Installing xubuntu 24.04 on HP EliteDesk

Support and Help
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Ubuntu Version:

Xubuntu 24.04

Desktop Environment (if applicable):

Problem Description:

Relevant System Information:

Screenshots or Error Messages:

What I’ve Tried:

I’m trying to install to install Xubuntu 24.04 one someone else’s desktop, an HP EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT, but I’ve encountered some difficulties.
First, when booting the xubuntu 24.04.3 live disk (created on Xubuntu 25.04 using dd), the computer refuses to boot in UEFI mode, flashing an error message “Error: no /boot/ file found” (or something similar, it shows for a fraction of a second). It can boot in legacy mode.

Then I thought, let’s try installing in legacy mode. I tried with the drive formatted in GPT mode with a bios_grub partition and I tried with the drive formatted in mbr mode, but in both cases, when I come to “select location for bootloader installation”, the only choice is the live disk (sdb). I can’t install the bootloader on sda.

This is my first time in quite a while to install Linux on a somewhat newer computer. I know my way around in Linux; I’ve been active on Ubuntuforums for years, but I’ve been away for a while when the community moved here.

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How old is this PC?
Access UEFI settings and disable secure boot and and TPM type options.

3

It appears I’ve already managed to install Xubuntu 25.04, using the same UEFI settings. I don’t know what was wrong, some glitch on the live disk maybe. The sha256 sum checked out nicely though.

Anyway, problem solved. And I’m happy to be back in the community.

4

In UEFI boot mode on gpt partitioned drive, HP typically only wants to boot an UEFI entry that says “Windows Boot Manager”. It removes or changes the ubuntu entry.

Those with HP have said they can change boot order when dual booting by going into system settings (not one time boot menu) and changing settings in boot tab.

Those only booting Ubuntu can create a UEFI boot entry that says Windows, but boots shimx64.efi. Example assumes ESP - efi system partition is sda1, you have to specify drive & partition if not sda with -d & -p parameters, see man page.

sudo efibootmgr -c -L "Windows Boot Manager" -l "\EFI\ubuntu\shimx64.efi"

See also
man efibootmgr

To revert to a Windows boot:
sudo efibootmgr -c -L “Windows Boot Manager” -l “\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi”
with parameters for nvme & first partition:
sudo efibootmgr -c -L “Windows Boot Manager” -l “\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi” -d /dev/nvme0n1 -p 1