I'm trying to install AlmaLinux on a used Dell Optiplex 3000 thin client, but I keep hitting a wall during the boot process. The system goes through the BIOS fine after I wiped the SSD with Windows IoT using a secure erase. I can select the boot drive, but when it tries to boot from the installation media, it shows the BIOS splash screen, then a message saying 'headless mode active', and then back to another splash screen where it just hangs for 10-20 minutes before restarting. The machine isn't totally unresponsive; I can hear it doing something and it warms up, but I can still perform a Ctrl + Alt + Delete to restart. I've tested my installation media on my Windows machine, and while I reach the installation menu, I encounter a known issue where the media test fails at 4.8%. I've tried minimal and full ISOs of Alma 10, verified checksums, used different USB drives and ports, and tried multiple image writing tools like Rufus, BalenaEtcher, and DD on my Ubuntu server. Is there a way to skip that splash screen so I can see the installation menu? Any other suggestions?
3 Answers
Have you made sure that the USB drive is set as the primary boot option in the BIOS? Sometimes, systems can still try to boot from the previously wiped drive if it’s not properly set. You mentioned a 'one-time boot' option; make sure to use that to select the USB drive directly if needed.
Check that your SSD is securely connected. It can be easy to overlook such things, especially since you got it second-hand. If everything looks good there, and the issue persists, trying an earlier version of AlmaLinux or even another distro altogether could help narrow down the cause.
The 4.8% media test failure is definitely a red flag. While you might think it's okay to bypass that test, it's best not to take chances since corrupt media can lead to problems. Maybe try using another USB drive after wiping it completely, or format it first and then attempt to create the boot media again. It might also be worth trying to install a different distro to see if it behaves differently.
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