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Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from a standard CD .iso?

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  Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from a  standard CD .iso? "EGO-II.1" <eoconnor25@gmail.com> - 2016-04-14 19:20 +0200
    Re: Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from a  standard CD .iso? Michael Fothergill <michael.fothergill@googlemail.com> - 2016-04-14 19:30 +0200
    Re: Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from a standard CD .iso? "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2016-04-14 19:40 +0200
    Re: Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from a  standard CD .iso? Felix Miata <mrmazda@earthlink.net> - 2016-04-14 19:40 +0200
    Re: Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from  a standard CD .iso? "John L. Ries" <jries@salford-systems.com> - 2016-04-14 20:00 +0200
    Re: Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from  a standard CD .iso? Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2016-04-14 21:30 +0200
      Re: Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from a standard CD .iso? Gene Heskett <gheskett@shentel.net> - 2016-04-14 23:20 +0200
        Re: Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from  a standard CD .iso? Brian <ad44@cityscape.co.uk> - 2016-04-15 20:40 +0200
    Re: Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from a standard CD .iso? "Thomas Schmitt" <scdbackup@gmx.net> - 2016-04-14 22:50 +0200
    Re: Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from a  standard CD .iso? David Christensen <dpchrist@holgerdanske.com> - 2016-04-15 08:00 +0200
    Re: Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from a standard CD .iso? Lisi Reisz <lisi.reisz@gmail.com> - 2016-04-17 13:30 +0200
      Re: Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from a  standard CD .iso? Tom Browder <tom.browder@gmail.com> - 2016-04-17 15:40 +0200

#166707 — Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from a standard CD .iso?

Hello all,

I've been trying for about a week now to get Debian with the MATE 
desktop installed on my PC. For some reason it runs the CD fine, then 
when it gets to the grub install part? it fails. I have tried by burning 
the .iso file to both DVD and CD and it keeps failing on either one. Can 
anyone shed some light on this matter for me? I have installed Debian 
from CD's / DVD's in the past and never experienced this problem. I 
there something the devs have removed from a standard .iso file? I mean 
if push comes to shove I'll most likely just have to go the Ubuntu 
route, but I was trying to deal directly with the "superior server" 
distro. Any help anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks!

Oh! Here's some "specs" for y'all!

MACHINE FOR INSTALL: Dell Inspiron 3650 Desktop/i5/32GB RAM/1TB HDD
USED: Debian 8.x .ISO Image w/ The MATE Desktop Environment -DVD
USED: Debian 8.x .ISO Image w/ The MATE Desktop Environment - CD

FIts just strange that it stops immediately after trying to install 
grub. What's changed with the .ISO's on the Debian homepage? Is this 
because if the whole "Systemd" issue?...or is this something they've 
implemented in order to improve some other feature? AAAArrrrrgggghjhhh!!!
(And although this is might seem like a simple 
"desktop-in-the-backroom-office" type of thing. This is in all actuality 
the beginning stages of "testing" for the company I work for!!)


EGO II

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#166709

[Multipart message — attachments visible in raw view] — view raw

On 14 April 2016 at 17:57, EGO-II.1 <eoconnor25@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> I've been trying for about a week now to get Debian with the MATE desktop
> installed on my PC. For some reason it runs the CD fine, then when it gets
> to the grub install part? it fails. I have tried by burning the .iso file
> to both DVD and CD and it keeps failing on either one. Can anyone shed some
> light on this matter for me? I have installed Debian from CD's / DVD's in
> the past and never experienced this problem. I there something the devs
> have removed from a standard .iso file? I mean if push comes to shove I'll
> most likely just have to go the Ubuntu route, but I was trying to deal
> directly with the "superior server" distro. Any help anyone can provide
> would be greatly appreciated.
>

​Try this:

https://sourceforge.net/projects/boot-repair-cd/

Regards

Michael Fothergill​



>
> Many Thanks!
>
> Oh! Here's some "specs" for y'all!
>
> MACHINE FOR INSTALL: Dell Inspiron 3650 Desktop/i5/32GB RAM/1TB HDD
> USED: Debian 8.x .ISO Image w/ The MATE Desktop Environment -DVD
> USED: Debian 8.x .ISO Image w/ The MATE Desktop Environment - CD
>
> FIts just strange that it stops immediately after trying to install grub.
> What's changed with the .ISO's on the Debian homepage? Is this because if
> the whole "Systemd" issue?...or is this something they've implemented in
> order to improve some other feature? AAAArrrrrgggghjhhh!!!
> (And although this is might seem like a simple
> "desktop-in-the-backroom-office" type of thing. This is in all actuality
> the beginning stages of "testing" for the company I work for!!)
>
>
> EGO II
>
>


-- 
Climostat Ltd

Rm 5169
The Heath Business & Technical Park
The Heath
Runcorn
Cheshire
WA7 4QX

Tel. 01 928 515 015

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#166711 — Re: Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from a standard CD .iso?

Hi,

(I Cc: you because the X-Spam-Status: header does not list you
 as "LDOSUBSCRIBER".)

> For some reason it runs the CD fine, 

I understand that you get to the first menu which offers installation.
Like:
  https://debian-handbook.info/browse/stable/images/inst-boot.png
  https://gordonlesti.com/media/post/install-debian-8-jessie-virtual-machine/debian_installer_boot_menu.png

In this case the way you presented the ISO to the machine was
as correct as can be.


> then when it gets to the grub install part? it fails

How does it express its failure ?
What are the last messages or dialog prompts you get to see ?


> to go the Ubuntu route

It might be of interest if an Ubuntu ISO does better than the Debian one.


> Any help anyone can provide would be
> greatly appreciated.

My own expertise normally ends when the computer firmware (BIOS or EFI)
sucessfully started the boot loader (ISOLINUX or GRUB2) which then shows
the said first menu.
But we have people listening here who can probably tell more about
the reasons of later failure.


Have a nice day :)

Thomas

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#166712

EGO-II.1 composed on 2016-04-14 12:57 (UTC-0400):

> I've been trying for about a week now to get Debian with the MATE
> desktop installed on my PC. For some reason it runs the CD fine, then
> when it gets to the grub install part? it fails. I have tried by burning
> the .iso file to both DVD and CD and it keeps failing on either one. Can
> anyone shed some light on this matter for me? I have installed Debian
> from CD's / DVD's in the past and never experienced this problem. I
> there something the devs have removed from a standard .iso file? I mean
> if push comes to shove I'll most likely just have to go the Ubuntu
> route, but I was trying to deal directly with the "superior server"
> distro. Any help anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.

> Many Thanks!

> Oh! Here's some "specs" for y'all!

> MACHINE FOR INSTALL: Dell Inspiron 3650 Desktop/i5/32GB RAM/1TB HDD
> USED: Debian 8.x .ISO Image w/ The MATE Desktop Environment -DVD
> USED: Debian 8.x .ISO Image w/ The MATE Desktop Environment - CD

> FIts just strange that it stops immediately after trying to install
> grub. What's changed with the .ISO's on the Debian homepage? Is this
> because if the whole "Systemd" issue?...or is this something they've
> implemented in order to improve some other feature? AAAArrrrrgggghjhhh!!!
> (And although this is might seem like a simple
> "desktop-in-the-backroom-office" type of thing. This is in all actuality
> the beginning stages of "testing" for the company I work for!!)

To help, we may need to see output from one of the following:

gdisk -l
fdisk -l
parted -l

Motherboard's firmware settings may be involved too, GUID vs. MBR/BIOS 
partitioning. Secure boot setting might need to be disabled or adjusted.
-- 
"The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant
words are persuasive." Proverbs 16:21 (New Living Translation)

  Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 ** a11y rocks!

Felix Miata  ***  http://fm.no-ip.com/

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#166714 — Re: Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from a standard CD .iso?

I'm guessing that there is some incompatibility between your hardware 
and the default configuration that the GRUB installer doesn't know how 
to handle.  I'm not promising to answer further, as this is outside my 
area of expertise, but is there an error message associated with this, 
or does the installation simply die without explanation?

--------------------------|
John L. Ries              |
Salford Systems           |
Phone: (619)543-8880 x107 |
or     (435)867-8885      |
--------------------------|


On Thursday 2016-04-14 10:57, EGO-II.1 wrote:

>Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2016 10:57:19
>From: EGO-II.1 <eoconnor25@gmail.com>
>To: debian-user@lists.debian.org
>Subject: Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from a
>    standard CD .iso?
>Resent-Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2016 17:15:13 +0000
>Resent-From: <debian-user@lists.debian.org>
>
> Hello all,
>
> I've been trying for about a week now to get Debian with the MATE desktop 
> installed on my PC. For some reason it runs the CD fine, then when it gets to 
> the grub install part? it fails. I have tried by burning the .iso file to both 
> DVD and CD and it keeps failing on either one. Can anyone shed some light on 
> this matter for me? I have installed Debian from CD's / DVD's in the past and 
> never experienced this problem. I there something the devs have removed from a 
> standard .iso file? I mean if push comes to shove I'll most likely just have 
> to go the Ubuntu route, but I was trying to deal directly with the "superior 
> server" distro. Any help anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Many Thanks!
>
> Oh! Here's some "specs" for y'all!
>
> MACHINE FOR INSTALL: Dell Inspiron 3650 Desktop/i5/32GB RAM/1TB HDD
> USED: Debian 8.x .ISO Image w/ The MATE Desktop Environment -DVD
> USED: Debian 8.x .ISO Image w/ The MATE Desktop Environment - CD
>
> FIts just strange that it stops immediately after trying to install grub. 
> What's changed with the .ISO's on the Debian homepage? Is this because if the 
> whole "Systemd" issue?...or is this something they've implemented in order to 
> improve some other feature? AAAArrrrrgggghjhhh!!!
> (And although this is might seem like a simple 
> "desktop-in-the-backroom-office" type of thing. This is in all actuality the 
> beginning stages of "testing" for the company I work for!!)
>
>
> EGO II
>
>

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#166716 — Re: Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from a standard CD .iso?

On Thu 14 Apr 2016 at 12:57:19 -0400, EGO-II.1 wrote:

> I've been trying for about a week now to get Debian with the MATE desktop
> installed on my PC. For some reason it runs the CD fine, then when it gets

Everything is OK up to installing Grub, then.

> to the grub install part? it fails. I have tried by burning the .iso file to

It fails? Presumably there is some feedback? "Fails" is a little general
as an error message.

> both DVD and CD and it keeps failing on either one. Can anyone shed some
> light on this matter for me? I have installed Debian from CD's / DVD's in

You are the only one who can bring some light to the issue, including
where GRUB was installed to and how you partitioned. What does the
syslog say? That's really your primary source of informaton.

> the past and never experienced this problem. I there something the devs have
> removed from a standard .iso file? I mean if push comes to shove I'll most
> likely just have to go the Ubuntu route, but I was trying to deal directly
> with the "superior server" distro. Any help anyone can provide would be
> greatly appreciated.

Alternative routes are always interesting.
 
> Many Thanks!
> 
> Oh! Here's some "specs" for y'all!
> 
> MACHINE FOR INSTALL: Dell Inspiron 3650 Desktop/i5/32GB RAM/1TB HDD
> USED: Debian 8.x .ISO Image w/ The MATE Desktop Environment -DVD
> USED: Debian 8.x .ISO Image w/ The MATE Desktop Environment - CD
> 
> FIts just strange that it stops immediately after trying to install grub.
> What's changed with the .ISO's on the Debian homepage? Is this because if
> the whole "Systemd" issue?...or is this something they've implemented in
> order to improve some other feature? AAAArrrrrgggghjhhh!!!
> (And although this is might seem like a simple
> "desktop-in-the-backroom-office" type of thing. This is in all actuality the
> beginning stages of "testing" for the company I work for!!)

Speculation.

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#166718 — Re: Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from a standard CD .iso?

On Thursday 14 April 2016 15:26:11 Brian wrote:

> On Thu 14 Apr 2016 at 12:57:19 -0400, EGO-II.1 wrote:
> > I've been trying for about a week now to get Debian with the MATE
> > desktop installed on my PC. For some reason it runs the CD fine,
> > then when it gets
>
> Everything is OK up to installing Grub, then.
>
> > to the grub install part? it fails. I have tried by burning the .iso
> > file to
>
> It fails? Presumably there is some feedback? "Fails" is a little
> general as an error message.
>
> > both DVD and CD and it keeps failing on either one. Can anyone shed
> > some light on this matter for me? I have installed Debian from CD's
> > / DVD's in
>
> You are the only one who can bring some light to the issue, including
> where GRUB was installed to and how you partitioned. What does the
> syslog say? That's really your primary source of informaton.
>
> > the past and never experienced this problem. I there something the
> > devs have removed from a standard .iso file? I mean if push comes to
> > shove I'll most likely just have to go the Ubuntu route, but I was
> > trying to deal directly with the "superior server" distro. Any help
> > anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Alternative routes are always interesting.
>
> > Many Thanks!
> >
> > Oh! Here's some "specs" for y'all!
> >
> > MACHINE FOR INSTALL: Dell Inspiron 3650 Desktop/i5/32GB RAM/1TB HDD
> > USED: Debian 8.x .ISO Image w/ The MATE Desktop Environment -DVD
> > USED: Debian 8.x .ISO Image w/ The MATE Desktop Environment - CD
> >
> > FIts just strange that it stops immediately after trying to install
> > grub. What's changed with the .ISO's on the Debian homepage? Is this
> > because if the whole "Systemd" issue?...or is this something they've
> > implemented in order to improve some other feature?
> > AAAArrrrrgggghjhhh!!!
> > (And although this is might seem like a simple
> > "desktop-in-the-backroom-office" type of thing. This is in all
> > actuality the beginning stages of "testing" for the company I work
> > for!!)
>
> Speculation.

I'd be carefull of calling any theory about these failures 'speculation'.

What is a known fact at this location is that the last 4 wheezy installs 
I did, failed on the first pass because I allowed the installer to use 
a /boot DIRECTORY on the / of the disk.  The reboot failed because the 
bios could not reach far enough into a big disk that was being filled 
from the outside in by the installer, and by the time it got around to 
writing the grub stuff, it was too far into the disk for the bios to 
find it.

On the 2nd pass at a workable install, I beat the installer into allowing 
me to add a 1Gb boot partition as the FIRST partition on the disk.  That 
can also be fun as I had it overwrite my location choice at least once, 
putting the boot partition as the inside partition on the disk.  
Obviously that would never work, so I restarted the install with a 
fresh, empty partition map, several times until it actually accepted 
what I wanted.

I finally did get it to work, and it works very well indeed, even on a 4k 
sectored disk.  The secret is of course the /boot as the first 
partition, guaranteeing that a dumb bios CAN reach far enough into the 
disk to find the grub stuff.

Things would be so much simpler if the debian partitioner would recognize 
a gparted prepared disk, needing only the partitions name to be 
associated with it, but despite my efforts to prepare the disks with 
gparted, including a power down and reboot to the gparted cd to verify 
that the partitions had indeed been written to the disk, not once did 
the wheezy installer recognize such a prepared disk as anything but a 
blank slate.

I have not made the jump to jessie yet because the most important app I 
run is still based on a 32 bit wheezy install. I hope and pray for the 
installer to be fixed to make it compatible with other well known and 
standardized partitioners such as gparted by the time I have to enter 
that battlefield again.

As it works now, I consider that its broken for 2 reasons, 1st being its 
inability to recognize another partitioners perfectly valid partition 
table setup already written and mke2fs'd to ext4 on the disk, and its 
penchant for moving a partition setup to be used for /boot, to any free 
space available on the inside of the disc, beyond the / partition.  

Those are not excusable bugs to be blamed on PEBKAC as you've done to me 
on many occasions.

Cheers, Gene Heskett
-- 
"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty:
 soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order."
-Ed Howdershelt (Author)
Genes Web page <http://geneslinuxbox.net:6309/gene>

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#166745 — Re: Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from a standard CD .iso?

On Thu 14 Apr 2016 at 17:16:26 -0400, Gene Heskett wrote:

> On Thursday 14 April 2016 15:26:11 Brian wrote:
> 
> > On Thu 14 Apr 2016 at 12:57:19 -0400, EGO-II.1 wrote:
> > >
> > > FIts just strange that it stops immediately after trying to install
> > > grub. What's changed with the .ISO's on the Debian homepage? Is this
> > > because if the whole "Systemd" issue?...or is this something they've
> > > implemented in order to improve some other feature?
> > > AAAArrrrrgggghjhhh!!!
> > > (And although this is might seem like a simple
> > > "desktop-in-the-backroom-office" type of thing. This is in all
> > > actuality the beginning stages of "testing" for the company I work
> > > for!!)
> >
> > Speculation.
> 
> I'd be carefull of calling any theory about these failures 'speculation'.

It was a considered response to the OP's paragraph above. He provided no
theory to his speculation; theories have to have some evidence-based
grounding. "AAAArrrrrgggghjhhh!!!" is about the best he could manage;
not even an error message, never mind a syslog extract.

There are a number of Debian bugs relating to his issue, all with a
similar lack of solid information. The Release Notes could prove useful.

[Interesting partition technique snipped]
 
> Those are not excusable bugs to be blamed on PEBKAC as you've done to me 
> on many occasions.

Information was being elicted; no attempt at blame was made.

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#166717 — Re: Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from a standard CD .iso?

Hi EGO-II.1,

i forward your message to the mailing list. (List: see below).

It seems necessary that you subscribe to the list in order to get
the other replies to your question.
At
  https://lists.debian.org/debian-user/
write your e-mail address into the "Subscribe/Unsubscribe" field
and click the "Subscribe" button. If i remember correctly, you will
get a mail with instructions how to complete your subscription.

For the replies received so far, see the list of "Follow-Ups" links
underneath your own first mail to the list:
  https://lists.debian.org/debian-user/2016/04/msg00571.html


As expected from your first mail, the problem is not about the ISO
and the way it was put on medium. It happens much later, when GNU/Linux
is already up and running.

EGO-II.1 wrote:
> Grub Installation Failed: The
> GRUB-PC Package Failed To Install Into "/target".

Aren't there any other messages about details of the failure ?


Forwarded complete mail from EGO-II.1, who is obviously not subscribed yet:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Greetings Mr. Schmitt! Thanks for the reply, ok so
* - In being thorough with this process I've enlisted the help of a Lenovo
T-420 laptop with an i5 processor 8GB of RAM and a 320 GB HDD. Just so that
I can rule out the hardware part of this.

- I insert the CD/DVD (have one of each and have tried them both!)
- It boots up to the main menu with the options to:
Live (AMD64)
Live (AMD64 Failsafe)
Install
Graphical Install
Advanced Options
- I've tried every one of these and aside from the Advanced Options - which
take you to another menu that offers:
<Back
Hardware Detection Tool (HDT)
Memory Diagnostic Tool (MemTest86+)

After selecting any of the "Install" options...it goes through its
processes, giving you info as to what its doing (installing
scsi-blah..blah..blah...unpacking/installing display adapter BC-123.2.3.4
etc) then it gets to actually installing the OS on my system. But not before
telling me that:

"Some of your hardware needs non-free firmware files to operate. The
firmware can be loaded from removable media, such as a USB stick or floppy.
The missing files are iwlwifi-6000g2a-6.ucode iwlwifi-6000g2a-5.uccode. I
know this is for the wireless adapter/chip on this laptop, as I've installed
Debian on other people's hard drives for them using this same laptop. So
that can't be the reason why it keeps crashing. so...pressing "No" to move
on with the install:

It tries to detect my network and configure it, which will fail due to the
missing firmware spoken about above. It warns me after not finding it, and
offers the option to install/configure it later. Then it steps me through
naming the host machine, the user, the passwords for the user and root.
Configuring the clock/Date/TimeZone etc.

Then comes the Disk Partitioner: At which I usually just use the "Guided-Use
Entire Disk" option.
I also make sure to specify that it separates files into "/home-/var and
/tmp" partitions. (Makes for easy transfer of peoples items when something
goes wrong with their machine)
After stepping me through a few more screens. (Just asking if I'm REALLY
SURE that I want to proceed, because this will wipe all data on this
drive...etc. But its ok...its a blank drive!) It begins to install the
system
Menu Option:
Install The System
Configure The Package manager - Network Mirror - DO I wish to use one? (No)
Install The GRUB Boot Loader On A Hard Disk - Grub Installation Failed: The
GRUB-PC Package Failed To Install Into "/target". Without The GRUB Boot
Loader, The Installed System Will Not Boot. This is where i get stopped and
can't do much else. Sorry for the long extended email, but I wanted to let
you see that I've done everything by the book, on two different machines and
I'm still getting the same error. I guess I'll just see if I can get
Scientific Linux or CEntOS to run. After all this is for the rack of servers
for my job. I need reliable and safe not "flaky and un-solvable!" LoL!
Thanks for your input!! I look forward to your comments...   :)

Cheers!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of forwarded mail.

Let's hope the list will find the answer. Just feed it with as many
technical details as you have.


Have a nice day :)

Thomas

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#166727

On 04/14/2016 09:57 AM, EGO-II.1 wrote:
> I've been trying for about a week now to get Debian with the MATE
> desktop installed on my PC. For some reason it runs the CD fine, then
> when it gets to the grub install part? it fails. I have tried by burning
> the .iso file to both DVD and CD and it keeps failing on either one. Can
> anyone shed some light on this matter for me? I have installed Debian
> from CD's / DVD's in the past and never experienced this problem. I
> there something the devs have removed from a standard .iso file? I mean
> if push comes to shove I'll most likely just have to go the Ubuntu
> route, but I was trying to deal directly with the "superior server"
> distro. Any help anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Many Thanks!
>
> Oh! Here's some "specs" for y'all!
>
> MACHINE FOR INSTALL: Dell Inspiron 3650 Desktop/i5/32GB RAM/1TB HDD
> USED: Debian 8.x .ISO Image w/ The MATE Desktop Environment -DVD
> USED: Debian 8.x .ISO Image w/ The MATE Desktop Environment - CD
>
> FIts just strange that it stops immediately after trying to install
> grub. What's changed with the .ISO's on the Debian homepage? Is this
> because if the whole "Systemd" issue?...or is this something they've
> implemented in order to improve some other feature? AAAArrrrrgggghjhhh!!!
> (And although this is might seem like a simple
> "desktop-in-the-backroom-office" type of thing. This is in all actuality
> the beginning stages of "testing" for the company I work for!!)

What's the Dell Service Tag?  Any hardware changes since it shipped from 
Dell -- e.g. is the "System configuration" -> "Original configuration" 
on the Dell support web site accurate, and/or have you updated the 
"Current configuration"?


http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-3650-desktop/pd

     "Operating system
     Available with Windows 10 Home..."


http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/inspiron-3650-desktop/manuals


http://downloads.dell.com/manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/esuprt_inspiron_desktop/inspiron-3650-desktop_reference%20guide_en-us.pdf


    "System information
     ...
     Chipset	Intel H110


That is a fairly new chipset -- Q3'15.


     "Memory
     ...
     Configurations supported 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB, 12 GB, and 16 GB"


You have installed more RAM than the manufacturer supports.  What make 
and model memory modules have you installed?  What makes you think they 
will work correctly under all operating conditions?  Have you run 
memtest86+ or some other testing/ burn-in diagnostic for an extended 
period (24+ hours)?


     "Video
     Controller:
     Integrated	Intel HD Graphics
     Discrete	NVIDIA GeForce GT 730"


Both Intel and NVIDIA graphics (?).  That can be a problem.  Here was my 
experience with NVIDIA Optimus on a Sandy Bridge-era Dell Latitude:

     https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=804110


I am unable to find CMOS setup documentation on-line.  But, as others 
have posted, you might find a solution by changing one or more of the 
CMOS settings:

1.  Disable Secure Boot.

2.  Enable Compatibility Support Module:

	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Extensible_Firmware_Interface#Compatibility_Support_Module

3.  Disable either the Intel graphics or the NVIDIA graphics. (If you 
can't disable the card in CMOS, pull it.)


Another possibility is that you might need to install and run Debian 
Testing (Stretch) to get the latest device drivers, X Windows, etc.:

https://wiki.debian.org/DebianTesting


I recommend that you use a small (16 GB) SSD or USB 3.0 flash drive for 
your system drive.  Choose manual partitioning during installation, 
delete the existing partitions, create a new partition table (d-i should 
create/ use MBR), and then create partitions as follows:

1	 0.5 GB ext4 /boot (bootable flag = on)
2	 0.5 GB swap
3	13.4 GB btrfs root


(After the machine is up and running, you can set up the large HDD later.)


Be sure to install SSH during installation -- if the machine boots but 
graphics are bad, you might be able to log in via SSH for 
troubleshooting and repair.


You will want and need a working computer while you fool with Debian on 
the Inspiron 3650.  Type up detailed notes.  Take pictures of the screen 
and/or use video, if necessary (a tiny tripod and/or 1/4-20 cell phone 
mount can be very useful).  SSH into the Inspiron and cut/ paste console 
sessions, when possible.  Expect to make several runs navigating the 
permutations.


David

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#166819 — Re: Can you help me figure out why I can't get Grub to install from a standard CD .iso?

On Thursday 14 April 2016 17:57:19 EGO-II.1 wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I've been trying for about a week now to get Debian with the MATE
> desktop installed on my PC. 

Is this another Skylake problem?  It *is* after all a Skylake!

I had failures at various stages until I got help:
https://lists.debian.org/msgid-search/201603292305.54115.lisi.reisz@gmail.com
https://lists.debian.org/msgid-search/1459356134.881428.563745378.44F3CB7C@webmail.messagingengine.com
https://lists.debian.org/msgid-search/201604090318.18124.lisi.reisz@gmail.com

If it _is_ a Skylake problem, then 8.x is not enough information.  You need at 
least 8.3 (I managed on that), but preferably 8.4.  If you can somehow manage 
to get as far as booting (by hook or by crook) then the first thing you need 
to do is install a backported kernel.

http://backports.debian.org/Instructions/

Or you could use Stretch!!  Cutting edge and Linux are sometimes a problematic 
combination.

Lisi

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#166835

[Multipart message — attachments visible in raw view] — view raw

I used the Mate DVD (8.4) with the non-free packages for a fresh install on
my Dell 6500 laptop. The initial installation went fine. Then I powered
down and went to give a presentation and could not get it to boot into the
graphical desktop. I reinstalled again and had the same failure.

In a final (and successful, whew!) atttempt I used the regular x64
netinst CD, selected Mate as my only desktop, and all has been well since
(fingers still crossed but loosening by the day).

Note the Debian website says the special DVDs don't get as much testing, so
I suspect my laptop might have found a bug.  Unfortunately I don't have
ensough data to confirm that.

HTH

Best regards,

-Tom

P.S. I love the Mate desktop as it is. Please don't add any more bells and
whistles from the pop culture, just maintain it in the choice of desktops
for the normal Debian distribution.

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