What? The Linux Installer Crashed?

📅 September 23, 2022
“I tried to install Linux from a LiveUSB, but the message Installer crashed appeared and Linux will not install. Fix it!”

This happened to me when installing the latest Linux Mint 21 ISO or Ubuntu Cinnamon 22.04 ISO from a bootable LiveUSB. It always worked in the past, so what went wrong this time?

Here is one possible solution that worked for me.

The Silicon Power A60 NVMe and Linux

📅 September 22, 2022
Sometimes, capacity is more important than speed.

If so, then it is not always necessary to obtain the latest and greatest PCIe Gen4 NVMe storage device because these can be expensive depending upon the brand…very expensive.

Recently, I needed a high capacity NVMe for a project involving the Quieter2Q mini PC but did not want to pay Samsung prices for a top-of-the line NVMe device. After all, the Quieter2Q cannot reach the full potential of a Gen3 or Gen4 NVMe anyway, so why pay more when a “slower” NVMe will work just as well? (“Slower” is relative, by the way, since any NVMe is already plenty fast.)

Having good success with the Silicon Power brand in the past Intel NUC build, I decided to try the 2TB A60 NVMe model. Plenty of space for low cost.

Here are my thoughts and some benchmarks that I recorded of the A60 in Linux for those who might like to see some Linux results.

The Kingston Fury Renegade PCIe Gen4 NVMe and Linux

📅 September 20, 2022
“What is PCIe Gen4 NVMe performance like in Linux?”

I recently had the opportunity to check out an Intel 12th generation Z690 motherboard with Linux. One of the high points of interest with the Z690 is the full support for PCIe Gen4 NVMe slots. Naturally, I experimented with a top-of-the-line Kingston Fury Renegade NVMe device to see what would happen.

“How fast is a Gen4 NVMe device in a Gen4 slot?”

“Is there a noticeable difference from Gen3?”

“Is it compatible with Linux?”

“Will Ubuntu Cinnamon install and run from the Fury Renegade?”

Here are my results and benchmarks using Linux Mint 21 and Ubuntu Cinnamon 22.04.

Fixing the Windows Setup “Missing Media Driver”

📅 September 8, 2022
“What? Windows is missing a media driver during Windows Setup? Why?”

There might be times when we need to install Windows 10 or 11 for testing purposes, such as benchmarking hard drives or running graphics software only compatible with Windows.

I needed to install a temporary Windows 10 lab system for experimentation, but I encountered a completely new (for me) and strange error reporting that Windows Setup was missing media drivers. How odd. What could have been the cause?

If you think that the solution is to install missing media drivers like I did because that is what the message is prompting, then you are completely misled and mistaken.

Here is what I discovered, and it involves Linux.

The Silicon Power A55 SSD and Linux

📅 September 7, 2022
Sometimes you need a low-cost SSD…

This was the situation I encountered for a test build when I needed to acquire an SSD for Linux. You have probably been there: you find yourself building a cheap Linux system for testing and you need an SSD, but you do not want to use your top-of-the-line Samsung SSD because you feel like it would be a waste.

What to do? Is there a suitable SSD that will perform somewhat well without the Samsung prices?

Having experienced pleasant success with the Silicon Power NVMe in the past with the Intel NUC project, I decided to give the A55 SSD a try — guided by the primary factor: price.

How does it work with Linux? Is it fast? What do the Disks benchmarking graphs look like? Here are my results.