I have set up a new Framework 13 brand laptop with Zorin Core 17.2 (new as of November, it has the Intel Core Ultra Series 1 CPU, the slightly lower-spec 13th gen Core CPU was not available to order).
I used the Something Else because we wished to create a custom setup with:
separate / (root) (80GB) and /home volume (120GB) partition so User data could be safely backed up and restored in event of some OS disaster.
dedicated Swap (8 GB) rather than the default of a 16 GB swap file in root (matching the 16 GB RAM, but as hibernation will not be set, articles suggest 4-8 GB is plenty).
dedicated 80GB volume partition in NTFS format (type label set to "/windows") in the partitioning step, to write the user's Windows data files (lots and lots) so that it would emulate windows access and be visible on local network (or sneaker net) to the users original Windows 10 Thinkpad.
I selected to NOT install OS updates during the installation, and to NOT install 3rd party drivers based on various articles and forum comments that doing such may complicate install process.
Notes: The Try Zorin does connect to local wifi access point, it does print to local network HP inkjet printer no issues there.
Installation went fine, showed writing progress of lots of files, Completed OK. Then asked me to either Continue Testing/evaluation or Reboot to bring up the computer in Zorin.
I continued the Testing so that I could copy a bunch of the screen snapshots and text file notes I had been making, to an attached USB flash drive drive. Did that just fine also.
Rebooted.
Screen displays: "Framework" "Zorin" and a bunch of lines of CLI zip by,
then the screen stays dark with the cursor in the bottom right. Though it is not moveable by either trackpad nor mouse.
Then after about two minutes, the Zorin music sound plays for about 30 seconds or so. Then nothing else ever happens.
I booted into the Setup (via F2) and checked through things and noticed that Secure Boot was enabled, so I turned that OFF. And rebooted.
Same behavior: "Framework" and "Zorin" display on screen for about 30 seconds, later the Zorin music plays and nothing else ever happens.
So even though the Framework computer runs fine from the Live ZorinOS 17.2 Core flash drive, it seems to have trouble fully booting after the install, from its internal SSD.
Do I need to go back and re-install it but enabling either (or both) of Zorin updates or 3rd-Party drivers?
Note, I've looked at:
(And a bunch of other HowToGeek and Geekforgeeks etc pages on using GParted, installing Linux/Ubuntu etc.)
(The Framework page seems to be mostly about things you may want to customize AFTER it has successfully booted up in Zorin. Which ours has not, even tho, as I state, the installation completed successfully.) --Thanks.
(P.P.S. I can attach some of the copied screensnaps in next post)
Firstly, if you are installing to SSD you don't need swap. Zorin creates a swap file on install if it is needed. Boot with your live media once more and then search for log files in /etc to see if there are any clues given. The fact you have a black screen suggests a video driver issue. Whilst in live mode (try Zorin) open a terminal and enter:
Thanks for that, I'll give that a shot next. (and post resulting data.)
Yes, I also figured it may be video driver related.
(It just seemed weird that the ZorinLiveInstaller flash drive would work and display video during installation no problem, but once booted from actual installed ZorinOS on the SSD, video screen didn't do more than display initial Framework/Zorin welcome image.)
In the meanwhile, if of any help, here's a link to an Postimage folder where I saved snapshots of my install progress and final screen.
Link https://postimg.cc/gallery/jdvnw2d
You can simply upload screenshots to show in-line with your reply by using the Upload tool (7th from left) in the Reply Box toolbar.
Some here avoid clicking links to 3rd party sites to view extra content.
When I understand that right, You want set up a Dual-Boot System with Windows 10 and Zorin, yes?
If this is right, I would recommend to install Windows 10 first and then Zorin. That should make the Process easier I would think. So, install Windows normally an dset it up. Then control that Fast Start-Up in windows is turned off. Then check, that Secure Boot, Fast Boot and TPM in the BIOS are turned off.
Because You are on Windows, I can recommend for creating the bootable USB Stick with Zorin on it the Tool Rufus. Depending if Your BIOS is in UEFI or Legacy Mode choose there on ''Partition Sheme'' GPT for UEFI or MBR for Legacy. Don't forget to check the Checksum of Your Zorin ISO. Then go in the Windows Disk Management and create an empty Parition for Zorin in the Size that You want. One big one is enough. The individual Sizes, You can create in the Zorin Installer in the Installation. Or You create the individual sizes now and later in the Installer, You need simply add the mounting Points to it.
After this start the Zorin USB Stick and choose the ''Install Zorin'' Option. In the Installer choose the Install Option ''Something else'' to create Your Partitions that You want. And after creating Your Partitions don't forget You choose the right ''Device for Boot Loader Installation''. There choose the Windows Boot Manager like seen here:
You could also use Ventoy as an alternative. I have multi GNU/Linux OS's on my 64 Gb thumb drive including Zorin. Additionally just check your hard drive settings in the BIOS are set to AHCI and not RAID.
No, not dual booting with Windows.
Already tried that on the Thinkpad and ran into too many issues.
(Also as part of this adventure, I've set up multiple flash drives and external SSDs with multiple varieties of Linux flavors, using Rufus, UUI, YUMI and Ventoy.)
So the primary users decided they wanted a dedicated Linux ZorinOS laptop, and to set it to have local access to their dozens of GB of Windows organized files. And since their Windows (10 & 11) laptops will continue to be used more or less for a while, there is no single 'transfer point' of shutting them down and moving it all to Zorin. (And no they do not wish to have the Windows computers running 24x7 as a network server of their NTFS user data.)
Thus the plan is to have an NTFS user-data-only partition volume on the ZorinOS-only Framework brand laptop. (No Windows operating system on the Framework laptop--only Zorin.)
Eventually the Windows 10 laptop would be mostly turned off and just kept for emergency or rare Windows usage. Their Windows 11 laptop will continue to be used.
(I set them to "50%" on the forum post here, which I am thinking allows one to expand it to the 100% size, which will be the cropped and trimmed size I made on my computer... nope. I'll try at 75%. Oh, maybe it just takes a minute or two to allow it to have the 'expandability' feature.)
Temporary notes,,, I tried using the boot Live Zorin Gparted to add the "Labels" of "/" for the root OS, and "/home" for the user home directory. But it still wouldn't boot. So I am just going to re-install, though still using the "Something else" so I can get the partition volumes we want. I noticed in that process that the labels for our intended partition for Windows data was only allowed to be FAT32 with "/windows" or "/dos". (I used something previous time to convert from FAT32 to NTFS). This time I thought - maybe my calling it the "/windows" label made Zorin think I wanted to dual boot, which we DO NOT intend to DUAL BOOT this computer (ever). So I am choosing the "/dos" as a safer label. (as there is no "NTFS" file system choice, and no generic shared data identifiers).
Side note, I took a lot of screen snapshots with the Zorin Live installer, but there seems no way to actually get at those saved screen snapshots, as there is no task bar panel to get a file manager nor even a command line window. It just gives a screen of "Installation Complete. You need to restart the computer to use the new installation." But how to easily get to save all the documentation screenshots I took during the process? I tried clicking the top right "X" close box, which did return me to the Zorin Live desktop, but its "Pictures" folder has no "Screenshots" folder. So I searched around and found the 11 snapshots in "Recent" and was able to copy them to my also-attached data flash drive. I verified that we had / and /home Labels. Still no full booting from the Framework laptop after this re-install of Zorin Core 17.2,... so sad. (on the reboot, I get the same result: Framework logo, Zorin animated Logo, then black screen, mouse cursor which does not move, and after a few minutes, the Zorin desktop musical sound. But nothing visible nor active. I'll try the generic just Erase and Install to see if that works. If it does we'll have to adjust volumes after the fact.
Did You tried it with only creating an EFI Partition and the Partition for / ? You wouldn't need to create an extra home Partition if not needed. And a Swap Partition not, too. A Swap File should be created automatically. and if not, You can create one like describted here:
