I'm currently trying to install Zorin OS 16 on my external SSD however every time I try to do so the installation always ends in the same error message, no matter whether I choose to install the bootloader on my main, internal SSD together with the Windows Bootloader or on the external SSD.
I am creating a 512MB EFI partition, a 2GB boot partition, a / partition and a swap partition. The installation always ends the same way. I already tried to use Grub repair, but considering the installation never actually finishes but crashes, even after booting into Zorin OS I have low resolution and neither Ethernet nor Wifi work so it's unusable. Any advice here? I've literally tried everything I could find so far. I'd also like to add that I have been distro hopping for a while to check out different distros. The last one I had installed was Manjaro and it was working flawlessly, booting straight into the Manjaro Bootloader where I could choose it or Windows.
Thanks in advance.
EDIT: Automatic installation of Zorin OS alongside Windows fails the same way. I'm out of ideas.
I am indeed. I have an Nvidia card, GeForce RTX 2060. I had already previously installed Zorin PS 15 without any issues but that was the first Linux I installed on this machine, afterwards I started distro hopping a bit from Zorin to Solus to KDE Neon and finally Manjaro.
I have already tried the alongside option and it did try to install on the external SSD but it ended in the same error.
Afterwards I tried Something Else again, creating just an EFI (512 MB) and a / partition. I have tried installing from a fresh computer start as well as by entering this blue Windows menu and selecting the boot medium. I tried just a / partition. I tried selecting the Windows Bootloader for the installation in the drop down at the bottom, tried choosing my main SSD and also my external one. It always ends the same.
I have never seen a context menu asking where to install Grub. So when using Something Else, I should not create an EFI partition, but instead a /boot one and choose the Bootloader to be put along with the Windows one in the drop down selection?
So should I set it up like on the 1st or the 2nd screenshot? Meaning, should I just the main drive or the partition p2 which is the efi partition? For now, I have only created a root ( / ) partition on my external SSD.
So I did that just now, created a / partition on the SSD and in the drop down I chose the Windows bootloader partition and the installation still ended in the same error. I'm again at a loss.
At this point, it appears that the installation has completed except for the installation of Grub.
So, you won't be able to boot. I would recommend running Grub Repair at this point. It may not fully solve the mystery... But it should get you up and running.
So, after running Boot Repair, I got this text file. I am ok with Linux, but nowhere near even intermediate knowledge level. is there anything of use in here that could explain why I'm having this issue?
I will try rebooting into Zorin OS now and see if I can get things up and running. Last time I tried boot repair and entered Zorin, it was half-baked. No resolution change possible, no wifi, no ethernet - basically nothing I could do to finish the set-up. Thanks for all the help and patience, by the way.
If Windows is in Hibernate, it locks the drive.
Moving below, we see:
grub-install: error: cannot copy /usr/lib/shim/shimx64.efi.signed' to /boot/efi/EFI/Boot/bootx64.efi': No space left on device.
Exit code: 1
df /dev/nvme0n1p2
mv winEFI cancelled (nvme0n1p2 full)
"No space left on device" shows the same - unable to access due to Windows Lock.
Could not mount read-write, trying read-only
An error occurred during the repair.
Locked-NVram detected.
Can you remove the Windows Hibernate, ensure Secure Boot is disabled and also double check in the Windows Control Panel, Powers settings that "Fast startup is not enabled?
IF it was me... I would try a full reinstallation of Zorin OS once the Windows Locks are removed rather than troubleshoot an existing interrupted one...
Also, I see nvme drive- please ensure in your EFI settings that RAID is enabled, not AHCI...
No idea I even had something like Windows Hibernate enabled, don't even know what that is. I'll go into the BIOS and check for Secure Boot. The odd thing is, though, that I did manage to install Zorin OS 15 without any issues.
After booting into Zorin, it informed me that I have only 31kb on EFI remaining, also under About it showed my main SSD with 512 GB instead of my 256 external one. I have changed the mode from AHCI to RAID now but couldn't find any secure boot option, so I'm going into Windows now and will disable fast boot if it's activated. Then I'll try again.
It is odd. Many Linux users install Zorin (15 or 16) on eMMC or nVME with no trouble. Others do have trouble. It's fickle.
In fact, for a long time, the general consensus was that Linux OS's simply cannot be installed on eMMC and would never be compatible. Progress has been made... But the fight's not over yet.
I've just tried, I can't manipulate the EFI partition in any way, which means I'll have to find another way to do this. Shouldn't it be possible for me to install the bootloader completely onto the SSD, in a way so that my computer won't be affected but I would be able to choose to boot onto the SSD if it's attached by pressing F11 during bootup?
EDIT: It just came to my mind that there might be remnants of the old Linux distributions blocking and clogging up the space on the EFI partition. I will try going into Zorin and try to remove those folders if they're there.
Thanks for the link Unfortunately for me there were no Linux entries anymore so I'm back to finding another solution.
I have recently tried just creating a Boot partition and a root / partition on the SSD and tried to install grub into that boot partition (512 MB) but that also didn't work. It almost seems as if GRUB cannot be installed at all.
If this is a notebook I would be tempted to remove the internal SSD, boot off the install media with external SSD attached and install Zorin that way. Then power down, reinstall SSD in machine and install EasyBCD from NeoSmart the free version.
Alternatively, just go into BIOS and select external SSD to boot from.
Unfortunately for me there were no Linux entries anymore so I'm back to finding another solution.