I have ran into this same issue with Gentoo, especially with a laptop, one can either use a ethernet cable or do a manual configuration for the network and or wifi!!! The ethernet cable is best and one can then install the NetWorked package to find the wifi links!!!
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No, I only can use WiFi.
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How is this disk attached? Is it in an USB case by any chance?
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No, external SSD.
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So YES.
External SSD is just a regular SSD assembled into an USB case. The difference is is that you didn’t buy those separately, but factory assembled.
When you attach it to an already up and running system, do you get SMART data properly then?
What do you get from lsusb ?
What does dmesg -w output in that couple seconds after you just plugged it in?
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You are going to have to do some substitution of hardware to diagnose this.
From what I have seen and from what you have told Laszlo, it is highly likely that there is something wrong with that disk.
Can you either substitute another external disk, or use the internal disk to install Solus?
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and:
Have you considered the command
sudo smartctl -A -d sat /dev/sdX
yet?
External USB enclosures usually have a converter chip (e.g. a USB SATA bridge), which acts as a converter between the different interfaces/protocols.
It may happen that an S.M.A.R.T. query is not implemented correctly…
… and thus hard disks in external enclosures appear as not supported, although they are quite S.M.A.R.T. capable by default.. The use of the special option provides a remedy.
I use it myself on a daily basis, as my Linux Lite system is installed on an external WD Elements HDD.
E.g. sudo smartctl -A -d sat /dev/sda works just as it should on my system.
Many greetings from Rosika 
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So substituted. And still the same problem, on an new PC on an internal NVMe.
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Wow. That proves the Solus installer has a problem with hard disk installs.
We know it will install to a VM… the difference is the VM install is without drivers.
Is your substitute computer also Wifi?
Solus has a live usb . Does the live usb run. Does its Wifi work?
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Yes I’m using a Live USB. It starts and connection works.
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So Wifi works in a live Solus, and it seems to work, but we are not sure, during an install.
I am reluctant to conclude that the Solus installer has a bug… if that were the case the Solus forum would be flooded with complaints.
We have to suspect Wifi during install
Is your substitute computer also Wifi?
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@George1 what does Linux Hardware say about your devices?
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Yes and no. Tried ethernet, same.
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I do not understand how to view if it works… I understand it generally works.
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OK, that eliminates possible Wifi during install issue
There are only 3 possibilities left…
- a real bug in the Solus installer
- you are making some mistake using the installer and you keep repeating that mistake
- the flash drive is faulty or its downloaded content is corrupt
Can you try to sort those out please? eg make another flash drive … new drive new download
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Here are a few things to consider:
#1 If you install in UEFI mode, the bootloader might end up on your internal drive, making the external SSD non-portable.
#2 If you install in Legacy mode, you can place the bootloader on the external SSD, making it bootable independently.
#3 Disconnect or disable internal drives during installation.
#4 Boot the Solus live ISO in Legacy mode.
#5 Install Solus to the external SSD, ensuring the bootloader is placed on it.
#6 Reconnect internal drives after installation.
#7 You’ll need to manually select the external SSD from your BIOS/UEFI boot menu when starting up.
#8 If you plan to use the SSD across multiple machines, Legacy mode offers broader compatibility.
This is why the install works with VirtualBox, you are going to have to isolate that external drive, somehow!! If it can be removed you could connect it to the mobo, do the install and install it back into the inclouser and make sure it boots before reconnecting drives!!!
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Well said @Daniel_Phillips
I am unsure about this
@George1 when you tried a Solus install in the substitute computer, was it also an external drive?
I accept what @Daniel_Phillips says about a uefi install on an external drive getting confused about where to put the efi partition. That could be an explanation. We need to know if @George1 ever tried an install on an internal drive?
and
I agree with @Daniel_Phillips … a legacy install would be better for an external drive.
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Whether one agrees or disagrees, the issue here is reconnection, the Solus installer cannot install to something it cannot see!!! All that is being seen, is just another USB drive!!! That is why the VirtualBox install worked!!!
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OK. It is also perhaps why @George1 got the 96% full message… it was looking at the wrong disk!
I think you may have solved this @Daniel_Phillips
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I do manual install, with user defined mounts. And I can’t do Legacy boot, my PC only accepts UEFI.
No. It was on the internal SSD, nothing attached.
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