Cubic

Unable to custom Ubuntu built with Cubic on DELL XPS laptops

Asked by Damien Lecan

Hello,

I am unable to install custom Ubuntu built with Cubic on Dell XPS Laptop.

From Ubuntu 18.04.3 ISO, I have built a new ISO file with many customizations (with new Kernel 5.0).

When I launch the ISO in a Virtualbox VM, Ubiquity is automatically launched and I can choose between "trying Ubuntu" and "Installing Ubuntu".

When I create a bootable USB Key from this custom ISO file and launch a Dell XPS Laptop with it:
- It can choose to boot on this external USB Key
- The OS starts and then is loaded
But, it's not the right one!
At the end, this is the recovering Ubuntu OS (16.04, already installed by Dell) which is loaded, instead of the OS provided by the USB key.

If I create a USB key from the official ISO file, it works perfectly: Ubiquity is launched at startup, on Ubuntu 18.04 (and not Ubuntu 16.04).

What can explain this "switch" between the custom OS and the recovering OS during startup?

Thank you

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Cubic PPA (cubic-wizard) said : 		#1

Did you customize the ISO on the same laptop you are trying to boot into, or are they different machines?

Is your laptop set to UEFI or Legacy Boot?

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Damien Lecan (dlecan) said : 		#2

> Did you customize the ISO on the same laptop you are trying to boot into, or are they different machines?

2 different laptops.
But this issue also happens on the same laptop.

> Is your laptop set to UEFI or Legacy Boot?

UEFI: yes
Secure boot: disabled

Revision history for this message
Damien Lecan (dlecan) said : 		#3

I've found a workaround:

1. Remove all existing partitions: boot, recovery and existing Ubuntu OS ## Be sure to have created a USB key that works, or you won't be able to do anything with your laptop!

2. Boot with your USB key created from your custom Ubuntu ISO

Secure boot must be disabled.

This time, the boot process has no choice: no others OS to boot, just the one provided by the USB key. And it's working :-)

Revision history for this message
Cubic PPA (cubic-wizard) said : 		#4

Based on your work-around, it sounds like your BIOS has a boot priority, which you need to update.
The computer's disk is probably set as 1st priority boot, with your USB set as a lower priority.
If you reset the priorities, your USB can boot first.

Revision history for this message
Damien Lecan (dlecan) said : 		#5

Ah, my explanations weren't clear enough: to remove all existing partition, I had to boot on a USB Key with a genuine Ubuntu 18.04.3!

To sum up :
- genuine Ubuntu 18.04.3: it boots
- my custom Ubuntu 18.04.03 image: it doesn't boot.

=> on the same USB Key, and the same process to create the USB Key

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