Ubuntu install fails

[stukem]

I have a new laptop (spec below) that I am unable to install Ubuntu on. I have downloaded Ubuntu desktop 18.04.3 iso and checked the sha. I have burnt the image to two separate USBs and the problem happens on both.

If I choose to install Ubuntu, I get the menu system, and 10 seconds later all peripherals (mouse, keyboard, touchpad etc) freeze and do not return control. If I quickly go though the install menu system, the 'busy spinner' freezes after 10 seconds, then after a minute or two the UI change to a console output with the following:

tmp tmp0: [Firmware Bug]: TPM interrupt not working, polling inst
Couldn't get size: ...
MODSIGN: Couldn't get UEFI db list
Couldn't get size: ...

If I 'Try Ubuntu', the desktop opens OK and after 10 seconds all peripherals stop working.

I have tried playing around with the boot lists due to the error above with no luck. I also tried disabling TPM.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks,
Stuart

Chassis & Display
Cosmos Series: 15.6" Matte Full HD IPS 60Hz 45% NTSC LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Six Core Processor 9750H (2.6GHz, 4.5GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair 2133MHz SODIMM DDR4 (1 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1050 - 3.0GB GDDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1st Storage Drive
500GB SEAGATE BARRACUDA 2.5" SSD, (upto 560MB/sR | 535MB/sW)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated 6 in 1 Card Reader (SD /Mini SD/ SDHC / SDXC / MMC / RSMMC)
AC Adaptor
1 x 120W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Battery
Cosmos VIII Series 4 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
2 Channel High Def. Audio + SoundBlaster™ Cinema
Bluetooth & Wireless
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (2.4 Gbps) + BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
1 x USB 3.1 PORT (Type C) + 2 x USB 3.0 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT
Keyboard Language
MULTI COLOUR BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
NO OPERATING SYSTEM REQUIRED
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
NO RECOVERY MEDIA REQUIRED
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365 (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Firefox™
Notebook Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 1MP HD WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 5 to 7 working days
Welcome Book
PCSpecialist Welcome Book - United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland
Logo Branding
PCSpecialist Logo

 

[stukem]

I tried installing Ubuntu 16.x too. In this case I got the OS installed at least, but the laptop started in 'low graphics mode'. I could get to the login prompt but always got stuck in a login loop.

I tried:
- Adding the Nvidia repo
- Purging and reinstalling the Nvidia drivers to various versions
- Changing desktop implementations (lightdm, gnome etc)
- Checked the permission on my .XAuthority file and tmp folders

None of the above helped, I was still stuck in a login loop (i.e. enter username and password, after a second get redirected back to login page)

 

[stukem]

I got this working eventually. All I did was install Ubuntu 16.04 (on which I couldn't access the UI), and then upgrade to 18.04 using the command line. I didn't have to install any extra Nvidia drivers etc, it just worked.

 

[utenic]

Dear Stuart,

Thank you for sharing these pointers. I just purchased a Cosmos with specs very similar to yours, and am also struggling to install Ubuntu. I was wondering how you finally managed to install Ubuntu 16.04. I have tried installing both the Desktop and the Server version. With the server version, I get stuck in the login loop (as described by you), just like when trying to install the Desktop version of 18.04. For the Server version, the files that show up in the boot order are EFI PXE 0 for IPv6 (80-FA-5B-69-E3-68) and EFI PXE 0 for IPv4 (80-FA-5B-69-E3-68). I did change the boot order to let these two files boot before Windows (I still have the test version installed), but I get the error message for both that "boot failed".

I downloaded the Desktop version from Bit-Torrent, the Server version from http://releases.ubuntu.com/16.04/, and wrote both to different USB drives using Rufus (so using the Windows test version on the new laptop).

I'd be very grateful for further information.
Cheers
Clara

 

[utenic]

I just purchased the same laptop, with an almost identical configuration (only more RAM and larger hard disk). After trying many times to boot both Ubuntu 18.04 and 16.04, but always ending up with a frozen screen (even in the "try Ubuntu" mode), I solved the issue using these steps:

STEP 1: INSTALL UBUNTU 18.04 (found on https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2349782)

1. Disable Fast Boot and Secure Boot (or Secure loader).

2. Plug in the bootable USB with the Linux distro (mine was Ubuntu 18.04)

3. When you see the loader to "Install Ubuntu" etc ... press "e" and edit a line:
Replace "quiet splash" to "nomodeset" and press F10 to boot.

Then after the installation is complete, you will have to reboot.

4. This time you will now encounter the GRUB. Again, press "e" and edit a line:
In the line that starts with "linux", add "nouveau.modeset=0" at the end of that line.

Your Linux should now boot.

STEP 2: INSTALL GRAPHICS CARD DRIVER (found on https://askubuntu.com/questions/1045241/ubuntu-18-04-how-do-i-install-drivers-for-my-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1050)

For the graphics card driver, I first verified the required version typing:
ubuntu-drivers devices

In my case, the required driver was -430

I then updated the Nvidia driver using the command
sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall

STEP 3: ENABLE WIFI (found on

Unable to get wifi adapter working - clean 19.04 install - network unclaimed

My wifi card is an Intel® Wireless-AX200 (802.11/a/b/g/n/ac/ax), Bluetooth® 5, and bluetooth is working. I've tried following various guides, however these drivers are apparently yet to make it int...

askubuntu.com

)

Finally, to get the wifi working (after a couple of other, failed attempts), I typed the following into the Terminal (while being connected to the Internet via an Ethernet cable):

sudo apt update
sudo apt install git build-essential
git clone https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/iwlwifi/backport-iwlwifi.git
cd backport-iwlwifi/
make defconfig-iwlwifi-public
sed -i 's/CPTCFG_IWLMVM_VENDOR_CMDS=y/# CPTCFG_IWLMVM_VENDOR_CMDS is not set/' .config
make -j4
sudo make install
sudo modprobe iwlwifi

This procedure ensures that the newest version of iwlwifi can be installed, that includes your device and, crucially, the exact subsystem.The wifi was immediately visible after that, and I could directly connect to two different wifi networks. Do reboot though to make sure the settings have been changed permanently.

Good luck to everyone trying to set up their system! It takes some time to figure stuff out, but once everything is done, it is very satisfying )