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OsaiEmma (OP)
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So recently I've been researching about Linux, it's advantages over other OS in terms of security, speed and performance, and I feel like I'm ready to move over to Linux OS, but I'm having issues installing it, although, I did a mistake and my PC admin user is locked and I can't access it, but I used an android app called etchdroid to write the linux ISO file in a memory card, the issue is the system is not booting the memory card from my USB card reader, can anyone give me some pointers on how to go about it, thanks.
Note: I believe the system can read the card reader and the memory card in it, but during booting it's not working, legacy and secure boot are disabled, I'm using HP 250 G2 notebook
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DireWolfM14
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February 26, 2026, 05:49:34 PM |
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I used an android app called etchdroid to write the linux ISO file in a memory card, the issue is the system is not booting the memory card from my USB card reader, can anyone give me some pointers on how to go about it, thanks.
I've never used that tool to write a bootable USB (or memory card.) Are you sure it's capable of formatting the card in MBR format and is UEFI is enabled? If you have access to another machine use Rufus on Windows or BelenaEtcher on a Linux system. If you're comfortable doing things in a terminal using CLI PowerShell or a Linux terminal can do what you need without any other software installed. Note: I believe the system can read the card reader and the memory card in it, but during booting it's not working, legacy and secure boot are disabled, I'm using HP 250 G2 notebook
Confirm if you need UEFI to boot or you may need to enable Legacy Boot if the android tool you're using isn't capable of enabling UEFI on the memory card. |
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Mia Chloe
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February 26, 2026, 07:02:15 PM |
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So recently I've been researching about Linux, it's advantages over other OS in terms of security, speed and performance, and I feel like I'm ready to move over to Linux OS.
Nice one OP switching to Linux is a good move but from my experience your issue is most likely the boot media not the laptop Many systems usually refuse to boot properly from a memory card inside a USB card reader even if the card is detected inside Windows. Mostly because the BIOS may read it as storage but not recognize it as a bootable USB device. Op try out a real USB flash drive instead of a memory card. Also sometimes creating the installer with EtchDroid can sometimes cause compatibility issues but it depends on the ISO. |
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OsaiEmma (OP)
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February 26, 2026, 07:58:09 PM |
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So recently I've been researching about Linux, it's advantages over other OS in terms of security, speed and performance, and I feel like I'm ready to move over to Linux OS.
Nice one OP switching to Linux is a good move but from my experience your issue is most likely the boot media not the laptop Many systems usually refuse to boot properly from a memory card inside a USB card reader even if the card is detected inside Windows. Mostly because the BIOS may read it as storage but not recognize it as a bootable USB device. Op try out a real USB flash drive instead of a memory card. Also sometimes creating the installer with EtchDroid can sometimes cause compatibility issues but it depends on the ISO. Ugh....I was honestly hoping it wouldn't be the bootable device choice, but I'll first check with another system to create the bootable device using Rufus, just as DireWolfM14 recommended, thanks though |
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BADecker
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February 27, 2026, 06:20:41 AM |
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@OP I have downloaded several Linux OS and installed them on various computers. I started with a Windows computer. Downloaded a Linux OS. Made a bootable Flash drive or DVD. And started the computer on the Flash or DVD. Then, I installed the OS off the running Flash or DVD, totally wiping Windows off. I could have partitioned the drive to have both Windows and Linux on it. Most Linux OS have a method to install off the Flash or DVD. Puppy Linux you just copy the Linux files off the Flash, and paste them into a blank hard drive, and you have your Puppy Linux on the computer. Simple as that. (Gotta format and partition the HD first. Most other OS's do the formatting and partitioning automatically when you are installing, or they walk you through the process during the install.) It was easy. But I haven't tried all the Linux OS's out there. In past years it was more difficult. Far back, you would have had to literally install Linux piece by piece. Nowadays it's far easier... just like I said, above.  |
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NotATether
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BIOS or UEFI?
Some old versions of Syslinux and Grub bundled inside the ISO do not support UEFI mode and expect a MBR disk.
On the flip side, some very new Linux distro versions are starting to expect GUID partition table format used by UEFI for their bootloader.
I once had this error myself when installing the latest Ubuntu LTS. 20.04 worked well on my BIOS computer, but 24.04 wouldn't boot at all.
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OsaiEmma (OP)
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March 03, 2026, 07:57:26 AM |
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BIOS or UEFI?
Some old versions of Syslinux and Grub bundled inside the ISO do not support UEFI mode and expect a MBR disk.
On the flip side, some very new Linux distro versions are starting to expect GUID partition table format used by UEFI for their bootloader.
I once had this error myself when installing the latest Ubuntu LTS. 20.04 worked well on my BIOS computer, but 24.04 wouldn't boot at all.
Now things are getting more complicated, is it that the issue might be from the Linux version? Note: it's Lubuntu 24.04 I'm trying to install |
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NotATether
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March 03, 2026, 12:26:43 PM |
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Now things are getting more complicated, is it that the issue might be from the Linux version?
Note: it's Lubuntu 24.04 I'm trying to install
I was asking about your hardware. What is the model of the desktop/laptop? |
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OsaiEmma (OP)
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March 03, 2026, 02:05:18 PM |
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Now things are getting more complicated, is it that the issue might be from the Linux version?
Note: it's Lubuntu 24.04 I'm trying to install
I was asking about your hardware. What is the model of the desktop/laptop? Oh ok, it's HP 250 G2 notebook |
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tbcrypto3
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March 05, 2026, 11:58:15 AM |
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Now things are getting more complicated, is it that the issue might be from the Linux version?
Note: it's Lubuntu 24.04 I'm trying to install
I was asking about your hardware. What is the model of the desktop/laptop? Oh ok, it's HP 250 G2 notebook If you've managed to write the ISO to a USB with something like RUFUS, you can reboot your laptop with the usb stick in it and repeatedly press F9 for the boot menu to pop up, try and see if you can see the USB stick there. Good luck. |
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NotATether
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Oh ok, it's HP 250 G2 notebook
This is a UEFI system. Press F2 during startup to check the BIOS settings to make sure that it's in UEFI boot mode. If it says "Legacy Boot", it will not install Ubuntu 24.04. You must change the setting to UEFI mode. |
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OsaiEmma (OP)
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March 06, 2026, 01:01:39 PM |
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Oh ok, it's HP 250 G2 notebook
This is a UEFI system. Press F2 during startup to check the BIOS settings to make sure that it's in UEFI boot mode. If it says "Legacy Boot", it will not install Ubuntu 24.04. You must change the setting to UEFI mode. Wow, ok thanks for this, I'll definitely try this out, although I was waiting for a friend to get back so I can use his system to setup the bootable device, but lemme try this out first, thanks again. If you've managed to write the ISO to a USB with something like RUFUS, you can reboot your laptop with the usb stick in it and repeatedly press F9 for the boot menu to pop up, try and see if you can see the USB stick there. Good luck.
Done this though, but thanks for the input |
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