear? Whether you choose to use EasyBcd or Grub or MBR or UEFI, you must learn each, so what difference does it make?
What matters most is how comfortable you are with it.

EDIT:
Additionally, you have other safe options to Explore Linux and Zorin without a direct installation, if you want to build confidence.
You can run Zorin in Virtualbox or VMWare.
You can create a bootable USB stick of Zorin with Persistence (This means it saves your session so that each boot is not a fresh new start.) This has the downside of being throttled through the bottleneck of the USB port, creating a very sluggish system (Again Zorin LITE if you got his option).

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#39

I absolutely do not want to mess up my laptop…this is my tool for work currently (work from home) among other reasons…

and my approach for things I do not know is to balance risks and if possible understand as much as possible where I go and if possible prepare me as much as possible…

so…based on all what has been written so far I will not go for to unetbootin/balena/rufus…I already have a bootable USB. No need to involve an another 3rd party soft which will anyway bring me at some point at the same choice to do during the installation…

then…I will install it using “something else” option

there I will select /dev/nvme0n1 for the installation AND for the “Device for boot loader installation”.
I will also delete the other partitions under /dev/nvme0n1

then once the installation is finished I will launch the command sudo update grub which should allow me to setup W10 as 1st OS to boot…

Am I ok like that?

thks

#40

What software will you use to write the ISO in a way to be bootable?

I, personally, am not sure Which Drive, given the name “/dev/nvme0n1” you provide, is the Empty Drive awaiting Zorin - So, I cannot say whether that is where you should proceed. I am not examining your machine there so… As you say, you Do Not Want to mess up the machine you use for Work. So Please triple check the drive and make absolute certain you are choosing the correct one (in fact, I think this is why the guide you were linked to early on even disconnected the other drive with Windows on it.)

This procedure was if you had disconnected the Windows Loaded drive. Then installed Zorin on the empty drive. Then reconnected the Windows drive and booted into Zorin first.
If the Windows drive is connected throughout, I am honestly uncertain of the proper steps. Once I did away with Windows, I never went back. So I have zero experience of dual booting a Linux Distro and Windows on the same machine.
The Last thing I would want is to provide you with misinformation that causes you grief.
I am sorry that I am not knowledgeable enough to help you. But what I can advise is the following:
-Choose Zorin Lite. Trust me on this.
-Be certain and confident in each step. Even if that means being patient and checking with many resources and knowledgeable people. Visit more than one forum. Check on AskUbuntu or anywhere else that you feel you can get Good Sage Advice.
-Make backups. Even in the best circumstances with all the proper procedures, a hardware failure at a really bad time can still rear its head and bite. Before making any changes, back up a System Restore.

I believe that you are doing the right thing by seeking confirmation each step of the way and making sure that you doing the Job Correctly. Once Zorin is installed, I can probably help you plenty. I can help much in installing Zorin alongside another distro or by itself. But Dual Boot with Windows is probably my Weakest point. I think I need to study up on that topic.

#41

“I, personally, am not sure Which Drive, given the name “/dev/nvme0n1” you provide, is the Empty Drive awaiting Zorin - So, I cannot say whether that is where you should proceed. I am not examining your machine there so… As you say, you Do Not Want to mess up the machine you use for Work. So Please triple check the drive and make absolute certain you are choosing the correct one (in fact, I think this is why the guide you were linked to early on even disconnected the other drive with Windows on it.)”

…I have posted the pictures of what I get in “something else”…with all other info I provided such drive brand/size can"t you check this…?

#42

Yes, you said the drive is a 128gig drive and posted screenshots. In each screenshot that shows drive “/dev/nvme0n1”, all information next to it is blank. I do not see the size of the drive or any other information to confirm that is the 128 gig drive.
Perhaps others spotted something that I did not. But - it means I am not certain, given the information available- And certainty is something that you want.
EDIT: Nevermind! Apparently everyone else DID see something that I did not. I just scrolled up and looked.
patriotdrive
It’s right there. Hit me upside the head.

#43

ok thks.

for the grub I have found this in https://askubuntu.com/questions/1033497/dual-boot-windows-10-and-linux-ubuntu-on-separate-ssd

  1. Install Grub Customizer:

Grub Customizer is a graphical interface to configure the grub2. The application allows the user to add, remove, freeze, rename and reorder boot menu items.

Open up terminal by hitting Ctrl+Alt+T and run following commands one by one:

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:danielrichter2007/grub-customizer
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install grub-customizer

I gave it a try on an another laptop I have with Zorin installed on the only SSD and as the only OS…looks good…

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#44

so you will be happy to know I could install Zorin…

Just I didn’t wanted to complicating the things with deleting some partitions etc…I selected /dev/nvme0n1 for the installation AND for the “Device for boot loader installation”.

then as mentioned I used Grub Customizer which allowed me to put W10 as 1st OS.

So far so good…expect Wine/Itunes which doesn’t want to install…

#45

Zorin makes installing wine easy

sudo apt install zorin-windows-app-support

I am not sure about itunes…

#46

iTunes will install using Wine. I had installed some time back to try and recover an iPhone but iTunes couldn’t do that. You need Windows for any apple device recovery. However, to copy media from the iPhone, iTunes is not needed.

That is the entirety of my experience with apple on Linux.

#47

thks but to copy my music from the PC to the iphone it needs itunes unless I missed something…?