Issues Booting Kali Linux from External SSD on HP Victus 16

Kali Linux Forums Kali Linux Troubleshooting
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Dear Kali Linux Community,

I am experiencing difficulties booting Kali Linux from an external SSD on my HP Victus 16 (model s16-0040nf) laptop. The installation process completes successfully, and the system boots without issues on another device (an Asus Vivobook). However, when attempting to boot from the external SSD on the HP Victus, the system fails to start.

Troubleshooting Steps Taken:

  • BIOS/UEFI Settings:

    • Disabled Secure Boot.
    • Enabled Legacy Mode.
    • Set the external SSD as the primary boot device.

  • Boot Process:

    • Attempted to boot in both normal and recovery modes; neither was successful.

  • Installation Method:

    • Used the graphical installer to set up Kali Linux on the external SSD.
    • Created necessary partitions: root (“/”), swap, and EFI.
    • Installed the GRUB bootloader on the external SSD.

Despite these efforts, the HP Victus does not recognize or boot from the external SSD. I have confirmed that the SSD functions correctly with other hardware.

System Specifications:

  • HP Victus 16 (s16-0040nf):
    • Processor: AMD ryzen 7-7840hs
    • RAM: 32GB
    • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 laptop
  • external ssd samsung T7
    I would appreciate any guidance or suggestions to resolve this boot issue on the HP Victus.

Thank you for your assistance.

Best regards,

2

Dear Kali Linux Community,

I am pleased to report that I have resolved the booting issue I previously encountered when attempting to run Kali Linux from an external SSD on my HP Victus 16 (model s16-0040nf). The solution involved accessing the BIOS/UEFI settings and changing the graphics mode from “Hybrid” to “Discrete.” This adjustment forces the system to utilize the dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, effectively resolving the display problems I was experiencing.

Steps to Implement the Solution:

  1. Access BIOS/UEFI Settings:

    • Restart the laptop and press the appropriate key (commonly Esc, F2, F10, or Del) during startup to enter the BIOS/UEFI menu.

  2. Navigate to Graphics Settings:

    • Within the BIOS/UEFI interface, locate the section related to graphics configuration.

  3. Change Graphics Mode:

    • Switch the graphics setting from “Hybrid” to “Discrete.”

  4. Save and Exit:

    • Save the changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI. The system will reboot with the new settings.

After making this change, Kali Linux boots successfully, and all display functions operate as expected. This solution may be beneficial for others experiencing similar issues on laptops with hybrid graphics configurations.

Best regards