MX Linux Forum

Hello,
Escapee from Ubuntu (06 to 18). I tried a live disc of MX and liked it, so I ordered a new computer with no OS... The 'no OS' got "lost in translation" and it arrived with Ubunto 20 installed. I live in Spain currently but the compaqny is Spanish and as such provides little help for my problem of trying to change the OS

I have tried to boot from a USB with the following files
mx-19.4.1_ahs_x64.iso
live-usb-maker-qt-129.11.02x86_64.AppImage

F7 gets me into the bios menu to change the boot priority and it says it is using legacy bios system...

When I boot it sends the message (approximately) :)
System boot order not found Initialising defaults
Creating boot entry "boot0001" with label "ubuntu" for file "\EFI\ubuntu\shimx64.efi"

Presumably my startup USB lacks something

In addition I have lost the initial password for the computer and the company were no help there either but as I am creating an entirely new system I thought it was not important to keep chasing that one?

The computer is a Slimbook one with Ryzen processor and 16Gb Ram
Any pointers would be useful at this stage and I can provide a copy of my invoice to prove it is a new computer if necessary?
regards
Shay

Shay123 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 29, 2021 4:06 am F7 gets me into the bios menu to change the boot priority

You might need to adjust the boot order to boot from the LiveUSB or alternatively select the EFI-file on the LiveUSB from within UEFI-fimware/system setup to add it to the UEFI boot order list. The EFI-file on the MX Live USB to boot from would be /EFI/BOOT/Bootx64.efi or /EFI/BOOT/grubx64.efi

I think you need to change the BIOS settings. Try enabling UEFI boot and disabling Secure Boot. Save changes and then reboot again to select to boot from USB device. It should boot now.

Hello,
Thanks for the ideas, it is a while since I had to play with the Bios settings - will let you know how it goes!

Hello,
Thanks nXecure, however
the boot order was already set to USB then CD/DVD then hard disk (with Ubuntu)
I did change the boot to UEFI but it had no effect
There was no secure boot set up in the BIOS

Thanks too to fehlix
However, I only have the two files on the USB and I do not remember having the option to access files like the ones you quoted?

Do I need to go back to the drawing board on this one?
Shay

If Ubuntu is installed and boots, then MX should work. Maybe reset the bios values (but record what they currently are. Ensure you have the latest bios version for your laptop. That shouldn't matter if Ubuntu is installed. But, at least know if you're current or not.). Repartition the disk, blow everything away, start fresh?

Regarding the suggestion about secure boot. Is there a password set in the bios? (supervisor password). I have to keep mine secured like that because I've seen things that will change secure boot. (If your computer is new, you should have something in your bios in the secure boot realm.).

Shay123 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 29, 2021 4:06 am I have tried to boot from a USB with the following files
mx-19.4.1_ahs_x64.iso
live-usb-maker-qt-129.11.02x86_64.AppImage

I might be wrong, I read it as you would have copied the mentioned files onto an USB device?
Please explore what you mean with the statement above.
Perhaps that's the starting issue, b/c the UEFI-system firmware would not "scan" for an ISO file nor an Appimage to boot from.

Shay123 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 29, 2021 11:30 amDo I need to go back to the drawing board on this one?

Seems that would be a good move. What tool did you use to write the iso to the USB? If it was just a matter of copying the file to USB, then that is why it won't boot.

Neil's suggestion caused me to think: You burned an MX iso to a USB drive on your existing computer, and booted that (to see that you liked MX enough to buy a new computer -- which you expected not to have an OS, but it does).

Is it *that* USB drive that won't boot on the new computer? I would start with the basics, and work your way through it. Whatever you made that's not working now: does it boot on your existing computer? Can you go back to whatever you booted your existing computer with, and see if the new one boots that?

If you have a USB live-cd thing that boots on the old computer, but not the new one, then it's clearly something about the bios. Something about secure boot. Or, booting from USB not enabled. Or, the boot order. Or, you have to press a key and choose the boot device. (For me, that's usually F12 to choose the boot device, F2 to enter the bios).

You mentioned legacy mode? I wouldn't think a new computer would need that.

When you say you lost the password. Is that the OS password? Or, the bios password? You said f7 gets you to boot order. Is that the bios, or a separate boot order like my F12 is? (Are you actually able to get into the bios, not just a boot-order menu?).

From what I gather, you know how to burn a bootable USB live-cd thing. You did it, and booted it on your existing computer. You should be able to boot that same thing on the new computer, and repartition the unwanted OS out of existence (assuming you're not locked out of the bios).

It shouldn't be this complicated. You need a more structured approach to ruling things in and out, and more specificity in your descriptions. If you can't get it to work, I would return it. Especially if they aren't giving you a password.

The product page says it's a Ryzen 7. I have Ryzen 3 and 5. The only MX I can install on my Ryzen 5/Vega 8 is MX 19.2 ahs. (3 and 4 don't install. I have to install MX 19.2, then do a system update which brings it up to 19.4). So maybe be prepared to try that. It doesn't sound like you've gotten that far yet. For me, it hangs. A video problem probably. It's possible you'll find MX isn't ready for your Ryzen 7. (I could get Ryzen 3 working, but not Ryzen 5 until 19.2. Then, like I said, .3 and .4 won't install on it. The non-ahs version of .4 installs on the Ryzen 3. So, be prepared for how you might face some issues this way. I love MX, but I don't think it's terrific for new hardware. Or, maybe AMD has issues.).

Hello
Thanks for the ideas
Firstly I made a DVD with the ISO to try as a live disk and that is how I evaluated different linux flavours. The ISO was made on my laptop with Ubuntu 18 as an OS. I also used the same laptop to create the USB but I used over a month ago some software that I do not remember that didn't seem to work and then a system that did. However I do not remember, partly because since starting with Ubuntu 6 I promised myself not to get under the Hood/Bonnet so much and partly cos I just moved home too.

This USB I created does not work on my laptop, now that I tried it, so I will go back to basics and as all of you have said in some way get a more structured approach to making a new stick. I am thinking of invoking the DVD on my laptop again to use MX to make a live USB stick but I will let you know how it goes.

I note the comments about Ryzen too, it was one of my thoughts when buying and did not research it too much. If that is the case then I will have to wait for the solution. It may be that the company only recommends and makes a point of saying various linux versions for that reason.
Thanks for the ideas and help, it is really appreciated. it will be half a day before I can deal with this issue again.

Hello again,
The USB did not boot on my laptop where I created the DVD MX.iso, to try as a live disc and trial MX - this uses Ubuntu 18
However, my original DVD that I used for the trial also doesn't work as it has become scratched - back to the drawing board!
So for now it is all down to hardware faults and I will end this thread to save further time and energy being wasted. I will start again from the beginning.
Thanks for all for the advice -I will bear this in mind for the next attempt.
Regards
Shay

Merely booting a live usb shouldn't be complicated. You said your original computer runs Ubuntu. This how-to shows how to do it on Ubuntu. When I ran *buntu distros, I usually installed Unetbootin to "burn" the iso as a bootable usb drive. (That's a second option for you if Ubuntu's native tool doesn't work).

I've got a feeling your real problem will be that MX 19.4 (ahs I presume) won't boot, or won't install (or boot after install). Your Ryzen 7 might be too new (or the graphics too new). MX 19.2 ahs is the only MX that will install on my Ryzen 5/Vega 8. The software updater then updates it to 19.4. (I have never reported the problem with 19.3 & 4. Maybe if I had, it would be better.).

MX 21 is in beta testing right now. If you can accomplish creating/booting USB drives, you might try that and provide feedback. (I still need to do it with my Ryzen 5/Vega 8 ). There might not be much feedback to provide other than it doesn't work. However, there will be a "ahs" version available for testing after 21 is released. I suspect the ahs version will be what you'd really want to test (or have more hope of working).

IMO, if MX 19.2 ahs doesn't work with your new Ryzen 7 computer, then you probably want to install a working whatever on that computer, and try MX 19.4 on your existing computer which you have used Ubuntu on. Maybe make the new computer your Ubuntu computer (or try something different, like Neon KDE). Make your old computer MX.

I hadn't realised this post was still open - Apologies
My final installation USB was gained from another source and had several files that were missing off the original USB. The original was therefore incomplete. Once I used the proper set of files along with the iso it all went much better./

Good. This topic is now closed.