Abstract
- Looking out on-line boards first can save hours of frustration when troubleshooting Linux-related issues as you be taught fixes that truly labored for different individuals.
- AI chatbots typically have outdated data bases which could not show you how to clear up points on area of interest cutting-edge Linux distros like Garuda Linux.
- Ventoy can clear up boot failures through the use of GRUB 2 to bypass compatibility points with newer {hardware}.
Putting in Linux is a reasonably easy course of, however my latest expertise with a brand new Linux distro threw me fully off observe. What ought to’ve taken not more than an hour was a full day of frustration, all as a result of I approached troubleshooting the incorrect manner. This is what occurred.
Garuda Launched a New Taste, and I Needed It
I have been a glad consumer of the Garuda Linux Dragonized version for some time now. It is a gaming-centric Arch-based distro filled with considerate system tweaks like zram for higher reminiscence administration, the performance-focused Zen kernel, and highly effective graphical apps for routine system administration. Garuda additionally options the Btrfs file system with the Snapper instrument, which mechanically takes system snapshots (normally earlier than an replace), permitting you to revert to a working state if one thing breaks.
It is virtually all the pieces I may need from an working system—virtually! My subject with Garuda Dragonized is its over-the-top cyberpunk design. Whereas I preferred it to start with, I’ve to say, it begins to grow to be a bit too loud and never one thing you need in your work machine. Fortunately, I may simply take away the Dragonized theme by switching to the traditional KDE Plasma Breeze theme, with only a single click on—making my one drawback nothing greater than a nitpick.
However as of the Broadwing update in March 2025, Garuda has launched a brand new model: Mokka! One take a look at the screenshots and I used to be offered. It is nonetheless the superior core of the Dragonized version, however this time wearing a Catppuccin-themed coloration scheme that appears clear, skilled, and visually gorgeous proper out of the field. The delicate darkish theme with pastel coloring appears so contemporary and welcoming that I needed to have it!
Technically, I may have tweaked my Garuda Dragonized system to appear like the Mokka version, however that might’ve required mixing and matching completely different themes and icon packs. In the event you like how a distro appears, it is typically extra handy to simply set up it as a substitute of attempting to rebuild that look manually on one other distro. That is what I made a decision to do right here!
Sadly, the Stay USB Did not Boot
Following the same old course of, I went to Garuda’s official website and downloaded the Mokka ISO. I pulled out my trusty USB stick and used Balena Etcher—my go-to instrument for creating bootable Linux drives—to burn the ISO.
With all the pieces seemingly prepared, I plugged within the drive, restarted my PC, chosen the USB from the boot menu, after which—nothing! The display froze earlier than I may even see the bootloader. There was no GRUB menu, no loading display—only a black empty display. I attempted rebooting a number of occasions with the identical outcome. One thing was clearly incorrect!
I Went to ChatGPT for Assist, However It Could not Assist
ChatGPT has been my reliable sidekick and has helped me out with quite a few Linux-based points! It has helped me edit config recordsdata, troubleshoot error messages, and generate terminal instructions to perform sure duties. Its data of Linux is genuinely spectacular for many duties—which is why I went to it for assist after I could not boot into Garuda Mokka!
I clearly defined the problem I used to be experiencing, and it responded with an inventory of widespread troubleshooting steps:
- Disable Safe Boot and Quick Startup in BIOS
- Confirm the ISO wasn’t corrupted throughout obtain
- Strive a unique USB port or drive
- Verify for incompatible {hardware}
The ideas appeared wise, so I made a decision to diligently undergo them separately. I knew Secure Boot was turned off, however perhaps a UEFI firmware replace from Home windows by accident enabled it (I run a dual boot system). However no—it was nonetheless disabled!
Then I checked if the ISO was corrupt. Garuda provides a number of methods to obtain the distro picture. I initially downloaded it by way of torrenting. I figured perhaps that was corrupted, so I re-downloaded it utilizing the “direct” obtain possibility, which took nicely over half-hour. I even checked the ISO’s checksum to confirm it wasn’t tampered with, and all the pieces checked out effective.
Now, I knew the port was working effective, so the final potential troublemaker was the thumb drive itself! I thought-about it is likely to be defective as a result of it has been working me for the previous decade (probably longer). So, I made a decision to attempt once more with a brand new thumb drive, however as you seemingly guessed—it nonetheless did not work!
After exhausting ChatGPT’s ideas, I lastly did what I ought to have finished from the start—I typed the problem into Google. Lo and behold, the primary outcome was from the Garuda Linux Discussion board reporting this actual subject and the way to repair it!
Apparently, many customers have been going through this subject and the answer was easy. As a substitute of utilizing Balena Etcher to burn the Garuda ISO onto my USB, I’m supposed to put in Ventoy on it after which use that besides the Garuda ISO utilizing GRUB 2 (not normal GRUB, a.ok.a. legacy GRUB). I had Garuda Mokka put in in lower than half an hour.
Why Ventoy Labored Whereas Balena Etcher Failed
Ventoy takes a unique strategy to creating bootable media. As a substitute of burning the ISO on to the thumb drive—which Etcher would do—Ventoy installs its personal GRUB 2 bootloader on the thumb drive. After that, you possibly can transfer any variety of ISO photos on to the thumb drive (as long as there’s enough storage) and use Ventoy to chainload into the ISO’s bootloader. I consider this strategy bypassed no matter subject was inflicting the drives to fail earlier, particularly contemplating that GRUB 2 typically has higher compatibility with newer {hardware} with UEFI firmware.
So, What Did I Study?
This expertise taught me two useful classes! First, Ventoy is wonderful! This was the primary time I attempted the software program, and I am not going again. You’ll be able to hold a number of distros on a single USB drive and luxuriate in enhanced compatibility with most {hardware}. It is a game-changer for distro-hoppers and Linux fans. However the extra vital takeaway was that if I’m going through a difficulty troubleshooting a more moderen piece of tech, particularly if it is fairly area of interest, I should not depend on AI assistants like ChatGPT.
For instance, ChatGPT’s free model has a data cutoff date from earlier than Garuda Mokka launched in March 2025, so naturally it will not know any particular technical points with it. Additionally, as a lot as I really like Garuda Linux, it is a area of interest distro, which makes ChatGPT being conscious of its nuances even much less seemingly.
That being mentioned, I’ve discovered AI chatbots like ChatGPT in any other case wonderful for common troubleshooting recommendation. They can assist you get across the Linux terminal and show you how to with extra standard distros like Ubuntu and Linux Mint.
When ChatGPT would not know one thing, it searches the web to get up-to-date data on the subject. I consider it felt assured about this matter, because it’s an ordinary Linux set up process, and so it did not search the net. Truthfully, I am unable to blame it trigger even I did not take into consideration looking the net at the moment.
Whereas hours of frustration may look like the standard story of each Linux consumer ever, it is by way of data sharing we are able to keep away from these conditions. I hope I used to be in a position that can assist you be taught by way of me so the following time you face one thing comparable, you will not should spend a complete day attempting to repair it.
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