I've been trying to get Linux running on my computer for the past 72 hours, but I've hit a wall with display drivers. I'm attempting to dual boot with Windows and have tried both Linux Mint and Ubuntu. The issue arises with secure boot enabled: the Nvidia drivers just won't work. I faced many problems with Ubuntu; the system frequently freezes, making it almost impossible to use. On the other hand, the Nvidia drivers functioned on Linux Mint when secure boot was disabled, but I'd rather not compromise my security just to use Linux. Is there any hope for running these drivers with secure boot on? For reference, I have an RTX 3050 6GB mobile GPU.
6 Answers
If you've been having a tough time with Ubuntu, you might want to try a different distro. I've had much better luck with Bazzite and Cachyos for gaming. They're just more straightforward with Nvidia drivers and won't drive you up a wall like Mint or Ubuntu can sometimes do.
You might be overestimating the importance of secure boot! It's been touted as a solution without a real problem for many users. Just disable it and you'll find your experience with Linux much smoother! Microsoft has a vested interest in making secure boot seem more critical than it actually is for everyday users.
Exactly! There's no harm in turning it off, and you'll find a lot less frustration while using your Nvidia drivers.
If you're not signing your own keys, then secure boot might not be nearly as effective as you'd hope. It’s fine not to worry about it too much and just focus on getting your Linux installed. There's definitely a lot of unnecessary fear surrounding secure boot, especially when it comes to using Linux.
To use secure boot, you'll need to sign the Nvidia drivers with mkutil. It sounds tricky, but it is possible! Just be aware that if you want to maintain secure boot, it requires a bit of extra work. If you're set on secure boot, you might have to put in the effort to get it functioning with your driver setup. A buddy of mine had to do this for his Acer laptop, and it was worth it in the end!
Could this method work for Pop!_OS as well? Seems doable from what you explained.
Absolutely! I had a similar experience, but I managed to get it all working with secure boot on after some tweaking.
If you want to avoid the Nvidia driver headache altogether, consider using a Linux distribution that comes with Nvidia support pre-installed. For instance, Universal Blue might be a good shout for you. It's designed to make things easier for gamers and handles secure boot quite well, if that's still a concern.
Honestly, secure boot isn't as crucial as many make it out to be. Most home users won't face significant threats that would require secure boot. If it's causing you so much hassle, I'd suggest disabling it and just using Linux without it! That's what most users do, and they stay safe.
Right? It's a tactic to inhibit Linux adoption. Just turn it off and enjoy Linux without the hassle.