Docs
FAQ
Hardware

Hardware & Device FAQ

My computer fails to boot or drops to a shell

Click to see the fix…

If your computer fails to boot properly and drops you into a command-line shell (often called a “rootfs shell”), it may be because the bootloader is broken or misconfigured.

To fix this, you must first boot from your TechLit USB drive. Once you have booted into the USB environment, you have two options:

  1. Reinstall the bootloader: This is the quickest method. Open a terminal and run the following command:

    sudo tl-hw-update-bootloader /dev/sdX

    Device Drive

    Replace /dev/sdX with the correct device name for your computer’s internal drive (e.g., /dev/sda). Use lsblk to identify it.

  2. Run a full desktop update:

This process is more thorough and will also repair the bootloader while updating the system. See the updating guide for detailed instructions.

How do I identify my USB drive?

Click to see how…

Before performing any disk operations, it’s crucial to identify your USB drive correctly to avoid modifying the wrong device. Here are two simple methods to confirm the device name.

lsblk -o NAME,MOUNTPOINT,SIZE

1. Check by Storage Size

The easiest way to distinguish your USB drive is by its size. It will almost always be significantly smaller than your computer’s internal storage (hard drive or SSD).

2. Check by Mount Points

You can also identify the drive by looking at where its partitions are mounted.

  • On the TechLit Desktop OS: The main system partition is typically mounted at /. Your USB drive will likely not be mounted, or mounted elsewhere.
  • In TechLit ISO (Recovery Mode): The system boots from the USB, so its partitions will be mounted on key system directories:
    • The 4th partition (e.g., /dev/sdb4) is mounted at /srv.
    • The 3rd partition (e.g., /dev/sdb3) is mounted at /.

Warning

Always double-check the device name before proceeding with any operations like formatting or partitioning to avoid accidental data loss.

How do I mount my USB drive?

Click to see how… 
# Identify the USB drive (say usb is /dev/sda)
lsblk

# Mount the 4th partition of the USB drive
sudo mount /dev/sda4 /mnt

Wi-Fi Issues

How do stop the firewall temporarily?

Click to see how…

Security Risk

Only disable if necessary. Re-enable immediately after.

rsv stop nftables # Stop the firewall
rsv start nftables # reactivate the firewall

I am unable to turn on my Wi-Fi

Click to see how…
  • Run rfkill list to see all your network devices.
  • If your card is listed as soft blocked, run sudo rfkill unblock wifi to turn it on.
  • If it is hard blocked, look for a hardware switch on your computer and turn it on.
  • If none of these work, try a different wifi hack in reconfigure

Device-Specific Guides

Dell

Click to see device-specific guides…

This section provides solutions for common issues encountered with Dell

Invalid Partition Table Error on Boot

  1. Switch to UEFI Boot Mode
  • Restart the computer and press F2 or F12 to enter BIOS setup.
  • Navigate to General > Boot Sequence.
  • Change the boot mode from Legacy to UEFI.
  • Save changes and exit BIOS.
  1. Simply Press Enter to ignore the warning and proceed booting.

USB Boot Failure

If you encounter the error “Selected boot device failed. Press any key to reboot the system,” follow these steps:

  1. Try a different USB port. A simple port change can often resolve the issue.
  2. Manually add the boot option in BIOS:
    • Restart the computer and press F2 or F12 to enter BIOS setup.
    • Navigate to General > Boot Sequence.
      Add boot
      Boot list
    • Click Add Boot Option.
    • Select your USB device and navigate to the \EFI\BOOT\BOOTX64.EFI file.
      Boot img
      Boot list
    • Save your changes and exit BIOS. You should now be able to select the USB drive from the boot menu.
      Boot list
      Boot list

USB 3.x Drive Not Detected

If your system fails to detect a USB 3.x drive, you may need to adjust the boot mode settings in the BIOS.

  1. Enter BIOS setup by pressing F2 or F12 during startup.
  2. Locate the boot settings and change the boot mode from BIOS/Legacy to UEFI.

HP

Click to see device-specific guides…

This section provides solutions for common issues encountered with HP devices.

USB 3.x Drive Not Detected in Boot Menu

Some older HP models may not automatically detect a bootable USB 3.x drive. Here are two methods to resolve this:

1. Switch Boot Modes

Changing the boot mode in the BIOS can often force the system to recognize the USB drive.

  1. Enter the BIOS setup (usually by pressing F10 or ESC during startup).
  2. Locate the boot options or system configuration.
  3. Change the boot mode from UEFI to Legacy, or from Legacy to UEFI.
  4. Save the changes and restart. See if the USB drive appears in the boot menu.

2. Boot From EFI File

If switching boot modes doesn’t work, you can manually select the boot file. This is the most reliable method.

  1. Enter the BIOS setup.
  2. Find the boot menu and look for an option like “Boot From EFI File” or “Select UEFI File as Trusted for Executing”.
  3. Navigate to your USB device and select the \EFI\BOOT\BOOTX64.EFI file.
  4. Save the configuration and restart. The USB drive should now be a bootable option.
Software