How to install Zorin on a secondary drive so it boots?

[Cyrus]

After several days shuffling files about I finally freed up my secondary drive (an SSD) to install Zorin on it, while leaving the main NVME as Windows 10 for offline use (which I still need for some design software).

Unfortunately when attempting to boot I get the "insert boot media" error thingy.

From some searching it seems its because the Zorin drive is not UEFI, but Legacy.

I checked in the bios and switching to UEFI only (from UEFI / Legacy) does indeed blank out the drive Zorin is installed to.

I've tried searching for a solution but now I feel entirely out of my depth so any help is appreciated!

[Ponce-De-Leon]

Are Secure Boot and Fast boot in BIOS disabled? Is Fast Start-Up in Windows disabled?

What Tool did You use to create the bootable USB Stick with Zorin on it? If it was Rufus, I would suggest the following:

Because Your BIOS is now in UEFI Mode, use Rufus and create a new Bootstick with zorin on it and choose on the Option ''Partition Sheme'' GPT. And then install it again.

[Cyrus]

Yeah fast and secure boot disabled.

I used Balena. Haven't tried (or heard of) Rufus before.

Edit: To be clear (in case it affects anything) I'm selecting the drive to boot from the Bios menu.

[Cyrus]

That just gave me the same issue as outlined in the OP. Thanks though!

I'm assuming I'm missing something during installation.

[littlekun]

@Cyrus

I'm selecting the drive to boot from the Bios menu.

Make sure UEFI label is present with the USB hard drive's name. This will boot the Zorin bootable drive into UEFI mode.

It's possible that some device list the usb drive twice

1. USB Hard Drive
2. USB Hard Drive (UEFI)

Make sure to boot from the 2nd one in order to make the usb boot happen in UEFI mode, otherwise booting from the 1st one will boot in legacy BIOS mode.

[Cyrus]

I've already said that what appears to be happening is the drive only lists under legacy.
When booted it does not work.

[Ponce-De-Leon]

@Cyrus

drive only lists under legacy.

then I would suggest to format the Drive. You can start Zorin in Linve Mode (choose Try Zorin) and then search for GParted. Open it choode the Drive You want use for Zorin, format it and look for a GPT Option.

[Cyrus]

thanks I will give that a look!

[Cyrus]

Nope.
Exactly the same thing.
Again I'm thinking I probably have to take an additional step during installation?!

Edit: If it helps at all my motherboard is an MSI B450 Gaming Plus Max - maybe theres something I'm missing in the BIOS?!

[Ponce-De-Leon]

Spontaneously the only other Idea, I would have now would be to choose in Rufus MBR for the Boot Stick and then look if the Drive is detected during Installation.

[Cyrus]

Its installed to the drive. It just wont boot.

[Ponce-De-Leon]

And when You switch Back the BIOS to Legacy Mode?

[Cyrus]

Its visible then, but it wont boot - as stated in the OP.

[swarfendor437]

I am wondering if it is a similar issue I had yesterday when installing LMDE 7 on a client's Acer notebook. I was using Ventoy and legacy did not work. UEFI had to be enabled and the Ventoy EFI had to be enrolled into the existing UEFI MOK key. It then booted.

[Cyrus]

I've done some distro-hopping over the years (especially with older laptops) but that was just "techno-babble" to me. Thanks though!

[Ponce-De-Leon]

Okay ... switch Your BIOS in Legacy Mode. Then take Rufus and create a Bootstick with Zorin and choose on ''Partition Sheme'' MBR and then install it.