Fresh Ubuntu Installation on HP ProBook 650 G1: USB Detection Issue

Title: Troubleshooting USB Detection Issue with HP ProBook 650 G1 and Fresh Ubuntu 24.10 Installation

Introduction

This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide on troubleshooting a USB detection issue encountered while installing a fresh Ubuntu 24.10 operating system on an HP ProBook 650 G1 laptop. The laptop failed to detect the bootable USB stick created using Ubuntu's default image-writing software.

Prerequisites

Before diving into the troubleshooting steps, ensure you have the following:

1. A fresh Ubuntu 24.10 ISO image
2. A USB stick with at least 8GB storage
3. Ubuntu's default image-writing software (e.g., Rufus or dd command)

Troubleshooting Steps

Step 1: Check the USB Stick

1. Insert the USB stick into another working computer to ensure it is not damaged or corrupted.
2. If the USB stick works on another computer, proceed to the next step. If not, format the USB stick and repeat the installation process.

Step 2: Check the BIOS Settings

1. Restart the laptop and press the F10 key to enter the BIOS settings.
2. Navigate to the Boot menu and ensure the USB stick is set as the first boot device.
3. Save the changes and exit the BIOS settings.

Step 3: Check the USB Stick Bootability

1. Restart the laptop and press the Esc key repeatedly to enter the boot menu.
2. If the USB stick is not listed, try booting from the USB stick again after ensuring it is the first boot device in the BIOS settings.

Step 4: Check the ISO Image

1. Download the ISO image again to ensure it is not corrupted.
2. Verify the ISO image using a tool like sha256sum or md5sum.

Step 5: Create the USB Stick Manually

1. If the issue persists, create the bootable USB stick manually using the dd command in a Linux-based system:

sudo dd if=ubuntu-24.10-desktop-amd64.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress

Replace sdX with the device identifier of your USB stick (e.g., /dev/sdb).

Step 6: Update the BIOS

1. If none of the above steps work, update the BIOS to the latest version available for the HP ProBook 650 G1.

Conclusion

This article provided a step-by-step guide on troubleshooting a USB detection issue while installing a fresh Ubuntu 24.10 operating system on an HP ProBook 650 G1 laptop. The troubleshooting steps covered checking the USB stick, BIOS settings, USB stick bootability, ISO image, creating the USB stick manually, and updating the BIOS.

References

1. Ubuntu 24.10 Desktop AMD64 ISO
2. Rufus - The Ultimate USB Formatter and Live USB Creator
3. dd - Linux Man Pages
4. HP ProBook 650 G1 BIOS Update