DietPi won't install on a particular mini PC (X86, i5)

Troubleshooting
1

Creating a bug report/issue

I have searched the existing open and closed issues

Required Information

  • DietPi version | X_86, UEFI
  • Distro version | the latest, currently available on the website
  • Kernel version |
  • Architecture | X86_AMD64
  • SBC model | A Gigabyte branded mini PC with an i5 processor
  • Power supply used | standard 19V supplied with the mini PC
  • SD card used | None – SSD in the mini PC

Steps to reproduce

METHOD 1:

  1. I have downloaded the UEFI version
  2. Made a bootable USB drive according to the instructions, using Rufus
  3. Booting up from the USB drive without problem
  4. Starting installation without problem
  5. At the end, a few messages flash by quickly that some firmware is missing, but the screen refreshes so fast you cannot read the exact message or photograph it.
  6. It finishes with powering down, but when powering up it never boots from the harddrive.

METHOD 2:

  1. Install Debian 12, net install.
  2. That works.
  3. The follow the instructions to make an image of DietPi
  4. That works.
  5. Starting the installer, that works flawlessly
  6. At the end, again the same firmware messages, powering down, never reboots.

My question: are there specific components expected in an Intel based mini PC?. I have installed on another (older) NUC without problem. Since Debian 12 works on this mini PC, what could the diet installer remove from Debian 12 that makes this particular mini PC not booting DietPi?

2

If you use the Debian 12 way, you should be able to connect via SSH and perform DietPi conversion this way. Benefit, you should be able to collect the whole log from SSH terminal once you see the error messages

3

Good suggestion, I should have thought about this myself ! I will give it a try.

4

Does this mini PC support 64-bit UEFI? There are some with 64-bit OS support bit only 32-bit UEFI, while our images ship 64-bit UEFI.

You could check the GRUB/EFI related APT packages on the functional Debian image to verify that.

5

Which Gigabyte PC is it? I had a BRIX BACE-3150 which worked fine. I only used the VGA output of it.
Which graphical outputs has the PC (VGA, HDMI,…)?

6

GB-BXi5H-4200

7

Do you use the HDMi or the DP output?
Did you install an X11 GUI (xfce,…) with an autostart to the GUI?

8

I use Debian command line, but it works with the standard desktop too. It is having an HDMI port I use. But what’s that got to do with DietPi?

9

On other PC systems I had rarely issues when there were different video outputs.
In your case, I would not expect problems when using the HDMI output.

10

I have installed DietPi through a SSH session, and guess what, it installed correctly and booted from the harddisk! Don’t ask me why it works this way and not when following the exact same instructions by using a keyboard attached to the machine.

I haven’t changed a thing on the computer or the Debian 12 base install. Kind of weird, but if it works, it works. Thanks @Joulinar for your initial hint.

1 Like
11

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