Install Ubuntu 20.04 as the primary OS on Acer Nitro 5 AN515-52

aphanic · July 2020

You have Unetbootin on Linux, and it doesn't need to be GPT based the bootable USB to be able to boot in pure UEFI mode (not UEFI-CSM), it is perfectly possible to use MBR.

Hell, I even kept a live environment of Windows inside the ESP partition because of how small it was once haha

SMshrimant · July 2020

Hi @MaClane @aphanic

I used this command to extract files in USB

<div>7z x ubuntu-20.04-desktop-amd64.iso -o/media/root/41CE-3/</div>

Now I am stuck at this screen from past 20 minutes.

Commodore_1995# · July 2020

You may need to disable the nvidia video card with the command nouveau.modeset=0 before starting the installation of linux. In addition, also disable the sata port of the hard drive in the sata configuration on the bios.

SMshrimant · July 2020

Hi @aphanic
I tried Unetbootin, but by using this tool usb is not showing in boot list. I can only see windows boot manager.

When I used 7z x ubuntu-20.04-desktop-amd64.iso -o/media/root/41CE-3/
Atleast at that time I was able to see bootable usb in boot list.
But that too was having 3 errors so because of that it got stuck.

Can you suggest some other way?

SMshrimant · July 2020

Hi @egydiocoelho
Where I have to enter the video card command. As i said previously I am not able to lunch windows. Its giving error.

Could you please explain in detail with click path.

Thanks,
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Acer-Samuel

Commodore_1995# · July 2020

When linux grub appears, press the E key:
Recuperando o boot do linux depois de instalar o Windows

aphanic · August 2020

SMshrimant said:

Hi @aphanic
I tried Unetbootin, but by using this tool usb is not showing in boot list. I can only see windows boot manager.

When I used 7z x ubuntu-20.04-desktop-amd64.iso -o/media/root/41CE-3/
Atleast at that time I was able to see bootable usb in boot list.
But that too was having 3 errors so because of that it got stuck.

Can you suggest some other way?

I want to try something, give me some minutes and I may be able to show you a way to do it easy from Linux

aphanic · August 2020

Yep, as simple as it can be, just create a plain old partition table in the USB stick, a single FAT32 partition and make it bootable, for example through GParted if you want visual stuff:

Then copy or extract all of the contents of an Ubuntu ISO image directly onto that drive and you're done, installation media ready to use under legacy or UEFI systems even with Secure Boot enabled because Ubuntu has signed stuff.

Another valid option is just dd-ing the image directly onto the disk, they're using hybrid ISOs so it works just as well. Since my USB stick was at /dev/sda from a terminal the command would be:

$ sudo dd if=PATH_TO_THE_ISO of=/dev/sda bs=1M

As I said, no need for GPT or anything to create bootable media under UEFI

SMshrimant · August 2020

Hi @aphanic
This command worked. I made bootable usb using above command and also i was able to see the ubuntu bootable usb in boot manager.

But now installation is stucked from past 2 hours in this page. Could you please help.
Thanks
Shrimant More.

aphanic · August 2020

Click in the little arrow next to "Installing system" and post another shot, let's see what the hell it's doing...

SMshrimant · August 2020

@aphanic
Sure ill do that.
I was trying to install it in SSD previously.
Can i try to install ubuntu in it HDD? And will I be able to use SSD if I install ubuntu in HDD.

aphanic · August 2020

Installations can go wherever you want, but keep in mind that if you choose to erase everything in a drive, that's what the installer will do. So if you have data in your 1TB drive it'll all get lost.

If your primarily goal is to use Linux as your sole and only OS in the machine I would recommend against installing it in the HDD. You have an SSD, it's orders of magnitude faster than the HDD, so use it for the OS and the HDD for data if you will.

I have no idea why it stopped at that time, I'm certainly no expert on Ubuntu's installer, but if you were trying the installation while connected to the Internet, do as @MaClane suggested and don't connect, only connect afterwards and see if that makes a difference.

Honestly, the entire affair is supposed to be easy, I wonder what's giving so many problems. You create a bootable USB stick with the distro you want, ensure SATA is set to AHCI (and Secure Boot disabled depending on the distro, not needed for Ubuntu), boot from the USB and install in the main drive. I wish I could see the process myself, at this point I'm curious as to what the hell is going on there haha.

SMshrimant · August 2020

Hi @aphanic
I was still getting error so,
I selected install ubuntu safe graphics and then selected SSD as usual.

The installation got completed, and on main screen after entering the password its logging in and showing blank screen with cursor in middle. The cursor doesn't move tho.
Aslo. SATA Mode is AHCI only.
Thanks

aphanic · August 2020

So it had to do with graphics? I mean, those Nitros have integrated Intel cards besides the dedicated one, they shouldn't pose any problems for a recent distro like 20.04.

It's good that the installation wen't through at least, now you just probably have to install the proprietary NVIDIA driver (I think Ubuntu has automated ways for that, a Google search is bound to have answers) and you're golden. Same for the input, you may need to do some configuration in that regard.

SMshrimant · August 2020

I'm not able to make any changes to grub file. It directly shows the login screen.

https://youtu.be/Tg4fWsFPzSE

I am following this video. But in my case I'm not getting the list option which above video guy is getting.
Now how can I start working with this ubuntu?
Because after entering password the screen freezes.
Thanks

SMshrimant · August 2020

@aphanic @MaClane
Could you please respond to above comment
Thanks

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Acer-Samuel

Commodore_1995# · August 2020

@SMshrimant Check if this video helps you:

https://youtu.be/0qSpAfo3Jjs

SMshrimant · August 2020

Hi @egydiocoelho,
I’ll try the above things.
as I was NOT getting the ubuntu list option/grub menu, I removed that ubuntu(Installed with safe graphic mode) and now trying with normal ubuntu installation process. Now I have reached till here

Current time:18:20 so it seems the installation is working.

i remember in previous comments you mentioned about “nomodeset” is that required, because I didn’t perform that step previously.
but now while installing ubuntu I have used below steps.

inserted ubuntu bootable usb and I got prompt of ubuntu grub.
pressed e and wrote below lines at the end of the file.
nouveau.modeset=0 And pressed ctrlX
again got prompt of ubuntu and clicked “install Ubuntu” and further process i did same as mentioned in previous comments.

Dont know why this normal ubuntu installation process is taking long time as compared to installing ubuntu in safe graphics mode.
why is this time difference happening ?

thanks.

SMshrimant · August 2020

Update

as above process was taking lot of time so I cancelled that installation and again started with

“ubuntu Safe graphics Mode” This just took 15 minutes but still I am getting previous error.

Screen freezes after login.
I tried above video method as well which @egydiocoelho Provided.

In that video for making those settings
1. I first turned ON Secure boot

2. Made those changes shown in above video
3. Set boot priority to EFI File as shown in below image.

4. Disabled Secure mode
5. Pressed F10
still I am not getting that ubuntu grub screen, it directly prompts the login screen and when i enter password it freezes.

could you please provide some solution.