Request for help with installing Ubuntu on HP laptop

[warius]

Ubuntu Version:
22.04 LTS

Laptop:
HP ELITEBOOK 840 G1

Background leading up to current problem:
I want to play Minecraft with my daughter, and so I found my old work computer that havent been used for a couple of years, and wanted to see if I could use it. I realized I had forgotten the password for the account so I couldnt log in. I had also stopped working at the place several years ago, so I figured I’d format it and reinstall. It used to be linux based, and so I figured I continue with that.

Problem Description:
I tried to install Ubuntu 24.04 4 LTS. (downloaded current ISO from ubuntu website). I used my other computer to download an ISO and flashed it to an external hard drive. I first tried with Rufus, but that didnt work (the computer didnt boot to the external hard drive. Instead I tried Balena Etcher which seemed to work better. Using that I manged to boot into the ISO with the external hard drive, and I went through the installation process of Ubuntu 24.04 4 LTS.

The installation looked to me to work just fine. And I expected everything to work when I restarted my computer after finishing the set up. However, the computer didnt boot properly afterwards. It gives me an error saying I dont have an operating system installed. I was confused and tried doing the installation again (I’ve tried multiple times now, but no help). The wierd thing is that it now says when I’m going through the installation that I already have Ubuntu 24.04 installed. It asks if I want to format the drive, or install Ubuntu 24.04, next to Ubuntu 24.04. So it suggests I have it installed already. However when I try to boot the computer without the external hard drive ISO, it gives me an error saying

“BootDevice Not Found"
”Please install an operating system on your hard disk.”
”…”

Screenshots or Error Messages:
Current error when trying to boot: (first this screen, then moves on to next screenshot)

second screen when trying to boot. It stops here untill I turn off the computer:

Currently when I try again in the installer, it looks like I already have installed the OS, and that the disk is partisioned as I wanted (based on something I found online):

Lastly, a screenshot of my computer specs:

What I’ve Tried:
I’ve tried installing it several times, both with manual and default partisioning.
I’ve tried changing BIOS settings from Legacy to UEFI.

Would be very thankful for some help, if someone has any ideas! Thanks:)

[celticwarrior]

Your laptop is UEFI based so, a few suggestions…

Open UEFI (“BIOS”) settings and make sure CSM/Legacy/”BIOS” mode is disabled. This assures you will be booting (and later installing from) the live/installation media in the correct UEFI mode. Then, after booting the installer again, select the option to use the whole drive -and/or - for better results, in the live section, open GParted, select the target drive and then, in the Device menu choose create new partitioning table (or something) and select GPT. This will blank the whole drive, create the preferred partitioning layout. Now you can start over with installation.

Your current partitioning layout suggests it was installed in Legacy/”BIOS” mode, likely in the old MBR (‘msdos’) partitioning layout, both not recommended. It also suggests you may have done and incorrect manual partitioning. It’s strongly recommended to let the installer do it automatically. Currently only two partitions are needed, ESP (EFI System Partition) and root, that’s it. If you want it different. either make sure you know what you’re doing (following the requirements) or adjust later with the OS fully installed and running.

[tea-for-one]

UEFI settings

Disable Secure Boot
Disable TPM (and/or similar “trust” settings)

Ubuntu observations

Boot into a “Try Ubuntu” live session in UEFI mode (how you boot determines the installation mode)
Verify you are in UEFI mode

[ -d /sys/firmware/efi ] && echo "UEFI" || echo "Legacy"

Check wifi, sound, graphics, mouse, touchpad etc
Allow the installer to automatically create the necessary partitions (or your preferred configuration)

Official info here

[peterwhite23]

You may not need to disable BIOS mode, but there could be some setting in the “BIOS”/UEFI menu that points to a partition that no longer exists, or is now something else without a boot sector on it. With the full disk to itself the installer most probably installed the boot loader to the MBR, but your BIOS may be looking elsewhere, because the laptop was set up in a special way for your workplace.

If it can be fixed that way, there is no need to reinstall, unless you absolutely need some more fancy features of UEFI, like Secure Boot, but I doubt that, given the Minecraft story.

[warius]

Thanks for the tips, my friends! I’ve changed to UEFI mode now, and will try to redo the installation that way, including a full formating and changing the partitioning to the default options by the installer. Will report back.

[graymech]

I see this:

@warius

download an ISO and flashed it to an external hard drive

And this:

@warius

I manged to boot into the ISO with the external hard drive

These are my thoughts on this matter. After installing Ubuntu to the internal drive you exit the Ubuntu installer and reboot. At this point you disconnect the external drive. Yes? But here is the interesting question: What drive has boot priority? Is it the external drive? Or, the internal drive? If it is the external drive then it would explain why the motherboard UEFI is asking for an operating system by telling you that there is not an operating system.

Just some thoughts that I happen to have.

Regards

[peterwhite23]

One more thing, which I initially didn’t want to get into, but that GParted screenshot shows sda2 as the first partition, which I have never seen. I had simply put it down to a udev race, but I don’t think that’s even possible because the partition order is determined by the partition table and not udev.
Just saying, that looks rather odd. But I haven’t done stuff like that in a while, so I may be missing something.

On third thought, I think I may have seen this before. sda2 isn’t an “extended partition”, per chance? Because that could explain your boot issue. In that case I’d side with the others and suggest to switch to UEFI and reinstall.

[warius]

Thank you guys.

Changing the “BIOS” settings to UEFI before installation did the trick! Marking as solved. Very thankful for all of your promt responses and helpful suggestions, and props to @celticwarrior for basically providing the solution as the first reply.

And you’re right @peterwhite23, I’m probably not gonna need all the fancy features, but now I seem to have them regardless

[oldfred]

HP often wants to default boot Windows.
Ubuntu installer uses efibootmgr to move Ubuntu to first in boot order, but HP changes it back to Windows. And if no Windows, it gives an error.

Users with HP have posted they have to go into UEFI settings (not one time boot) and change boot order there. Then it works like it should.
You also should be able to use one tie boot to select the “ubuntu” entry.
You can see UEFI entries from this and the order.

efibootmgr

see also
man efibootmgr