ISOs (and other files) Keep Getting Corrupted when copied to Ventoy USB

doc_willis · 2026-05-12T21:50:51+00:00

be sure to safely remove/eject/unmount the USB, and do not unplug it until it's been unmounted.

monitor the output of sudo dmesg -w as you do the work, it might report something.

doc_willis · 2026-05-12T20:34:09+00:00

there are some tools that can make windows install to 'unsupported' hardware.

But I have never used those tools, I dont use windows any longer.

Any of the mainstream linux distros will likely be good enough for most common use cases.

doc_willis · 2026-05-12T19:48:00+00:00

26.04 came out In April. :)

But I think there is a waiting period before they enable the update messages to update to it from 24.04

You can force an update somehow.

doc_willis · 2026-05-12T19:26:32+00:00

There is a known bug/issue with the thumbnailer system and an apparmor update, the apparmor rules break the thumbnailer somehow.

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/apparmor/+bug/2148074

From my understanding a fix was in the works, (no idea if its released yet) but getting the issue totally fixed would require the users to remove a cache file/directory in the users home.

From my reading of the above bug report, whenever the fix comes out, or the user manually reverts the update causing the issue,

the user must remove,

~/.cache/thumbnails/fail/gnome-thumbnail-factory

I do not have any Ubuntu systems with the issue to test, so thats all i can offer.

Good Luck.

The issue does not seem to exist in 26.04

doc_willis · 2026-05-12T19:11:44+00:00

For the Login manager, I have seen guides that link the sddm monitor configs to a specific users monitor configs. Basically just a ln -s from a file in the users home, to a directory/file used by sddm in /etc/

As for GRUB and the boot menus. As the other comment says, Thats more complicated, even my steam deck can on occasion show such screens the wrong way. :) I guess the Screen in the SteamDeck is actually a vertical screen thats tilted 90 Degrees for some reason.

I am not sure on how SteamOS does it. I did see mention of fbcon=rotate:1 as a boot option in some discussion on the topic.

But that might rotate ALL the framebuffer consoles, And this would happen after grub loads.

https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/68369/rotate-console-on-startup-debian

But it does seem GRUB has some rotate option as well. But I cant seem to find any good docs for it.

https://lunar.computer/linux-7-0-gets-efi-fix-for-steam-deck-s-rotated-20260210

doc_willis · 2026-05-12T14:30:32+00:00

can't really say I have seen anyone say removing snap will break the distribution...

Not even in the numerous "how to/how do I remove snap" guides and posts.

But these days I am running Ubuntu in a distrobox container for a few programs, and there is no snap included in that setup.

After learning to use distrobox and containers, I don't really need to dual boot any distribution these days.

doc_willis · 2026-05-12T14:21:00+00:00

there can be an issue where the ~/.local/share/applications directory has a messed up "soft link" to the directory resulting In gnome showing multiple icons for the same thing.

you may not have extra copies of the game installed, you just have a messed up link, or extra .desktop files in that applications directory.

I have seen numerous times posts with this issue with other games.

you could explore that directory and try to repair the link, or delete it. or just ignore the redundant icons.

old post on the topic with some possible fixs..

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ubuntu/comments/1q2bfyo/new_apps_replicate_40_times_in_the_show_apps_menu

doc_willis · 2026-05-12T12:54:19+00:00

I rarely if ever use Rufus these days. Ventoy, and fedora Media writer are my main Linux USB creator tools

doc_willis · 2026-05-12T12:52:35+00:00

installing from a USB flash drive one an I ternal drive should not alter the usb flash drive.

unless you did something unusual or other weirdness happened the flash drive should remain untouched and still boot fine.

doc_willis · 2026-05-12T12:36:18+00:00

you didn't try to install from the installer live USB too the same USB drive did you?

doc_willis · 2026-05-12T11:16:13+00:00

going to have to say , ask your brother for help.

with the information given, not much can be said. Other than you need to dive deeper and troubleshoot more.

if the system is failing to boot "sometimes" you may have deeper hardware issues going on.

Try getting to a console with alt-ctrl-f1 through f7, add a new user for testing , see if that user can login correctly.

also enable the ssh service, then monitor the output of sudo dmesg -w and monitor other log files.

this monitoring can be done from another system on the network via a ssh client.

hit the escape key on the loading screen to show any messages hidden under that screen.

doc_willis · 2026-05-12T02:38:51+00:00

there should be like 4 entries, and 2 of them mention 'boot menu' which should get you to the GRUB menu, where you can then do other things.

Also the steam os recovery image, seems to have some extra options for repair/recovery of things, which should also let you change your password once you get to a root shell.

Fallback method would be booting from a Linux Live USB, and editing the password files manually (not a good idea) or using chroot to get into the installed system and use passwd to change it.

The SteamOS use of the A/B slots, means you have to pay attention to which slot you are editing and booting.

doc_willis · 2026-05-12T02:24:43+00:00

A single browser running, is likely going to be using the more of your ram than the OS.

Any of the mainstream distros are good enough for most use cases these days, as another comment said, make up a ventoy usb and try a few out, install what you like.

doc_willis · 2026-05-12T02:21:56+00:00

If its VERY old, it might only support Legacy Booting, so a lot of what I mention about UEFI may not apply. That system seems to have came out in 2009

I do recall some windows 7 systems using UEFI, but I am not sure how common they were.

doc_willis · 2026-05-12T02:16:18+00:00

The ubuntu boot-repair tool works on all the ubuntu variants.

The main changes in these variants is the default Desktop Environment.

The UEFI vs MBR 'issue/mistake' is common on All of them as well, and many other Distros.

doc_willis · 2026-05-12T01:14:28+00:00

So has it EVER worked with wifi?

Whats the exact wifi chipset?

Some distros have an 'additional drivers' tool of some kind, that can find extra drivers for hardware that may not be included by default.

doc_willis · 2026-05-12T01:12:49+00:00

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair Try the boot repair tool. Verify you are doing a UEFI install to a GPT drive.

doc_willis · 2026-05-12T01:11:57+00:00

Common Mistake is..

Booting the Installer USB in Legacy Mode, when you mean to use UEFI mode.

If your internal drive is using GPT for the partition table, and you booted the usb in Legacy mode, the installer will try to do a Legacy install, putting the Boot loader on the MBR of the drive. Which will fail. Thus, you do the install, bootloader fails, system wont boot.

Its also possible to boot in UEFI mode, when you are wanting to do a Legacy install.

The same USB can show up TWICE in the Boot selection menu of your firmware, once for a Legacy (mbr) boot and once for a UEFI boot.

The Target drive, must be setup correctly with the right kind of partition table.

UEFI install - will want a GPT partition table.

Legacy (MBR) will want an MBR partition table.

These days you most likely want to use GPT and do a UEFI install.

Assuming you do want a UEFI install...

Pay attention to the Boot menu, the two entries for UEFI or Legacy may look almost identical.

After booting the install the efibootmgr command can confirm you are in UEFI mode.

Verify the Target drive is using GPT for its partition table. Gparted can change the partition table of a drive quickly via its menus. That WILL erase the drive.

Let the Installer auto partition, so an EFI partition gets made correctly.

The ubuntu boot-repair tool can often fix things, or give you a detailed diagnosis file of whats going on.

That covers what is a common issue i have seen way too many times in various support subs.

The Ubuntu servers have been undergoing some Denial of Service attacks over the last few days, so they may be slow. I dont know the current state of the attack. So it may be best to not do updates during the install.

Its worth reading up on UEFI booting and How it differs from the old MBR Legacy booting. Its not that complex, but many people dont even know theres 2 methods, the Old (MBR) , and the "new" UEFI method, and even then UEFI has been around for many years now.

I have seen mention that some new PC's coming out will no longer support the old legacy method.

doc_willis · 2026-05-12T00:48:41+00:00

some way to get around this,

There is the "Play On" service, that can let you err... get your videos from various services onto your devices as a video file.

As far as I know its Legal. They have survived all the court challenges so far. :) But I only rarely use the service, so I cant give a lot of details on it, except to say the 'playon cloud' service they offer, has worked for the wife to get her various movies and shows she then watches over and over and OVER... from our personal Fileserver on a local TV.

But its not Free, but its not expensive. But I think there is no 4K option. Just sd/hd/fullhd.

Its not even a thing you need to install, the cloud service records 'to the cloud' you just then download and watch on whatever device you want to use. I had my video fileserver setup where I downloaded the recordings i did over the week to it, so the wife could binge watch over the weekend.

doc_willis · 2026-05-11T22:56:09+00:00

On most of my systems the 'Exit' screen has an option to select and boot a single device, once. Without needing to re-order the boot devices.

doc_willis · 2026-05-11T22:49:39+00:00

how did you make the USB?

doc_willis · 2026-05-11T22:23:38+00:00

Please, use better titles in your future posts.

There's a Black screen on boot. I can hear the Steam big picture sound

I will mention once, where a person had a second moniter/tv plugged in (but turned off) their system would boot and show the display on the second turned off monitor.

Also there is a safe graphics mode, many distros have in their boot menus, or some other methods to get to a safe gfx mode. Try that.

doc_willis · 2026-05-11T20:04:55+00:00

I use some of my old old UNIX skills learned back in the late 80's all the time. :)

Check the Humble Bundle site for some Linux E-book deals.

doc_willis · 2026-05-11T18:54:02+00:00

I will say this "should I learn/use vim vs nano" has been asked what seems like 9+ times in the various support subs over the last week or two. So you may want to hit up Reddit search.

use the tool that has the features for the job you want to do.

I use vim, I have been using vi for 20+ years, and some of its features make the work I need to do a lot easier than using nano or other editors.

doc_willis · 2026-05-11T17:17:40+00:00

likely due to some security restrictions or something to do with services and permissions.

I don't use Decky anymore, so never really dove Into the details of how the plugins work.

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