this post was submitted on 22 Feb 2025
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Linux

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I heard Mint is supposed to be the simplest distro to get started with but my experience so far (following the setup guide on the website) has been:

  • Download ISO
  • Check ISO (seemed fine)
  • Burn image... crash
  • Burn image in administrator mode
  • Boot from USB via BIOS... crash
  • Boot from USB via Bios in safe mode
  • Download multimedia codecs... crash
  • Not download multimedia codecs... also crash?

And that's where I am presently, it runs fine off the USB albeit a bit slow, and I know its connected to the internet because I can browse lemmy on it and make annoying posts on the Linux community. I knew Linux was going to be more work than windows but this feels like a ridiculous level of effort right out of the gate, I worry that even if I somehow get it running I'll spend 10x more time fixing it than actually using it.

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[–] originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com 51 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

sounds like the machine has an issue like bad ram/failing hd or something.. ive installed mint on hundreds of machines with random hardware and never had these issues...

what machine did you make the stick with that crashed?

[–] shyguyblue@lemmy.world 13 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Yup, get a recovery/tool ISO and run a memory test.

[–] Successful_Try543@feddit.org 5 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (1 children)

Doesn't The Linux Mint ISO also offer to run Memtest86+?

Otherwise: https://memtest.org/

[–] shyguyblue@lemmy.world 3 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

I've never installed Mint, but I've had a patriot memory stick go bad, and the RMA process involved sending both sticks to Patriot. Never buying from that garbage company again...

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 0 points 13 hours ago

I have a bunch of there SSD's and they have been working fine for a few years. Not super performant but they also have been reliable especially for the cost.

I think computer ram is just easily damaged in shipping.

[–] CheeseNoodle@lemmy.world 3 points 19 hours ago (3 children)

I followed the instructions to use Etcher, etcher itself crashed but it was a pretty easy fix running it in administrator mode and apparently a known issue. Its weird because the live preview works fine. The stick was made on the same machine I'm trying to install linux on.

[–] originalucifer@moist.catsweat.com 20 points 19 hours ago

that definitely indicates some kind of hardware failure

[–] Emotional@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 14 hours ago

I've tried Etcher many times and I feel like I've had issues every time, unfortunately. I don't remember the exact issues, but I recall both having problems with writing ISOs and with booting them. I would highly recommend Rufus instead, which has been much more consistent for me.

[–] kusivittula@sopuli.xyz 4 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

etcher sucks ass. I read about it even breaking usb sticks, I've had it fail the flashing too multiple times. in mint I use the preinstalled usb flashing tool, in other distros popsicle and in windows rufus.