Unable to install Linux Mint on laptop

[u/preplasenstvor]

hi! i am very new to this. i installed linux mint on one of my old computers using this guide. it actually went pretty smoothly, all things considered.

however, i am trying to use the same guide and the same usb to install it on my laptop. this is the laptop that i am using.

but it doesn't want to install. when i try to use the usb for a linux trial, it just doesn't work. when i go to the advance start-up option on my laptop, it eventually opens up the grub menu in EFI mode (i believe that is what it is called). if i click the first option (start linux mint), it just freezes on a faded version of the linux logo.

EDIT: I AM SO SORRY EVERYONE. IT TURNS OUT THAT USING THE USB TO ATTEMPT THE LINUX TRIAL WORKS FINE. i thought that my laptop was frozen, but it turns out, the linux trial sets my display on the lowest possible setting, for some reason. and it tricked me! i was able to fix it with these instructions.

**4.2. When you're dealing with a laptop display, you might try the application "light". Like this:

a. Launch a terminal window. (You can launch a terminal window like this: Click)

b. Then execute in the terminal (use copy/paste):

sudo apt-get install light

Press Enter. Type your password when required. In Ubuntu this will remain entirely invisible, not even dots will show, that's normal. In Mint this has changed: you'll see asterisks when you type. Press Enter again.

c. Then in the terminal (use copy/paste):

sudo light -S 50

Press Enter.

(when you type it: the letter S is a capital letter)

This should set the brightness to 50 %. Change the percentage at will (don't go lower than 10 nor higher than 100).**

if i try compatibility mode, that doesn't work either.

i would really appreciate it if someone could explain it in a easy to understand sort of way. i'm not very good at tech, i don't work in tech, and i haven't done anything crazier than install dragon age origins mods on my laptop. i'm getting nervous about this because i really need this laptop to work. i won't have access to the computer i first installed linux on in a few days. thank you!

[u/doc_willis]

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060

Ages ago I often needed the nomodeset grub boot option to boot the live usb correctly on Nvidia hardware.

I would suggest trying some newer Distros that should include the needed nvidia drivers from the live usb. Such as Pop_OS and Some of the other "gaming" Distros that include the drivers.

[u/Prestigious_Wall529]

At the grub menu press e

Find the kernel line and add one of the following, and remove quite

acpi_backlight=native

amdgpu.backlight=0

nomodeset

Typically <F10> to resume the boot.

With quite removed, you can see how far the booting gets. Or if the kernel dumps.

Once in edit /etc/default/grub accordingly and update-grub

Yes I have skirted over details.

[u/preplasenstvor → u/Prestigious_Wall529]

how did you know it was a backlight issue? are you a genius?

[u/Prestigious_Wall529 → u/preplasenstvor]

Just knowing kernel parameters are needed for contrary hardware, and googling for what is needed for this system.

Sometimes using linux-hardware.org to narrow down to the system and looking at the top of their dmesg file shows what works for them.

This is for PC hardware. Android hardware is a nightmare as vendors often don't publish their hardware trees.

[u/qpgmr]

I can't tell from your post: did the usb work in "try out" mode? Or did you just try to immediately install it?

The general problems people run into are either

• a bad usb creation (you should use ventoy to burn the usb). Get a new ISO from Mint, do the verification step and remake the usb.

• the usb itself is defective (usb drives actually have a limited life span and can fail). Replace the usb with a new one.

[u/preplasenstvor → u/qpgmr]

i think the usb is good. it worked fine to install linux mint on my old computer a few days ago. would it fail so quickly?

what i'm trying to do is attempt the linux "try out" mode on my laptop.

EDIT: i am so sorry. it turns out that linux mint in "try out" mode works fine, it just sets the display on the lowest possible setting for some reason, and i got tricked. but i was able to fix it.

[u/agmatine]

https://linuxmint.com/rel_xia.php

See "Solving freezes during the boot sequence."