I am running Linux Mint 20.2 and want to move my install of Win10 off my older laptop and put another LM on it.

I downloaded the latest Win10 iso file and installed GNOME Boxes. It installed w/o any issues or errors. I had 390GB of free space so gave it 100GB to use. I have 8GB of RAM so left it at the default 2GB.

I have a valid product license code, so entered it also.

Following the simple instructions, I pointed to the Win10 .iso file and it started the installation.

That was 3 days ago. I found that simply closing the Boxes program did not actually kill the install, as when I reran it the next day it just kept on apparently from where it left off.

I get the spinning circle thing, and the simple msg "Installing..."

I do not leave the PC on overnight, so total hours it has been 'installing' I would put at around 10 actual hours.

But I do not see any way to actually stop the program and start over. And if I do somehow kill the process, am I messing up what is just a super lengthy install process?

Should Boxes report install errors at all?

Any ideas? I really do like the simplicity of Boxes over my previous experiences with VirtualBox and others, so really would like to get this to work vs a dual-boot with Windoze.

Thanks,

Monty

[Update] Pilot error on controlling Boxes. I finally fiddled with the menu options and found I could delete the install process.

I downloaded another Win10 iso in case of corruption and ran it again. I selected Express install and left the storage size to the default, 49GB.

After a few minutes I checked the "Pause" function. It momentarily paused, but then continued with "Installing..." After that, I was unable to select the 'Pause" control again. The "Delete" button did highlight, so assume that would work again.

Will let it run today and see if it actually installs.

My guess is there is a dialog somewhere waiting for input. Try the usual alt-tab, etc. to see where it is getting stuck.

smallpond, yes that is what was happening! I managed to find "Open in a new Window" control and then it showed the actual Windoze install process screens where it was waiting for normal inputs.

That seems a bug, ie it should IMO switch automatically to show progress rather than that initial "Installing..." screen.

Anyway, another issue was the license code key. It would not take it so I clicked "do not have a key" and the install continued.

Windoze 10 finished and I had a normal install

I then went into "Activate" and told it I was installing on the same 'hardware' as the previous install. Finally I got a fully activated instance of W10, tho I will be surprised if it holds for very long...I have kept the chain of activation going since I bought W95 when it first came out. Lots of activation issues along the way, but I have managed to not have to pay for a new license code so far. (knock on wood).

Thanks for the insight!

Monty