I'm really desperate here. I'm trying to boot a live USB with Linux Mint on my old Acer Travelmate 8473TG, which has an Intel Core i5-2410M processor, 4GB of RAM, and an NVIDIA GT 540M graphics card. I need to transition from Windows 10, especially now that the support is running out. However, despite my efforts to get it to boot, I keep hitting a wall. I've tried various commands like compatibility mode, nomodeset, and others, but no luck. The boot process stalls around 0.77 when it detects the USB device. I'm not sure if my commands are the issue, and I'm starting to lose hope. Is there anyone here who has dealt with similar problems and managed to get a Linux distro running on such an old machine?
5 Answers
Absolutely, you can breathe new life into that laptop! I've installed various distributions like MX Linux and Mint on older machines with 4GB RAM. Check if you can get any BIOS updates; also, make sure to adjust the following settings:
- Disable Secure Boot
- Enable CSM (Compatibility Support Module)
- Set to a mix of Legacy & UEFI if you can
- Disable Fast Start/Quick Boot. Also, ensure your ISO isn't corrupted by verifying it.
If you're looking for an easy way to get Linux up and running, consider using MX Linux or Debian instead of Ubuntu. They tend to have fewer issues with UEFI, especially on older laptops. Good luck!
I've had good experiences running Linux on much older hardware than yours, so don't give up! You might want to try using Ventoy to create your bootable USB. Some users have had problems with Etcher, and Ventoy can make the process smoother. Just drag and drop the ISO onto the Ventoy drive.
For more guidance, check out the official Linux Mint forums or look through the installation tips available in the wiki. Remember to connect via an ethernet cable when installing and remove the boot media after installation!
It might be a problem with your USB drive. Have you tried booting from it on a different machine to see if it works? Make sure that you're using a proper live USB version of the ISO, not an installation CD version. If you're on Windows, Rufus is a great tool to create a live flash drive properly.
Great tip about the ethernet! That definitely helps with stability during installation.