Always include exact PC model in your posts.

Where are you accessing the "boot config"? 

Are you sure your USB stick is bootable? Just copying Ubuntu Mate 23.4 onto it probably doesn't make it bootable.

You have to plug a bootable USB into PC with power fully off. Then power on and tap F12 to open the menu. You should see an option to boot from USB on that menu...

Inspirion 3910

After tapping F2 key I can access the boot config etc.

I installed the Mate OS via  Mint's start up disk utility which has worked for me in the past.

I've used two different types of USB sticks, one is made by Bosexy and the other SamData.

I guess my question for you is how can I be sure the stick is bootable ??

FYI, I've previously installed both Ubuntu 23.04 and Mint 21.1 given that this machine came with Win11 and in both cases using a USB stick.

This is why I find this so puzzling as I've installed OS's previously using this same method. It worked then why not now ?

I've also tried installing via DVD disk and that didn't work either for the same reason it didn't recognize the DVD installer location. 

As I said, assuming the USB is bootable, plug it into PC with power off. Then power PC on and open the F12 menu. See if you can boot from USB there.

Crummy USB sticks?

So, I did what you said and still nothing.

I also reformatted for EXT4 then to NTFS and those didn't make a difference either.

Honestly, I'm stumped..........but thanks for your help, much appreciated.

I hope not, they're brand new.............

OK, I'll give that a try and see what happens.

The USB should be formatted FAT32, not EXT4 or NTFS.

I think it was FAT32 before I reformatted but will reformat to FAT32 and let you know how I make out.

Unfortunately, I got the same result. Formatting to fat32 had no positive outcome. Still no option to boot from my USB stick.

There must be a setting that I'm missing somewhere. I checked and all the USB ports are enabled. I unchecked them, saved the change, then went back and re-enabled them but that was a waste of time also.

What size are these USB sticks?  PC make not like ones bigger than 8 or possibly 16 GB...

What's first in the boot sequence in BIOS setup?

Can you check to see if your bootable USB will boot a different PC? You can just abort the installation on that other PC, if it starts automatically.

Ok, so I tried them on my Dell Inspirion 15-3000 currently running windows 11

Of the 4 USB sticks I tried only one worked and that was the one I used to install Linux Mint 21.1 on my desktop (3910) and in order for that to be "seen" I had to turn off secure boot. The other 3 didn't work with secure boot on or off. Hard to believe that all of these drives are bad but then again what might happen if I re-formatted them ? Your thoughts please as to my next step...........

B

32 GB

Ubuntu is what it says but is actually Mint 21.1

I'll try on one of my laptops and let you know the results.

Thanks,

B

This is weird, yes it does show up on the desktop 3910 even with secure boot "on" but I vaguely remember that mint turned off secure boot during the install process but not 100% sure of that just my recollection.

I'll go ahead and reformat the other USB's and see what happens. Would you suggest FAT32 as I'm running Win 11 on the laptop ?

Does the USB that boots the laptop and previously used to install Linux on the Inspiron 3910 still boot the 3910?

Is the USB that boots the laptop a different size than the others? Was it made bootable differently than the others?

You could try reformatting one that doesn't work now. Nothing to lose, except time...

FAT32 may be the most likely to work.

And disable Secure Boot before trying them again...

OK, Ron, I'll try Fat32 and disable secure boot to see what happens.

Thanks again for all your help............

B