I need some help! I recently tried to install Linux on my new laptop, an Asus Zenbook 14 Air with a Snapdragon CPU, but I mistakenly deleted everything in the process. Now, whenever I attempt to reinstall an operating system, my laptop enters a boot cycle and just keeps restarting. It's an ARM64-based CPU, and I'm feeling pretty stuck here. Is there anything I can do? Should I consider returning the laptop since it's new?
5 Answers
Consider reinstalling Windows for now. You can also run Linux in a virtual machine on top of Windows, which gives you a safe space to experiment without completely losing your setup. Once you get comfortable, you could try setting up a multi-boot system later on.
Have you tried booting from a live USB or a Windows installation USB? Make sure you used the correct ARM64 version while attempting to install Linux. Also, Asus laptops usually have a recovery mode that might help you restore your system to factory settings.
I didn't manage to successfully install Linux, and I'm feeling lost now. It seems like I’ve wiped out everything and left the system without a functioning OS.
If possible, create an ARM64 Windows installer USB from another system and try reinstalling Windows first. Just a heads up, I wouldn't count on a Windows ARM laptop to be a great Linux machine unless you've done your research. It might require some tinkering to get it running smoothly on Linux.
You need to pick a Linux distribution that specifically supports your ARM hardware. Which one have you tried to install? Remember, not all Linux distributions work well on every device, especially with ARM processors.
I attempted to use an ARM version of Ubuntu, but it seems it was too new for my laptop. The installation didn't go right, and now I can't get it to boot into anything.