Troubleshooting: Operating System Not Found Error during Linux Mint Installation on Windows 10 Laptop
If you have installed Linux Mint alongside Windows 10 on your old laptop (2012, i7-2670QM), and you encounter the "Operating System Not Found" error after removing the Mint flash drive and restarting your laptop, this article will guide you through the troubleshooting process.
Understanding the Error
The "Operating System Not Found" error typically occurs when the system's bootloader is unable to locate the installed operating system. This can happen due to several reasons, including incorrect boot order, corrupted bootloader, or missing operating system files.
Checking the Boot Order
The first step in troubleshooting the issue is to check the boot order in your laptop's BIOS settings. Here's how to do it:
- Restart your laptop and press the appropriate key (usually F2, F10, or DEL) to enter the BIOS settings.
- Navigate to the "Boot" tab and ensure that the hard drive containing the Linux Mint installation is listed as the first boot device.
- Save the changes and exit the BIOS settings.
Repairing the Bootloader
If the boot order is correct, the next step is to repair the bootloader. Here's how to do it using a Linux Mint live USB:
- Create a Linux Mint live USB using a tool like Rufus or Etcher.
- Boot your laptop from the live USB and select "Start Linux Mint" from the boot menu.
- Open a terminal and run the following command to install the boot repair tool:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:yannubuntu/boot-repair && sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y boot-repair - Launch the boot repair tool from the system menu and follow the on-screen instructions to repair the bootloader.
Reinstalling Linux Mint
If the above steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to reinstall Linux Mint. Here's how to do it:
- Create a Linux Mint live USB using a tool like Rufus or Etcher.
- Boot your laptop from the live USB and select "Install Linux Mint" from the boot menu.
- Select "Erase disk and install Linux Mint" as the installation type and ensure that the correct hard drive is selected.
- Complete the installation process and restart your laptop.
References
- Linux Mint Official Website
- How to Repair and Restore Grub in Linux Mint
- Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia - Release Notes
By following the above steps, you should be able to resolve the "Operating System Not Found" error during Linux Mint installation on your Windows 10 laptop.