sounds like the machine has an issue like bad ram/failing hd or something.. ive installed mint on hundreds of machines with random hardware and never had these issues...
what machine did you make the stick with that crashed?
Yup, get a recovery/tool ISO and run a memory test.
Doesn't The Linux Mint ISO also offer to run Memtest86+?
Otherwise: https://memtest.org/
Memtest is quite shit, seriously unstable ram will still pass. If it doesn't pass memtest it's actually dead.
Can you recommend a better solution?
The last time I've used it, it well identified the addresses of the RAM blocks that were broken.
Sadly most good tools are windows only but: OCCT, karhu Ram test and testmem5 (anta extreme config) Are all good choices, but id usually recommend running more than 1.
I followed the instructions to use Etcher, etcher itself crashed but it was a pretty easy fix running it in administrator mode and apparently a known issue. Its weird because the live preview works fine. The stick was made on the same machine I'm trying to install linux on.
that definitely indicates some kind of hardware failure
etcher sucks ass. I read about it even breaking usb sticks, I've had it fail the flashing too multiple times. in mint I use the preinstalled usb flashing tool, in other distros popsicle and in windows rufus.
Reporting back, rufus fucked it up even more, laptop is now bricked. I know y'all are gonna say it has nothign to do with Linux but it was working perfectly for years right up until today when I tried to install Mint.
(Bricked as in boots up but won't boot to the Linux preview OR windows, possibly salvagable with a windows boot stick but currently a paperweight)
This sounds like a hardware issue. Did you get to the installer phase? Linux don't touch your disk until you hit install and then confirm.
It probably would have done the same if you had tried to install Windows or BSD.
You should use a different USB drive and boot something like memtest86+ and let it run through. Or if it's something like a Dell with built-in diagnostics, run that. You need to rule out failure of the different components. I'm guessing it's the drive, but it could also be RAM.
Usually, the Linux installers have memtest86+ built in, as well as media verification. I'd do the verification if you haven't already, then memtest.
Mentioned in a different comment but I have installed a custom win10 on this same laptop with this same USB stick before.
If it's crashing when even burning the ISO, it's not Mint.
I mean I got past that part as per the list. I've installed a custom win10 on the same laptop using the same USB before and it worked flawlessly. So far Mint just seems to be far more finicky about hardware than win10.
Yeah but if the crash is happening when burning the ISO then that's the problem of whatever software and OS you're using to do that, i.e. the ISO burning tool and Windows. An ISO is an ISO. As described, this problem is nothing to do with Linux. Phew! Once you fix this issue you'll find Mint is easy peasy and you won't look back. So keep at it.
Try a different USB
After reading the new behavior I’m fairly confident it’s hardware failure from the laptop, most likely the drive. I’ve experienced odd install failure behavior like this before which was a sad going bad.
OP has said a few times that they have installed windows from the USB previously without issues. Please remember that all hardware will eventually go bad. Just because it worked in the past, that doesn’t guarantee it would work today.
Define crash: exception thrown, Windows crashing, hard freeze...etc
Sure sounds like you have a bad USB drive to me if it's only happening when using this USB device. Error messages would be helpful.
Sounds like your USB is fucked to be honest.
No, I wouldn’t expect any issues with Mint.
Seconding rufus. I dont use anything else. This is the way.
This was my experience with Mint.
Add "Horribly mangle the system while experimenting with obscure pre-alpha open source customization software" and you have my experience with Mint.
Lol why the downvotes? I was just trying to be humorous! Y'all need to develop a sense of humor.
You should learn about containers and virtualization. You can experiment for a while and then blow it all away. Podman and virtual manager are your friends.
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