MX Linux Forum

Posted: **Mon Feb 05, 2024 12:28 am**

Hi, this topic isn't really solved. I don't have the means to try the possible solution right now but I will mark it as solved for now.
The root cause of my problem is probably Windows Fast Startup.
j2mcgreg links the reason(and solution): https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=383611
I can't change that setting since i broke win10 on the SSD whilst trying out distros on a flash drive. Now I can't boot to it.
To make matters worse, I can't move off some of my files on the SSD. Gives me "error splicing file: permission denied".
I think those files are encrypted by windows or that my local acccount in windows has ownership.
I might lose those files when I try to re-install/ repair windows.
I've marked j2mcgreg's solution as the answer for those in a similar state.

Here's the original post:

Hi, I am a linux newbie and I've only been using MX for the past week so I am sorry if I don't fully understand what is being asked of me.

Fan doesn't spin on my asus zenbook UX305LA laptop and prevents me from doing heavy tasks. Just having youtube open on the browser, cpu peaks at 90`C.

Here is my QSI:

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 6.1.0-17-amd64 [6.1.69-1] arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/antiX/vmlinuz quiet splasht nosplash lang=en_US kbd=us 
    persist_root splasht
  Desktop: Xfce v: 4.18.1 tk: Gtk v: 3.24.36 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm v: 4.18.0 vt: 7
    dm: LightDM v: 1.26.0 Distro: MX-23.2_x64 Libretto January 21  2024 base: Debian GNU/Linux 12
    (bookworm)
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: ASUSTeK product: UX305LA v: 1.0 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: ASUSTeK model: UX305LA v: 1.0 serial: <superuser required> UEFI: American Megatrends
    v: UX305LA.206 date: 08/03/2015
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 21.8 Wh (62.1%) condition: 35.1/56.0 Wh (62.6%) volts: 11.3 min: 11.3
    model: ASUSTeK ASUS Battery type: Li-ion serial: N/A status: discharging cycles: 547
CPU:
  Info: model: Intel Core i5-5200U bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Broadwell gen: core 5 level: v3
    note: check built: 2015-18 process: Intel 14nm family: 6 model-id: 0x3D (61) stepping: 4
    microcode: 0x1D
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 2 tpc: 2 threads: 4 smt: enabled cache: L1: 128 KiB
    desc: d-2x32 KiB; i-2x32 KiB L2: 512 KiB desc: 2x256 KiB L3: 3 MiB desc: 1x3 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 748 high: 799 min/max: 500/2700 scaling: driver: intel_cpufreq
    governor: ondemand cores: 1: 798 2: 798 3: 600 4: 799 bogomips: 17559
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: VMX disabled
  Type: l1tf mitigation: PTE Inversion; VMX: conditional cache flushes, SMT vulnerable
  Type: mds status: Vulnerable: Clear CPU buffers attempted, no microcode; SMT vulnerable
  Type: meltdown mitigation: PTI
  Type: mmio_stale_data status: Unknown: No mitigations
  Type: retbleed status: Not affected
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow status: Not affected
  Type: spec_store_bypass status: Vulnerable
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Retpolines, STIBP: disabled, RSB filling, PBRSB-eIBRS: Not
    affected
  Type: srbds status: Vulnerable: No microcode
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel HD Graphics 5500 vendor: ASUSTeK driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Gen-8
    process: Intel 14nm built: 2014-15 ports: active: eDP-1 empty: HDMI-A-1 bus-ID: 00:02.0
    chip-ID: 8086:1616 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: Realtek USB2.0 HD UVC WebCam type: USB driver: uvcvideo bus-ID: 1-5:6
    chip-ID: 0bda:57cb class-ID: 0e02 serial: <filter>
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 compositor: xfwm v: 4.18.0 driver: X:
    loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa dri: iris gpu: i915 display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x1080 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 508x285mm (20.00x11.22") s-diag: 582mm (22.93")
  Monitor-1: eDP-1 model: AU Optronics 0x212d built: 2013 res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 166
    gamma: 1.2 size: 293x165mm (11.54x6.5") diag: 336mm (13.2") ratio: 16:9 modes: 1920x1080
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 Mesa 22.3.6 renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 5500 (BDW GT2)
    direct-render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Broadwell-U Audio vendor: ASUSTeK driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:03.0
    chip-ID: 8086:160c class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: Intel Wildcat Point-LP High Definition Audio vendor: ASUSTeK driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:9ca0 class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.1.0-17-amd64 status: kernel-api tools: alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.0.0 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse status: active
    2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 4: pw-jack type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Wireless 7265 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel modules: wl pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s
    lanes: 1 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:095a class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8153 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter type: USB driver: r8152 bus-ID: 1-3.3:8
    chip-ID: 0bda:8153 class-ID: 0000 serial: <filter>
  IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Intel Bluetooth wireless interface type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8 bus-ID: 1-4:4
    chip-ID: 8087:0a2a class-ID: e001
  Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 1 state: up address: <filter> bt-v: 2.1 lmp-v: 4.2
    sub-v: 1000 hci-v: 4.2 rev: 1000
  Info: acl-mtu: 1021:5 sco-mtu: 96:6 link-policy: rswitch hold sniff
    link-mode: peripheral accept service-classes: rendering, capturing, object transfer, audio,
    telephony
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 582.33 GiB used: 10.35 GiB (1.8%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 860 EVO M.2 500GB size: 465.76 GiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 4B6Q
    scheme: GPT
  ID-2: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 type: USB vendor: SanDisk model: SanDisk 3.2 Gen1 size: 116.57 GiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: DL17 scheme: MBR
  SMART Message: Unknown USB bridge. Flash drive/Unsupported enclosure?
Partition:
  Message: No partition data found.
Swap:
  Alert: No swap data was found.
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 60.0 C pch: 46.5 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: pm: dpkg pkgs: 2060 libs: 1053 tools: apt,apt-get,aptitude,nala,synaptic pm: rpm
    pkgs: 0 pm: flatpak pkgs: 0
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64] https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
    2: deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security bookworm-security main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mx.list
    1: deb https://mirrors.aliyun.com/mxlinux/mx/repo/ bookworm main non-free
Info:
  Processes: 236 Uptime: 1h 39m wakeups: 2 Memory: 7.65 GiB used: 4.27 GiB (55.8%) Init: SysVinit
  v: 3.06 runlevel: 5 default: graphical tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 12.2.0 alt: 12
  Client: shell wrapper v: 5.2.15-release inxi: 3.3.26
Boot Mode: UEFI
SecureBoot enabled

I used Live USB Maker to create a persistent usb (persist_root) on a 128GB thumb drive since I haven't moved my files off of the ssd that has Windows on it. I think I broke win10 while trying out different distros since I can't boot to it but I can still access the files in the ssd so it's not an urgent issue.

sensors:

Code: Select all

$ sensors
coretemp-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
Package id 0:  +48.0°C  (high = +105.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)
Core 0:        +48.0°C  (high = +105.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)
Core 1:        +47.0°C  (high = +105.0°C, crit = +105.0°C)

asus-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
cpu_fan:     25500 RPM
temp1:        +49.0°C  

acpitz-acpi-0
Adapter: ACPI interface
temp1:        +49.0°C  (crit = +108.0°C)

iwlwifi_1-virtual-0
Adapter: Virtual device
temp1:        +36.0°C  

pch_wildcat_point-virtual-0
Adapter: Virtual device
temp1:        +46.0°C  

BAT0-acpi-0
Adapter: ACPI interface
in0:          11.31 V

cpu_fan reports an ungodly high rpm and I am also concerned with both the high and crit temp being same value.
Running sensors-detect only gives "coretemp" as the only sensor listed.

Code: Select all

Driver `coretemp':
  * Chip `Intel digital thermal sensor' (confidence: 9)

To load everything that is needed, add this to /etc/modules:
#----cut here----
# Chip drivers
coretemp
#----cut here----

I found out about pwmconfig and this is what it gave me:

Code: Select all

Found the following devices:
   hwmon0 is acpitz
   hwmon1 is BAT0
   hwmon2 is AC0
   hwmon3 is pch_wildcat_point
   hwmon4 is asus
   hwmon5 is iwlwifi_1
   hwmon6 is coretemp

Found the following PWM controls:
   hwmon4/pwm1           current value: 255
   
 ...(ommitted)
 
 Giving the fans some time to reach full speed...
Found the following fan sensors:
cat: hwmon4/fan1_input: No such device or address
   hwmon4/fan1_input     current speed:  RPM
   
...

Testing pwm control hwmon4/pwm1 ...
cat: hwmon4/fan1_input: No such device or address
  hwmon4/fan1_input ... speed was  now 
/usr/sbin/pwmconfig: line 455: let: threshold=3*/4: syntax error: operand expected (error token is "/4")
    It appears that fan hwmon4/fan1_input
    is controlled by pwm hwmon4/pwm1
cat: hwmon4/fan1_input: No such device or address
    Fan hwmon4/fan1_input has not returned to speed, please investigate!

I can see that there is an issue with it not compatible or not being detected but I don't know what I should do with this info or what the next step is.

Any kind of help is appreciated.

Posted: **Mon Feb 05, 2024 5:57 am**

Hi- I just resolved a similar issue on my computer. My fan (that didn't look dusty from the outside) was clogged inside at the junction of the cooling fins. This was only visible after removing the fan from it's housing.

Once clean and back together with a clean fan Firefox / youtube does initiate a higher initial cpu /memory usage but immediately the fan comes on (not roars) and pulls the temperatures down to 40's in seconds.

If yours hit 90C (the critical level of my system) if you are lucky it might just be the system shutdown and the fan locked to prevent damage. Try cleaning out the fan without removing the cooling plate from the CPU (if you have to, make sure you have replacement thermal paste on hand.) Once you disturb that junction the paste should be replaced. Factory thermal paste is rated to withstand temps from -40C to 200C. 90 C shouldn't decompose the paste. The temperature settings apparently differ by CPU model. High and Critical are different on mine by 10 degrees.

After the fan is clean, if it still doesn't work, you might try removing the battery and power cable and then hold the start button for about 30 second before then rebooting. If that doesn't work, I'd probably swap out the fan. If your fan was making odd noises before the problem, I'd probably order a new fan before starting the project.

Posted: **Mon Feb 05, 2024 6:19 am**

kmiles wrote: Mon Feb 05, 2024 12:28 am I've only been using MX for the past week

Hi there, did the fan work until recently?

MXNewFan gives some good advice, but if the fan was working before installing MX, then the more likely problem is a missing driver or configuration.

Posted: **Mon Feb 05, 2024 6:21 am**

Welcome to the forum.

As a first step, have a look in the BIOS/UEFI to see if there are any fan threshold settings. If it's set to 'quiet' by default, try another setting.

Chris

Posted: **Mon Feb 05, 2024 9:27 am**

Hi again, thank you all for those that replied.

MXNewFan wrote: Mon Feb 05, 2024 5:57 am After the fan is clean, if it still doesn't work, you might try removing the battery and power cable and then hold the start button for about 30 second before then rebooting. If that doesn't work, I'd probably swap out the fan. If your fan was making odd noises before the problem, I'd probably order a new fan before starting the project.

I've fully cleaned the fan and heatsink and repasted the cpu since I've been opening up the laptop to remove the ssd out of fear of reformatting it(I haven't copied my files to something else) instead of the usb drive I was flashing distros to try out. I have always disconnected the battery and held the power button as I didn't want to accidentally short something whilst I was cleaning inside or removing/plugging in the ssd. Also, the fan hasn't been making any weird noises and was audible when idle(in Windows). I have no means to replace the fan currently.

Dennis-TW wrote: Mon Feb 05, 2024 6:19 am Hi there, did the fan work until recently?

MXNewFan gives some good advice, but if the fan was working before installing MX, then the more likely problem is a missing driver or configuration.

Yes, that fan was working but only in win10. And ever since I borked the OS, I haven't been able to test whether it still works in win10. I'm a bit scared of the laptop suddenly shutting down due to overheating whilst copying my files off of the ssd so I haven't tried to do so yet.
I should say that the charging port or the battery is probably damaged since it sometimes keeps disconnecting and then goes back to normal again (battery condition is 62.6% of the original). I don't have another computer where I can continue to troubleshoot and that keeps me from re-installing windows on the ssd.

chrispop99 wrote: Mon Feb 05, 2024 6:21 am Welcome to the forum.

As a first step, have a look in the BIOS/UEFI to see if there are any fan threshold settings. If it's set to 'quiet' by default, try another setting.

Chris

The welcome is appreciated. There are no fan control nor power settings in the BIOS. The laptop is 7 y.o. and I didn't update the bios so it doesn't have such options.

From your replies, I think that it's either a configuration or driver/compatibility problem that I'm having. Though I might be completely wrong.

Posted: **Mon Feb 05, 2024 9:50 am**

@kmiles wrote:

There are no fan control nor power settings in the BIOS. The laptop is 7 y.o. and I didn't update the bios so it doesn't have such options.

Often setting up an administrator's password in the bios will reveal many otherwise hidden controls.

Posted: **Mon Feb 05, 2024 9:53 am**

kmiles wrote: Mon Feb 05, 2024 9:27 am... I think that it's either a configuration or driver/compatibility ...

Yes. Cause it works on Windows, same Bios, same hardware, same being clean/dirty ...

Is it the same when plugged in and when on battery ? (It may be due to tlp )

Code: Select all

sudo nano /etc/tlp.conf

TLP_ENABLE=1

change to 0 , save, close, reboot.

Posted: **Mon Feb 05, 2024 9:59 am**

In the meantime (at least till you repair it) you can boot Windows indirectly using the "Boot Rescue Menus" on live session at welcome screen.

In case you manage to boot Win. this or that way: Disable "Fast Startup" there (as it doesn't really shutdown it keeps most devices engaged, though this may not be related to that).

Posted: **Mon Feb 05, 2024 10:23 am**

j2mcgreg wrote: Mon Feb 05, 2024 9:50 am Often setting up an administrator's password in the bios will reveal many otherwise hidden controls.

I see. I didn't know about that.

Charlie Brown wrote: Mon Feb 05, 2024 9:53 am Yes. Cause it works on Windows, same Bios, same hardware, same being clean/dirty ...
Is it the same when plugged in and when on battery ? (It may be due to tlp )
Code: Select all
sudo nano /etc/tlp.conf
TLP_ENABLE=1
change to 0 , save, close, reboot.

I don't know whether or not it works when on battery since I always leave it plugged in incase it starts disconnecting again.

Charlie Brown wrote: Mon Feb 05, 2024 9:59 am In the meantime (at least till you repair it) you can boot Windows indirectly using the "Boot Rescue Menus" on live session at welcome screen.

In case you manage to boot Win. this or that way: Disable "Fast Startup" there (as it doesn't really shutdown it keeps most devices engaged, though this may not be related to that).

Will disabling fast startup on the bios have the same effect?
Also, watching a youtube vid actually keeps temp at 80`C minimum and peaks at 94`C.

I'll try the solutions tomorrow since it's midnight where I am. See you then

Posted: **Mon Feb 05, 2024 10:26 am**

Though they're not exactly the same disable that, too.

In case it's still the same: Install the most recent Liquorix kernel from "MX Package Installer" , reboot.

P.S. This is not a must, just btw: Since you don't have any Broadcom and Realtek wifi devices you can open "MX Cleanup" beforehand and "Remove Unused Wifi Drivers"... cause they (dkms packages recompiling) take too much time "for nothing" and give errors etc.. when installing a new kernel ...

Posted: **Mon Feb 05, 2024 1:42 pm**

Do you recall if the fan ever worked when testing other distros?

Posted: **Mon Feb 05, 2024 2:52 pm**

There's a mention in the last post in this thread from the Mint forums:
https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=383611
that Fast Start Up needs to be disabled in Windows in order for the fan to work in Linux.

Posted: **Tue Feb 06, 2024 12:47 am**

Setting up an admin password in bios (rebooted after for good measure) only let me change whether I can enable/disable certain components like usb ports, the cam, bluetooth, etc. It didn't give me new options to access.

TLP set to zero didn't have any effect either. I haven't tried the Liquorix kernel yet.

Stevo wrote: Mon Feb 05, 2024 1:42 pm Do you recall if the fan ever worked when testing other distros?

nope, never worked.

j2mcgreg wrote: Mon Feb 05, 2024 2:52 pm There's a mention in the last post in this thread from the Mint forums:
https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=383611
that Fast Start Up needs to be disabled in Windows in order for the fan to work in Linux.

Welp, I guess I need to fix Windows first to fix this issue.

Now then, I don't know if I can get help here regarding windows or look elsewhere first but I should probably explain the situation with windows.

When trying to boot into windows, it gives me a blue screen with CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED and it'll boot loop until I get to Recovery mode.
I've tried letting it try to fix itself and going on command prompt(in recovery mode) to do /scannow, DISM, and chkdsk. None of these worked.

I don't know what part of my messing about broke in the windows bootloader(?) but it's probably something I did.
What else can I do besides just copying my files off the ssd and then re-installing windows on it?

edit: Forgot to mention, I am having trouble copying certain files/folders from the ssd. Says "error splicing file: permission denied". I think it was encrypted by windows, shite.

Posted: **Tue Feb 06, 2024 6:26 am**

Here’s what I would do in this situation:
1. purchase a new ssd and a usb to ssd adaptor cable or dock
2. replace the existing ssd with the new one
3. set the old ssd aside for now
4. install Win 10 on the new ssd and only configure it to the point where you can try file recovery
5. access the old ssd via the adaptor cable or dock
6. attempt to recover the files using Win 10’s own tools
7. if the file recovery is successful, discard the old ssd. Otherwise set it aside.
8. Backup all your data tp a safe, external location
9. disable Fast Start Up in Win 10 and Secure Boot in the bios
10. install MX 23 on the new ssd
11. download the MX Linux Workbench iso and write it to a new usb drive using our Live USB Maker
https://sourceforge.net/projects/mx-lin ... Workbench/
12. attempt to recover the files on the old ssd using the Workbench tools
13. create a special folder in MX 23 and place any recovered files there (to be backed up later)

Posted: **Tue Feb 06, 2024 7:38 am**

kmiles wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 12:47 am...TLP set to zero didn't have any effect either...

I was expecting that after you said you used it always plugged in , yet we lost nothing trying it out :)

kmiles wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 12:47 am...What else can I do besides just copying my files off the ssd and then re-installing windows on it?..

As you might already know: Start as if you were reinstalling, set language, timezone etc.. next .. when it comes to "Install Now" click the "Repair your computer" on bottom-left ...

In the meantime this may also erase Grub, but you can reinstall that later using live session: "MX Boot Repair" ...

Posted: **Tue Feb 06, 2024 9:20 am**

j2mcgreg wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 6:26 am Here’s what I would do in this situation: ...

It'll take me a while to buy both since I don't have the budget for it right now. I will just label it Solved with your solution for now.
I'll also update the main post later so it's easier for those in a similar situation. What should I change the title with so its related and easier to understand?
I will update the main post once I've fixed both issues(windows and fan).

Charlie Brown wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 7:38 am ]As you might already know: Start as if you were reinstalling, set language, timezone etc.. next .. when it comes to "Install Now" click the "Repair your computer" on bottom-left ...
In the meantime this may also erase Grub, but you can reinstall that later using live session: "MX Boot Repair" ...

I will try j2mcgreg's solution first, but I still want to recover Windows on the current ssd once I've pulled off my files.
So I still have some questions:

If Grub is erased after repair, will I still be able to boot to the persistent usb I'm using currently?
(I've only been using linux for 2 and a half weeks or so, so I don't know/understand lots if things yet)
What should I use to flash a win.iso on a usb in linux? etcher warned me that it doesn't work with windows isos'.
Will it try to repair the ssd with the .iso in the thumb drive?
Will it erase everything during repair?

Again, thanks for the help guys.

Posted: **Tue Feb 06, 2024 9:55 am**

@kmiles wrote:

If Grub is erased after repair, will I still be able to boot to the persistent usb I'm using currently?

You can still use your persistent USB drive and you should use it to reinstall Grub onto the SSD.

Posted: **Tue Feb 06, 2024 10:17 am**

I think I should clarify that I'm currently using the laptop booted from the persistent usb and left the SSD(broken windows) inside
to copy off the files to an external one.

I thought Grub was installed on the usb drive I am currently using?
or are you pertaining to the part of your solution to install MX on the ssd?
I'm sorry, I am a bit confused

Posted: **Tue Feb 06, 2024 10:53 am**

kmiles wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 10:17 am I think I should clarify that I'm currently using the laptop booted from the persistent usb and left the SSD(broken windows) inside
to copy off the files to an external one.

I thought Grub was installed on the usb drive I am currently using?
or are you pertaining to the part of your solution to install MX on the ssd?
I'm sorry, I am a bit confused

Your persistent drive has its own instance of Grub.

Posted: **Tue Feb 06, 2024 12:38 pm**

You could try erasing Windows totally off the drive once you've backed up any files from it, to remove any fast start influence, but since Live USB boots should be immune to that, I have my doubts about that being the issue.

Did you say that you might be able to update the BIOS?

Posted: **Tue Feb 06, 2024 12:55 pm**

kmiles wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 9:20 am... If Grub is erased after repair, will I still be able to boot to the persistent usb I'm using currently?..

You can boot with usb or other media (no matter persistent or not) no matter there's only Windows on disk or Linux or both, even when there's no hdd/ssd :)

kmiles wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 9:20 am... What should I use to flash a win.iso on a usb in linux?..

There was a "WoeUsb" but sadly it's not available on Debian 12 (it seems it's available with Snap or one needs to install the new version "WoeUSB-ng" manually , however I don't want to confuse you ). Ventoy might be simpler, or Rufus on another Windows machine. (... or "dd" in a terminal ...)

kmiles wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 9:20 am... Will it try to repair the ssd with the .iso in the thumb drive?..

Not the ssd but will try to repair Windows system (and/or Windows bootloader, hence it may erase grub, but again, no problem)

kmiles wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 9:20 am... Will it erase everything during repair?..

Nope, will just try to repair whatever is missing / broken about Windows. (Your "Users" directory will stay there as is ). Unless you click to reinstall (format etc..)...

Posted: **Wed Feb 07, 2024 10:14 am**

Stevo wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 12:38 pm ... but since Live USB boots should be immune to that, I have my doubts about that being the issue.

Did you say that you might be able to update the BIOS?

1. I don't understand what you mean that it's immune but what do you suspect is the issue?

2. I could try, though I'm most definitely afraid to break the only laptop I have access to. It'll be a while before I have access to another.

I remember seeing BIOS updates up till 2019 at ASUS' Support page for my laptop model when I was reinstalling the DPTF driver (to try to fix the disconnecting charger issue),
though I have no idea how to do that, and am afraid to brick the whole thing.

Charlie Brown wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 12:55 pm
kmiles wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 9:20 am... If Grub is erased after repair, will I still be able to boot to the persistent usb I'm using currently?..
You can boot with usb or other media (no matter persistent or not) no matter there's only Windows on disk or Linux or both, even when there's no hdd/ssd :)

There was a "WoeUsb" but sadly it's not available on Debian 12 (it seems it's available with Snap or one needs to install the new version "WoeUSB-ng" manually , however I don't want to confuse you ). Ventoy might be simpler, or Rufus on another Windows machine. (... or "dd" in a terminal ...)

Not the ssd but will try to repair Windows system (and/or Windows bootloader, hence it may erase grub, but again, no problem)

Nope, will just try to repair whatever is missing / broken about Windows. (Your "Users" directory will stay there as is ). Unless you click to reinstall (format etc..)...

1. I am was under the assumption that the Grub of my persistent usb was on the windows ssd when I asked that. I got confused.
I now know that I can still boot to MX even without the ssd in the laptop.

2. I'd much rather be confused and then learn how to do it in linux than wait to find someone I can borrow a laptop from.
Though I do have the rufus portable.exe and ventoy .exe. I'll use them instead if I get a chance to.

3. What I meant was when I get to the "repair your computer" part, will the installer(usb drive) try to fix the ssd(windows) using the .iso in the usb drive? I am just curious.

4. That's nice to know. I'll go down that path if I'm unable to retrieve the locked files.

Thanks for the help, good sirs.

Posted: **Wed Feb 07, 2024 10:53 am**

kmiles wrote: Wed Feb 07, 2024 10:14 am ... was under the assumption that the Grub of my persistent usb was on the windows ssd when I asked that ...

Your usb has its own partitioning scheme: MBR (Master Boot Record) and Grub ( and grub.cfg file), and SSD has its own scheme: GPT ... and Grub and ESP partition etc...

In the meantime I forgot to add one more option: VirtualBox .. (Can install with "MX Package Installer" with 2 clicks from the initial tab) ... you can use your Windows iso there on Linux, either for any Windows related things and to use Rufus (the King) ...

kmiles wrote: Wed Feb 07, 2024 10:14 am... will the installer(usb drive) try to fix the ssd(windows) using the .iso in the usb drive?..

Yep. In fact what you're doing is to prepare a "Windows Installation Media" (no matter usb/dvd etc.) and just repair (whatever it finds broken or missing comparing with the defaults there) rather than install. That's also used to repair boot problems and those blue screen errors mostly, that makes people crazy: "Something.dll could not be found" .. then you search the web and find it and put in place, this time "System32 something rundll error" ... (Grrr)

In case you need: Skip the first steps and go on with Step 3

I hope that doesn't cause heat when fan is not working :)

Posted: **Tue Feb 20, 2024 6:47 pm**

I just bought a Win10 laptop & more stupidly a used chromebook (I wasn't even drunk). The difference of running youtube on either of those is palatable compared to MxLinux, but comes with an obvious invasion of privacy. Among other things, both Chrome & Windows immediately served up ads related to prio Ebay searches done on my Linux machine!!! My Linux machine was UNPLUGGED, OFF & No LAN. (ie, The ad served on MS Edge was for sign vinyl that I'd never searched for on the new computer and had incidentally searched for on Ebay, on the Linux machine a DAYS if not a WEEK prior.) It seems that maybe the Windows & Chromebook lifted data from my Internet Router data or got it from my IP records.

On Linux, Youtube serves ad differently & differently, I get mostly inappropriate obnoxious ads (Do you have foot fungus, etc?) that come with the YouTube SKIP button. I think that button actually acts as click bait! The obnoxious ads are to make a person click! Once an ad gets skipped the Memory & CPU usage skyrockets (also temp & the fan that I could hear before I cleaned my fan.) I can watch it happen now by leaving the video running, opening another tab & running Firefox about: Memory. The spike comes just before an ad is served up. The sensor module verifies this. But now my fan is clean & working properly to take the heat down.

Where it gets interesting is Rumble recently started serving up ads that use a similar "SKIP" click bait button as YouTube. And now very same youtube problem happens if watching a Rumble video! So are these video servers using the same code, the same ad server or same method of acquiring our private data (directly from our computers rather than snooping for IP records.) I have a firewall up. Could clickbait give the advertiser permission to violate the firewall? I don't know. All the excess CPU & memory excess use seems to correlate. I'd sure appreciate enlightenment!

In the process of trying to find out about Linuxizing the used up Chromebook (it had it's final update apparently & on version 93) I read about a "read-only" jumper to be found on the motherboards that has to be removed or something to install Linux. Maybe similar is true for some Win10 builds too? Again I don't know. But thought I'd throw it out there as a possibility for why your fan worked in Windows but not with Linux.

Posted: **Wed Feb 21, 2024 2:46 am**

Currently using the Ublock Origin extension is working for me in Firefox to block all added Youtube (and a lot more) ads. I can't believe how intrusive they are if I happen to switch it off.

Ebay may have shared (sold) your IP address' Linux search data with Microsoft and Google. There probably a lot of other stuff going on, too.

Posted: **Wed Feb 21, 2024 11:09 am**

Thanks I may try UBlock again. I reinstalled FF after cleaning w/no add-ons. Maybe skeptical, but ad blocks seem like a trade off of who a user allows to collect their data.
Interesting about ebay.

Posted: **Sat Mar 09, 2024 7:33 am**

Hi dudes, I forgot about the forum. Sorry about that.

Fan still doesn't spin and I still haven't got windows to be bootable yet but I'm saving up for a used fujitsu lifebook A579 (screen is a downgrade but I can live with that).
I'll do the fixes, like updating the bios, once I've got the new(to me) laptop and transferred all my data.

Also, when I last had the windows ssd in the laptop and tried to fix it, I tried every option in the RE but none worked.
Startup Repair, Command prompt(SFC, DISM), Rollback Update, re-install(keep files), and System Restore (I had restore points but I couldn't select a drive to restore from).
Some tried to run but failed, others didn't run at all.

I don't know if this laptop has something like what @MXNewFan mentioned, but for now, I've concluded that the fan is broken since even when in the windows RE, fan did not spin. I could not find a replacement fan for the model I have.

Posted: **Wed Mar 13, 2024 12:43 am**

@kmiles

Have you tried to find a fan in computer stores nearby? Most have good fans kicking about. The fan might not be the issue however.

Sometimes when there's a serious overheating, a fuse gets blown (or a jumper or bios have to be reset), if you are lucky to keep from frying chips. Then the system should not start up at all.

There's a bios setting like "fan always on" , or is it set to off? This shouldn't be the issue but you could try it the opposite setting and switch it back if it makes no difference.

You could also try resetting the bios: disconnect the power, the battery and the auxiliary battery (like an RTC) for 30 seconds. As overkill to be sure it's dead, hold down the power button several seconds before plugging batteries back in. (This resets the default bios to factory settings.)

Test the fan. With the fan removed using a multi meter look for continuity. A long time ago, I tested a computer fan by wiring up a penlight battery, but the voltage rating on the fan can't be exceeded by the battery and sort of dumb way to check. A local computer store could test it correctly in a few seconds. Just bring in the fan. If its not the fan, it's the board, a blown fuse or bios setting.

If you can't find a fan for your specific model, and sure the fan is dead, I'd look for fan w/ same physical size & electrical ratings. Many have universal computer connector but if not, solder on your old fan wires & connector onto the new fan. Before you do this, test your fan.

My fan was clogged to the max. The dust that looked like felt, not visible until the fan was removed, padding between the fan exhaust port and the metal fins. The reason FF and YT combo cause the heating was both are very cpu and memory intense programs, running at the same time. Both FF & YT changed how they process data I think but had I run games or something similar it would have likely over heated too. Looking for dust in a laptop fan is not the same as for old desktops. There was no visible dust in my laptop fan- it was caked against the fins, hard to see even with fan out it was so compacted & discolored.

PS My handle was about me being a new fan of MX, no connection to this stupid mistake of mine.

Posted: **Mon Apr 22, 2024 12:40 pm**

Update:
I found out what was encrypting some of my files, but also, I've broken win10 a lot worse whilst trying some fixes. : )

Windows uses EFS (encrypting file system) to encrypt certain files/folders as opposed to bitlocker.

I tried to use Hiren's BootCD to fix windows but I just made it worse, it no longer boots up to winRE now. it just takes me to terminal with "Windows failed to start".

It's not really urgent for me to try and fix it right now since I'm currently pre-occupied with the new laptop I got. An Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-23-R5EG).
I'm saving up for a flash dive and SSD to make a backup/s of win11 before trying to get linux on it.

@MXNewFan
The fan is clean and I haven't tried looking for new fans at stores nor have I tried to test the fan itself. I have no way to test the fan for now since I don't have small enough wire to get inside the 3-pin connector to test it. I don't think that there is a fuse blown since I'm still using the laptop right now( or at least I think I don't). There's no fan control option in the bios even after making an admin password (prolly cause it's an old laptop and its a slimbook).

I'll still try to get the fan fixed (once I've checked that its broken) but I'm fine with it not working since I'll be using this laptop for testing purposes once I've got the Acer setup how I like it (of course, dualbooted with linux on it).

MX Linux Forum

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