I'm trying to install Linux Mint on a laptop that doesn't have an operating system. Initially, I made a bootable installation using the hard drive, but it didn't let me install directly that way. So, I switched to using a bootable USB instead. During the installation, it saved my account on the USB rather than the hard drive, which meant I could boot without the USB, but nothing was saved. I then wiped both the USB and the hard drive, planning to boot from the USB and install Linux Mint to the hard drive. However, when I try to boot from the USB now, it just shows the Linux Mint logo before going straight to a BusyBox error, indicating it can't mount, with a message saying there's 'no such device or file.' The only way to boot properly is from the hard drive itself with the live version. I'm currently reformatting both drives again to try and redo the USB installation, but I didn't have any success last time due to quick formatting. Is this the problem? I'm new to this, so I'm not entirely sure why this BusyBox error is happening.
1 Answer
It sounds like you're running into a few common issues. First, make sure your USB is fully functioning and formatted correctly. When you create the bootable USB, use a reliable tool like Rufus or UNetbootin. Make sure to select the correct partition scheme and file system (FAT32 is usually a good choice). Next, during installation, ensure that the hard drive is unmounted before you install Linux Mint; it shouldn't have any remnants from the live version to avoid confusion. If it still goes to BusyBox after that, try a different USB port or even a different flash drive.
Thanks for the tips! I'll try using Rufus and ensure I wipe the drives properly before creating the bootable USB.