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Mint XFCE installation fails with GRUB and partitioning errors on an older ASUS laptop

September 30, 2026 4 answers
Asked by MellowPine27
I'm completely new to Linux and am trying to install Linux Mint XFCE on an older ASUS laptop that originally came with Windows 8. I chose XFCE because I wanted something lightweight, and I'm only experimenting on this laptop rather than my main computer. I burned the Mint ISO to a DVD and attempted the installation twice. Both attempts ended with a fatal error saying that grub-install on /dev/sda failed. After the first failed installation, rebooting dropped me into a GRUB prompt, which I don't know how to use. On the second attempt, I tried running the installer again so I could access boot-repair options, but instead the installer crashed with a ubi-partman error and exit code 10. Pressing "Try Again" repeatedly didn't change anything. What should I check or try next to get Mint installed?
GRUB error Linux installation Linux Mint old laptop System Operations ubi-partman XFCE

Answers

SilverMaple19
Given the laptop’s age, the internal hard drive could be failing. Problems writing the partition layout and installing the bootloader are consistent with a damaged or unreliable drive. Test the drive’s health before repeatedly reinstalling, and consider replacing it with an SSD if it shows errors. When booting the installer, also make sure the firmware mode and partition layout are compatible rather than mixing UEFI and legacy boot settings.
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CopperVale8
Try installing from a USB flash drive instead of the DVD. Use a tool such as Rufus to write the Mint ISO to the drive, then boot the laptop from USB. Flash drives are generally more reliable for this than burned discs, and a machine that cannot boot a correctly prepared USB may have broader hardware or firmware problems.
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BrightCedar42
Please provide the exact ASUS model, CPU, graphics, RAM, the Mint version, and the complete error messages. Also verify the ISO checksum before writing it to the installer media. The GRUB error and the partitioning crash may have a specific cause that the short exit-code message doesn’t reveal.
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QuietHarbor6
Clicking “Try Again” won’t help unless something has changed. Check the installer logs for the detailed message leading up to ubi-partman exit code 10, and record the full GRUB installation error as well. Those details can show whether the issue is the partition table, boot mode, storage device, or installer media.
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