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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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[Rant] A few days ago, I asked if Mint would run okay on a Lenovo T460 (I appreciate all the advice). I got it working, but the installation was a big pain and I totally blame Lenovo. (lemmy.world)

submitted 8 months ago by FlyingSquid@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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I got the T460 refurbished and I really didn't want to run Windows 10 on it. I last used Linux for any real length of time a good 20 years ago, so I'm pretty inexperienced with it at this point and I had to figure out how to install it myself.

They made it unreasonably difficult to first install an OS from a USB stick. I had to go into the BIOS, turn UEFI to legacy, turn off secure boot, reboot to boot from the USB stick, install Mint, then turn legacy back to UEFI to get it to boot from the hard drive. This took about 2 hours of trying to figure it out by doing a lot of forums reading.

I do not blame the Mint community or the Linux community as a whole. There is absolutely no reason that it should have been that hard to install Mint on that notebook.

I don't even think getting into the BIOS once time should be necessary, but changing a BIOS setting so you can install the OS and changing it back so you can run the OS off the internal drive is just ridiculous and I find it hard to believe Lenovo couldn't have just made it easier. I'm fairly convinced this was intentional on their part.

I'm not an IT professional or anything, but I know enough to figure this stuff out with effort, but it shouldn't have taken that effort. It should have been almost plug-and-play. This is 2024. The notebook isn't even 10 years old.

Is there actually a good reason for this or are they just kissing Microsoft's ass?

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[–] mom@nom.mom 5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I don't feel like that's exclusive to Lenovo, fwiw. I have an Asus laptop, and it went like that for me installing Linux from a USB stick. It was a hassle and you're right that it seems harder than it needs to be.

I don't have any idea why it's like that, but it feels like it's a better option than someone being able to walk up to my PC/laptop/whatever and change my os just by using a thumb drive without any other hoops to go through. That's just where I stand on the issue, but you're right that it sucks for the owner/user.

[–] WallEx@feddit.de 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

If you walk up with a Windows usb, what would Happen? Would you just be able to reinstall windows and even have it activated by the key in the TPM? I think so.

[–] mom@nom.mom 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I guess I don't know - I think you'd still have to go into BIOS and switch it to boot from USB? I don't know about the rest of it, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't just start installation. Unless it's a thumb drive specifically tailored to take over someone's system?

So yes, you could reinstall Windows, but it would still require a reboot to BIOS to allow for it. Am I missing something? What's the big "gotcha" that I missed? I genuinely don't know, and since I am not an expert on installation of OSes, if you could enlighten me, that could be useful for me.

[–] WallEx@feddit.de 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I'm not very sure myself, thats why I phrased it that way ^^ wasn't supposed to be a gotcha.

Didn't try in a long time and maybe even tried without sacure boot, but all the times I put a windows USB in a windows machine and told it to boot from it (without entering bios, just a boot selection by hitting the right key) it just started so you could just reinstall windows, even with the old installation being moved to windows.old, so it could be searched.

Could be totally wrong here.

[–] mom@nom.mom 3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Hell, I could be wrong too :-P I've never gone in that direction - only adding a Linux dual boot from USB stick. That sounds kinda scary, and would definitely make it easy.

Well, damn. Thanks for warning me about that possibility - looked like more steps that included BIOS last I checked, but as I said, I've never needed the process.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Edit: I should note that I have installed Windows from a USB stick recently, I've just never already had another OS installed and then going to Windows. Most of my experience is installing a Linux flavor for dual boot.

[–] WallEx@feddit.de 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, I'm probably going to put some research in, as I don't really like the thought ^^

Thanks for being critical and not just believing a random stranger on the internet

[–] mom@nom.mom 3 points 8 months ago

Haha - you too! I am also going to have to look into that, just in case 😅