Do I really need to access my BIOS for installing Linux?
Asked by
TechieTraveler42
Hey everyone! I'm planning to install Mint XFCE on an old laptop I'm not super familiar with Linux yet, so I'm following a tutorial for guidance. The tutorial mentions that I need to change the boot priority settings in the BIOS, and while I understand the concept, I'm a bit hesitant about diving into the BIOS. Is it really that crucial to change those settings? I would prefer to avoid touching the BIOS if at all possible. Thanks for any help!
Answers
I get why you might be hesitant about messing with the BIOS. But honestly, getting to know your hardware and firmware is part of the Linux experience. Windows tends to hide these details. Just take it slow and you'll learn a lot of new terms and skills along the way!
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This totally depends on your system. Some newer models allow you to access a boot menu just by holding down a key during startup, which is way easier. But if your laptop is a little older or has secure boot enabled, you'll likely need to adjust settings in the BIOS.
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If you want your laptop to boot into Linux by default, especially if Windows is set as the highest priority, then yes, you will need to change that. The boot priority setting specifies which operating system or bootloader is selected first. So, if you're planning to remove Windows eventually, it's definitely a step you'll need to handle.
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