Unable to install from elementaryOS or Pop_OS LiveCD

[colindean]

Describe the bug

I am able to install from the LiveCD boot of neither elementaryOS nor Pop_OS.

To Reproduce

Launch the Live CD boot of either of these -- latest versions, both -- and proceed through installation. I have three partitions: a 1 GB EFI partition, an 8 GB swap partition, and the remainder of a 480 GB SATA SSD allocated to the installation. There is one other SATA drive connected (a Windows installation). I used the "erase everything" option for both and chose the 480 GB SSD.

Expected behavior

Installation would proceed as normal.

Additional context

This is the log output from the installer in Pop_OS. The output at is more verbose in Pop_OS but ultimately the ~same at the end: a file is not openable.

INFO: Starting installation
INFO: probed "/dev/sda"
INFO: obtaining disk information from /dev/sda
INFO: obtaining serial model from /dev/sda
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sda
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sda1
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sda2
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sda3
INFO: probed "/dev/sdb"
INFO: obtaining disk information from /dev/sdb
INFO: obtaining serial model from /dev/sdb
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sdb
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sdb1
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sdb2
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sdb3
INFO: probed "/dev/sdc"
INFO: obtaining disk information from /dev/sdc
INFO: obtaining serial model from /dev/sdc
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sdc
INFO: obtaining list of physical volumes
DEBUG: get block size for "/sys/class/block/sda"
DEBUG: get block size for "/sys/class/block/sdb"
DEBUG: get block size for "/sys/class/block/sdc"
INFO: child_dev "/dev/sda1" has mount_opt None
INFO: child_dev "/dev/sda2" has mount_opt None
INFO: child_dev "/dev/sda3" has mount_opt None
DEBUG: get block size for "/sys/class/block/sda1"
INFO: detecting OS from device: "/dev/sda1"
INFO: detecting OS from "/tmp/distinst.qqFGjpRZ2KLV"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.qqFGjpRZ2KLV/lost+found"
DEBUG: get block size for "/sys/class/block/sda2"
DEBUG: get block size for "/sys/class/block/sda3"
INFO: detecting OS from device: "/dev/sda3"
INFO: detecting OS from "/tmp/distinst.zcx9hamj4TJi"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.zcx9hamj4TJi/lost+found"
INFO: found shrinkable partition on "/dev/sda3": 902163479 free of 918824959
INFO: child_dev "/dev/sda1" has mount_opt None
INFO: child_dev "/dev/sda2" has mount_opt None
INFO: child_dev "/dev/sda3" has mount_opt None
INFO: child_dev "/dev/sda1" has mount_opt None
INFO: child_dev "/dev/sda2" has mount_opt None
INFO: child_dev "/dev/sda3" has mount_opt None
INFO: found erase option on "/dev/sda": 937703088 sectors
INFO: child_dev "/dev/sdb1" has mount_opt None
INFO: child_dev "/dev/sdb2" has mount_opt None
INFO: child_dev "/dev/sdb3" has mount_opt None
DEBUG: get block size for "/sys/class/block/sdb1"
INFO: detecting OS from device: "/dev/sdb1"
INFO: detecting OS from "/tmp/distinst.gjpspFVsMN9o"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.gjpspFVsMN9o/Boot"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.gjpspFVsMN9o/bootmgr"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.gjpspFVsMN9o/BOOTNXT"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.gjpspFVsMN9o/BOOTSECT.BAK"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.gjpspFVsMN9o/System Volume Information"
DEBUG: get block size for "/sys/class/block/sdb2"
INFO: detecting OS from device: "/dev/sdb2"
INFO: detecting OS from "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/drivers"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/hiberfil.sys"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/install.res.1041.dll"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/$Recycle.Bin"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/$WINDOWS.~BT"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/$Windows.~WS"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/$WinREAgent"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/$WINRE_BACKUP_PARTITION.MARKER"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/AMD"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/Config.Msi"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/Documents and Settings"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/install.exe"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/install.ini"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/install.res.1028.dll"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/install.res.1031.dll"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/install.res.1033.dll"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/install.res.1036.dll"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/install.res.1040.dll"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/DumpStack.log.tmp"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/ESD"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/eula.1028.txt"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/eula.1031.txt"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/eula.1033.txt"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/eula.1036.txt"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/eula.1040.txt"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/eula.1041.txt"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/eula.1042.txt"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/eula.2052.txt"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/eula.3082.txt"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/globdata.ini"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/install.res.1042.dll"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/install.res.2052.dll"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/install.res.3082.dll"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/OneDriveTemp"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/pagefile.sys"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/PerfLogs"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/Program Files"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/Program Files (x86)"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/ProgramData"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/Recovery"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/swapfile.sys"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/System Volume Information"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/SystemBoardInfoResult.txt"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/Users"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/UVCDeviceControl.log"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/vcredist.bmp"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/VC_RED.cab"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/VC_RED.MSI"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A/Windows"
INFO: found OS on "/dev/sdb2": Windows (Windows)
INFO: found shrinkable partition on "/dev/sdb2": 278882655 free of 974577495
DEBUG: get block size for "/sys/class/block/sdb3"
INFO: detecting OS from device: "/dev/sdb3"
INFO: detecting OS from "/tmp/distinst.njGCRbCqSakL"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.njGCRbCqSakL/Recovery"
INFO: Found "/tmp/distinst.njGCRbCqSakL/System Volume Information"
INFO: child_dev "/dev/sdb1" has mount_opt None
INFO: child_dev "/dev/sdb2" has mount_opt Some(MountInfo { source: "/dev/sdb2", dest: "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A", fstype: "ntfs", options: ["ro", "relatime", "uid=0", "gid=0", "fmask=0177", "dmask=077", "nls=utf8", "errors=continue", "mft_zone_multiplier=1"], dump: 0, pass: 0 })
INFO: child_dev "/dev/sdb3" has mount_opt None
INFO: child_dev "/dev/sdb1" has mount_opt None
INFO: child_dev "/dev/sdb2" has mount_opt Some(MountInfo { source: "/dev/sdb2", dest: "/tmp/distinst.3Xh3pBKocZ2A", fstype: "ntfs", options: ["ro", "relatime", "uid=0", "gid=0", "fmask=0177", "dmask=077", "nls=utf8", "errors=continue", "mft_zone_multiplier=1"], dump: 0, pass: 0 })
INFO: child_dev "/dev/sdb3" has mount_opt None
INFO: found erase option on "/dev/sdb": 976773168 sectors
INFO: found erase option on "/dev/sdc": 4106240 sectors
INFO: probed "/dev/sda"
INFO: obtaining disk information from /dev/sda
INFO: obtaining serial model from /dev/sda
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sda
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sda1
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sda2
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sda3
INFO: probed "/dev/sdb"
INFO: obtaining disk information from /dev/sdb
INFO: obtaining serial model from /dev/sdb
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sdb
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sdb1
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sdb2
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sdb3
INFO: probed "/dev/sdc"
INFO: obtaining disk information from /dev/sdc
INFO: obtaining serial model from /dev/sdc
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sdc
DEBUG: get block size for "/sys/class/block/sda"
INFO: getting device at /dev/sda
INFO: obtaining disk information from /dev/sda
INFO: obtaining serial model from /dev/sda
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sda
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sda1
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sda2
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sda3
INFO: specifying to write new table on /dev/sda
INFO: unmount all partitions on /dev/sda
DEBUG: get block size for "/sys/class/block/sda"
INFO: checking if 4096:1023999 overlaps
DEBUG: get block size for "/sys/class/block/sda"
INFO: checking if 1024000:9412607 overlaps
DEBUG: get block size for "/sys/class/block/sda"
DEBUG: get block size for "/sys/class/block/sda"
INFO: checking if 9412608:929310383 overlaps
DEBUG: get block size for "/sys/class/block/sda"
DEBUG: get block size for "/sys/class/block/sda"
DEBUG: get block size for "/sys/class/block/sda"
INFO: checking if 929310384:937698991 overlaps
DEBUG: get block size for "/sys/class/block/sda"
DEBUG: get block size for "/sys/class/block/sda"
ERROR: libdistinst: pointer in FFI is null
ERROR: libdistinst: pointer in FFI is null
ERROR: libdistinst: pointer in FFI is null
INFO: starting initializing step
INFO: Initializing
INFO: verifying if keyfiles have paths
INFO: getting device at /dev/sda
INFO: obtaining disk information from /dev/sda
INFO: obtaining serial model from /dev/sda
ERROR: config.squashfs: No such file or directory (os error 2)
ERROR: config.remove: unable to open file at "/cdrom/casper/filesystem.manifest-remove": No such file or directory (os error 2)
INFO: opening disk at /dev/sda
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sda1
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sda2
INFO: obtaining partition information from /dev/sda3
INFO: devices to modify: ["/dev/sda1", "/dev/sda2", "/dev/sda3"]
INFO: obtaining list of physical volumes
INFO: volume map: {}
INFO: searching for device maps to deactivate
INFO: pvs: []
INFO: unmounting devices
ERROR: initializing error: unable to open file at "/cdrom/casper/filesystem.manifest-remove": No such file or directory (os error 2)
ERROR: errored while installing system: unable to open file at "/cdrom/casper/filesystem.manifest-remove": No such file or directory (os error 2)
INFO: Install error: unable to open file at "/cdrom/casper/filesystem.manifest-remove": No such file or directory (os error 2)

Looking at /cdrom, it's empty:

ubuntu@ubuntu:/cdrom$ ls -lah
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root  40 Jan  9 17:16 .
drwxr-xr-x 1 root root 220 Jan  9 17:16 ..

I speculate that the method used for booting these Ubuntu/Debian derivatives is causing something to be missing that their installers expect that perhaps the Ubuntu/Debian installer does not, or that this particular method of booting -- LiveCD via PXE -- doesn't play nice with LiveCD installers at all and that I should be choosing something from the "Linux Network Installs", which does not include elementaryOS or Pop_OS.

[colindean]

Some more searching led me to https://github.com/pop-os/iso/issues/224, where my sentiment seems to be confirmed: the /cdrom/casper directory isn't present anywhere on the filesystem, nor is the filesystem.manifest-remove file.

[github-actions[bot]]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had recent activity. It will be closed if no further activity occurs. Thank you for your contributions.

[nord73]

This is still an issue.

[mindtheegab]

still impossible to install pop os 22.04 cdrom folder is empty

[Minituff]

This is still an issue

[spex66]

Still an issue with pop os 22.04 (live-popos.ipxe).

And w/o a note or removal from menu

• more netbook.xyz users will run into this trap
• lose time
• start googleing
• maybe find this issue
• and ask "what's up?"

just like me now 🤷