Obstacle when installing Kubuntu 16.04: "No init found. Try passing init= bootarg."

[2muchcoffeeman]

Starting new thread because the objective specified in the previous thread has changed. Am now attempting installation of Kubuntu 16.04. No longer attempting dual-boot. (In the time since the creation of the previous thread, I have obtained a new Win10 system for work purposes, and no longer need to preserve dual-boot capability on the system it replaced). My goal now is a complete K16.04 takeover of the XPS 13.

Here is the system:



And here is the current drive partition status:



The system runs BIOS version A08.

The Dell F2/Setup utility has the Boot Priority Order configured this way:

+ USB Storage Device
Removable Drive
+ Hard Drive
CD/DVD/CD-RW Drive
Network


The Dell F12/Boot Menu is configured this way:

+USB Storage Device
Removable Drive
+ Hard Drive
Diagnostics


I have followed the directions on the Kubuntu/Installation page on the Kubuntu UserBase Wiki.

I downloaded the 64-bit version of the K16.04 .iso file from here.

Per the instructions, I used the Windows File Checksum Integrity Verifier to generate an MD5 hash of the .iso download. The hash generated by the verifier matched the hash for the amd64.iso on this page.

Per the instructions, I used UNetBootin to create an installer, and did so on a freshly reformatted 16GB USB drive.

I booted the XPS 13, pressing F12 as I did so, and the system booted to a live K16.04 session, running straight from the USB stick. The boot sequence did not present me with an opportunity to install Kubuntu. In other words, I did not see this dialog window:



After a reboot/f12 maneuver, I selected the help option from the UNetBootin utility window. Here is a portion of the result:



Warning: fsck not present, so skipping file system
mount: can't find /root in /etc/fstab
[ 7.609716] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Attached SCSI removable disk
done.
Begin: Running /scripts/local-bottom ... done
Begin: Running /scripts/init-bottom .... mount: mounting /dev on /root/dev failed: No such file or directory
done.
mount: mounting /run on /root/run failed: No such file or directory
run-init: current directory on the same filesystem as the root: error 0
Target filesystem doesn't have requested /sbin/init
run-init: current directory on the same filesystem as the root: error 0
run-init: current directory on the same filesystem as the root: error 0
run-init: current directory on the same filesystem as the root: error 0
run-init: current directory on the same filesystem as the root: error 0
run-init: current directory on the same filesystem as the root: error 0
No init found. Try passing init= bootarg.

From the UNetbootin menu, I have run the "check disk for defects" uitlity, and the results came up clean.

When I remove the USB, the system boots automatically into Win10. When I insert the USB stick and boot the system without touching any keys, it launches the UNetBootin window, which executes the "automatic boot" after 8 seconds or so. Then it launches K16.04. And it appears to work great; it even fixes my infamous Dell trackpad, which has been essentially unresponsive since Day 1 with Windows 7, and now 10. So I'd really like to get this figured out.

Thank you for any diagnosis and instruction you can offer.

[woodsmoke]

Ok, if I get this right, you do not want Windblows on it at all, right?

I would format to FAT or NTFS, whatever you want first before doing anything about any kind of install.

then install.

I don't use Unetbootin I just use a cd / dvd and have never, as in never, had a problem if I formatted the drive first.

But I've frequently had OTHER distros, not Kubu, balk on a drive with a bunch of partitions.

woodjustathoughtsmoke

[2muchcoffeeman]

Thanks for the response.

The C:\ drive already is NTFS, so it would seem the partitioning of the drive is not the issue. Unless I'm missing something, which is very likely.

Also, I'm attempting an installation from a USB. The XPS 13 does not have a DVD drive -- though I can connect an external DVD to it.

And your assumption is correct: I want to wipe Windows off the system completely.

[2muchcoffeeman]

UPDATE

Woodsmoke's suggestion about the computer's filesystem format got me thinking: Well, the computer is NTFS, but what about the USB stick? I checked, and it was formatted as FAT32.

I have no idea if that's a problem, but I reformatted the USB to NTFS. Then ran UNetbootin fresh on the K16.04 .iso file, setting the newly reformatted USB as the destination.

After that process was complete, I rebooted the system while pressing F12, but never arrived at the Boot Options or UNetbootin screen because the system returned this message:

An operating system wasn't found. Try disconnecting any drives that don't contain an operating system.

I removed the USB and rebooted, and the system went straight into Win10.

I can't explain they "why" of any of it, but I offer it as a potential clue to what's causing the obstacle to installation.

[2muchcoffeeman]

FURTHER UPDATE:



It turns out that the installation window was, in fact, on the desktop of the live instance of Kubuntu running from the USB. The window was about 30x30 pixels square, tucked in a corner, and the contents of the window could not be seen. It was like a keyhole view of a billboard. There was no label on the title bar of the window to indicate it was meant for starting the installation process. I thought it was just a default KDE panel when I started poking at it with the mouse just out of curiosity, and discovered it was possible to scroll around a bit -- like using a toothpick through a keyhole to move around the object on the other side of the door so as to get a look at it.

Eventually the full installation window maximized, and installation proceeded normally.

So, basically, I'm feeling really stupid right now. But Kubuntu 16.04 is up and running. It's been worth it if only to regain functionality of the trackpad on the XPS. It has been non-functional since it came out of the box, loaded with Win7.

[GreyGeek]

FURTHER UPDATE:



.....

So, basically, I'm feeling really stupid right now. But Kubuntu 16.04 is up and running.

Don't be hard on yourself. I noticed that little box next to the cashew in the upper left corner as well and assumed it was a shrunken installation dialog. When I dragged it out to a reasonable size the controls were scrambled. So, I opened a Konsole and ran the installer the dialog would have called. I chased it down by editing the KGears menu entry.

EDIT: My msg posting has begun to work backwards. Emoticons appear as emoticon when I am composing, but after I post they appear as ASCII character equivalents.

[Snowhog]

Yeah, a 'known' bug. One that hasn't yet been fixed.

[dequire]

Yeah, a 'known' bug. One that hasn't yet been fixed.

This but is getting a little "long in the tooth" as well, IMHO. Too important to not be working on, and it's been there quite a while through all the Alpha's, Beta's, and final release.