Anaconda error: Device in use

When I try to install Fedora, I boot from USB, everything is fine, I select partition that I want to install Fedora to.
When I select it, click delete all, I get sent to menu where I have button “Begin installation”, after this I click the button to begin the installation, and for some reason it installs for a bit (few seconds) and then I get popup that says “Error, device is active”. I already disabled “Fast boot” in my windows settings, but my BIOS doesn’t have any Fast-boot option.

My specs are Intel core I7 12th gen 1225u, I have 8 GB of ram.

Help would be appreciated

Shutdown your windows properly

What do you mean by that?

go to windows and shutdown

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Didn’t work :confused:

Are you trying to replace Windoze or to install Fedora as a second system?

You could also try Fedora Everything Netinstall, or Fedora 40.

Replace windows and install Fedora 41.

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I take it you are on a laptop? Brand / model?
I ask so others might be able to identify something in BIOS for your model.

You could take a leap of faith and format your drive while running a USB live OS (Either Fedora or a simpler formatting tool).

Come to think of it, what happens if you boot into the Workstation live environment and try to install from there?

Vostro 3520. What do you mean boot into Workstation live enviorment?

Instead of booting into the Anaconda installer, if you have the Fedora Workstation on your USB, you can boot into a ‘live environment’ to test Fedora before you install. There should be an option to install Fedora from within that live environment.

Also, how did you make your install media? Fedora Media Writer?

First I used rufus, then I switched to other USB drive and used Fedora Media Writer.

looks like your system have sdd and hdd when you select install did you manually select destination or you left to automaticlly

I just did a search and found that it is probably something to do with Windoze Bitlocker.

you will need to boot off a windows 10/11 installer USB
go in to command prompt and clear the data on the SSD (if you running Bazzite as the Sole OS)
once in command prompt
type:
diskpart
then: - Disk 0 should be internal SSD
select disk 0
then:
clean
after that, turn off your device and then connect back up your Bazzite installer USB and you should be able to install without an issue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tMHs-aYm4E

(Fedora 41 live iso image: fail to re-partition windows disc-system: device busy - #2)

Device Active error when trying to install Bazzite - Universal Blue .

'Device is active' installation error - Universal Blue .

So basically you should format your disk first and then install should work.

maybe disable “secure boot” from bios?
also, before launching the installer run:
df -h
to see if your harddrives are mounted

I would do that, but I’m afraid that I will screw up my SSD.

I was talking about the wiping the drive in windows installation :smiley:

No need to delete your posts friend, others may find them useful :slight_smile:

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It won’t screw up your SSD. The installer was going to format it anyway. It will remove Windows.

Formatting is how we clean our drives ready for another, better lifetime :slight_smile:

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As stated above.

  1. boot to the usb (live installer)
  2. Instead of beginning the installation immediately select to test fedora
  3. Use the text terminal and use the command gdisk to create a new (empty) partition table on the SSD
  4. Now begin the installation.

This process should wipe out everything windows related and remove the windows data from the drive so the installer sees it as an empty drive. Installation should be able to continue without the need to select recovery of the drive space.

As also stated, this will not harm the SSD in any way.

If, however, the SSD has some undetected defect, the high workload of an
installation may reveal the defect. I avoid doing installations when under time
pressure in case there are problems that require new parts.