Samsung Series 5 - Unable to boot from USB

I bought and installed a Series 5 and now I'm having a weird problem: I installed replaced Windows with Ubuntu and installed it with a bootable USB drive, but now I can't seem to boot from USB anymore, even when using an external CD player. The BIOS seems to be ignoring whatever I change on the boot order and goes straight to Ubuntu boot. I haven't used the USB 3.0 drive, as I read somewhere it isn't bootable.


The problem is I have an issue with my Ubuntu installation and really need to boot from USB/CD to repair it...

Am I missing something?

 

I had same issue, you need to change somthg in bios, tommorow Ill be at work and I will write you that to change

Sent from my GT-P6800 using Tapatalk 2

 

is fastboot option enabled in bios? if yes disable it

 

hi, how did you do to boot on the usb for the first time? And what version of Ubuntu have you installed?

In this thread there is the same problem with boot on usb key... Can you tell us how to mak it works?

you make an usb key bootable with unetbootin?

Thanks for your reply,

I have 15days to try this laptop and install a linux on it else i send it back and it would be too bad because it looks very good for a laptop of this category

 

But reset your BIOS first by the option in BIOS

"It has already been proven that USB installation does not work with the Samsung Series 5. Do your self a favour, get an external drive, because you are wasting time trying things others have had tried and failed."

 

what do you mean by "get an external hard drive?"

to put the samsung hitachi on a normal computer and do the install from a CD or USB?

so how do you explain that some ones succeeded?

source: liste_portables_samsung - Documentation Ubuntu Francophone

 

hi dudes, i finally found a solution about how to install Linux on this laptop WITHOUT booting from USB key and WITHOUT an usb cd drive. i've done the installation and i'm finalizing what i exactly wanted then i post the how to here

 

Hi Guys, I am having the same problem to install ubuntu on my samsung np530 a01. Could anyone update on this post?

razpet or vortex252: how did you solve it?

Thanks for your help, I really need it now.
ldin

 

Sorry to reply so late but as nobody need it, I forgot about it....

So to install ubuntu you can do it in 2 ways:

• You get the hd and plug it another computer and then install ubuntu as usual by selecting the right /dev/sdX
  or
• You get the unetbootin app and select the iso you have downloaded or from the list your prefered distrib. BUT on the bottom of unetbootin, instead of selecting your usb key, you select the C drive. Then you reboot and you will see the normal boot with 2 choices: windows/unetbootin. Select the second and you'll see the normal menu of unetbootin. then you just select as usual to boot in ubuntu. I think you know the rest then?

hope it helps some of you because it's really maddening you can't boot from the usb key!!


edit:
I have to tell you also that the stable branch of Debian have some probem with wifi and graphic intel hd drivers. No problem with testing and no one with ubuntu 11.10

 

Thanks a lot Razpet for our answer!
Could you please give some more details on:
1. which disks (if you have a hybrid then you have the usual hd plus a small solid state disk) have used for storing the linux partitions.
2. which version of ubuntu did you use.
I will be very grateful, today I failed again when trying with ubuntu12.04 but it could be that I wanted to partition the disk using both ssd and hd.
Thanks!

 

After some searches about installing the OS on the ssd i prefered to install it on the physical hard drive. This, because i don't know how many read/write you perform when you use the laptop intensively. What i have retained is that SSD has a limited lifetime and the hard drives have proven their efficacy.

also, i don't know how these 2 partitions on the ssd works but i think you can resize them and keep about 1go or 2 to use as a cache drive (see this: SSD optimizations on Linux and this: Change browser cache ssd disk ubuntu firefox) and maybe put you /var/log /var/cache ~/.cache ~/.config ect but i don't fin these urls.

What it's extremely important is to NOT REMOVE the the first and the last partition "system" and "samsung rec" else you won't be able to boot on windows (else in think you can wipe it)

raz

 

Just to report that I managed to install Windows XP Pro x64 to the invisible iSSD on a NP530U4B-S02PT by following the instructions of this RMPrepUSB tutorial: 30 - How to install XP onto a Hard Disk from an XP ISO on a bootable USB drive - RMPrepUSB...

I had to change the BIOS to be able to boot from USB (disable fastboot). Be forewarned, however, that although I had the proper ISO on the USB, as the original XP install CD was present in the laptop DVD drive (yes, mine has an internal drive) it ended up getting installation files from the CD.

Also, at first, this install wouldn't boot without the presence of the installation USB, until I installed GRUB4DOs to a (hidden boot) partition on the main HDD.

My current GRUB4DOS menu.lst is this:

Code:

#hd0 is USB
#hd1 is real HDD
# note: --mem is not needed to load XP.ISO in this step
title Boot from 1st Hard Disk \nBoot from MBR of first hard disk
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
map --hook
chainloader (hd0)+1
rootnoverify (hd0)

title List Mass Storage PCI IDs (runs checkpci from FreeDos)\nMake a note of the PCI IDs listed and then check them against the TXTSETUP.OEM entries
map --mem /PCIID.ima.gz (fd0)
map --hook
root (fd0)
chainloader (fd0)+1

Afterwards, the system kept prompting me to install Firadisk drivers on every reboot, untill I manually deleted every reference to them from the system (driver files and registry entries).

I managed to find XP64 drivers for everything except the ATI HD7550M video adapter (I'm still using the included CPU's Intel HD 3000) but I'm working on at it the moment...

I will give further details to anyone interested.

 

WTH man?!?!?!?!
How can you say something like that?! If everyone else failed.. then you must stop, rethink.. and solve the damn problem!!! (that´s the Geek way!)

BTW: the solution is very simple...
Power on your system... press F2 ... and inside your bios setup:
set 'fast BIOS Mode" to disable in Advanced tab ...
set 'USB Charge in Sleep Mode" to enable in Advanced tab ...
Change the boot order, so the hdd stays just before the network
reboot and
there will be power on the usb ports, and the boot process will be slower, but will try to recognize the usb devices....
Inside Windows disable Intel Rapid Start Technology with the Samsung Easy Settings program.
Reboot and you can now start your system via any usb device (cdrom, flashdrive...) according to the boot order you just set.

after installing the new OS return the settings for maximum boot speed.
best regards,
Marcio

 

if someone still in need for a usb boot from this ultrabook, i solved the problem.
it wan't check for bootable devices untill you move the bootloader (grub2 in my instance) from the ssd.
I mean, i have the same setup as other user:
root on ssd and home on physical drive. i got grub on the ssd but it doesn't works (dn't know why) and i moved the boot partition and grub on the physycal instead. so i managed to boot properly, but i was unable to boot from usb.
i had to wipe the old grub2 from the ssd mbr (tha is already useful with my setup) and everythings work perfectly.
i followed the steps in this thread to wipe the grub from mbr.
cheers

P.S. the registration module on this forum sucks... change it if u can

 

Blame the spammers. The obstacle course is put there for them to enjoy, but everyone else has to share the pleasure. Anyway, now you are here you don't have to do it again.

John

 

Hey guys,

just got me a new np530u3c-a04uk. I'm wanting to install Linux along side windows (which I still need:SLEEP , and aren't to confident at partitioning (done it before on an old laptop... but don't want to mess up a new set up!!).

I've already worked out to turn off fast start up in settings so to access bios, and set usb to boot first. Linux boots in demo mode ok, I'm guessing this means that it should install ok and everything should work how it does in the demo...

My question is, can I create a partition on the HD without having to format everything and save having to reload windows and any b/s like that? Also, will the fact that this machine has SSD as well, and will that affect/complicate an installation (I'm not really bothered to use/take advantage of the SSD with the Linux install).

Any help would be greatly appreciated!:thumbsup:

 

Google for "site:forum.notebookreview.com/samsung linux" and you will find several Linux threads in this forum. See if they answer your question.

John

 

............. I am sorry. I did wrong answers.

 

Great! I have been looking for that. Maybe I will give a try on next weekend. But first can say some more details? I have Samsung NP530u3c-a02 (SSD 24GB) I want to install windows 7 and i don't have external DVD drive. Is there any difference between installation xp/win7 ? It can be done without DVD drive?

 

The potential issue is the 24GB SSD which is for ExpressCache and is not bootable. Some installers put the boot info on this drive and then the computer won't boot. IIRC this problem only occurs when installing from USB and not from DVD. This issue, and fixes, is discussed in detail somewhere. Perhaps this thread or this.

John

 

@lurgen86: I don't remember much discussion of this in the time I've been here. But it's a great idea for those who have 24GB (or even 16GB) iSSD. Unfortunately I only have 8GB, otherwise I would do it for sure.

It is NOT the same as installing XP, for several reasons. Mostly it is a lot simpler. I am running very late this morning, but would love to help you with this. The main steps are:

1) Uninstall ExpressCache and Intel Rapid Start from your existing OS before you begin.

2) Run Win7 Setup as you normally would. Installing from DVD is preferred in this case to avoid creating a new SYSTEM partition on the iSSD. Select the iSSD as destination. Delete the existing partitions on the iSSD.

3) Leave your SYSTEM and Windows partitions on the main HDD/SSD alone for now, even if you're going to use the new iSSD Win7 as your primary (or only) OS. The current 100MB SYSTEM partition will remain as your boot partition.

4) When Setup has copied files and attempts booting for the first time, you MAY end up booting into your old Windows on the HDD/SDD. If so, go to Control Panel - System - Advanced system settings - Startup and recovery and change the Default operating system. Now you should be able to boot your iSSD Win7.

Basically we're letting Windows Setup add another boot entry to the BCD on the SYSTEM partition that is already the boot partition on your main HDD/SSD.

Once you got it all running, you can delete the partition on your main HDD/SSD containing your old Windows. If you want to delete the old boot entry in the BCD, use EasyBCD (Google it).

Hope that works for you. I will check back tonight.

Update: Just back home and re-reading this post. I want to stress that once you have it running from the iSSD, even though you can delete the old Windows partition on the main HDD/SSD, DO NOT delete the SYSTEM partition on that drive. It must remain as your boot partition, because the PC is not capable of booting directly from the iSSD. You probably already gathered as much, I just wanted to make sure

Update 2: Oh, and the reason this is different from installing WinXP on the iSSD is because XP uses a different boot manager (you know, the good old NTLDR and BOOT.INI containing the boot options). XP doesn't know about the newer Win7 BCD boot manager (BOOTMGR) on your SYSTEM partition and might mess it up during installation.

AFTER XP has been physically installed onto the iSSD (and assuming it didn't mess up the SYSTEM partition) EasyBCD could be used from inside Win7/8 to add XP to the boot menu (the BCD store on the SYSTEM partition). Then, and only then, can XP actually be booted on the iSSD.

If installing on a clean system, using Grub may be just easy -- as mentioned in the original post you referred to.

 

@Dannemand thx a lot for your help. I see that I have to buy USB/SATA adapter first, to connect my dvd drive from pc to ultrabook. Definitely I"ll give a try in next week.

 

I would note that the SATA connector on an optical drive is not the same as on an HDD / SSD, so make sure you get an adapter suitable for optical drives.

John

 

You can install Win7 from a USB stick in that case: If you don't have one already, download the Win7 ISO and use Microsoft's WinSetupFromUSB tool to burn it to the USB stick.

The only problem with that is Win7 Setup will most likely be confused and think the iSSD is your boot drive, so it creates a new SYSTEM partition there. Your original SYSTEM partition on the HDD is going to remain your boot partition, but Setup won't add a boot entry for the new installation to it.

You can use EasyBCD (Google it) in your original Windows installation to add a BCD entry for your iSSD installation. No big deal.

Also, that SYSTEM partition created by Windows Setup on the iSSD will waste 100MB. You can avoid that by creating the Windows partition on the iSSD before running Setup (or by going back in Setup after it announces it has created "additional partitions").

Note: hanime's excellent thread on USB installation doesn't quite apply to this situation -- even though it touches on some of the same issues.

 

I have the same problem with my samsung ultrabook. I decided to buy an external dvd player. But I was wondering, do you connect these with usb and doenst give this the same problem with booting? So how to connect the external dvd?

 

Three things to watch out for:

1. Temporarily disable Samsung Fast Start Mode in (Easy) Settings or the BIOS (press F2 at the BIOS screen). When this mode is disabled the computer doesn't check for bootable USB devices.

2. Plug the optical drive into a USB 2.0 port (ie not one with a Blue tab).

3. Press F10 at the BIOS screen to get a boot device menu. Then select the optical drive (it may not show in the list unless there's a bootable disc inside).

John

 

thanx for your advices, but I already watched out for these things

I just ordered an external dvd player, i hope this solves the problem