How to install LinuxMint 21.3 on Predator Triton 14 PT14-51-7979

I am trying to install Linux on this new Acer laptop, replacing Windows.

Last year I installed LinuxMint 21 on 2 Lenovo laptops with no problem. I attempted to install it also on this new Acer using the same bootable thumb drive, and it progressed to the characteristic shingled wallpaper with the green circular "install" button, but would go no further.

Those on the Linux forums advised me that my Acer is so new that it cannot communicate with LM21, and I should instead try the installation with the newer 21.3. There is also an "Edge" version of 21.3 recommended if the standard 21.3 will not install.

I have created 4 bootable drives for LM21.3 using 2 different brands/sizes of thumb drives, 2 created with balena etcher, and the other 2 with USB Image Writer. Additionally I created 4 LM21.3 Edge bootable drives the same way.

None of these bootable drives even come close to installing on the Acer. It is as if that computer doesn't even see the ISO on the thumbdrive, or the thumb drive itself for that matter.

I have disabled secure boot on the Acer, but that has not made a difference.

I do recall having to create a dozen or so bootable drives with LM21 to get one which would work on the Lenovos, so I've ordered more thumbdrives of a couple other brands, in hopes of finding one that will work.

I will be most grateful for any help offered that will succeed in getting this installation to work.

Additional info for this Acer laptop is :

Model NO N22Q8
L.T.E. PT14-51-7979
S/N: NHQLXXXXXXXX
SNID: 3300XXXXX
16 GB LPDDR5
1 TB SSD

[Edited the content to hide sensitive information]

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JackE

Best to install Cinnamon 21.3 alongside factory Windows for a number reasons. Not the least of which is better control and significantly less risk in making firmware changes if they become necessary. Acer OEM Windows apps also control some of the BIOS functions from inside the Windows environment that are not yet directly accessible inside the BIOS menu itself or the Linux environment. Windows firmware executables and apps do come in handy sometimes.

You can easily shrink the size of the factory-installed Windows partition to 200GB or less with room to spare with diskmgmt.msc, leaving at least 75% of the drive unallocated. Storage is so cheap nowadays, you can always add more room if you need it.

I have Cinnamon installed on the very same machine with no issues. Shouldn't need to disable secure boot. Just make sure the BIOS F12 boot option is enabled. Insert the Cinnamon stick. Turn the machine on. And immediately start tapping the F12 key to bring up the boot menu with Cinnamon linpus installation option.

spedigre

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1257774#Comment_1257774

Thank you very much for the answer, and many apologies for the lateness of this reply. I have been engrossed in trying to solve the problems with this installation for weeks now. The fact that you were able to install LM Cinnamon on this same machine means that can be done.

My struggles with this installation have brought me to realize that I need to change these 4 things in the BIOS, and I have managed to set the first 3 with no problems. These are:

F12 enabled as boot option. (As you said, this needs to be double checked because it will re-set itself even if I sign out with F10 selecting SAVE and shut down.)
Secure Boot off.
Safe Mode. (Recommended before setting #4 on this list.)
RST OFF; UEFI set to Legacy (ACHI)

I'm convinced that this last setting is what is holding up the installation process, because LM 21.3 begins to load, goes through the first two screens where you select your preferred language and maybe time zone, but then I get this warning screen that the installation cannot proceed because it lacks enough storage space.

The most frustrating thing is that one time I did manage to shut off RST. I t was 2 in the morning and I was exhausted so I opted to wait until the next day to do the installation, assuming that this re-set would save, and if it didn't, I could re-create the steps to change it back. I was wrong on both counts!

I would be eternally grateful if you could explain to me like I'm five how you managed to change RST to Legacy (which I'm assuming you must have done in order to install Cinnamon).

These images might explain better how I'm getting stuck:

https://ibb.co/DVwcfh4 BIOS Screen
https://ibb.co/pXLYHGB F1 Information Screen
https://ibb.co/kmqkLJZ F1 Advanced Screen
https://ibb.co/J2Gzr1J F1 Advanced Screen Storage Device Configuration

The last one of these I've done by accident, and one of these times it led me to the Storage Configuration that allowed me to replace RST with Legacy, but I have no idea how to get back there. The link before that is what the screen normally looks like when 'Advanced' in left hand column is selected. Any help would be extremely welcome.

Your point about the advantages of a dual boot is well taken, but I simply can't add a layer of complication or endure Window's head-banging 24 hour long updates and the damage these invariably cause.

AnhEZ28

@spedigre

In the Main tab of the BIOS, press CTRL+S, this will reveal the VMD controller (equivalent to RST). Disable it and you should be able to install LinuxMint.

spedigre

https://community.acer.com/en/profile/AnhEZ28

Thank you for this suggestion. I had run across this on other forum posts online in various places, and I gave it another try just now, but no luck.

I think that my laptop must simply be so new that no one else has run across this problem yet. For instance on several forums, people describe a 'SATA mode' that appears on the BIOS Information page under 'Storage Information', but all that appears on my computer under 'Storage Information' is HDD Model Name and HDD Model Number, but no 'SATA mode' underneath these two as described and shown in screenshots.

Similarly on the BIOS Main page, there is supposed to be a 'SATA mode' with a toggle switch allowing a user to choose between RST or ACHI. But neither 'SATA mode' nor 'RST' appear anywhere on the Main page of my laptop.

I hope that your screen name will show on this reply post. I seem to have difficulty creating active links with this formatting.

JackE

Yes. Disable Intel RST or Intel VMD options.

And you absolutely do NOT want legacy mode. You will lose the ability to install alongside Windows if you haven't lost it already. It is important to maintain at least a bare-bones Windows environment if at all possible.

BIOS must be in UEFI mode for this machine.

PS: Save, set and exit BIOS in UEFI mode. Then re-enter the BIOS in UEFI mode to see all UEFI mode options including those hidden with Ctrl+S

AnhEZ28

@spedigre

In the Main tab, you have to press Ctrl+S to reveal the VMD controller. Disable it.

spedigre

https://community.acer.com/en/profile/AnhEZ28

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1260864#Comment_1260864

Yeah, this works for many, but on my computer it DOES NOT work. Believe me I have tried countless times.

I'm guessing that my laptop is so new that these older solutions do not work, and it's too soon for users with this same hardware to have discovered new paths to this problem.

spedigre

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1260782#Comment_1260782

Could you explain exactly, step-by-step, how to:
Save, set and exit BIOS in UEFI mode. Then re-enter the BIOS in UEFI
mode to see all UEFI mode options including those hidden with Ctrl+S

I see no available options for setting BIOS to UEFI mode. Where in BIOS is this option found?

The Ctrl+S does NOT work on my computer. It does nothing. Is it possible that your machine is a slightly older model than my own laptop?

I may have to wait for user data to catch up with my newer hardware, or for Linux devs to design a new distro that can work with RST enabled

Thank you for the replies..

JackE

Please post a phone photo of the BIOS BOOT section.

AnhEZ28

@spedigre

Like in this tab, pressing Ctrl+S at the same time doesn't show anything for you?

JackE

> >RST OFF; UEFI set to Legacy (ACHI) > >

Until he can change it back to UEFI mode from Legacy mode, it's unlikely the menu will appear and react the same way.

JackE

> >I get this warning screen that the installation cannot proceed because it lacks enough storage space.> >

This is actually a good sign that the Windows GPT partition is still intact since Mint is unsuccessfully searching for enough space to install on an MBR partition that does not exist.

spedigre

https://community.acer.com/en/profile/AnhEZ28

I FINALLY got Linux Mint to install! I sincerely appreciate your help and that of JackE. I'm not sure quite why Ctrl + S was not initially bringing up the VMD Controller. It may have been my own stupidity for at first not using the CapsLock Key and hence pressing CTRL + s (lower case), or else maybe when I briefly changed the system to legacy, that may have messed things up temporarily.

In any case, when I did get VMD Controller turned off, it was as if it didn't take the first time, but after exiting and saving, then re-starting the computer a second time, it did. Even with RST finally shut off, I still was unable to get Linux Mint 21.3 to boot, and had to install the LM Edge version, but it looks good so far. That distribution was designed for use with new hardware, so it was basically made for my Acer Predator.

A confusing thing to me was all the different names that refer to the RST system, SATA mode, Raid Optane, and VMD Controller. Learning that last one was key to solving my problems, so I am very grateful to you for handing me this bit of info. Thanks again for the help and patience.

In case this info will help someone else install Linux Mint onto a newer Windows computer, here are the steps that might or might not need to be taken. I did all of these things:

Open computer in SAFE MODE.
Open Start
Click the Power Menu, Hold Shift Key and Click Restart
Click Troubleshoot
Click Startup Settings
Enable "Safe Mode With Networking" (by pressing #5 key)
Press Enter
Shut Down Computer

*for #2-4: Enter BIOS by hitting power button while tapping F2 key (or a different key depending on your computer)

Disable SECURE BOOT
Once in BIOS, push F1 Key for Advanced Settings
In left hand column, select BOOT
Under Boot Mode, disable SECURE BOOT
Enable F12 KEY
In left hand column, select MAIN
Under Network Boot, enable F12 Boot Menu
Turn RST OFF
Also in MAIN BIOS, press Ctrl Key and S (with CapsLock Key on) simultaneously
This will bring up VMD Controller (underneath F12 Boot Menu)
Disable VMD Controller
Click EXIT (left hand column) or press F10 Key and select SAVE SETTINGS
Then shut down computer
Insert bootable drive and hit power button while pressing F12