Unable to boot into or install linux

Question

I recently purchased the dell inspiron 7391. I bought over the Microsoft surface because the surface lineup has notorious bad linux support. but so far I can't figure out how to get this machine to run linux either.

The pc finds the install usb fine, and when I select it I can get into the install menu. But I can’t get through the actual install process. It just gets stuck. And when I try the live usb feature I can’t get past the black screen with a little – in the top left corner.

I have tried all the standard solutions, secure boot on or off messed around with the UEFI settings but no luck. i checked if my usb is bootable at all on two other machines and it sure is (ubuntu 19:10 and 18:04)

So any suggestions would be great. Maybe the machine is just to new? Should I wait? Or download some experimental kernel?

Thanks in advance.

U2CAMEB4ME · Answer

Welcome to the Dell Community @arthur_cc

I suspect that you will not be able to install Linux/Ubuntu???

Do you have the HDD/SSD set as AHCI???

Does your laptop even have the option for AHCI???

From other posts I have read if you cannot set AHCI in the BIOS it will not install.

Best regards,

U2

NOTE: Look here:

https://www.dell.com/community/Inspiron/Inspiron-7490-BIOS-How-to-turn-off-intel-RAID-on-and-swith-disk/td-p/7388147

arthur_cc · Answer

It’s a ssd , and I set my ssd to AHCI and no change. The same little – at top of the left corner.

Quard · Answer

Actually I have the same issue with my new Dell Inspiron 14 5491 (Intel Core i7-10510U).

I have also play with AHCI/Rain settings, and tried to turnoff as much as I can in BIOS, update BIOS to latest version. And nothing help.

Linux distros that I have tried: Ubuntu 19/18, Mint, ArchLinux

Dideldumm · Answer

I have the same issue with a Dell Insprion 5406 2n1.

I could set AHCI in my Bios settings, the problem remained though.
Since i couldnt start Windows10 after that, i switched back to RAID On.

When booting Archlinux from an external SSD-drive the following Error-Message will occur:

pci 0000:00:07.0: DPC: RP PIO log size 0 is invalid

The archlinux iso does work when im Booting from my PC or other Laptops.

Booting with an Ubuntu Distro from an external HDD works as well.

Hopefully this will help solve the issue.

ann_droid · Answer

Hi

I dont have an answer.

However if you tried KNOPPIX and the KNOPPIX cheat codes, then maybe .............

http://knoppix.net/

http://knoppix.net/wiki/Cheat_Codes

knoppix no{apic,lapic,acpi,apm}     Skip parts of HW-detection (1)
knoppix no{hwsetup,udev,dhcp,fstab} Skip parts of HW-detection (2)
knoppix no{pcmcia,sound,swap}       Skip parts of HW-detection (3)
knoppix nousb                       Skip parts of HW-detection (4)

mrs.pots · Answer

Im not sure if it would work but maybe we could try to switch the storage interface off then disable it then turn it on again?

baka.strumpf · Answer

I need a straightforward response, just a YES or a NO.

Is it possible to install Linux Mint Cinnamon on Dell Inspiron all in one 5420? Has anyone actually done it, and if yes - HOW???

I have just bought it, convinced I'd be able to run over the pre-installed Windows 11 on it with a nice, reliable LM distro I work with for 6 years now. However, whatever I try, with messing up the bios, with AHCI mode, secure boot disabled, partitioning the SSD, disabling BitLocker, and what not, I simply cannot get the LM to boot from a bootable usb flash drive which I already used to install the OS on an ancient Toshiba laptop from 2009 and a Dell Vostro laptop from 2018. I get the boot menu, choose the 'Start LM' from the available options, and then just a plain black screen, with an underscore in the top left corner of the screen, and the usb flash drive goes dead (the light on it stops blinking).

I am googling this for two days now, but I cannot find anything useful on the topic. So, I guess, this is my last resort.

Please, tell me it's possible. If it isn't, then this is it for me and Dell, we're breaking up for good and I am never buying it again.

Inspiron

Unable to boot into or install linux

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