"No boot device found" after installing Zorin OS 18 on old Acer laptop

Installing Zorin OS
1

So after a frustrating couple of weeks trying to get Zorin OS 18 core edition installed on my old Acer laptop I finally managed to get success. I can now run Zorin on my old Acer (either on internal hdd or external usb hdd) or my newer Acer. In the hope that it may help anyone else who is experiencing the same levels of frustration as I did I post the following instructions (given to me by Google AI search):

These are results for installing ubuntu 25.10 on acer e5-575g-534g appears to succeed but fails with no bootable device
Search instead for installing ubuntu 25.10 on acer e5-575g-534g appears to suceed but fails with no bootable device

AI Overview

The "no bootable device" error on your Acer Aspire E5-575G-534G after installing Ubuntu is a common issue caused by how Acer's UEFI firmware handles third-party bootloaders

. The installation succeeds, but the BIOS doesn't automatically trust the Ubuntu boot file.

The solution involves manually adding the Ubuntu bootloader file to the list of trusted UEFI files within the BIOS settings.

Steps to Fix the Boot Issue

  1. Access the BIOS/UEFI Settings:
  • Power off your laptop.
  • Power it on and immediately press the F2 key repeatedly when the Acer logo appears to enter the BIOS setup.
  1. Set a Supervisor Password:
  • Navigate to the Security tab using the arrow keys.
  • Find the Supervisor Password option and set a temporary password. This is required to access advanced secure boot options on Acer laptops.
  • Save changes and exit the BIOS (usually F10), then re-enter the BIOS using F2.
  1. Add Ubuntu as a Trusted UEFI File:
  • Once back in the BIOS under the Security tab, you will now have access to a new option: Select an UEFI file as trusted for executing (or similar wording).
  • Select this option and navigate through the file system: HDD0 (or SSD0/eMMC0) > EFI > ubuntu.
  • Select the file named shimx64.efi (or grubx64.efi if shimx64.efi isn't available).
  • You will be prompted to give it a name (e.g., "Ubuntu"). Type a name and press Enter, then confirm with "Yes".
  1. Adjust Boot Order and Disable Secure Boot (Optional but Recommended):
  • Navigate to the Boot tab.
  • You should now see the name you assigned ("Ubuntu") as a new entry in the boot priority list.
  • Use the F6 key (or whatever key the on-screen instructions indicate) to move this new Ubuntu entry to the top of the boot order.
  • While in the Boot tab, you can also consider setting Secure Boot to Disabled if you continue to experience issues, though adding the trusted file often solves the problem with Secure Boot enabled.
  1. Save and Exit:
  • Press the F10 key to save your changes and exit the BIOS. The laptop should now reboot directly into the Ubuntu GRUB boot screen.

After successfully booting into Ubuntu, you can return to the BIOS at a later time to clear the supervisor password if you wish.

2

I should have said that I initially tried this with installing Ubuntu 25.10 which worked so then I tried the Zorin installation after.

3

Zorin also has a help site about this problem:

You may also need to set a supervisor password before if you have no access to the advanced secure boot settings in the BIOS.

4

This could have been avoided if you had used Ventoy. Last October I installed Linux Mint Debian Edition 7 on an Acer Notebook that had had Windows 10 on it. On installing it asked for the EFI key to be enrolled and to choose the correct file. The problem with Acer BIOS is it centralised the line into 3 lines in the centre of the screen so I had to use the down arrow (cursor key) to select and press Enter. Job done. Ventoy EFI partition holds a MOK key for this purpose, regardless of which distribution or OS is being installed from the partition containing the .iso's

1 Like