I used balenaEtcher to successfully write Linux Mint Cinnamon to a USB thumb drive. Now I'm trying to start the computer from that drive so I can reach the installation screen. Pressing F2 during startup opens the InsydeH2O Setup Utility, but selecting the USB drive and pressing Enter doesn't boot from it. Should I use Rufus or Ventoy instead, try a different Linux Mint ISO mirror, or change a BIOS/UEFI setting?
4 Answers
balenaEtcher should work, so you probably don’t need to recreate the USB or download another ISO. The computer may have a separate one-time boot menu key—often F9, F11, or F12 depending on the manufacturer. Press it repeatedly immediately after powering on, then choose the USB drive.
That error usually means Secure Boot is rejecting the USB. Linux Mint generally supports Secure Boot, but on some machines you may need to temporarily disable Secure Boot in the UEFI settings, enable USB boot, save the changes, and then boot from the USB again. If the power button seems unresponsive, hold it down continuously for around 10 seconds to force the computer off, then start it again and recheck the firmware settings.
In the InsydeH2O setup utility, look for the Boot or Boot Order section. Some systems don’t boot a highlighted device when you press Enter; instead, you have to move the USB entry to the top using +, Page Up, or the listed controls, save the changes, and restart.
The exact boot key varies by manufacturer, so look up the model’s boot-menu key if F2 only opens setup. If Windows is still installed, its advanced recovery options may also include an option to restart directly into a USB device or UEFI firmware settings.
I tried changing the boot order, but then I got a red “Security Boot Fail” screen and the computer stopped responding to the power button.