Bootloader install failed then Install Linux Mint freezes

[Unknown Nerd]

Hello, I've been having a he** of a time trying to get my recently purchased used Dell xps 13 working. I bought it privately and it does not have a current warranty.

It came with Windows 10 Pro and problems started happening from the beginning...Shutting down completely when I close the lid, shutting down when I insert a USB device, telling it to sleep causes it to shut down, etc.

I figured these were driver issues, and I wanted Linux anyway so I am now trying to install Linux Mint 18.1.

I just flashed the bios successfully to the current version, and I am booting in Legacy Boot mode.

Now when I boot from my Live USB, Install Linux Mint goes through the installation, then at the end it says

"Sorry, an error occured and it was not possible to install the bootloader at the specified location.

How would you like to proceed?
1) choose a different device to install the bootloader on
2) Continue without a bootloader
3)Cancel the installation"

No matter which option I click, the "continue" button just clicks and does nothing. I can't even X the error window out. It is just frozen with these 3 options and no buttons do anything.

I think it either has something to do with the boot mode or The fact that the hard drive is an nvme SSD?

I used Gparted to totally erase the SSD to "unallocated" and retried and I am still getting the same error.

Would I get the same error if I tried another distro?

 

[Unknown Nerd]

Update: Changed Bios mode from RAID to ACHI with no luck, still getting the exact same error.

 

[Rocky Bennett]

I would open up the laptop and clean all of the dust out and check the wires on everything, and also change the CMOS battery. I would also run a scan on the SSD to see if you get any errors.

While you have the laptop open make sure that your RAM is clean and fully seated. Take it out and plug it back it back in.

 

[Alabalcho]

It seems the laptop had similar problems under factory-installed Win10, so I would just call Dell. But they will probably ask for diagnostics, and you'll have to reinstall Windows for that.

 

[Unknown Nerd]

Problem solved by switching to AHCI mode in Bios version 1.3.2, and switching back to UEFI with Secure Boot off, and choosing not to use full drive encryption in the installer. I still have problems with the Right USB port shutting the whole computer down even in Linux Mint.

 

[Dave8671]

What is the model number of this Dell XPS 13 ? This if you do not know would be on the bottom of the laptop. A few of dell models will be a bit hard to install mint than other models. How new are you to Linux?