How to install Linux Mint on Aspire ES1-132?

Hi All, I just bought a new Acer ES1-132 notebook that came installed with Limpus Linux and without Windows. I was hoping to ditch Windows permanently and after doing some research online I installed Linux Mint 18.2 Cinnamon. It appeared to install fine until I was instructed to reboot, at which point I got the "No Bootable Device" message. Did some more research and tried reinstalling LM 18.2 via an ISO burned to a USB stick - same again... Any reboot with the USB stick removed resulted in the No Bootable Device message. I've spent days reading forums and trying various workarounds, all to no avail, and it's driving me nuts now, however, I feel some progress has been made. A couple days back I noticed that I am able to run the live version of LM 18.2 Cinnamon from USB even when the BIOS is set to boot from HDD, which seems kinda strange, unless it's ignoring the HDD.

After reading a thread on another forum about a similar problem I put rEFInd onto the USB stick and tried booting again... All appeared to be going well - for the first time I was asked to input the password that I had created during installation and I arrived at the Welcome Screen. I updated drivers successfully and then powered off, removed the USB and rebooted... only to see the No Bootable Device message again. Again, if I insert the USB it boots up fine, no matter that the BIOS is set to boot from the HDD.

I really like the look of Linux Mint and am more than ready to say adios to Windows, but it seems like there are so many hoops to jump through to get this thing working I'm now wondering if it's worth it. I know that these problems are most likely caused by this Acer notebook but it seems crazy that it is nigh-on impossible to get a workable version of Linux up and running on a notebook that was sold with Linux as its sole OS. I am really hoping that my only option is NOT to buy and install Windows 10.

For the record I tried installing LM 17.1 and also LM 18 to see if that made a difference but all it did was make everything run super-slow during the installation process so I gave up.

I can't help but feel I'm getting close to success but seem to struggle getting over the final hurdle. Thanks in advance for any advice/suggestions.

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slnacer

Hi
I think your Linux installation did not put the GRUB bootloader into your primary storage (i assume you use hdd) as part of installation.
I purchased a new Acer laptop but a different model and this is how i did my Ubuntu Linux install if that can be of some use for you here.
( i see not too many linux folks here from Acer or others here, so sharing my ideas on linux install).
1. Disable UEFI boot in Acer bios in laptop and switch to Legacy mode. (i did this to make myself iron out any issues in linux with UEFI as i am used to legacy mode GRUB bootloader)
2. Also rearrange the booting devices order so that it always picks up a USB first and later hdd. This is how i try many live linux distros,run other OS etc when i need to bypass one that is installed on my hdd). You can set a supervisor password later( if you feel uncomfortable that someone may insert a usb/pen drive to boot your system etc) as well as to ask for this password upon every boot.
3. Assuming you have a iso of your favourite linux distro on USB please make sure in the Installation GUI/screen at some stage you give the boot device as your hdd to put the bootloader bits (which for linux would be mostly GRUB2)
Once GRUB2 bits are laid down properly on your hdd you should not get that message.
Hope it helps.

slnacer

When installing a linux distro the installation wizard/GUI at an early stage would ask you about the partitions you want to use for "/","/home","swap" etc as well as most importantly which device(or partition) to put the GRUB2 bootloader bits. You have to choose your hdd storage device as the boot device in that section. Infact it is better if you can pre-create the above disk partitions using a tool like Gparted for linux on your hdd/disk prior to launching installation .
Some geeky users may as well create a separate partition for GRUB2 bootloader bits on your hdd where the bootloader bits would be stored so as to remain unaffected when installing multiple distros /trying out various OS flavours.
But most important thing is to give a storage device for bootloader bits to be laid down as part of install process.This updates boot sector as well as other bootloader files on the hdd.
Without which your hdd wont be able to boot again next time.
All above i said holds true for legacy type install. i am not much aware of UEFI stuff though

IronFly

you can't disable UEFI on this laptop model, check here for some suggestions:
https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/476726/es1-132-cannot-install-other-os-than-windows-10-bios-options-missing/p3

Jonny_Mango

Thanks to all for your input.

@slnacer: As IronFly mentioned, there is no option to disable UEFI boot in Acer Bios - in fact the bios doesn't mention UEFI at all, but I believe I have it installed because I followed instructions on the rEFInd website to check if it is installed and the test results suggested that it is installed.

@IronFly: I came across the link you provided several times over the past few days and it's not quite step-by-step enough for me to follow.

Seems laughable that Acer would release a laptop installed with only Linpus Linux that doesn't allow for a workable version of Linux to be installed by anyone without a geek degree.

Thanks for the replies but I've spent too much time on this already. My conclusion is that Acer stick an effectively useless OS on this machine so it can be sold cheap but with a "Comes Pre-Installed with Linux" sticker on it, without mentioning that it's actually not as cheap as it looks because you'll be forced to buy Windows as soon as you start using it. Think I'll give this POS Acer to the homeless bloke outside my local tube station and go and buy a Toshiba instead. Never again an Acer for me.

JordanB

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/495185#Comment_495185

If after reading and following above link and you still have problems then try the latest Ubuntu. Also, I would suggest that you use Rufus to create your EFI Linux media.

Jonny_Mango

UPDATE - SOLVED!

OK, so as suggested I tried installing Ubuntu and the same thing happened - No Bootable Device when booting with the USB stick removed.

So I called Acer to see if they could help with this problem and was informed that they had indeed sold me a notebook pre-installed with Linpus Linux that was incapable of being upgraded to a more workable Linux distribution and, according to their technical support guy, my only option was to purchase and run Windows 10, 64-bit edition. Woulda been nice if that was made clear when I purchased this thing...

It turns out the Acer tech guy was lying and there is in fact a fairly simple workaround which I found on another forum. I'm not allowed to post links here but if any fellow newbies are having similar problems I posted step-by-step instructions of what worked for me on linuxquestions.org. A search for Linux Mint Acer Aspire ES1-132 should find it.

Cheers!

Hannes22

Hello Jonny Mango!

I do have the same problem; couldn't find your workaround on 'LinuxQuestions.org', though.

Can you e-mail me the workaround / post in LinuxQuestions?

E-Mail would be:

Muttihilftmir77@t-online.de

Your help would be much appreciated.

Hannes