When I try to install Xubuntu from a live USB drive (which I checked is not corrupt), I get the "Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported" message. However I figured out the usual hacks to make it boot but now it's giving the no init found error. All the answers on the net for resolving this involve starting from a system that can boot properly, so I am at a loss to figure out what to do, and facing the proverbial black screen of death.

However I have to admit that the initial USB drive that I prepared wasn't checked for errors and only a second one was checked, but it gave the same errors.

It's 18.04 that I was trying to install, since that was my original OS and my initial intention was to repair grub and everyone was saying that one had to reinstall.

how did you create the live usb and can you try again? if the second attempt does not work, can you try creating the usb with a different program? i have read recently that rufus with dd has good results.

I have never had any luck booting or installing from a USB thumbdrive, if that is what you are referring to, but that may be, and probably is, just me. However, I am going to show my age. Any chance of you creating a live installation CD/DVD? If so, you might try that avenue. You should have no trouble installing then and if you ever need to it can be the source for a reinstallation of grub. I'm sure others have had no problems with the USBs but they just have never worked for me.

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I created a new USB with Rufus for 20.04 and am still facing the same problem. I don't know if I can have access to burnable CD's at the moment, but people are still waking up here so I have to check.

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In normal situations, you never have to do a full re-install of the distro just to fix grub.

I'm at a loss to know at what point you are failing. Does the USB boot correctly ?. Are you installing from the desktop, or selection install from the initial USB boot menu (I've never looked at kubuntu) ?.

FWIW I always use a USB these days - haven't burned a CD/DVD in years.

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Did you use rufus in dd mode?
Are you getting problems booting the live session, or rebooting after install?
Is there anything useful on the screen that you can share?

Please answer all questions.

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I finally tried with a win32 disc imager to create the USB and still it failed. What I am getting on the booting is the first photo and what I am getting on booting is in the second one.

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Sorry I didn't clarify what I meant. By the first boot I meant using the live USB directly and by the second one I meant what I got when I booted from the grub menu using commands here
https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-deal-...Error-In-Linux

The first image shows a Grub2 prompt. From it it is possible to boot by using the commands normally seen in a /boot/grub/grub.cfg file. Usually this happens because /boot/grub/grub.cfg is missing or otherwise not found. If you can locate your backup of /boot/grub/grub.cfg you should be able to boot by using a subset of the commands its first stanza contains. Assuming the kernel and initrd names listed in that image are on the HD's installation rather than on the USB stick, they are the key ingredients to booting the installed 18.04 system.

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How to access the file you said when even without the USB the system boots to the grub prompt? Is it possible from the grub prompt itself?

https://askubuntu.com/questions/9298...y-pc-from-grub is one of a multitude of search hits explaining booting from a Grub prompt. The response labeled 30 there should give you the idea. https://www.linux.com/training-tutor...-grub-2-linux/ shows a bit more detail. You may find a better search result.

I am sending you the photo of the grub ls commands when I rebooted without the USB

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You cannot use a / where a , belongs and expect useful results.

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So sorry I was wondering what went wrong. I will try to correct it and do what has been suggested in the threads that you sent. Thanks so much for the tip.

The post labelled 30 says upon encountering initramfs enter password and then startx but startx isn't a valid command and it's saying so. I am sending you the photo.

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