©ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

xkhakuran · ‎03-29-2013

Hi all,

This is my first post on the forums, so forgive me if this has been asked numerous times (I've done some searching but I still can't seem to figure this one out). Here's the situation:

My computer came with one HDD, preloaded with Windows 7. I attempted to run Linux Mint 14 from a bootable USB; I had to change my boot order before doing so, but it wasn't a problem as there were two USB options and I just moved them up to the top boot options. Linux Mint started to load, but then when I clicked the option for "Use Live CD," my screen started flashing strange colours and it wouldn't stop after a couple minutes. I ended up shutting the computer off and rebooting.

Since then, my BIOS (or is it UEFI? I'm still a bit confused) options have changed: the two USB options have disappeared, and now my computer won't boot unless the Windows loader is listed first (as opposed to the DVD drive, for example). Now it seems that I can't boot from USB at all, and I tried booting from a Live CD that a coworker had and that too failed. Here are screenshots of all of my relevant BIOS setings (for reference, my BIOS version is 207, dated 6 April 2012): http://imgur.com/a/2SSdn#0

Ultimately what I want to do is install a second HDD from my old computer, and install Linux Mint to the whole second second HDD, such that I'll have Windows 7 on the HDD that came with the computer and Linux Mint on my own hard drive. I have no idea how to fix my booting problems, nor do I have any idea how I'll get my boot loader to work...

Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance 😄

Myk_SilentShado · ‎03-29-2013

"Windows Boot Menu" means you are running UEFI BIOS, i'm not 100% on this, but I don't think Linux is fully compatible with it...someone else can verify this, because I just don't know..

But yes, if you were planning on installing Linux, you'd either need to partition your main drive in your laptop, or, install a 2nd drive and install to that.

ROG Overclocking Education Center ||| ROG RealBench Tweaks & Tips

Zygomorphic · ‎03-29-2013

You need to disable "Secure Boot" and "Launch CSM". Also, try loading LINUX mint in "safe mode" rather than Live CD. I've had better luck with that, and the experience is almost the same.

I am disturbed because I cannot break my system...found out there were others trying to cope! We have a support group on here, if your system will not break, please join!
http://rog.asus.com/forum/group.php?groupid=16
We now have 178 people whose systems will not break! Yippee! 🙂
LINUX Users, we have a group!
http://rog.asus.com/forum/group.php?groupid=23

xkhakuran · ‎04-01-2013

See, but I don't know how to disable "Secure Boot" and "Launch CSM." If you look at the pictures I posted in my first comment, you'll see that those aren't listed under any of the available tabs. I'll try booting in safe mode and see if that helps at all. I'm so bummed out, I had no idea that UEFI was taking over 😧

Myk_SilentShado · ‎04-01-2013

You could always try disabling UEFI Boot; but then, you'll have to most likely re-install Windows.

ROG Overclocking Education Center ||| ROG RealBench Tweaks & Tips

xkhakuran · ‎04-01-2013

Okay so I'm reporting back with some new information:

Setting UEFI Boot to Disabled still allows me to boot Windows just fine. Yay!

I'm currently running Linux Mint in compatability mode. It seems that the only way I can get it to boot is by running it in this mode. Nothing else works, not even the integrity check! I was doing some googling and some people seem to think it could be a GPU issue?

Ultimately I want to install the second HDD and install Mint onto that, but I have no idea how I'd get GRUB to function with two HDDs. I'm not actually sure if it'd be worth it to install Mint if I can only get it to load in compatibility mode as well...

Thanks for your help, by the way! I'm not sure where to go from here.

Zygomorphic · ‎04-01-2013

Try reinstalling Mint with the UEFI boot disabled, that way it installs the older GPU mode. There are problems I have heard about GPUs and booting in EFI mode. Also, try installing the nVidia drivers and seeing if that helps.

I am disturbed because I cannot break my system...found out there were others trying to cope! We have a support group on here, if your system will not break, please join!
http://rog.asus.com/forum/group.php?groupid=16
We now have 178 people whose systems will not break! Yippee! 🙂
LINUX Users, we have a group!
http://rog.asus.com/forum/group.php?groupid=23

Myk_SilentShado · ‎04-01-2013

GRUB handles multiple drives with no issues 🙂 though, I have no clue in regards to compatibility mode though

ROG Overclocking Education Center ||| ROG RealBench Tweaks & Tips

Want to install linux on second HDD but booting from USB or CD doesn't seem to work?