Unusual restart problems occur in Linux Mint but not in Windows.
Unusual restart problems occur in Linux Mint but not in Windows.
This journey began when I chose to switch my main desktop away from Windows to Linux. I’d been relying on Linux across multiple laptops for some time now. Before completely removing my Windows setup, I planned to install on a second hard drive to ensure everything functioned properly. That decision turned out to be wise since things quickly went awry... Initially, I faced difficulties getting the Linux Mint installer to boot in UEFI mode without CSM, but I realized fastboot was the culprit. Once disabled, I managed to install on the second drive and start using Linux. But after applying some updates and installing Nvidia drivers, the system would suddenly switch to the Linux Mint splash screen before powering off and restarting. This happens most often during reboots, though it can occur occasionally. After several attempts, it eventually booted successfully once or twice, and generally runs smoothly afterward. Still, there are moments when I log in and click an icon on the desktop and it abruptly closes like at startup.
On the other hand, my Windows installation remains unaffected—games and stress tests perform well. This suggests the issue isn’t related to overheating or power supply problems. It’s not a straightforward hardware fault, but something more elusive. I adjusted the GRUB settings to hide the splash screen so I could observe its behavior during boot. Each time it “crashes,” the outcome varies, and I can’t spot any consistent pattern. The Linux Mint logs don’t record fatal errors that trigger a reboot.
I’m familiar with Linux, but I’m unsure what’s behind this inconsistency. I’ve tried other distributions as a troubleshooting step and plan to share my discoveries here once I have more information. I also reset my BIOS settings without success and considered swapping drives, even though the second drive’s SMART status is perfect.
Here are some details about my system:
- Intel Core i5 6600K overclocked to 4.4GHz at 1.280V
- EVGA GTX 1060 6GB
- Asus Z170-E
- 4x4GB DDR4 2133MHz RAM (XMP profile didn’t help)
- 500GB WD Blue M.2 SSD (SATA over M.2, not PCIe)
- External Toshiba 1TB 5400RPM drive for Windows
- Renesas 4 port USB 3.0 card
I can't send screenshots directly, but I can describe the errors in detail so you can capture them yourself. Let me know if you'd like a clear summary!
These are the main issues recorded in the logs after the system starts. They relate to kwallet and pulseaudio, though those seem separate problems. If you have other areas with unknown logs, feel free to let me know! But here are the key errors: Edited May 30, 2020 by MineParker101 added the attachment
Yes, that's correct. Based on your description, you're starting a Linux installation from an external drive. If the USB isn't set up yet, the system might not be ready to boot.
I attempted to remove the Renasas card and turned off the built-in Asmedia 3.1 controller in the BIOS, but nothing changed. I’ve saved some rough screen recordings of the boot process so you can review them later. I’m aware that the system tends to loop during startup, though it usually resolves on the third attempt.