Jumper EZBook 3 PRO - can't boot from USB most of common Linux distros
 

Hi everyone!

I have got a new notebook Jumper EZBook 3 Pro with these specifications:

Proc: Intel Celeron N3450
GPU: Intel HD 500
RAM: 6GB 1600 MHz
eMMC 64 GB Toshiba
2x USB 3.0 port
mini HDMI port
micro SD slot

no LAN port !
no CD/DVD
SSD M.2 SATA III extension slot for nFF 2240 (but could be hopefully tweaked for 2280)
I havn't bought the SSD yet.

comes with WIN 10 pre-installed
American Megatrends Aptio Setup Utility 2.18.1263 UEFI 2.5, PI 1.4 compliant
(reffered as bios later on)

My intention: dual boot win 10 / Linux (Debian / Ubuntu family)
My Linux knowledge - more then newb, less than average (kinda)

My problem: I can't boot from USB most of common Linux distros. It is always the same - bios's "Hit ESC or DEL to enter setup", timeout 3-5 sec, cursor appears and freeze.

Distros tried to no avail (always most current version): Debian, Lubuntu, Mint, CentOS, Fedora, Zorin, Puppy, ElementaryOS, Manjaro.

What I already did: in WIN i prepared empty space for Linux partition (10GB)
disabled Fast boot both in win and bios.

In bios I set this (there are literally hundreds of options, so I name only few, I think are important for USB boot):

Advanced->USB configuration:
-Legacy USB Support : enabled
-XHCI Hand-off : disabled (no idea what this does)
-USB mass storage driver support : enabled
-USB transfer time-out : 5 sec
-Device power-up delay : Auto
Mass storage devices: CD-ROM (options are Auto, Floppy, Forced FDD, Hard Disk, CD-ROM)


Chipset->South Cluster Configuration->USB Configuration:
(i have again no idea what these do, but it's about USB, so I better report)

-xHCI Pre-Boot Driver : enable
-xHCI Mode : enable
-USB HSIC1 Support : enable
-USB SSIC1 Support : disable
-USB port disable override : Disable
-XDCI support : disable
-XHCI disable compliance mode : False

Chipset->South Bridge:
Serial IRQ Mode : continuous
SMBus Support : enabled
OS Selection : Android (options are Windows, Android, Win7, MSDOS)
PCI CLOCK RUN : enabled

Security->Secure Boot:
this informs me: Secure Boot activated when Platform Key(PK) is enrolled, System mode is User / Deployed, and CSM function is disabled.

Attempt Secure Boot : disabled

Boot
Setup prompt timeout : 1 (this influences how long does it take to cursor appear and freeze)
Bootup Numlock State : off
Quiet Boot : disabled
Fast Boot : disable

and settings of boot priorities, which i change whenever i want to boot from USB

How I set up the USB stick (its not actually stick, its samsung 32gb micro sd card with samsung adaptor and it is USB 2.0 only, but i tried also USB 3.0 kingston datatraveler stick with same results):


in win I use program called Rufus (https://rufus.akeo.ie/), which is able to "burn" ISO's to usb.
I set it like this:

Partition scheme and target system type :
GPT partition scheme for UEFI (other options are MBR partition scheme for BIOS or UEFI, MBR partition scheme for UEFI)
File system : FAT32(default)
Cluster size: 16 kilobytes (default)

Quick format : check
Create extended label and icon files : check

When I start the "burn" I am usually informed that the ISO is hybrid iso and i can write it in ISO image mode or in DD (disk image) mode. I usually try both, one after another.


With all these settings I was able to boot Arch and Antergos! So I hope its not fundamentally wrongly set up.

But Arch's install with its command line is too difficult for me (atm).
And in GUI of Antergos Wifi and touchpad (i don't care, because of USB mouse) don't work,
and it says it needs internet connection for succesful install , and I am inclined towards Ubuntu anyway.

So is there a way how could I debug the booting of an ISO by modifing it, so it shows some information or some debug linux iso?

Or shall I try to fix live Antergos (I suspect bad driver for wifi), install it somehow and then try to reinstall it with my desired target system (Lubuntu most likely)?

But I am willing to learn, if you suggest to go Arch way.

Any help is appreciated, I can provide you all the information you would need. Thank you!


TL/DR new notebook with specifics, no distro boots except Arch and Antergos, help needed :)

That's good that you disabled the fast boot.

You partitioned 10 GB you might want to up that to 20 GB.

Try tapping F11 when the machine is booting up to see if it will boot into the usb drive.
Hope that helps.

So, Antergos boots up but you are having trouble getting the wifi to work?
It could be that all you need is a driver for your onboard nic.
Sorry I won't be much help with Arch Linux.

lspci | grep -i network will show what nic you have in that machine.

Is this your machine?
http://www.gearbest.com/laptops/pp_620750.html

Hi Ztorcat,

thank you for reply.

Tapping F11 does nothing.

10 GB is just for the starters, while I wait for larger SSD to arrive.

http://www.gearbest.com/laptops/pp_620750.html
Yes, it's my machine, except mine is in gold not silver, and it was way cheaper, because it was kind of pre-order.

Anyway I was able to narrow down the wifi problem - it's about the chip and it's drivers.
The chip is Realtek RTL8723BE which is combined wifi and bluetooth chip. But Antergos picks wrong driver.
And I don't know how to make it change the driver on the fly.

You're Welcome.;)

Try blacklisting the wrong driver or removing it.
https://wiki.debian.org/KernelModuleBlacklisting

If the driver for the RTL8723BE isn't installed I think you should be able to install it with pacman. I said "think" as I have never run Arch Linux before.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php..._configuration

Hope that helps.

Make an Ubuntu LTS usb and boot to uefi mode. I used dd command on iso image to the drive. Be CAREFUL with dd. Not sure but maybe some tools like Rufus may allow you to create a uefi bootable drive also.

I kind of doubt that you will have access to the hard drive under legacy anyway.

USB to Ethernet adapters have been out for quite a few years. In case you did not know.

@rokytnji > Thank you, I have already ordered one few days ago, but it will take some time to arrive from China :)

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Del-...620470729.html

What about drivers for such adapters, are they available for Linux, or will it just work out-of-the-box ?

Let us know how things work out when you can.

For Ethernet hardware chips. Usually. The Linux kernel is pretty good at supplying drivers for those chips when you boot up live before a install.

In case for what ever reason. In case eth0 does not come up and work out of the box.

Give readers of this thread

which is just simple to show usb devices connected and gives members here a chance to find out what chip set is used.

Shows a little about what drivers are being used on detected usb chips.

This one below you run with su or sudo in front of the command because a root prompt is needed to dig into this.

Good luck with it.

Also. I forgot to mention. I hope your Linux iso downloads are not corrupted before using Rufus.

Google how to do a md5sum on a linux downloaded iso using Windows. Youtube is chock full of videos for what I am mentioning here.

"My problem: I can't boot from USB most of common Linux distros. It is always the same - bios's "Hit ESC or DEL to enter setup", timeout 3-5 sec, cursor appears and freeze."

Did you ever make an Ubuntu LTS usb using dd command?

Hi guys,

to keep you updated and answer questions:

a) ISO corruption : I have downloaded and tried many ISO's (10 - 15) and only 3 booted - arch, antergos, solus (yes, this one is new discovery), so statistically I don't believe all others got corrupted. But good idea anyway, thanx.

b) I have tried Lubuntu 17.04 and Lubuntu 16.04_2 to no avail. I always try both ways of making the usb - DD mode and ISO image mode. I havn't tried the LTS (i think last is 16.10).


Good news, bad news:

Following instructions here: https://sites.google.com/site/easyli...set-0bda:b720- I was able to compile appropriate driver for the wireless chip for kernel 4.10.13 and use it in live Antergos session. I'll attach the driver and will post how to make use of it later in case someone needs it and is in the same boat with me.

So I had running Antergos from USB and wifi working, so I proceeded with the install. Everything went fine and finished ok.

But biggest disappointment and frustration arrived, when I tried to boot the new fresh install of Antergos and it ended up with the same freeze as booting most of the distros from usb. :( :( :(

Just a hint.

I'd poke around and search for

/etc/default/grub

and

/boot/grub/grub.cfg

In Antergos using a live session or another computer to trouble shoot where things went wrong.

The way I'd go about it. <my search term here>site:https://forum.antergos.com/

See what comes up?

look here... Linuxium did a review of a TV-box with same processor and similar problems...

http://linuxiumcomau.blogspot.com.br...-mint-and.html
The section below this is where you should look
"...The last issue I encountered was trying to boot an ISO on a new Apollo Lake mini PC. As the GRUB bootloader failed to boot Ubuntu I switched to using the rEFInd boot manager to allow Linux to boot itself. In doing so I solved another want I've sometimes wished for when using a Live USB namely the lack of persistence or the ability to save files such as screenshots or error messages that could still be accessed after rebooting. So I rewrote my script to include all these features."...

@bbaker6212 : You nailed it, sir! I stumbled onto rEFIned while looking for grub solution, but I thought it is some kind of grub replacement for Macs and didn't dig deeper. I am really looking forward to trying it.

And the isorespin is brilliant idea, I was thinking how to make live iso with tweaks, so my custom driver got included, and this script provides more functionality, than I hoped for.


Thank you very much!


At this moment I have got installed Antergos (not booting) and live Antergos from USB, which always needs the driver for wifi working.
I am wondering if chroot can help me in any way.