I need help asap

Installing Zorin OS
1

Hey, I’m new to Linux, and I’ve been trying to install Zorin OS because I'm sick of Windows, but I’m running into some serious problems. Here’s everything that’s gone down so far:

  1. I created a bootable USB using balenaetcher and followed all the steps.

  2. I restarted my system with the USB plugged in and ran the setup till I pressed restart, but instead of booting into Zorin OS, I’m getting this error: "Non-system disk or disk error. Replace and strike any key when ready."

  3. I haven’t disabled Secure Boot yet because I can't find it in my BIOS, but everything else is set up properly in BIOS. I tried to set the USB as the first boot device, but still no luck.

  4. I’ve tried this setup multiple times, and the system doesn’t boot to anything—it just stays stuck on the error.

  5. I even booted into "Try Zorin" mode and made some changes in the terminal and the partitions app, but nothing worked. It still ends up at the same problem.

  6. I’m new to Linux, so maybe I’m missing something, but I really need help here.

  7. Now I'm stuck on that error and the only things I can access is the BIOS menu and if I want to run Zorin os from the USB again

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Has anyone had this problem before or knows what I should do to fix it? I’m seriously stuck and would appreciate any advice or solutions.

Thanks in advance!

2

In your BIOS, is the Zorin drive listed in Boot Order?

You could also try running Boot Repair Disk (or Grub Repair) that you should find on your Zorin bootable USB.

3

Welcome to the forum!

For starters, what are the specs of your laptop? I'm wagering it's an older machine given the dates that are stamped on the screen for the images, but wanting to make sure. If it's old enough, I would wager your system wouldn't have secure boot available as an option.

The error you're getting is typical of if a drive or sector of the boot area failed, but I'm wanting some information on your system first because if it's old enough, I'm wondering if it's a 32 bit system, or requires MBR rather than GPT which it probably defaulted to.

4

I mean it's the Hard Drive and I see it in the boot menu and I tried the repair but it couldn't help.

5
  1. WHAT did you do for partitions?

I tried creating partitions for the installation using the partition app in "Try Zorin" mode. I made a new partition for Zorin OS and edited some existing partitions for space, and I did format the drives and deleted something major. After that, I still ran into the same problem when I tried to boot.

  1. What about RAID/AHCI option in BIOS?

I haven’t changed anything related to RAID or AHCI in BIOS. I checked, and AHCI seems to be the default setting.

  1. What is your laptop or PC? Model?

It’s a HP Compaq dc79000 convertible minitower

  1. From the first screen, did you try to boot from the network (PXE agent)?

No, I haven’t tried booting from the network or using PXE agent. I’ve been focused on booting from the USB.

  1. Are you using UEFI or CSM mode (legacy)?

I’m using CSM (Legacy) mode because my PC is older and doesn’t fully support UEFI. At least, I couldn’t find any UEFI options in BIOS. I guess.

  1. Boot USB Zorin. Open a console (terminal). Run command lsblk -a. Post results here.

I’ll do that and post the results in the comments once I boot into "Try Zorin" mode again.

  1. Please explain what you did in order:

First, I made the bootable USB using balenaetcher.

Then, I changed the boot order in BIOS to prioritize USB as the first boot device.

I tried booting, but I got the “Non-system disk or disk error.”

I tried the setup from the USB multiple times

After that, I booted into "Try Zorin" mode from the USB, opened the terminal, and used the partition app to set up a new partition for Zorin OS.

Tried restarting and booting again, but the same error keeps happening.

So overall am I in trouble?

6

just asking, what is the file system of the usb drive you're using?
NTFS or FAT 32

7

I can't really remember but probably NTFS does it really matter?

8

So I would most likely recommend using something like Rufus to create a bootable drive, as that will allow you to select MBR as that is most likely what your system is using currently, given the age. I would also recommend, as @silentsurfur has alluded to, to format the USB as fat32, Linux doesn't particularly like NTFS all that much, and it's just a safer bet to use fat32.

Could you also provide a screenshot of your hard drive partition setup (for example through either Gparted or Disks) so that we can have an idea of what's going on partition wise? I know you explained you edited some partitions, but it would be a good idea to get a picture so we can see what you exactly mean by that.

1 Like
9

GParted would be best (for me anyway!) HP tended to create 4 Primary partitions in the old days (I know from experience with my HP Mini 110), first partition DrvrStore, then C:\ drive, then factory reset partition, then media creation partition to burn DVD's for a fresh install. MBR only supports up to 4 primary partitions so if you still have four primary partitions you are going to go nowhere fast.

10

this might not help ,but just mentioning out of my previous experiences .
iv'e installed countless linux distros but never could get it right with a USB and Rufus or whatever other program to write an ISO.
i always use , and it always work , a dvd drive and Xfburn , burn the ISO on there and boot from dvd drive 1st .
i know newer pc's don't have dvd drives anymore , maybe OP's has , didin't check ( I guess it has )

11

Just brought back bad memories of HP/Compaq convertible when I was an IT Contractor. These were desktops that could sit in horizontal or vertical position. They were purchased for NT4. I had to do a re-install with the provided CD's - it never took. The problem? Faulty CD-Rom drive. I had to use an Optical drive of my own. If the customer they were destined for ever needed to do a fresh install it would fail. I seem to remember if the unit was reorientated, the HDD would be in the wrong plane. I think things went downhill when they merged with Compaq. I always recommend DVD over USB, it was the only way I could install PCLinuxOS. The one USB software I have not had issues with in respect of Zorin 17 is Ventoy.

12

Do You have change that after the Installation? I mean: Did You set up the ''ubuntu'' entry in the BIOS on the first Position?

So, you have chosen the ''Something else'' Install-Option, right? Is there a Reason why You want create manually the Partitions? If You want only install Zorin, You could simply choose the ''Erase disk'' Option. That will wipe the Disk and install Zorin automatically (including create the neccessary Paritions).

If You have the Possibility to use a Windows-PC, I would suggest to take Rufus for creating the bootable USB Stick because You can choose the Partition Sheme for the Stick. And because You have a Legacy BIOS the MBR Sheme would be a good Idea. You can choose it here:

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And for the Format of the Stick, you should take FAT32 if the Stick is 32GB or smaller.

Another Point: Did You verfied the Checksum of the ISO like describted here:

1 Like
13

Sounds like you are able to boot into bootable USB drive with Zorin OS that means your bootable drive is fine because you were able to make some changes to the system through the terminal but on your first screenshot, your system is trying to boot over the network (PXE Boot) instead of booting from the Zorin bootable USB drive. On the second screenshot, you are trying to boot from hard drive that has no Operating system or with some boot errors. Not sure what is going on, can you disable network boot/PXE boot from BIOS and select the USB drive as the the 1st boot device. Also, search your motherboard model online and find a way to disable 'secure boot' from the bios.

Make sure there aren't other USB devices connected to your PC, take them off and ensure the USB with Zorin OS is the only USB connected, make it 1st boot device.