In Big Trouble

[Dave3]

I wanted to try Linux so I set up a virtual machine on my Win 10 and loaded it up with Zorin 16 Core OS. It worked great and I loved the OS so I decided to go ahead and install it instead of my Win 10. All was well and I got through the set up and location process. The installer erased Win 10 and began installing Zorin. Then the installer crashed! Why I do not know. But it left me without a permanent OS on my computer. I was left with the “try Zorin” app on the USB and that is what I am using now. I cannot put Win back on as my boot usb is no longer recognized by my PC
. I live on a very remote small island off the Philippines, the nearest computer shop is a day away by boat and bus. So I am forced to deal with this with what I have. I have an external hard drive for storage. It has a media creation tool on it but I cannot boot from that. I have several 16 MB usbs. Windows is completely gone. We have very slow download speed here and it took half the night just to download the Zorin install file. At this point I don’t know how to get Zorin installed or even what the problem was. I’m in a pretty bad fix but thankfully this little USB with Zorin on it works, I just have to reset everything before I use it every time.
My system is an Acer E15 Laptop 64 bit, 4 MB Ram 2T storage on hard drive. I was running Win 10.
Thanks for any help.

[georgeks]

Hi there.

One option is to re-install W10.
Use this link to download the software that creates a bootable USB for W10 directly from Microsoft: It will be automatically activated, as the ACER has the installation key already.

As for Zorrin, even if you boot from the live USB, there should be a “install Linux” shortcut on the desktop.
Maybe the installation was in some way corrupt.

Many Linux bistros allow the use of a torrent client: this way you can eliminate the chances of corrupt installers.

[PeterOz]

Have you tried a second time to install linux

[Dave3]

Have you tried a second time to install linux

Yes, I did with the same results but the system told me that my hard drive was locked. I never knew that I needed to disable secure boot or safe install in Windows first. I presume that is why Zorin would not write to the disk and install. There are two partitions on the hard drive. I did not do anything to them like reformat because I was concerned that one of them would contain drivers that Acer uses to run the PC. SO, reinstalling Windows is not an option either as the hard drive is locked! I tried that and the system would not even recognize my usb boot. Any ideas Thanks.

Hi there.

One option is to re-install W10.
Use this link to download the software that creates a bootable USB for W10 directly from Microsoft: It will be automatically activated, as the ACER has the installation key already.

As for Zorrin, even if you boot from the live USB, there should be a “install Linux” shortcut on the desktop.
Maybe the installation was in some way corrupt.

Many Linux bistros allow the use of a torrent client: this way you can eliminate the chances of corrupt installers.

I don’t believe the installer is corrupt because I used the very same tool in my VirtualBox before trying to install it. I think the fact that my hard drive is locked is the problem. I need to know now how to unlock the drive w/o Windows or should I reformat the drive or just what?
Thank a lot.

[PeterOz]

you may have to format
Read this

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/locked-hard-drives-what-causes-windows-to-lock-a/a73ccfc4-8e09-4f01-96e3-2ee9af8a5180

@phillpower2

[Dave3]

Thanks very much that helped a lot.

[Bruce]

@Dave3 - do you still need help, or shall we close this as solved.

[Dave3]

Oops, sorry, go ahead and close the topic. I should have gotten back to you. The result is I needed to disable secure boot in bios before installing, but that info did not come with the instructions. All is well now and the app is up and running. Thanks for your help.

[Bruce]

thanks for the update.