I'm really struggling to get Linux installed on my computer. I've wasted the last two weeks trying different distributions, and I'm on my seventh attempt now. Endeavor appears to install okay, but when I try to boot, I just end up with a black screen and a static white dash in the top left corner. I suspect my NVIDIA RTX 3060 might be causing the issue since it works fine on another machine. I've also tried KDE and GNOME environments, but no luck. My latest attempt was with CachyOS and Hyprland, and although it installed, it stopped working after a few minutes. I could really use some help with this, as I feel like I'm at my wit's end!
3 Answers
It sounds like you're hitting a snag with your boot settings. If you see the black screen before reaching the GRUB menu, there could be an issue with your UEFI boot configuration. I'd recommend checking your BIOS settings to ensure it's set to boot the whole disk instead of just the OS. Sometimes UEFI implementations can be tricky. If the black screen appears after GRUB, just wait a bit. Occasionally, it might take some time to boot due to issues like clocksource instability. You can also check for errors using `sudo dmesg` once you get in.
It's frustrating with NVIDIA cards since their drivers aren't always the best for Linux. Instead of using their website drivers, stick with the ones that come packaged with your distro. They often integrate better and ensure you can update everything smoothly. Some distros like Pop OS or Tuxedo OS are known for better hardware support right out of the box. If you're new to this, Linux Mint can be a safer choice as it runs perfectly for many users, including myself.
I went back to Mint, and it runs like a charm! Honestly, I’m baffled why the other distros don't work for me.
When installing, did you disable options like Secure Boot and Fast Boot in your BIOS? Those can sometimes interfere with Linux installations, especially if you're dual-booting with Windows. And make sure to disable Bit Locker if you're doing that. If you haven't done it yet, check if there are BIOS updates available—they might help stabilize the boot process.
I checked and I have those options disabled. It seems like the main issue might be with the NVIDIA drivers based on what I've read.
That makes sense! I had a similar issue, and waiting actually helped. But when you say it gets stuck after GRUB, do you see any loading indicators or just black screen?