Hehehe...you might want to go back up through this thread! (I'm sure it's hard to keep track of all the conversations you participate in).
This very partition on this Flex 3's HDD has had Zorin OS 16 installed for many months (and, as I noted, at the time of that install, the installer did not lay the screen over to tablet mode like 17 does). Then, after my two failed attempts at an install of 17, I reported that I went back to 16 (still had the USB), installer again did NOT flop the screen to tablet mode and installation was successful.
Very. It is not unusual for me to repeat something or miss something.
In this case, I posted while distracted by something else: I reallu should have been 100% aware that you have been using 16 considering how thoroughly you covered that...
I have noted a variety of irregularities with the 17 installer that relate to many different kinds of hardware from Macbooks to certain ssd's.
Several, including launchpad, github - but the one in use on this forum is the Feedback sub-forum.
That said; I have also escalated to the ZorinGroup the noted issues reported about general lag and installation troubles in the moderator forum.
Different things may have different solutions; it may take some time to suss out causes and get things patched.
These are more side comments here: you are not alone and things are being reviewed. But this does not mean that this thread should stop focusing on your issue.
If we can find a solution to your stated issue; this can help toward looking at other installation troubles if not help other users of Lenovo.
I am not sure what is different from Zorin OS 16 to Zorin OS 17 that is affecting your specific machine at the moment. This will take more research. Part of my having made the comment is probably due to frustration at not knowing what is causing your trouble and having a solution at the ready.
One of the first things I would suggest we try is actually rolling your kernel back to an earlier version On Zorin OS 17.
This can be done with one command in the terminal on an installed system, but doing so prior to installation is much trickier.
@Aravisian, am I pretty much stuck with the way things are? Is waiting (more "coming weeks") for the upgrade the best approach? Or was there anything else you wanted me to do?
I'm sorry for the delay. What I do is I keep tabs open that I need to keep track of. While working on a tricky thing of my own, it resulted in a series of crashes that resulted in me losing all my open tabs.
(I could have gone through the extensive history and restored some but... I was tired and irritable at that point).
There is more than one way to do what is suggested:
Change the kernel in the Zorin OS 17 .iso and then re-wrap the .iso with the new kernel. This is tricky and I do not recommend this approach.
Install Zorin OS 17, then immediately install the different kernel prior to rebooting into the new desktop. This is easy and definitely what I would try first.
The steps to do the second option would be to install Zorin OS normally.
Once it completes, it will tell you to reboot. Do so... Except monitor the screen and bap the esc or tab key as needed to reach the Grub Menu (necessary if single booting with no other OS. If you are dual booting, the Grub menu should show at every boot).
From the Grub Menu, select Advanced Options for Zorin.
From there, you can select a kernel to boot from or - that kernel on (Recovery). Select the first convenient (Recovery) option.
This will take you to the recovery menu.
You must first enable networking so arrow key down to the option to do so. Once networking is enabled granting you net access, back up to the recovery menu and arrow key down to Root - Drop to Prompt
In this, you must enter the terminal command to install the kernel you want. First, update your sources
I believe the latest on 16.3 is actually -92 or something, but when I did an apt search on 16.3 for it, I only saw one for -91 so I opted for the -83 for safety.
Once the kernel is installed, reboot. Immediately enter the Grub menu again, and Advanced Options for Zorin. Select the option for Zorin on 5.15... to boot from.
Once booted into the desktop, you will need to follow the steps here:
To ensure you default boot into the earlier working kernel.
I see that the upgrade is now available...but for testing (not ready for production computers). So I wouldn't be jumping on this train just yet.
But are you saying I should do the upgrade? You said "The steps to do the second option would be to install Zorin OS normally." I'm just looking for clarity on what is "normally" in this case, considering the problem I have with the 17 installer going into tablet mode.
And if the upgrade path should actually work, are you of the mind that a reversion to an earlier kernal would still be a good idea?
I suspect that the upgrade is unlikely to create a solution if the solution is an earlier kernel. However, a later kernel may have been repaired from the one that comes with the Zorin OS 17 .iso, as well.
I believe that the upgrade is safe. I am not of the mind it will create a solution but I would be happy to stand corrected.
Follow the normal install procedures up to completion.
The one thing that the Zorin OS Upgrader can offer you is the ability to upgrade to Zorin OS 17 while retaining the working kernel. This means you would not need to enter into the Recovery Menu and install the kernel.
You could just roll back onto the existing installed kernel from the grub menu.
However... the upgrader is also a One Way Street. If anything goes wrong, you cannot run the upgrader in reverse to downgrade to Zorin OS 16.
I highly recommend checking up on all your back ups for personal data and files.
I went through the upgrade process, all the way though, including the reboot. And the good news I guess is that it didn't blow up or anything. The not-so-good news is that both lsb_release -a and Zorin>Settings>About still show me running 16.3
None at all...and I followed the instructions in the blog, starting with the terminal command and then linked to "Stage 3" which was followed, as I say, through to completion including updates of software and the ultimate need to reboot.
I see what I did wrong. I've got it started again and, after all of the "Do you realize that..." warnings, it's actually underway. Since this "may take a long time," I'll send you this now....and report the results later.
Apparently a FAIL. Went through the looooong process of waiting for the update (even went out and ran some errands) and then did the requested reboot. Nothing. Black screen. Waited many minutes. Restarted the device, got the grub menu and chose Zorin....nothing. Black screen. Waited many minutes. Now on 3rd try and more of the same.
Guess I will re-install 16.1 (that's the file I have).
(I'm sure it's hard to keep track of all the conversations you participate in).