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Special Cases

This page contains some additional notes about special cases and situations that have arisen.

Lenovo BIOS

The key to get into the Lenovo BIOS is the F2 key. However, it is very unreliable. Even the Lenovo website says that several tries may be required.

I was only able yo get into the BIOS once in a dozen tried.

There is an easier way for Lenovo computers: The “Novo” key.

The novo key is a small pinhole into which you can insert a straightened out paper clip. Supposedly, there is a curved arrow next to the pinhole but it is small and hard to see.

Fortunately, when you insert a  paper clip into the novo key, a small white led lights up. Significant pressure is required.

Also, the computer immediately brings up a menu that allows you to get into the BIOS.

Lenovo Graphics Card

AMD Stoney [Radeon R2/R3/R4/R5 Graphhics] Lenovo driver amdgpu v. kernel

Later Mint versions do not work with this card.
Symptoms:

The screen goes black or randomly draw lines on the screen and then goed blank.

You can find the graphics card type by listing the BIOS. In Terminal:

  •     sudo dmidecode

or, if the system is running,

  • System -> System Reports -> System Information

Security Violation

If this occurrs during start up, go into the BIOS and disable, Secure Boot:
  • BIOS
  • Security Tab
    • Scroll down to Secure Boot (Enter)
    • Select “Disable”
  • Exit saving changes

The Work Around

  1. Install Linux Mint as usual
  2. When the restart happens, do NOT do the updates.
  3. Run the Update Manager
    • View the Linux Kernels
    • Select on the left 6.2 (Not the latest, 6.5)
    • Pick the latest version of 6.2, say 6.2.0-39 (generic)
    • Select “Install”
  4. Carry on with the Install, i.e., perform software updates, etc.

When the system restarts, you will be prompted to upgrade the Mint version. DO NOT upgrade the Mint version.

This version of Mint wil not have the same look and feel as later versions. For example, there are no Desklets. Also, screen saver preferences must be set in Light Locker

Drivers

Be very careful installing drivers. If in doubt, don’t.

In the System -> Update, you can see what drivers should be updated. If the screen does not recommend installing drivers, then do not override this decision.

Also, driver installation takes a long time. I stopped the installation and ended up in BIOS UEFI voilation hell.

GRUB Menu

If you really need it, the grub menu can be accessed by holding down the SHIFT key during start up. That will allow you to get into recovery mode, which permits Terminal commands, e.g.,
  • sudo dpkg –configure -a
This seemed to work better than directly from the terminal. If you don’t know why you need this command, consider yourself lucky.