Recently began looking for something to switch to since windows10 is basically dead and definitely like Zorin. I installed it and it runs great, and everything's perfect until it isn't. A full catastrophic crash requiring a complete fresh install of the OS will suddenly occur, but at least I've noticed a trend.
It's only happens when I try to install GOG from the application store, its a snap package.
Is there some kind of settings issue that I've borked somewhere or is this "normal" and I'm just an idiot causing the crashes myself and I need to disable the ability to see snappackages and avoid them...?
I am fairly new to linux, outside of using steamOs, so sorry if its literally something braindead that I'm doing wrong here.
Forgot to add: when this happens the Grub menu doesnt appear as described by others or even what I've seen in pictures, so my next attempt is going to utilize a fresh download of the ios.
You are the second user in one day to report that installing a snap package rendered the operating system unusable.
Unfortunately, I don't know what's causing this, but it definitely shouldn't happen. If I were you, I would refrain from installing snaps or even remove the snap services/plugin altogether. They often cause problems in Zorin.
Did you get a message of an error during the crash or boot?
Just used Brave A.I. search engine via Mojeek search which gives:
"To install and play GOG games on Linux without using Snap or Flatpak, the most effective approach is to use Lutris, which is specifically designed for managing Windows games on Linux and integrates seamlessly with Steam.
Lutris is recommended because:
It allows you to log in directly to your GOG account and install games with a single click.
It automatically handles Wine and Proton setup, eliminating the need for manual configuration.
It supports multiple Wine/Proton versions and can be configured for optimal performance.
It avoids Snap and Flatpak entirely, using native system packages.
Steps to Install GOG Games via Lutris (without Snap/Flatpak):
Install Lutris using your distribution’s package manager or from Flathub (if you prefer Flatpak, but it's not required).
On Debian/Ubuntu: sudo apt install lutris
On Fedora: sudo dnf install lutris
On Arch: sudo pacman -S lutris
Launch Lutris and go to the Sources tab on the left sidebar.
Click on GOG and sign in with your GOG account.
Your library of purchased GOG games will appear. Select a game and click Install .
Lutris will automatically:
Download and install the required Wine or Proton version.
Download and run the GOG installer.
Set up the game in a dedicated environment.
Once installed, click Launch to play the game.
Alternative : You can also use Heroic Games Launcher or Bottles , but Lutris is the most user-friendly and widely supported option for GOG games without Snap/Flatpak.
Avoid using the GOG Galaxy client on Linux, as it is not officially supported and often fails to launch or is unresponsive. Lutris handles GOG integration more reliably.
This method ensures full compatibility, avoids dependency conflicts, and keeps your setup clean and native.
Similar problem here : installed Gog Galaxy app from zorin store and now I face permanent loop of system crashes "A problem has occured and the system can't recover. Please log out and retry"
Logging out and rebooting are useless.
How can I rollback ?
Thanks for reporting this bug. We have been able to replicate it and find the source of the issue, and have resolved it in a software update earlier today.
The issue was caused by a logic error in the upstream Ubuntu version of the malcontent package (Parental Controls). The issue also affects Ubuntu but, since they don't include parental controls by default, most users weren't affected.
If you've already installed the GOG Galaxy Snap package on a Zorin OS 18-powered computer without this patch and are affected by the "Oh no! Something has gone wrong" error, you can repair your system by following these steps:
While running Zorin OS, press Ctrl+Alt+F3.
Enter your username and password to log into a text prompt.
Enter the following command to install the latest software updates: sudo apt update && sudo apt dist-upgrade
After the updates have been installed, enter this command to restart your computer: sudo reboot
You should now be able to log into Zorin OS normally again. However, your desktop layout might have been reset to the GNOME Shell look (with a thin panel at the top of the screen). To switch back to the default Zorin OS layout (with the taskbar at the bottom of the screen), press the Windows/Logo key, search & open "Zorin Appearance", and click one of the options in the "Layout" section.
Alternative : You can also use Heroic Games Launcher or Bottles , but Lutris is the most user-friendly and widely supported option for GOG games without Snap/Flatpak.
Avoid using the GOG Galaxy client on Linux, as it is not officially supported and often fails to launch or is unresponsive. Lutris handles GOG integration more reliably.