Having installation problems in Linux Mint - UEFI, ESP, Legacy boot?
ONE:
Most existing Windows EFI partitions are about 100MB in size.
When migrating from Windows 10 (or W11 etc) to Linux Mint, it is important to note that Calamares, the Linux Mint installer, requires a minimum of 300MB for the EFI system partition.
For dual or multiple booting it is advisable to make the EFI partition at least 500MB.
Prior to using the Linux Mint installer, I advise using GParted to create a 500MB EFI system partition (ESP) of at least 500MB and formatted as FAT32.
NB Most importantly, this partition must be flagged by GParted as boot and esp (see attached screenshot).
Alternatively, use the Linux Mint installer (Calamares) alone.
Using Calamares, delete all existing partitions and then click on New Partition Table.
Highlight the free space and then click on Create.
Set the ESP partition size as 500MiB and formatted as FAT32.
Set the mount point as /boot/efi.
NB Flag this as boot.
Repeat the procedure for the next 2 partitions:
root ext4 mount point /
home ..ext4 . mount point /home
Calamares will automatically create a swap file, so there is no need for a swap partition.
In the past it might have been okay to keep the existing 100MB EFI partition but that will no longer work and the Linux Mint installation will fail.
One example of somebody falling foul of this requirement:
TWO:
Linux Mint supports both UEFI and Legacy boot modes.
Legacy boot:
However, if you use the Erase and Install method with the default settings, you may encounter an issue where a superfluous EFI partition is created, even though you have set the computer to boot in Legacy mode.
You need to select Something else and perform manual partitioning.
Use either GParted or Peppermints Calamares installer to partition the drive.
Double click on Install Linux Mint.
When asked What would you like to do?, choose Something else > Continue.
Format the partitions as required using Calamares.
Next, select sda (not sda1) and click on Install now.
The installer will now warn you that without an efi partition the system may not boot, but just click on Continue.
Continue with the rest of the installation.
Most existing Windows EFI partitions are about 100MB in size.
When migrating from Windows 10 (or W11 etc) to Linux Mint, it is important to note that Calamares, the Linux Mint installer, requires a minimum of 300MB for the EFI system partition.
For dual or multiple booting it is advisable to make the EFI partition at least 500MB.
Prior to using the Linux Mint installer, I advise using GParted to create a 500MB EFI system partition (ESP) of at least 500MB and formatted as FAT32.
NB Most importantly, this partition must be flagged by GParted as boot and esp (see attached screenshot).
Alternatively, use the Linux Mint installer (Calamares) alone.
Using Calamares, delete all existing partitions and then click on New Partition Table.
Highlight the free space and then click on Create.
Set the ESP partition size as 500MiB and formatted as FAT32.
Set the mount point as /boot/efi.
NB Flag this as boot.
Repeat the procedure for the next 2 partitions:
root ext4 mount point /
home ..ext4 . mount point /home
Calamares will automatically create a swap file, so there is no need for a swap partition.
In the past it might have been okay to keep the existing 100MB EFI partition but that will no longer work and the Linux Mint installation will fail.
One example of somebody falling foul of this requirement:
Quote:
My machine came loaded with Windows 10, and has since been reloaded (clean install).
I did the re-install via the last DVD ISO download from Microsoft.
When the partitions were made, W10 made a 100MB /boot/efi partition.
Now when loading Linux Mint alongside Windows 10, Mint will not install.
I did the re-install via the last DVD ISO download from Microsoft.
When the partitions were made, W10 made a 100MB /boot/efi partition.
Now when loading Linux Mint alongside Windows 10, Mint will not install.
Linux Mint supports both UEFI and Legacy boot modes.
Legacy boot:
However, if you use the Erase and Install method with the default settings, you may encounter an issue where a superfluous EFI partition is created, even though you have set the computer to boot in Legacy mode.
You need to select Something else and perform manual partitioning.
Use either GParted or Peppermints Calamares installer to partition the drive.
Double click on Install Linux Mint.
When asked What would you like to do?, choose Something else > Continue.
Format the partitions as required using Calamares.
Next, select sda (not sda1) and click on Install now.
The installer will now warn you that without an efi partition the system may not boot, but just click on Continue.
Continue with the rest of the installation.
Total Comments 1
Comments
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This is a good illustration of the fact that every distro has its own particular strengths and inevitably something else has to be sacrificed to pay for them. Mint, like Ubuntu, specialises in novice-friendliness. It's a very good thing that such distros exist. But they require a lot of automation of processes, which inevitably leads to a less efficient use of resources such as disk space.
On my main computer, I have three distros and a 256M EFI system partition. Since I use elilo to boot, I need to have all my bootable kernels and their initrds on this partition. But because I manage it by hand and remove old kernels as soon as I know that the new ones work, the space is ample for my requirements. In fact only 120M of it is actually in use.Posted 06-12-2025 at 04:17 AM by hazel 
Updated 06-12-2025 at 04:23 AM by hazel
