Zorin 18 Pro Installation Stalls

Installing Zorin OS
1

When I attempted to install Zorin 18 Pro onto an empty internal drive, the installation stalls. I do get the initial installation option screen and selected the first option to install Zorin 18 Pro. The installation then shows the wallpaper image, but nothing else beyond that. No menu or text...

My PC runs Windows 10, but I bought a second hdd for Linux. I flashed my USB with balena Etcher several times, but got the same result of just the wallpaper and nothing more. I also tried Rufus and that didn't work. I bought a new 64gb flash drive and had the same results. I tried disabling the secure boot, but that didn't help either. I also tried installing the free core version, but had the same results.

I recently loaded Ubuntu onto this new hdd and the installation was quick & easy. There seems to be an issue that causes the installation process to stop as soon as it starts, but I've reached a dead end. Can anyone provide some help?

2

Can you please provide the specs of the computer in question?

3

Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-7700 CPU @ 3.60GHz 3.60 GHz
Installed RAM 32.0 GB
Storage 233 GB SSD Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB, 224 GB SSD CT240BX500SSD1
Graphics Card Intel(R) HD Graphics 630 (128 MB)
System Type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

Edition Windows 10 Home
Version 22H2
OS Build 19045.6456

4

Nothing in your specs looks like it could be an issue.

In your BIOS settings, are you set to AHCI or to RAID?

5

It shows AHCI. Should it be set to RAID for having two hdd's?

6

No, RAID would require special setting up. It should be AHCI - and you can choose which drive to boot from if they both have a boot file in the EFI partition.
Are you set to EFI boot or Legacy (MBR)?

7

I saw something in the BIOS about UEFI. No BIOS expert here...

8

Sounds right. You said Ubuntu installed without trouble. Which version was that?

9

Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS

10

This is baffling.
Zorin OS 18 is based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and uses the same installer.
That Ubuntu 24.04 installed tells me that the usual causes for what you describe cannot be in effect.
Did you use BalenaEtcher to burn the Ubuntu .iso - was it on the same stick?

Since you have Zorin OS Pro, you also have free Installation Support directly from the ZorinGroup. Have you filled out a request with them?

11

I finally got Zorin to install, but I had to turn Safe Graphics off. When I rebooted after installation, I only got the wallpaper again. And yes, I used BalenaEtcher on two different USB's, one that I bought today.

12

If you boot to the Grub Menu, you should see Advanced Options for Zorin.
Selecting that, you can choose Zorin on the kernel in (Recovery) mode.

Arrow key down the recovery menu to Drop to Root Prompt
and add the nomodeset parameter.

Then test booting and see if that works...

13

How do I get to the Grub Menu?

14

If you do not see it at normal boot, from the Motherboard splash screen, give tab or esc a Tap to show the grub menu.

15

Zorin is working fine now. I discovered that after I finally got Zorin installed with Safe Graphics, my main display had switched over to my secondary monitor that I always leave off. When I turned it on, Zorin was waiting on me.

I appreciate all your help...

2 Likes
16

Have you been using 64Gb USB / Flash drive as your Zorin OS installation media?
If true, how was that drive formatted before use with Balena or Rufus? May be better to use a slightly smaller USB stick.

Can we assume you have done all pre-installation checks as mentioned here: Before you install

17

I first used a 32GB USB/Flash drive and then bought a new one that was 64GB.