Strange installation problem

Support and Help
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1

Ubuntu Version:
24.04.1 LTS

Desktop Environment (if applicable):
GNOME

Problem Description:
We got our first Dell Latitude 7530 and I’m trying to install Ubuntu on it.
A manual install seems to work fine.
I have an autoinstall-setup that I’ve been using for all older laptops since the release of 24.04.
Whenever I try to use that it always fails - but without any clear error as to why it stopped and failed.
I have attached a screenshot of the error.
Digging deeper into this, I now realise that the installation actually DOES continue and seemingly does complete - even after the error message…
Albeit, it doesn’t completely complete. When the installation is done it returns to the “Ready to install”-screen, where it shows my autoinstall-file and the “Install”-button. From there it has to be manually rebooted. Clicking the “Install”-button seems to do nothing at all…

Relevant System Information:
Dell Latitude 7530, 32GB RAM,

Screenshots or Error Messages:

Screenshot from 2025-04-02 09-30-37
Screenshot from 2025-04-02 09-30-37986×699 101 KB

What I’ve Tried:
All in the description above

I haven’t seen anything like this anywhere on the internet.

2

I’d try clicking on “Report problem…”, that usually spawns a second window in which you see more details what failed, perhaps that gives a hint (beyond reading the installer logs indeed)

1 Like
3

I have clicked that, but it doen’t clearly show what actually happened, or why it failed.
I was thinking I’d include a screenshot of that as well, but it was more info than fit on the screen so I abandoned the idea. I tried to copy out all text from it as well, but it would only let me select one line at a time…

4

Perhaps you can upload a copy of your script?

Then somebody can look at it and see if there is something that might be holding back a smooth installation?

5

Sure, here it is:

#cloud-config
autoinstall:
  version: 1
  user-data:
    users: [""]
    disable_root: true
  source:
    id: ubuntu-desktop-minimal
    search_drivers: true
    oem:
      install: true
  locale: en_US.UTF-8
  storage:
    layout:
      name: lvm
      sizing-policy: all
      password: REDACTED
  keyboard:
    layout: se
  timezone: Europe/Stockholm
  oem:
    install: auto
  packages:
    - ansible
    - git
    - cifs-utils
    - curl
    - dkms
    - keyutils
    - krb5-user
    - landscape-client
    - libdrm-dev
    - libnss3-tools
    - libqt5webkit5
    - openssh-server
    - ufw
    - vim-nox
    - gnome-tweaks
  updates: all
  shutdown: reboot
6

I’ve tried reducing it to bare minimum, but the error still appears - and the install “completes”

7

I would prefer that @ogra also reviews this but here are my observations:

You have oem twice. Probably best to just use the line

oem:
  install: auto

users: [""] this might cause issues if no users are explicitly defined, not sure.

password: REDACTED I assume in the actual script you include the password?

Hopefully, more eyes on this will help find a solution.

8

I’ve been using this file since 24.04 was released and have not experienced any problems with it until now, with newly released Dell Latitude 7450 HW.

And, yes of course I have a password in the actual file during install…

I’ll test again with one “oem”-section removed. When I get the next computer to test on.

The users: [""] is from the autoinstall documentation I read while setting it up.

9

While I was pretty good with debian-installer and ubiquity, I’m not super familiar with the new subiquity based installers … though seeing the actual installer.log might still be beneficial …

1 Like
10

Exactly what file would you like to see?

11

Heh, now you got me … I actually don’t know, it seems there are a gazillion logs under /var/log/installer nowadays (where we used to have two or three), lets start with installer-journal.txt, perhaps there are details about the error you see in the GUI …

12

Well, I’m unable to find that file. And this is what /var/log/installer looks like:

root@host:~# locate installer-journal
root@host:~# cd /var/log/installer/
root@host:/var/log/installer# ls -l
total 8
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 52 Apr  2 10:13 casper-md5check.json
-r--r--r-- 1 root root 62 Apr  2 10:17 media-info
root@host:/var/log/installer#
13

Oh, wow, this is what I have on a laptop that was installed originally with 24.10:

ogra@styx:~$ ls /var/log/installer/
autoinstall-user-data  curtin-install         subiquity-server-debug.log       ubuntu_bootstrap.log
block                  curtin-install.log     subiquity-server-debug.log.4267  ubuntu_bootstrap.log.4875
casper-md5check.json   device-map.json        subiquity-server-info.log
cloud-init.log         installer-journal.txt  subiquity-server-info.log.4267
cloud-init-output.log  media-info             telemetry
ogra@styx:~$
14

I’m installing 24.04.1LTS, but maybe the crash has prevented the logfiles being written properly?

15

Same installer … should not make a difference

16

I updated my reply above

17

Yeah, I was too quick :slight_smile: I agree, it likely missed to write the files because it died early … so perhaps a screenshot of the error might still be helpful … also, you should open a bug, so the installer maintainers can probably help …

18

I’m about to deliver the computer to the user, I’ll have to wait until the next one to see if I can re-create it…

2 Likes
19

I also experience this problem on 24.04.2 LTS manual install fresh from Download – Ubuntu Studio.

20

Hello jomiwagner - Welcome to Ubuntu Discourse.

You do not provide enough information to know if this is the same issue as that of the original poster.
Please tell us what you have done, what resulted, and what you have tried to fix the issue and here too the results.

With this we can offer more nuanced guidance.

-help is what we do-