I'm considering switching my Lenovo C13 Yoga Gen 1 to Linux while keeping Windows 11 available through a dual-boot setup, but I'm nervous about messing something up. The laptop has an AMD Ryzen 5 3500C with integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics, 8 GB of RAM, and a 119 GB drive. It's mainly used for college work, and I'm not particularly concerned about gaming. Windows currently uses a large portion of the available memory, so I'm interested in trying something lighter, possibly Linux Mint. I've watched several tutorials but still don't feel confident about the installation process. Is this hardware suitable, and what precautions should I take before dual-booting? I'd also appreciate recommendations for useful class or work applications. The touchscreen and pen are currently disabled as well, so I'm curious whether Linux might help with that or whether it requires a separate hardware reset.
5 Answers
The touchscreen and pen issue may not be caused by Windows alone. On Lenovo devices, an embedded-controller reset can sometimes restore input hardware: the usual process involves shutting down, disconnecting power, and following Lenovo’s model-specific reset instructions. Don’t open the laptop or disconnect the battery unless you’re comfortable doing so and have checked the official instructions. Linux won’t necessarily fix hardware that is disabled at the firmware or hardware level.
Linux Mint with the Xfce desktop would be a sensible choice here. It’s lightweight, familiar if you’re coming from Windows, and should run comfortably with 8 GB of RAM. Cinnamon would probably work too, but Xfce leaves more resources available. The main limitation is the 119 GB drive: Windows and Linux together won’t leave much free space, so back up your files and plan the partitions carefully.
For college work, Mint already includes or makes it easy to install LibreOffice, which covers documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. A web browser, PDF reader, note-taking app, and perhaps a code editor are usually enough for general coursework. Check whether your school depends on Windows-only software before removing or shrinking Windows too much.
Since you’re unsure, take it in stages: back up your important files, test a live USB, and only then decide whether to dual-boot. With integrated AMD graphics, Linux support is generally straightforward, so your hardware is a reasonable candidate. Just remember that dual-booting on a drive this small may feel cramped, especially after updates and applications are installed.
Before installing anything, make a complete backup and create a Windows installation or recovery USB. You can boot Linux from a live USB first without changing the internal drive, which lets you test Wi-Fi, sound, graphics, keyboard, sleep, and other hardware. If everything works, then install it alongside Windows. The biggest risk is usually losing files or needing to reinstall software, not permanently destroying the laptop.
Having a Windows installer USB ready is especially useful if the dual-boot setup doesn’t work as expected or you decide Linux isn’t for you.
Plasma or GNOME could also run on that amount of memory, but Xfce is the safer option if you want to keep the system especially light.