I've installed Linux on regular Windows laptops before, but I'm nervous about doing it on a refurbished Lenovo machine running Windows Pro. The computer advertises enhanced encryption and security, so I'm worried that changing BIOS settings or installing Linux could cause problems. Is the process basically the same, and is there anything important I should know before trying it?
3 Answers
I’ve installed Linux Mint on two refurbished Lenovo laptops and both worked without trouble. You can either install Linux alongside Windows for a dual-boot setup or erase Windows completely and use Linux alone. Back up your important files first, and if you dual-boot, make sure Windows is fully shut down rather than left in hibernation or fast-startup mode.
The advertised encryption and security features don’t make the laptop fundamentally different from other Windows machines. They may affect settings such as Secure Boot or device encryption, but Linux installation is still handled through the system’s UEFI boot menu. Check your distribution’s installation guide and save a recovery drive before making changes.
Windows Pro doesn’t fundamentally change how Linux boots. The BIOS or UEFI firmware is separate from Windows, so the operating system edition isn’t the main concern. Depending on your Linux distribution and hardware, you may need to turn off Secure Boot, but there usually aren’t many other firmware settings to change.
That helps. I’ve forgotten a firmware password before, so changing those settings makes me anxious, but I’ll be careful.
So dual-booting should be fine as long as I prepare properly, rather than wiping Windows immediately?