I recently encountered a frustrating issue while trying to install Ubuntu on my computer. Every time I attempted to boot the installation media, I was confronted with the error message “couldn’t get size 0x80000”. For those unfamiliar with this error, it refers to a problem with the memory allocation during the installation process.
Let me start by saying that encountering errors during the installation of an operating system is not uncommon, and it is important to approach these issues with patience and persistence. In my case, I spent hours searching for a solution and trying various troubleshooting steps.
One possible cause of the “couldn’t get size 0x80000” error is a compatibility issue with the hardware. Ubuntu, like any other operating system, has specific system requirements that must be met for it to run smoothly. In my case, my computer’s hardware configuration was within the recommended specifications, so hardware compatibility was not the issue.
After ruling out hardware compatibility, I turned my attention to other potential causes. One common culprit for installation errors is corrupted installation media. To eliminate this possibility, I decided to create a new bootable USB drive using a different USB stick and downloading the Ubuntu ISO image from the official website. Unfortunately, this did not resolve the issue, and I continued to encounter the same error.
Next, I looked into the possibility of a software-related issue. It is possible that conflicting software or misconfigured settings on my computer were causing the error. To troubleshoot this, I booted into a live environment using a different Linux distribution and performed a memory test. The memory test came back clean, indicating that there were no issues with my computer’s RAM.
At this point, I decided to dive deeper into the error message itself. The “couldn’t get size 0x80000” error refers to a specific memory address that Ubuntu is unable to allocate. This address, 0x80000, corresponds to a size of 512 kilobytes. It became clear to me that the issue was related to memory allocation during the installation process.
After researching extensively, I came across a potential solution that involved tweaking the kernel boot parameters. By adding the “mem=512M” parameter to the boot configuration, I could force the kernel to allocate a fixed amount of memory and bypass any issues with dynamic memory allocation. I followed the instructions to modify the boot configuration and restarted the installation process.
To my relief, the modified kernel boot parameters resolved the “couldn’t get size 0x80000” error, and the installation process proceeded without any further issues. I was finally able to successfully install Ubuntu on my computer.
Conclusion
Encountering errors during the installation of an operating system can be frustrating, but with perseverance and a systematic approach to troubleshooting, it is often possible to find a solution. In the case of the “couldn’t get size 0x80000” error, I found that it was related to memory allocation during the installation process.
If you ever come across this error while installing Ubuntu or any other operating system, I recommend checking your hardware compatibility, verifying the integrity of your installation media, and exploring potential software-related issues. Additionally, don’t be afraid to dive deeper into the error message itself and research possible solutions from the technical community.
While encountering errors during the installation process can be frustrating, it is important to remember that they are part of the learning experience. Each error presents an opportunity to deepen your understanding of the system and improve your troubleshooting skills. So don’t be discouraged, and keep exploring!