Dual Booting Windows 11 and MXLinux 23 XFCE

[ashfaq]

Thrice I have tried, and was not able to install MX Linux. First it could not find the EFI partition and when found the Partition is only 100 MB hence a warning "it could fail". I went ahead the 2nd time and installed but the installation failed. Third time I chose the option of MBR but that too failed.
I downloaded Mint 21.2 XFCE and tried installing, it never asked for EFI partition, got installed and is working flawlessly, along with windows. Why this query for EFI and than stating it is only 100 MB, and than failing to install. I wanted to try out MX but failed, Still I would like to have one more go if this un-necessary mystery of EFI is explained, and allow me with a work around !
I hope someone could come out and help me get this installed, maybe I am making a silly mistake ?

[CharlesV]

Welcome in!

Dual boot can be problematic, but there are a few links around here that can help. (And some people that can too)

https://mxlinux.org/wiki/system/dual-boot/

viewtopic.php?p=746239#p746239

You also might try installing MX21 and see if that installs easier. (I know there has been some discussion about the difference of MX21 vs MX23 installs on efi.)

[MXRobo]

I assume that you set the boot and esp flags in the ESP partition. That's easy to overlook.

[j2mcgreg]

If you are using Ventoy to create the USB drive, you must upgrade to the latest version. All earlier versions of Ventoy are incompatible with MX 23.

[Charlie Brown]

... Partition is only 100 MB hence a warning "it could fail"...

Normally 100 MB is not a problem and it's actually even more than enough, so that it's generally suggested as 100-256 MiB etc..

But, it may (somehow) got full or close to full. And afaik, the installer (unlike Mint's and *buntu's) is set to not damage the existing entries in first place, that's why trying to not overwrite the existing ones (hence the message: it may fail) . So, you can have a look if there's enough space there.

Also, you can (just after installer stops/fails): post the /var/log/minstall.log

(You can simply zip and attach to your post if the forum page says "too long, you cannot" etc..)

[ashfaq]

Before installing MXLinux 23, on a ssd of 256GB I had gone through all the required procedures. I had shrunk windows creating three individual partitions for linux. Mount / 40 GB, Swap 8GB. and /Home 15GB. After MX failed, the files did get installed in the partitions. When I decided for Mint the same design of partitions. with files installed from MX was used. Although Mint formated the partitions and simply asked for boot installation on the main disk thats all.
Mint installation was smooth, and all is fine till now. No flags No warning, I hope MXLinux works on this, and come out with a real solution.
One more thing, the Passwords "feed4me" "root" dont work, as I had tried to re-Install Grub with live medium , sudo command fails for password this really discourages, a curious new comer to try out a new distro.

[andymx]

@ashfaq Don't give up! I struggled with a similar problem, but I solved it thanks to the patience of kind persons on this Forum who helped me. Maybe this will help you viewtopic.php?p=744322#p744322.

[Charlie Brown]

... One more thing, the Passwords "feed4me" "root" dont work, as I had tried to re-Install Grub with live medium , sudo command fails for password ...

On live session passwords are demo (for gui-authentications, for sudo etc..) and root (for user root).

(So, it's normal that it won't accept even root when it needs to be demo )

[j2mcgreg]

Did you disable Secure Boot and BitLocker?

[CharlesV]

Yes, I JUST did this yesterday and with zero issues. The key for me was to choose the proper efi partition. My starting efi was 100mb as well. (and as j2mcgreg said: NO bitlocker and Disable secure boot)