Linux Mint 19 Fails to install, CD/RW fails to read ISO Disk...

Ballistic45 · 03-21-2019, 11:21 PM

I have an Optiplex GX820, the Boot sequence is set to Internal CD, Internal Floppy Drive, Internal Hard Drive. NO OS on Internal Hard Drive. On boot up computer goes to CD with Linux Mint 19 ISO Install Disk but fails to read, then goes to Floppy Drive, then comes up with the option of Pressing F1 To try Again or F2 to Inter Bios setup. If I put an old Windows 98 install disk in CD it will boot and proceed to install Windows.

The Linux Mint 19 disk is readable by my other Computers with no problem, I can view the contents of the Install Disk. So the Question is why will the GX820 read the Windows 98 Install Disk and Not the Linux Mint 19 install disk? I have Searched all over the internet for an answer, even changed CD Drive but that did nothing... I even tried to install Linux Mint 19 via a USB stick, but that just does not work, the screen goes to some BIOS screen I'm not familiar with.

mrmazda · 03-21-2019, 11:48 PM

I never heard of a gx820. I have several gx280s. Each of mine has openSUSE, Fedora and Debian installed. I have a Mint 19beta DVD, and just booted it in one of them.

If you have a 280, do you have the jumper on the DVD drive set correctly? The stock cable is cable select, so the jumper needs to be set to CS. Is the drive a DVD drive? Is your installation disc DVD?

Ballistic45 · 03-22-2019, 01:02 AM

Sorry old 71year old eyes, it is a GX620, not GX820...

syg00 · 03-22-2019, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ballistic45

I even tried to install Linux Mint 19 via a USB stick, but that just does not work, the screen goes to some BIOS screen I'm not familiar with.

No-one can help with zero data - take a photo and attach that, or drop it on a cloud sharing site and post a link to it.

mrmazda · 03-22-2019, 01:33 AM

My eyes don't lag behind yours very long.

I have gx620s too, little different from my gx280s WRT Linux. The 620s are the smaller SFF size rather than towers, so have special DVD drive connectors, and are SATA rather than PATA, so jumperless. One also has an old Ubuntu, 14.04, but no Mint.

Who made your Mint media? If you, can you make something else to try to boot?

In your BIOS, have you tried disabling all boot sources except the DVD drive?

Which type case is yours? If SFF, have you inspected the motherboard capacitors for swelling and/or leaking? Badcaps.net explains what to look for, and what can be done about it. Those heavily used are subject to overheat, which can cause inexplicable behavior, degrading eventually into complete failure to boot or even POST. I had to replace several to keep mine working correctly.

That "unfamiliar" BIOS screen is likely PXE boot attempting.