Unusual restart problems occur in Linux Mint but not in Windows.
Unusual restart problems occur in Linux Mint but not in Windows.
Here’s a revised version of your note:
A Google Drive folder containing recordings of failed boot sequences is available. (Some videos had resolution changes due to GPU adjustments.)
I have two suggestions. First, whenever you log in, run "sudo apt-get update" and "sudo apt-get upgrade" to refresh packages. Also, use "sudo apt-get dist-upgrade" to update the kernel and distribution, which should refresh everything. Second, if a GPU issue might be present, disconnect it and try using integrated graphics. If booting more reliably with them, the problem likely lies with the GPU and its drivers.
Already completed step 1, I haven’t attempted step 2. I’ve been testing both integrated graphics and dedicated graphics together while using a Windows VM. There’s no mention of compatibility problems with 1060s or kernel 5.3.0 (the version used). I wasn’t aware of any issues before installing the proprietary NVIDIA drivers, so I’m not sure it’s related to graphics. (I’d try again but already cleared the broken installation.) Recently, I installed Linux Mint in CSM legacy mode instead of UEFI and have been using it for an hour without encountering the same problems, even after multiple restarts. (I also tried reinstalling with UEFI, but issues persist.) I don’t use CSM much because I depend on my computer, so I’d prefer switching to UEFI. Next, I plan to install Ubuntu in UEFI mode and check if the issues reappear. If they do, I’ll look into GPU suggestions. Any other suggestions?
Wait! It seems the browser just restarted while using Firefox. I visited youtube.com, entered my email, and closed the tab immediately after submitting. There were no crash reports or critical errors recorded.
Have you considered removing the NVIDIA driver, switching to another hard disk, or using a different SATA connector on the motherboard?
Yep, tried all that and way more. Spent over a week troubleshooting this off and on. I continued this on Level1Tech's forums and me and some very helpful people concluded that it may be a weird BIOS bug that is causing this behavior. Because future BIOS updates for this old and unpopular board don't seem likely, I think I'm just going to upgrade to ryzen 3000 before switching to Linux, since I was considering doing that anyway.
The shutdowns aren't occurring according to the operating system. It seems like a sudden power loss, but I've confirmed system stability in Windows and changed the power source. At this stage, I haven't ruled out my CPU, RAM, or motherboard yet—I don’t have any others to test. If one of those components is the problem, it’s likely a compatibility issue rather than a hardware defect. A motherboard swap would probably be enough, so I’ll proceed unless there’s a special CPU or memory setup that conflicts with Linux.