Kubuntu 26.04 Install issue / usb-stick

Support and Help
1

Hi,

I downloaded the ISO image for Kubuntu 26.04 from kubuntu.org.
I created a bootable USB Stick.

In contrast to all other bootable USB Sticks, the one with Kubuntu appears as two different drives, both on my Linux Mint system and on Windows 11. It does not seem to matter wether I create the bootable USB Stick with “Rufus” under Windows or use the build-in approach from Linux Mint (right click on ISO image and choose “create bootable usb stick”.

When I try to setup my HP Elitebook with Kubuntu using this stick, I get the error message “folder /boot not found”. That’s right, one of the two drives on the USB Stick does not have a folder called “boot” but the other one does. On the notebook itself things like “secure boot” or “fast boot” are all deactivated.

Screenshot_Kubuntu-Folder-Kubuntu
Screenshot_Kubuntu-Folder-Kubuntu1050×660 58.8 KB

Screenshot_Kubuntu-USB-Stick
Screenshot_Kubuntu-USB-Stick368×154 9.61 KB

I can now choose to install kbuntu with safe graphics and so on, but I am always stuck with a screen with a flashing kubuntu logo and nothing happens.

I tried different USB Sticks, some of them where used to install other Linux versions in the past but I always get the same result.

I also created a USB Stick a few minutes ago for a different Linux distro and that one looks normal and does not have to drives on it.

Any ideas where the problem is?

2

There is no issue with two drives appearing on the usb stick. Kubuntu is a distro which allows you to continue to use the stick as extra storage even after installing itself on the main partition. That is why it is marked as “writable” Some other distros just take the whole usb stick.

As for why you cannot install, even with safe graphics, maybe check your bios to see if there is something in there from a Windows install that is preventing correct installation of Kubuntu, TPM, secure boot etc.

The other thing I have found is there are several partitions created and I always boot from partition 3 which allows an install to proceed. You will have to choose that from within your bios.

1 Like
3

I agree with @vidtek99, that what the computer shows (when the USB boot drive with Kubuntu is plugged in as a ‘data’ device) is quite normal.

  • Are you trying to install Kubuntu into the same computer that is running Linux Mint? Or into another computer?

Please

  • tell us the model name/number of your HP Elitebook
  • tell us also the name and model of the CPU and graphics chip/card. When we know this, it will be easier to help you
  • check also with sha256sum that the download was successful, that your downloaded iso file is good.
4

The notebook specification is

  • HP EliteBook 840 G7
  • Intel Core i5-10210U
  • 16GB RAM
  • 1TB M2.SSD
  • No graphics card, just intel graphics

According to the check-tool from my Mint Install, the checksum is correct and matches the one provided on the Kubuntu Website.

I will now go back to the Bios and check what’s activated there and what not.

5

The bios configuration is as follows:

PXL_20260523_171411333
PXL_20260523_1714113331024×771 133 KB

PXL_20260523_171520275
PXL_20260523_1715202751024×771 167 KB

PXL_20260523_171450778
PXL_20260523_1714507781024×771 180 KB

PXL_20260523_171439415
PXL_20260523_1714394151024×771 179 KB

PXL_20260523_171430288
PXL_20260523_1714302881024×771 195 KB

6

Are you sure that nothing happens? Usually there is another integrity check running automatically, when booting the live installer, which might take a while to complete. If that’s the case, you should let it finish, because it’s the only way of knowing if the image data reached the device intact and all the bits and bytes can be read correctly, which may not be the same thing as being able to write them.

7

I started another attempt this evening. At 19:38 I left to do some shopping and just returned at 20:27 and I still have the same screen.

8

This is the screen I see.

9

PXL_20260523_182743793
PXL_20260523_1827437931920×1446 114 KB

10

When I press ESC, I see this

PXL_20260523_182748836-a
PXL_20260523_182748836-a1024×771 323 KB

11

I wonder if “HP Sure Start” is playing a role here.

Looks like an issue with networking.

12

So, there are some errors, obviously - but so far I have no clue what I could change to compensate them.

13

I’d start with “HP Sure Start”, which sounds an awful lot like “Secure Boot” through the back door.

14

I think you can ignore the complaint about /boot not found.

I have an HP Probook 640 G4 and it can boot Ubuntu flavour iso files with both Secure Boot and HP Sure Start, so I would not worry about that, at least not now.

According to your screen dumps it seems the boot process fails to connect to archive.ubuntu.com.

I am not sure it the Kubuntu live system needs this (or if it can be turned off), but I know that some other live systems do not need an internet connection, maybe you can try Lubuntu or Xubuntu or ‘standard’ Ubuntu Desktop. I booted my Probook into a live session of Xubuntu 26.04 LTS right now and it works.

15

I was wondering why the network is relevant at all, since I downloaded a quiet big ISO image with about 5GB.

My Mint installation runs without network and asks me for the wifi key later. That works fine.

The point is, I want the KDE desktop, that’s why I am going for Kubuntu here.

16

There may be an issue with the Kubuntu installer, which seems to try networking before even asking for setup data like a WiFi password. I see two options, how to proceed. For one, there could be boot options for the Kubuntu installer to provide WiFi credentials as command line arguments; but I cannot find anything on that right this second.

I think the second option should be somewhat more convenient. You can convert to any Ubuntu flavour from any existing one, so you could try one of the options @nio-wiklund suggested, and then just install the kubuntu-desktop metapackage. Could even use the server installer for that, if you don’t shy away from a text interface.

17

Now I have downloaded the Kubuntu 26.04 LTS iso file, cloned it to a USB drive and booted it into my HP Probook 640 G4 without any connection to the internet.

And it works, I am at the desktop of the live system now.

I suggest that you use the cloning method. There are some tools with a final checkpoint, that help you write to the correct device. Rufus is not a cloning tool. I don’t know about the Linux Mint tool, but you can check (in Linux Mint) with the command lsblk ...

$ lsblk -e7 -o name,size,fstype,label,uuid,mountpoints
NAME          SIZE FSTYPE  LABEL               UUID                                 MOUNTPOINTS
...
sdc         111,8G iso9660 Kubuntu 26.04 amd64 2026-04-23-01-04-38-00               
├─sdc1        4,7G iso9660 Kubuntu 26.04 amd64 2026-04-23-01-04-38-00               /media/olle/Kubuntu 26.04 amd64
├─sdc2          5M vfat    ESP                 0190-D2E2                            
├─sdc3        300K                                                                  
└─sdc4      107,1G ext4    writable            7ed4bfda-aa72-4917-8486-20a612e4f74e /media/olle/writable
...

Cloned Ubuntu family iso files have an iso9660 file system. The writable partition is created the first time that you boot into the USB boot drive.

So If your system looks differently, I suggest that you use a cloning tool. In Linux Mint you can install and use mkusb. In Windows and Linux Mint you can also try Balena Etcher.

Edit: I tested the Kubuntu USB drive in a Dell Latitude 3520 with a an Intel i3 generation 11 cpu also without any connection to the internet. It works too. So now I have tested an HP that is a couple of years older and a Dell that is one year newer (than your HP Elitebook). So I think it will work soon in your computer too.

4 Likes
18

If @srx23 has access to the Mint system he can also just do it old school:

sudo cp /path/to/iso /dev/disk/by-id/usb-<...>

Device links in /dev/disk/by-id have a naming scheme makes it easier to identify the correct device. I just did:

sudo cp ~/Downloads/resolute-live-server-amd64.iso /dev/disk/by-id/usb-SanDisk_Ultra_4C530001200708109334-0:0

(no need to get fancy with dd or even “cloning tools” :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:)

That wrote the image directly to my USB stick from Sandisk. I hope that illustrates said naming scheme; consult this Redhat documentation item for details on the “why”.

2 Likes
19

Guys,

thanks a lot for your help. It works! :grinning_face: :partying_face:

Kubuntu is up and running on my HP Elitebook. Accounts have been setup and everything works fine.

Using the cloning approach was the solution. The USB Stick that I created with that method worked fine in the end. I still had to

  • start the bios and choose the right boot device and
  • live with a short “error-like” message that appeared as text in the top left corner for a few seconds.

But beside that everything else worked perfectly. Thank you very much for your help. :folded_hands:

Kubuntu-Setup
Kubuntu-Setup1024×680 42 KB

2 Likes
20

It’s always a nice gesture to mark the relevant post as a solution:-

  • It allows Ubuntu users/searchers to easily find a workable solution to same/similar problems
  • The user posting the answer receives recognition for their effort
  • The thread is closed to prevent meandering off-topic in the future
  • Users/helpers know that they can ignore topics with a solution and concentrate on assisting elsewhere

It seems that post no. 17 from @nio-wiklund is the pertinent reply

2 Likes