I've never installed an operating system before and have no Linux experience, so I'm looking for a beginner-friendly walkthrough. I recently got a secondhand Acer Swift SF114-32 and would like to install Linux without accidentally losing important data or making the laptop unusable. The laptop has an Intel Pentium Silver N5030 processor, 4 GB of RAM, a 64-bit processor, and currently runs Windows 10 Home version 1909. I've tried reading installation guides, but they feel overwhelming. Should I replace Windows completely or set up a dual boot, and what are the safest steps for creating the installer and starting the installation?
4 Answers
Before installing, decide whether you want to keep Windows. For a dual boot, back up your files, turn off Windows Fast Startup, and use Windows Disk Management to shrink the C: drive. Leave the resulting space unallocated rather than creating a new partition. Around 30–40 GB is a practical minimum, while 60–100 GB gives Linux more room. During installation, choose the option to install alongside Windows or use the available free space. If you don’t need Windows, a clean installation is simpler, but it will erase the existing Windows installation and its files.
The installer is generally just a series of guided screens: select the language and keyboard layout, connect to Wi-Fi if desired, choose the installation type, create your user account, and let it copy the files. Read the disk warning carefully before confirming. You may need to adjust Secure Boot in the firmware settings if the USB or distribution won’t start, but don’t change unrelated settings. With only 4 GB of RAM, avoid heavy applications and expect browsers, video calls, and multiple tabs to feel limited.
You won’t physically damage the laptop by installing an operating system. The main risks are deleting files or choosing the wrong disk options. Back up anything important first, then download a beginner-friendly distribution such as Linux Mint, Ubuntu, Zorin OS, or Debian. For this hardware, a lightweight desktop such as Mint Xfce or Lubuntu should feel more responsive. If you’re comfortable removing Windows, the installer’s option to erase the disk is usually straightforward. Otherwise, keep Windows and use a dual-boot setup.
A good low-stress approach is to try Linux from a live USB before installing it. Use another computer to download the Linux ISO and write it to an empty USB drive of at least 8 GB with a tool such as Ventoy or Balena Etcher. Restart the Acer and open its boot menu—common keys are F12, F2, or Esc—then choose the USB. The live session lets you test Wi-Fi, sound, the display, and the keyboard without changing the internal drive.
The USB will run more slowly than an installed system, so don’t judge performance too harshly. It’s mainly useful for checking whether the important hardware works.