Hey everyone, I'm looking for some guidance! I recently converted an older Windows 10 laptop to Chrome OS Flex, but I'm regretting that decision and want to switch to Linux instead. I'm a total newbie when it comes to Linux, so I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed.
To give you some context: I have a Dell Inspiron 11" 2-in-1 that can't upgrade to Windows 11, and it was running super slow on Windows. I thought going with Chrome OS would be a fun change, but it ended up being more limiting than my old Android tablet! Now, at 74 years old, I've decided it's time to give Linux a shot.
Here's my main question: I keep seeing guides on converting Chromebooks to Linux, but I'm not sure if those rules apply to my Dell, which was originally set up for Windows. Can I create bootable installation media on my new Windows PC and follow those instructions, or is there something special I need to do for my Chrome OS Flex setup? I plan to use an 8Gb USB stick for the media. Any tips? Thanks!
3 Answers
A little side note: if you have issues, you might want to try a different USB creation tool. Balena Etcher has had some trouble lately, so I’d avoid it if you can. Tools like Fedora Media Writer or Ventoy are great alternatives for making your installer.
You’re on the right track! Since you're planning to wipe your hard drive anyway, it really doesn’t matter what OS is currently on there. Just grab a Linux installer USB, boot from that, and follow the installation instructions for your chosen distro. Just make sure to completely format the drive during the install. Some laptops do better with certain Linux distros, so it could be worth looking into how well yours performs with Linux before jumping in. Good luck!
I'd recommend checking out the migration page on the Linux forum for some helpful tips! You might also find solid advice in some of the sticky posts. When you’re creating your USB installer, avoid using tools that have had problems recently — Ventoy is a solid choice if you're making the media on your new Windows PC!
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