Hi Everyone
I was aiming at dual booting - Linux 19.3 from USB on computer (Aliantware) that is running on Windows 7. When I first started I had the following error :
Err 30 invalid argument
hd0
Cannot create a partition with a block list of whole drive partnew(hd0,3) 0x00%CASPER%
Please- someone could give me a feedback how to fix it. I have a very basic understanding of computers but am happy to use my brain

Hello. Welcome to LQ.

First I'd suggest that you remove the usb and see if you can still boot to windows 7. If you need that then be sure to save it.

Second you do know you have a live usb and not an installed usb distro. Also as far as I can tell you seem to be suggesting that you wish to use windows to boot, is that correct?

When I install linux along with windows I always remove data/power from windows. Later I use bios boot order or F key to select boot. I find it too much trouble trying to have boot loaders all over the place.

Are you using Linux Mint 19.3?
Did you download it from the Linux Mint site?
After downloading, did you verify the download was good (should be instructions on their site)?
How did you put your Linux on the usb? Which software did you use from windows 7?
The reference to CASPER is interesting as it is a directory on a live system so it woulds seem you are trying to create a partition on the usb?
What exactly do you mean when you say 'I first started'? Are you referring to trying to boot the Linux live/install usb?

2 members found this post helpful.

Hi _thanks for your feedback.

I downloaded Linux 19.3 xfce 64 bit from James Madison University (sorry -it seems its name is Tricia). I did not verified this version.
I wish to boot from linux and some time from window when needed
Window is booting OK but linux is not when I change priorities of booting to USB (it has 64GB)
I could make 14GB patrician on C drive for linux -it is recomended 20GB there was not enough space available. In any case I wanted to test booting of my computer from usb.
'First started ' after linux was installed on usb
I used 'Universal USB installer 1.9.9.0

1 members found this post helpful.

If you used Universal Usb Installer from windows and it was successful, you have created what is referred to as a 'live' system which should include the installer. If you want to just use this to try or test Mint, you will need to access the BIOS firmware of the computer on boot and change the boot priority to have the USB first so it boots before windows. Generally, a message will show on screen immediately after booting the computer telling you which key to use. First step is to verify the download which is explained at the Mint site below.

https://linuxmint.com/verify.php

No, that won't work. You can use windows Disk Management to shrink a windows partition and leave unallocated space on which to install Mint but you cannot install Mint (or any LInux) to a proprietary windows filesystem (ntfs) and expect it to work.

I shrunk C drive (with Windows 7) before downloading Linux - 14Gb was available so this is my partition
I changed priorities on BIOS to USB and than it showed me link to Linux. I pressed return and the error 30 with the message I quoted appeared.
I have done it a number of times and the result is always error 30.i can't find out how to fix it.

I'd like to point out that you may wish to consider a free virtual machine to run linux instead of a dual boot.

In most modern computers you don't select usb boot. You select a hard drive order in bios to have the usb drive above the internal hard drive. You will boot to a hard drive order choice.

I am quite happy to run Linux on virtual machine but must admit - I don't know how to set it up. My computer is approx 6 years old, I received it from my late son who was IT professional. He used Linux on this computer but unfortunsly I asked him to install Windows 7 and now have problem how to go back to Linux.

Did you boot to bios and see if the usb shows up in a hard drive choice order?


You have a few programs that can make a virtual machine. All of them pretty easy assuming your system is somewhat newish.

What processor, 64/32bit os and ram?

VirtualPC, Virtualbox come to mind for ease.

Yes - USB is shown in BIOS
it is 64 bit comp. and 8Gb RAM

Yes - USB is shown in BIOS
it is 64 bit comp. and 8Gb RAM
C drive is only 120GB / 14Gb available
on D drive is 465Gb /300Gb is available

When you have a bootable USB and access the BIOS firmware, you should see it listed under the various boot options. If it is capable of booting UEFI as well as Legacy mode (as I would expect Mint to be) you should see 2 entries for the USB, generally by the name of the USB manufacturer. One of the entries will have UEFI in it and the other will not. Use the one that does not have UEFI since that is the default for windows 7, non-UEFI install. Do you know how many partitions you have on the computer for windows 7? Often had 4 partitions and if you have a Legacy install, you can't create any more and thus will not be able to install any other OS. Check Disk Management from windows to see the number of partitions and see if there is any unallocated space.