Can't install from USB Drive

Support
1

Big mistake in the title. SHOULD BE, Can’t install FROM USB drive.

I can’t get it to install something about grub not installing error #1
I can’t even get it go past the partition install phase now. No idea why not.

Thanks!

System:
  Kernel: 6.12.4-1-MANJARO arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 14.2.1
    clocksource: tsc avail: hpet,acpi_pm
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-x86_64 lang=en_US keytable=us
    tz=Europe/Berlin misobasedir=manjaro misolabel=MANJARO_KDE_2421 quiet
    systemd.show_status=1 splash driver=nonfree nouveau.modeset=0
    i915.modeset=1 radeon.modeset=1
  Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.2.4 tk: Qt v: N/A info: frameworks v: 6.8.0
    wm: kwin_x11 vt: 2 dm: SDDM Distro: Manjaro base: Arch Linux
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: MSI product: MS-7850 v: 1.0
    serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: MSI model: Z87-G41 PC Mate(MS-7850) v: 1.0
    serial: <superuser required> uuid: <superuser required>
    UEFI: American Megatrends v: 1.8 date: 07/21/2014
Battery:
  Device-1: hidpp_battery_0 model: Logitech Wireless Keyboard K270
    serial: <filter> charge: 55% (should be ignored) rechargeable: yes
    status: discharging
  Device-2: hidpp_battery_1 model: Logitech Marathon Mouse/Performance Plus
    M705 serial: <filter> charge: 55% (should be ignored) rechargeable: yes
    status: discharging
CPU:
  Info: model: Intel Core i7-4770 bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Haswell
    gen: core 4 level: v3 note: check built: 2013-15 process: Intel 22nm
    family: 6 model-id: 0x3C (60) stepping: 3 microcode: 0x28
  Topology: cpus: 1x dies: 1 clusters: 4 cores: 4 threads: 8 tpc: 2
    smt: enabled cache: L1: 256 KiB desc: d-4x32 KiB; i-4x32 KiB L2: 1024 KiB
    desc: 4x256 KiB L3: 8 MiB desc: 1x8 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 2900 min/max: 800/3400 scaling: driver: intel_cpufreq
    governor: schedutil cores: 1: 2900 2: 2900 3: 2900 4: 2900 5: 2900 6: 2900
    7: 2900 8: 2900 bogomips: 54418
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: Split huge pages
  Type: l1tf mitigation: PTE Inversion; VMX: conditional cache flushes, SMT
    vulnerable
  Type: mds mitigation: Clear CPU buffers; SMT vulnerable
  Type: meltdown mitigation: PTI
  Type: mmio_stale_data status: Unknown: No mitigations
  Type: reg_file_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: retbleed status: Not affected
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow status: Not affected
  Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via
    prctl
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer
    sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Retpolines; IBPB: conditional; IBRS_FW;
    STIBP: conditional; RSB filling; PBRSB-eIBRS: Not affected; BHI: Not
    affected
  Type: srbds mitigation: Microcode
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA GP104 [GeForce GTX 1070 Ti] vendor: PNY driver: nvidia
    v: 550.135 alternate: nouveau,nvidia_drm non-free: 550.xx+ status: current
    (as of 2024-09; EOL~2026-12-xx) arch: Pascal code: GP10x process: TSMC 16nm
    built: 2016-2021 pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 01:00.0
    chip-ID: 10de:1b82 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: Logitech Webcam Pro 9000 driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo type: USB
    rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-1:2 chip-ID: 046d:0809
    class-ID: 0102 serial: <filter>
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.14 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.4
    compositor: kwin_x11 driver: X: loaded: N/A failed: nvidia gpu: nvidia
    display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 3840x1080 s-dpi: 92 s-size: 1060x301mm (41.73x11.85")
    s-diag: 1102mm (43.38")
  Monitor-1: DVI-D-0 pos: primary,left res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 102
    size: 477x268mm (18.78x10.55") diag: 547mm (21.54") modes: N/A
  Monitor-2: HDMI-0 pos: right res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 82
    size: 598x336mm (23.54x13.23") diag: 686mm (27.01") modes: N/A
  API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: nvidia platforms: device: 0 drv: nvidia device: 2
    drv: swrast gbm: drv: kms_swrast surfaceless: drv: nvidia x11: drv: nvidia
    inactive: wayland,device-1
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6.0 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: nvidia mesa v: 550.135
    glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti/PCIe/SSE2
    memory: 7.81 GiB
  API: Vulkan v: 1.4.303 layers: 1 device: 0 type: discrete-gpu name: NVIDIA
    GeForce GTX 1070 Ti driver: N/A device-ID: 10de:1b82 surfaces: xcb,xlib
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 8 Series/C220 Series High Definition Audio
    vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
    chip-ID: 8086:8c20 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: NVIDIA GP104 High Definition Audio vendor: PNY
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16
    bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:10f0 class-ID: 0403
  Device-3: Creative Labs CA0110 [Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio]
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 07:00.0 chip-ID: 1102:0009
    class-ID: 0403
  Device-4: Logitech Webcam Pro 9000 driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo type: USB
    rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-1:2 chip-ID: 046d:0809
    class-ID: 0102 serial: <filter>
  API: ALSA v: k6.12.4-1-MANJARO status: kernel-api with: aoss
    type: oss-emulator tools: alsactl,alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: JACK v: 1.9.22 status: off tools: N/A
  Server-2: PipeWire v: 1.2.7 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
    status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8211/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
    vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s
    lanes: 1 port: d000 bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8168 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp3s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8814AU 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wireless Adapter driver: N/A
    type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-12:6
    chip-ID: 0bda:8813 class-ID: 0000 serial: <filter>
  Info: services: NetworkManager,systemd-timesyncd
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 140.7 GiB used: 7.65 GiB (5.4%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: SanDisk model: SDSSDHII120G
    size: 111.79 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s
    tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 00RL scheme: GPT
  ID-2: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 model: USB DISK 2.0 size: 28.91 GiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B type: USB rev: 2.0 spd: 480 Mb/s
    lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 tech: N/A serial: <filter> fw-rev: PMAP scheme: MBR
  SMART Message: Unknown USB bridge. Flash drive/Unsupported enclosure?
Partition:
  Message: No partition data found.
Swap:
  Alert: No swap data was found.
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 32.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: nvidia temp: 33 C
  Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A gpu: nvidia fan: 27%
Info:
  Memory: total: 16 GiB available: 15.54 GiB used: 4.69 GiB (30.2%)
  Processes: 235 Power: uptime: 26m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep
    avail: s2idle wakeups: 0 hibernate: platform avail: shutdown, reboot,
    suspend, test_resume image: 6.17 GiB services: org_kde_powerdevil,
    power-profiles-daemon, upowerd Init: systemd v: 256 default: graphical
    tool: systemctl
  Packages: pm: pacman pkgs: 1242 libs: 323 tools: pamac pm: flatpak pkgs: 0
    Compilers: N/A Shell: Zsh v: 5.9 running-in: konsole inxi: 3.3.36

    ~  sudo parted -l                                                                                 ✔ 
Model: ATA SanDisk SDSSDHII (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 120GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags: 
 
Number  Start   End    Size    File system     Name  Flags
 1      2097kB  317MB  315MB   fat32                 boot, esp
 2      317MB   102GB  101GB   ext4            root
 3      102GB   120GB  18.3GB  linux-swap(v1)        swap


Model:  USB DISK 2.0 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 31.0GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags: 

Number  Start   End     Size    Type     File system  Flags
 2      4323MB  4327MB  4194kB  primary               esp


    ~  test -d /sys/firmware/efi && echo efi || echo bios                                             ✔ 
efi
    ~  efibootmgr -v                                                                                  ✔ 
BootCurrent: 0004
Timeout: 1 seconds
BootOrder: 0004,0003
Boot0003* UEFI: Built-in EFI Shell      VenMedia(5023b95c-db26-429b-a648-bd47664c8012)0000424f
      dp: 04 03 14 00 5c b9 23 50 26 db 9b 42 a6 48 bd 47 66 4c 80 12 / 7f ff 04 00
    data: 00 00 42 4f
Boot0004* UEFI:  USB DISK 2.0 PMAP      PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x1a,0x0)/USB(1,0)/USB(5,0)/HD(1,MBR,0x0,0x80d490,0x2000)0000424f
      dp: 02 01 0c 00 d0 41 03 0a 00 00 00 00 / 01 01 06 00 00 1a / 03 05 06 00 01 00 / 03 05 06 00 05 00 / 04 01 2a 00 01 00 00 00 90 d4 80 00 00 00 00 00 00 20 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 01 01 / 7f ff 04 00
    data: 00 00 42 4f
    ~ 

Mod Edit: Fixed formatting.

2

Describe what you are trying to do.

And don’t use Blockquote when posting terminal output

System:
Kernel: 6.12.4-1-MANJARO arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 14.2.1
clocksource: tsc avail: hpet,acpi_pm
parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-x86_64 lang=en_US keytable=us
tz=Europe/Berlin misobasedir=manjaro misolabel=MANJARO_KDE_2421 quiet
systemd.show_status=1 splash driver=nonfree nouveau.modeset=0
i915.modeset=1 radeon.modeset=1
Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.2.4 tk: Qt v: N/A info: frameworks v: 6.8.0
wm: kwin_x11 vt: 2 dm: SDDM Distro: Manjaro base: Arch Linux
Machine:
Type: Desktop System: MSI product: MS-7850 v: 1.0
serial:
Mobo: MSI model: Z87-G41 PC Mate(MS-7850) v: 1.0
serial: uuid:
UEFI: American Megatrends v: 1.8 date: 07/21/2014
Battery:
Device-1: hidpp_battery_0 model: Logitech Wireless Keyboard K270
serial: charge: 55% (should be ignored) rechargeable: yes
status: discharging
Device-2: hidpp_battery_1 model: Logitech Marathon Mouse/Performance Plus
M705 serial: charge: 55% (should be ignored) rechargeable: yes
status: discharging
CPU:
Info: model: Intel Core i7-4770 bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Haswell
gen: core 4 level: v3 note: check built: 2013-15 process: Intel 22nm
family: 6 model-id: 0x3C (60) stepping: 3 microcode: 0x28
Topology: cpus: 1x dies: 1 clusters: 4 cores: 4 threads: 8 tpc: 2
smt: enabled cache: L1: 256 KiB desc: d-4x32 KiB; i-4x32 KiB L2: 1024 KiB
desc: 4x256 KiB L3: 8 MiB desc: 1x8 MiB
Speed (MHz): avg: 2900 min/max: 800/3400 scaling: driver: intel_cpufreq
governor: schedutil cores: 1: 2900 2: 2900 3: 2900 4: 2900 5: 2900 6: 2900
7: 2900 8: 2900 bogomips: 54418
Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
Vulnerabilities:
Type: gather_data_sampling status: Not affected
Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: Split huge pages
Type: l1tf mitigation: PTE Inversion; VMX: conditional cache flushes, SMT
vulnerable
Type: mds mitigation: Clear CPU buffers; SMT vulnerable
Type: meltdown mitigation: PTI
Type: mmio_stale_data status: Unknown: No mitigations
Type: reg_file_data_sampling status: Not affected
Type: retbleed status: Not affected
Type: spec_rstack_overflow status: Not affected
Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via
prctl
Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer
sanitization
Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Retpolines; IBPB: conditional; IBRS_FW;
STIBP: conditional; RSB filling; PBRSB-eIBRS: Not affected; BHI: Not
affected
Type: srbds mitigation: Microcode
Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
Device-1: NVIDIA GP104 [GeForce GTX 1070 Ti] vendor: PNY driver: nvidia
v: 550.135 alternate: nouveau,nvidia_drm non-free: 550.xx+ status: current
(as of 2024-09; EOL~2026-12-xx) arch: Pascal code: GP10x process: TSMC 16nm
built: 2016-2021 pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 01:00.0
chip-ID: 10de:1b82 class-ID: 0300
Device-2: Logitech Webcam Pro 9000 driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo type: USB
rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-1:2 chip-ID: 046d:0809
class-ID: 0102 serial:
Display: x11 server: [X.Org](http://X.Org) v: 21.1.14 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.4
compositor: kwin_x11 driver: X: loaded: N/A failed: nvidia gpu: nvidia
display-ID: :0 screens: 1
Screen-1: 0 s-res: 3840x1080 s-dpi: 92 s-size: 1060x301mm (41.73x11.85")
s-diag: 1102mm (43.38")
Monitor-1: DVI-D-0 pos: primary,left res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 102
size: 477x268mm (18.78x10.55") diag: 547mm (21.54") modes: N/A
Monitor-2: HDMI-0 pos: right res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 82
size: 598x336mm (23.54x13.23") diag: 686mm (27.01") modes: N/A
API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: nvidia platforms: device: 0 drv: nvidia device: 2
drv: swrast gbm: drv: kms_swrast surfaceless: drv: nvidia x11: drv: nvidia
inactive: wayland,device-1
API: OpenGL v: 4.6.0 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: nvidia mesa v: 550.135
glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti/PCIe/SSE2
memory: 7.81 GiB
API: Vulkan v: 1.4.303 layers: 1 device: 0 type: discrete-gpu name: NVIDIA
GeForce GTX 1070 Ti driver: N/A device-ID: 10de:1b82 surfaces: xcb,xlib
Audio:
Device-1: Intel 8 Series/C220 Series High Definition Audio
vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
chip-ID: 8086:8c20 class-ID: 0403
Device-2: NVIDIA GP104 High Definition Audio vendor: PNY
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16
bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:10f0 class-ID: 0403
Device-3: Creative Labs CA0110 [Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio]
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 07:00.0 chip-ID: 1102:0009
class-ID: 0403
Device-4: Logitech Webcam Pro 9000 driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo type: USB
rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-1:2 chip-ID: 046d:0809
class-ID: 0102 serial:
API: ALSA v: k6.12.4-1-MANJARO status: kernel-api with: aoss
type: oss-emulator tools: alsactl,alsamixer,amixer
Server-1: JACK v: 1.9.22 status: off tools: N/A
Server-2: PipeWire v: 1.2.7 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8211/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s
lanes: 1 port: d000 bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8168 class-ID: 0200
IF: enp3s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac:
Device-2: Realtek RTL8814AU 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wireless Adapter driver: N/A
type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-12:6
chip-ID: 0bda:8813 class-ID: 0000 serial:
Info: services: NetworkManager,systemd-timesyncd
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 140.7 GiB used: 7.65 GiB (5.4%)
SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
ID-1: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: SanDisk model: SDSSDHII120G
size: 111.79 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s
tech: SSD serial: fw-rev: 00RL scheme: GPT
ID-2: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 model: USB DISK 2.0 size: 28.91 GiB
block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B type: USB rev: 2.0 spd: 480 Mb/s
lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 tech: N/A serial: fw-rev: PMAP scheme: MBR
SMART Message: Unknown USB bridge. Flash drive/Unsupported enclosure?
Partition:
Message: No partition data found.
Swap:
Alert: No swap data was found.
Sensors:
System Temperatures: cpu: 32.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: nvidia temp: 33 C
Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A gpu: nvidia fan: 27%
Info:
Memory: total: 16 GiB available: 15.54 GiB used: 4.69 GiB (30.2%)
Processes: 235 Power: uptime: 26m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep
avail: s2idle wakeups: 0 hibernate: platform avail: shutdown, reboot,
suspend, test_resume image: 6.17 GiB services: org_kde_powerdevil,
power-profiles-daemon, upowerd Init: systemd v: 256 default: graphical
tool: systemctl
Packages: pm: pacman pkgs: 1242 libs: 323 tools: pamac pm: flatpak pkgs: 0
Compilers: N/A Shell: Zsh v: 5.9 running-in: konsole inxi: 3.3.36
3

Sorry about not posting right. I am trying to install Manjaro and it will not work.
thanks!
I ran the installation: launch installer and it ends with an error #1
This computer was running manjaro for years but I can’t get a fresh install to work.

Did some more work on this problem. Reflashed by USB to the newest 24,2,1
checksums are all perfect.
Redid the install and same problem.
Installation failed
Manjaro Liruin 24.2.1 “Yonada”
Bootloader installation error
The bootloader could not be installed. The installation command 

grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi --bootloader-id=Manjaro --force
returned error code 1.

Stuff posted to web: https://termbin.com/3uqx

Mod edit: Removed cry for help from post. We know you want help, that’s why you’re here, after all.

4

For what it’s worth: the default calamares doesn’t/can’t (I don’t know which) install to any external device, if I recall correctly.

5

I notice the log contains

2025-03-12 - 13:25:29 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "Bootloader: grub (efi)" 
2025-03-12 - 13:25:29 [6]:     .. Running QList("grub-install", "--target=x86_64-efi", "--efi-directory=/boot/efi", "--bootloader-id=Manjaro", "--force") 
2025-03-12 - 13:25:46 [6]:     .. Target cmd: QList("grub-install", "--target=x86_64-efi", "--efi-directory=/boot/efi", "--bootloader-id=Manjaro", "--force") Exit code: 1 output:
Installing for x86_64-efi platform.
Could not add entry to BootOrder: No space left on device
grub-install: error: efibootmgr failed to register the boot entry: No such device or address.

This page has some suggestions of things to check for similar errors:

1 Like
6

In your inxi and other information there is only one USB drive.
The title says that you want to install to a USB drive.
Are you trying to install to the same USB drive you booted from?

7

That’s not enough info (or, as the Germans would say, ‘a bit too Knapp’).

  1. Your topic is titled ‘Can’t install to USB Drive’, aka the 32Gb USB drive on sdb, is that what you’re trying to do?
    It will fail because you’re booted UEFI and the USB drive partition table is msdos. Fix it by creating gpt partition table on sdb and try to install again (all data on sdb will go, so backup if needed)

  2. Or is the topic title totally misleading and the 32GB stick is your installation media and you want to install to your 120GB ssd? Then first boot from USB and use gparted to reformat sda (all data on sda will go, so backup if needed), either delete all existing partitions or ‘new partition table >> gpt’ to offer the installer a clean drive/‘unallocated space’, then install with ‘have the whole disk’ option.

3 Likes
9

Sorry this is so unclear. I have a USB drive that has the install program and an SSD drive that I am installing to. The system install system reformatted the drive and then did the install and failed. Maybe the install system is making the grub section to small??? This system has been running manjaro for years, so I know that it can do it. No hardware updates. The first failure happened when my wife turned the computer off during an update.

10

@DouglasEKnapp

@Phemisters

I think the answer is in what @Phemisters pointed out and the link he provided.

I recommend you take your time to read it.

1 Like
11

I have dried everything and read the other post. I am currently running in debug mode to see what I get.
sudo calamares -d
https://termbin.com/6nqx
Bugs reported to this link according to calamares. I don’t see anything new.
The only other thing I have found is that it will not boot to the USB install stick if I turn off USB legacy support.
I hope you have some more ideas.
Thanks!

12

It is more helpful to actually list what you tried rather than vaguely say you’ve tried everything (since if that was literally true we cannot suggest anything you have not tried). There is no point in someone suggesting something if you then say you tried it already.

I notice the log says

2025-03-20 - 16:25:04 [6]:     ..  Can not resize "/dev/sda1" , filesystem "fat32" does not support resize. 
2025-03-20 - 16:25:04 [6]:     ..  Checking if "/dev/sda1" can be replaced. 
2025-03-20 - 16:25:04 [6]:     ..  NO, insufficient storage

I don’t look at these logs often enough to know what that means.

It would be helpful if you detailed the options you use when installing - for instance do you allow the installer to re-format the partitions? Or are you trying to use an existing partition?

1 Like
13

this seems significant:

Installing for x86_64-efi platform.
Could not prepare Boot variable: No space left on device
grub-install: error: efibootmgr failed to register the boot entry: Input/output error.

it is from:

https://termbin.com/6nqx

14

I think so too, especially considering that, according to the inxi output posted earlier, there are no partitions defined yet (as far as I can see) on the target disk. I suspect it’s a fairly old one too, at 120G.

This may be pointing towards hardware failure.

sudo smartctl -x /dev/sda

… may reveal something.

Side note: Older disks are not only likely less robust regarding write cycles; their smaller capacity compounds the issue with modern OSes due to a larger proportion of rewrites per cell, given its total size vs. regular data exchange.

15

As @ehhen pointed out. Your UEFI, the storage where bootloader entries are created (not grub), is full. Thus, grub, better: efibootmgr, is not able to write a new entry.

2025-03-20 - 16:30:59 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "stdout:Installing for x86_64-efi platform.\nCould not prepare Boot variable: No space left on device\ngrub-install: error: efibootmgr failed to register the boot entry: Input/output error."

It could be that there are dead/hidden ones here:

ls -la /sys/firmware/efi/efivars/

Either delete some “files” aka entries there or reset your UEFI to default.

1 Like
16

How exactly did it fail?
At which point?
Was there an error message?
What was it?

Which partitioning method did you choose?
Which options did you choose during install?

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