New install alongside windows doesn't enter grub

Installing Zorin OS
21

So here the sitch: I GParted sda and created mbr partitions and did the install.
When I tried to boot, it just sat there and did nothing. I couldn't even get windows10 to boot. I didn't even know if the installation had taken place.
So I installed Linux Mint and was surprised to find it found my Zorin installation.
It fixed my Grub which now offers a choice of Zorin 18 or Mint. However, when I choose Zorin, it goes into some awful boot loop alternating the Zorin logo with the dots underneath, and some failing attempt to put up something graphical.
This will continue indefinitely if I let it. I tried the zorin repair options grub listed and they changed nothing.

So now I have sda1 with an unbootable win10 (tried reinstalling, fixing mbr, etc and got nowhere), and a dual boot sda2 which only boots mint.
At least I have an OS. Any ideas as to get the other 2 OSes to boot?

Note, my bios CANNOT boot from usb and can only do MBR boots.
I can edit files by booting into mint. (I uncommented the grub default line that disables os-prober (which finds zorin and mint but NOT win10)

I suspect Zorin is trying to do something efi-ish during boot so it can't complete and I need to edit grub to make it stop. Any ideas?

22

Maybe think about set up Your Machine completely new.

1 Like
23

I've started from scratch multiple times already.

24

Okay, then describe how You did that please. So, we can get a Picture of Your Actions.

1 Like
25

I second this. I know it sounds tedious, but what other options are there?
Let's review this for a moment:

This may be able to explain the issue with Windows OS booting. Details on this can clarify that.

These two show that EFI is no longer involved. Zorin OS initializes past that point.
So it is not an EFI issue - and may be a graphical issue.
You can use the e key to Edit grub from the grub menu to test the nomodeset parameter on Zorin OS to see if it can reach user space.
Here is a quick guide (For Ubuntu, but works the same on Zorin OS):