I recently built a PC with an Intel i7-6700K, Radeon RX 480 8GB, and 32GB of DDR4-2400 RAM. Linux Mint worked normally at first, but then booting began to stop after the Mint logo, leaving only a black screen instead of the login prompt. The same thing happens when booting a Zorin OS USB, so I can't even complete a fresh installation. I also tried creating a Windows 10 installer USB with Ventoy, but that hasn't worked either. I reset my firmware settings to their defaults and tried various BIOS options, but nothing has helped. I'm looking for a reliable system and need help determining whether this is a hardware problem or an issue with the installation media or firmware settings.
4 Answers
The fact that multiple operating systems and even live USB environments fail in a similar way strongly suggests a hardware problem rather than a Linux problem. Start with the RAM: remove all but one stick, test it, and repeat with the other sticks and slots. If that doesn’t reveal anything, test another graphics card if possible, then check the SSD and power connections. Memory errors can also cause crashes or odd boot failures, so a thorough memory test is worthwhile.
Windows installation images are handled differently from many Linux images, so writing one with a basic disk-imaging tool may not work. WoeUSB-ng is one option from Linux, while Microsoft’s media creation tool or Rufus from another Windows computer is generally the most reliable approach. Ventoy works for many people, but its success can depend on the image and firmware settings.
Before reinstalling anything, try showing the bootloader menu and booting with a different graphics option, such as disabling the splash screen so you can see the actual error. Also check whether the firmware is using UEFI consistently, and test with secure boot disabled. If a known-good installer USB still reaches a black screen, software settings are much less likely to be the cause.
Changing operating systems won’t usually fix a machine that fails in the same place with several installers. Use a single RAM module, disconnect unnecessary drives and peripherals, verify the GPU is seated and powered correctly, and test the system with the smallest possible hardware configuration. The RX 480 and other components are several years old, so component failure is plausible.
A failing SSD, unstable RAM, or an aging graphics card could all produce this kind of symptom. I’d troubleshoot the components before changing operating systems again.