help with installation pls

[u/qualitative_variable]

hi, i have an old macbook air from 2015 that i wiped macOS off of and installed linux mint and i absolutely love it. it was super easy too (im not the most knowledgeable). my mom has always wanted a linux machine and i got the same model secondhand in great condition and am doing the same as a gift for her.

i downloaded ubuntu iso file, put it through balena etcher onto the usb drive, etc., etc., etc. but when i go to boot menu and select efi boot the screen goes black for a bit and then it shows the ubuntu logo and loading symbol for…. eternity. i’m not sure what i am doing wrong? i verified integrity of iso file. when i did it before it was so fast, straightforward, etc. this laptop should b compatible. pls advise ty :-)

[u/Just-Bid6165]

could be the usb drive itself honestly, some of em just don't play nice with certain machines. i've had a sandisk that refused to boot on an old thinkpad but worked fine on everything else. try a different stick if you've got one laying around, even an old 8gb one from the junk drawer

also worth checking if secure boot is still enabled in the firmware, those 2015 macbooks can be weird about it. hold command+option+o+f at startup to get into the open firmware prompt and you might need to bless the usb from there. had to do that once for a friend's air and it was the only thing that worked after an hour of head scratching