I want to install Linux soon but have very little experience with it. My laptop is an ASUS N752VX, and I'm wondering whether it works well with Linux, especially with its Intel processor and NVIDIA graphics. I'd like a beginner-friendly distribution that installs smoothly, works reliably, and has a desktop that feels similar to Windows 7. I also have both an SSD and an HDD installed—will that complicate the setup, and which drive should hold Linux? Can I reuse a USB drive containing Windows backup or installation files to create Linux installation media, then restore the Windows files afterward? Finally, is it safe to install Linux alongside Windows in a dual-boot configuration? Any advice about backups, partitions, drivers, or testing compatibility beforehand would be appreciated.
5 Answers
Having an SSD and an HDD isn’t a problem. Linux can be installed on either, but an operating system on a traditional spinning HDD will feel much slower than one on an SSD. If possible, install Linux on the SSD and use the HDD for extra files. The ASUS model may need some troubleshooting for its NVIDIA graphics, so test Wi-Fi, graphics, sound, and other hardware by booting the Linux USB in live mode before installing.
A USB drive used to create Linux installation media will normally be erased during the process, so copy anything important from it first. After Linux is installed, you won’t need the USB to start Linux, and you can reformat the drive and put Windows installation or backup files on it again later. Just make sure you have a separate, verified Windows recovery method before wiping or overwriting anything.
Beginner-friendly options include Linux Mint, Zorin OS, Ubuntu, Fedora, and openSUSE. Mint Cinnamon is a good choice if you want something familiar, while Zorin is especially easy to customize so it resembles Windows. Linux usually installs through a straightforward graphical wizard, much like a modern Windows installation.
When dual booting, Linux normally installs a boot menu such as GRUB that lets you choose Linux or Windows at startup. Occasionally the firmware still prioritizes Windows, in which case you may need to change the boot order in the UEFI settings. Disable Windows Fast Startup, keep backups, and verify the ISO checksum if possible before creating the installer.
Dual booting is possible. Before installing, use Windows Disk Management to shrink an existing partition and leave roughly 50 GB or more as unallocated space. Don’t create a new Windows volume there; let the Linux installer use the unallocated space. Back up important files first, and be very careful to select the correct partition during setup.
Thanks—so the safest approach is to shrink the Windows partition from inside Windows and leave the resulting space unallocated for Linux?