Ubuntu – “Couldn’t get size: 0x800000000000000e” when trying to install Ubuntu 18.04 from a USB key

bootdual-bootnvidiausb

I recently got a new computer and I have been trying to get a dual boot Windows/Ubuntu to work, so I got Ubuntu on a USB key( using Rufus as recommended in
the Ubuntu page) but when I try to boot from the USB key and select Try Ubuntu without installing, I get the following error (and some variations of it)

Couldn't get size: 0x8000000000000e

BusyBox v1.27.2 (ubuntu 1:1.27.2-2ubuntu3.2) built-in shell (ash)
Enter 'help' for a list of built-in commands.

(initramfs) mount: mounting /cow on /root failed: invalid argument
overlay mount failed

I have tried with to different usb keys, and also disabling secure boot and fast boot.

After trying with nomodeset as recommended by sudodus, I get the following:

[    9.028870] Couldn't get size: 0x8000000000000e
[   13.311279] overlayfs: unrecognized mount option "lowerdir=" or missing value
BusyBox v1.27.2 (ubuntu 1:1.27.2-2ubuntu3.2) built-in shell (ash)
Enter 'help' for a list of built-in commands.
(initramfs) mount: mounting /cow on /root failed: invalid argument
overlay mount failed

I also have seen so post where people with a similar problem solved it by installing the appropriate GPU driver, but in that case the problem was after installing and rebooting, in my case I don't even get to install (or try it).
Some info about the computer in case is relevant:

Asus FX505GD_FX505GD
Intel i5-8300H 2.30Ghz
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 4GB

The original OS was Microsoft Windows 10 Home

I'm happy to provide any other information, but I don't know what to look at.

Update: Following the answer of Akeo, I remove the persistence from the USB key and finally I manage to get into the try version of Ubuntu, but another problem appeared when I turned off Ubuntu ( from the try version, It was a bit late so I decided to install it later the next day). It took a long while ( about 3 min.) for the desktop to disappear (in the mean time it was frozen). When if finally disappeared I found this message(which again contains the Couldn't get size error):

enter image description here

and it continues:

This makes me worried about installing it from this USB key.

Best Answer

mount: mounting /cow on /root failed: invalid argument is what you typically get if you enabled persistence in Rufus (i.e. you set a persistent partition size that isn't zero) and are working with an ISO where Ubuntu/casper bug #1489855 has not been patched (which pretty much means every version of Ubuntu except the very latest 19.10).

If you want to use persistence with Ubuntu through a persistent partition that resides on the same media as the one you boot from, you must make sure that you use a version of Ubuntu where bug #1489855 has been fixed, which, right now, is only the case when using a daily-live ISO of 19.10 released after August 1st. I am not aware of any pre 19.10 ISO that includes the casper bugfix. Especially 18.04.03 will not work with a persistent partition because of the casper bug above.

Otherwise, either make sure that you set the persistent partition size to 0 in Rufus (no persistence) or use DD mode when prompted.

Related Question