Media check fails in Dell laptop

Ask Fedora
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1

I’m having an odd problem with a Dell laptop, I can’t get it to install Fedora. Everytime I boot from the USB and choose the “Test media and Install Fedora” option, It gives the media check error. As in:

The media check is complete, the result is: FAIL.

These are the things I’ve tested:
- Using a second USB from another brand
- Using another USB port with either USB
- Using Fedora Workstation 40 and Fedora Silverblue 40
- Creating bootable disks with: Fedora Media Writer, Gnome Disks or Popsicle (from Pop OS)

Other Linux OS that also test their media before system setup all work with the Dell. I’ve already used that machine for some time with multiple Ubuntu spins and derivatives. The USBs also pass the media check in other laptops (HP and Acer) and can be used to install Fedora. Therefore, I can reliably say that the problem isn’t a result of faulty USBs, USB ports or ISOs (which I already verified as instructed).

Another odd thing I’ve noticed is that I can create a bootable USB in the Dell and they work as intended when they are booted in another laptop. However, when I try to boot the Fedora bootable setup USB in the Dell and reach the media check error, that error is then replicated in other laptops too.

These were on the Dell but not on other laptops:

The media check is complete, the result is: FAIL.

It is not recommended to use this media.
[FAILED] Failed to start checkisond5@dev-sdb.service — Media check on sdev/sdb.
[ 118.912749] dracut-initquene[1549]: Job for checkisomd5@dev-sdb.service failed because the control process exited with error code.
[ 118.912832] dracut-initqueue[1549]: See “systemctl status checkisomd5@dev-sdb.service” and “journalctl -xeu checkisomd5@dev-sdb.service” for details.
[ 118.931173] dracut-initqueue[1424]: Warning: Media check failed! We do not recommend using this medium. System will halt in 12 hours

Everything else including the fragment sum and the fragment count were the same. ACPI errors were also there but apparently don’t prevent Fedora setups.

Can you please help me troubleshoot this problem?

2

I believe there are posts here about similar problems.

In most cases I recall the issue is that performing the media check fails only because that dell device marks the USB as “dirty”. Since the older way of installing from a DVD was a non-writable file system this did not happen.

If you create the USB image new then boot and immediately perform the installation without doing the media check it should properly install with no problems.

3

For example https://discussion.fedoraproject.org/t/cant-install-fedora-from-usb-flash-drive-the-media-check-is-complete-the-result-is-fail/128293/12

It seems that the Dell firmware will create a directory /dell/bios/recovery in the ESP file system on the USB device. It has been claimed that Windows will do something similar.

1 Like
4

Added anaconda, installation and removed gnome

5

Sorry. The overwhelming response, understandably, was to verify downloads. I’ll try to check better with previous discussions from now on.

6

Thanks. I’m really happy to now understand the issue.

Though, I am annoyed by this behavior. Is there anyway to remove it, a particular BIOS settings that I may toggle? If not, no problem. Just asking in case you know of any solution

7

The extra entry on the usb device does no harm except to cause failure of the “check this disk” option. As long as you do not use that option and just start fedora it seems harmless.

Checking the validity of the iso when it is downloaded and before writing it to the usb device seems to serve the same purpose and avoids the media check failure.

8

I understand. Thank you for the assurance

I was asking mostly out of curiosity.