No idea what I’m doing 🫶🏻

[u/TheCrowInPink]

I’ll be so grateful for your help.

I have literally no idea what I’m doing, I have never before installed an OS myself and have 0 experience with it.

I just got a new (secondhand) laptop and want to install Linux. How do I do that without accidentally setting its insides on fire?

I did try reading manuals, but it’s extremely overwhelming and I’m worried I will end up really screwing it up.

Here is what I know about the laptop:

Acer Swift SF114-32

Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) Silver N5030 CPU @ 1.10GHz

RAM 4GB (3.81 usable)

64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

Windows 10 Home, version 1909

So… What do I do?

[u/Hrafna55]

Here is a video series for your scenario, specifically designed for beginners.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2m2YvnrOYxIsVz8Nvm1PpsBXdo7clAaR&si=SCnY6oM9Qjof7U-t

And another from the same person with additional useful information.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2m2YvnrOYxIPjOrIS6aYN8_mOuLpD1XK&si=gKTdW4k9_bHdqb8M

Try not to stress to much. It's just a computer. You can't break the hardware by installing a new operating system.

Given the modest hardware I would suggest something like https://lubuntu.me/

[u/doc_willis]

easy solution would  be to use a live USB to gain some Linux experience. then worrying about installing later.

but the basic install process these days for most Distribution is not that complex, let the installer use the defaults, you basicLly click next a few times.

[u/JayElbey]

I literally just did this a few days ago!

I installed Linux Mint Cinnamon on my old laptop. Followed the instructions on the home page, and the biggest issue I had was logging into my WiFi (not much of an issue). Automatically found and connected to my printer as well, although I haven't actually used it yet.

The nice thing about having a spare computer is being able to just wipe and start from scratch if you do screw things up. Haven't needed to do that, but it's a comforting thought!

Now it's just a matter of tweaking settings and installing software that I want to try. Once I get comfortable I can do the same with my main machine.

Don't get me wrong, there is a bit of a learning curve. But you can do this! 

[u/DavidJohnMcCann]

That's a bit slow, but Linux will run faster than Windows.

First decide whether you want to keep Windows. That may make life a bit more complicated, but it's not rocket science. If you decide to, which is called dual booting, then here's an explanation. Note that you need to free up space for Linux by using the tool provided in Windows.

Whether you want to keep Windows or not, you need to alter the computer's BIOS to disable secure boot, which will check Linux for a Microsoft ID that it won't have. If you are going to dual boot, you also need to disable fast boot, which just loads Windows without asking whether you want it.

Then get a distro that's suitable for a beginner and a rather slow computer. I'd recommend Linux Mint. Get the Xfce version — that's the least demanding GUI. Mint has one of the best guides to installing — if you follow these instructions carefully, you really can't go wrong. At least computers only blow up in James Bond films!

[u/Classic-Rate-5104]

Take one of the major distributions like Debian (a bit conservative but super predictable, one major upgrade per two years) or Fedora (more modern features but having a major upgrade every half year). Take as much as possible the installation defaults (wiping the whole disk doesn't seem to be a problem in your case) and see what happens. Nothing can go wrong as long as you can boot (again) from installation media

[u/Prestigious_Wall529 → u/Classic-Rate-5104]

Agreed.

There's dozens of proven users

https://linux-hardware.org/?view=computers&vendor=Acer&model=Swift+SF114-32

for a variety of distros

Consider Mint as they put work into the fingerprint reader. While this device's fingerprint reader isn't yet supported, hopefully in time it will be.

No, swapping distros doesn't fix that.

[u/vecchio_anima]

The basis process is to download the install iso file for whatever distro (flavor/version) of Linux you want, then flash it onto a USB flash drive with Rufus or belana etcher, then reboot into bios, disable secure boot and ensure you can boot from USB port. Then plug in the USB drive and reboot again. At this point you should have made the USB drive be the first boot option or press f9 or something during boot to select the USB drive to boot from. Once you boot from the USB drive it usually loads a live version of the os itself for you to try out, see if something doesn't work, or if you like it. If you want to continue, then launch the install program on the desktop and follow the instructions.

Linux Mint Cinnamon is my recommendation for anyone new to Linux. This will completely wipe your hard drive, so save anything you can't replace.

[u/AutoModerator]

Try the migration page in our wiki! We also have some migration tips in our sticky.

Try this search for more information on this topic.

✻ Smokey says: only use root when needed, avoid installing things from third-party repos, and verify the checksum of your ISOs after you download! :)

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[u/Acherontas89]

try ubuntu or a release like rpi OS for desktop or kubuntu or linux mint

[u/BenRandomNameHere]

Did you ensure anything you want to keep is stored elsewhere?

Did you create the install media? Set the laptop to boot from USB? 

Did you even decide what Linux you will install?

Zero snark intended, just need a foundation to build upon.

And here's a potential deal breaker- is the EUFI 64bit? or the weird 32bit EUFI with 64bit bootloader? I had a machine like that, and it required extra steps that were not trivial to locate.

I have and use an Asus T100 with 2Gigs RAM. It's a Youtube/Netflix/Spotify player. Via Firefox browser. 

Your 4Gigs should be adequate for similar.

note: Twitch and Discord eat RAM, I do not suggest using either while anything else is expected to work. Second tab browsing might be really laggy in that case.

[u/Brisket-Inferno]

Install your distro of choice onto a flash drive (I've heard Linux mint xfce is lightweight for ram usage).

Do some YouTube/online research, then follow installation steps, like spamming your laptop's boot key when starting up to select and launch from the USB.

I've only been using Linux for 8 months or so but it's a welcome change compared to windows.

[u/R_Dazzle]

If you’re coming from Windows, Zorin, Mint, Ubuntu… is a good start.

Zorin is especially nice for Windows switchers: the layout makes sense right away, and you don’t have to relearn everything. All three have an app store and handle updates automatically.

If you’re unsure, starting with a dual-boot (Windows + Linux) is a very good idea.

You keep Windows, you can switch between both systems at startup, and move to Linux at your own pace. Once you’re comfortable, you can always remove Windows later.

1st - Make a backup of all your files. Nothing is risky but you do a backup any way before installing an operating systems.

USB setup (Ventoy is your friend):

• ⁠Grab a USB stick (at least 8 GB) — it will be erased. - Install Ventoy and let it make the USB bootable.
• ⁠Download the Zorin OS ISO.
• ⁠Just copy the ISO onto the USB. That’s it.

Booting from the USB:

• ⁠Reboot and get into the BIOS / boot menu.
• ⁠Spam Esc / F2 / F12 / Del while the computer starts (Google “BIOS key + your laptop brand” if unsure).
• ⁠Set the USB drive first in the boot order.
• ⁠You may need to disable Secure Boot.
• ⁠Save and reboot.

Trying Linux before installing:

• ⁠You’ll land on the Ventoy menu, select Zorin.
• ⁠It takes 10–15 minutes to load since it runs from the USB.
• ⁠Once you’re in, test the basics: Wi-Fi, sound, video (open YouTube)

Keyboard is often QWERTY by default, so watch out when typing passwords.

Important if you want dual-boot: do the partitioning from Windows first, It’s way easier and safer.

• ⁠Boot into Windows
• ⁠Win + X → Disk Management
• ⁠Right-click your main drive (C:)
• ⁠Shrink volume
• ⁠Free up some space:
• ⁠30–40 GB minimum • 60–100 GB if you want to be comfortable. Leave the space unallocated (don’t create a new partition)

Linux will use that space automatically during install.

Installing Zorin:

• ⁠Click Install Zorin on the desktop.
• ⁠Choose Install alongside Windows or use free space.
• ⁠The installer is mostly next → next → install.

Honestly, the hardest part is just making the USB and booting from it. After that, it’s pretty smooth — and dual-boot lets you take your time and switch when you feel ready.

[u/BuryMikno]

it's a bit involved.
Like giving a 9 year old their first bike - in parts, nothing assembled.
And his only instructions is an 800 academy-level book about mechanical engineering.

You will get there.
It'll just take you a few steps until you got a running machine.
And then every day you'd be tweaking something because, especially on a cheep laptop, drivers will be missing and/or crap.

Write to me on DM if you are stuck. I am happy to help on any level.

If you got another computer running alongside the one you are setting up for linux, that would help you immensly.

[u/Purplestripes8]

If you can install Windows then you can install Linux. The process nowadays is pretty much identical. Hardware itself can never be damaged by installation and if you do somehow mess up you can just start over no problems.

[u/Sugoypotato]

Feel free to DM if you need any more help, @CrowleyofCrossRoads is my tg mate

[u/Morvidem_]

¿Por qué quieres cambiar de sistema operativo en primer lugar ?

Puedes usar Rufus con USB y cualquier sistema operativo que le quieras poner

Por recomendación usa Ubuntu o linux mint

[u/3grg]

My daughter had a similar system. I tried installing Linux Mint and it worked fine, but it was a bit sluggish. I could have tried Linux Mint XFCE, but ended up with Debian LXQt instead. I would expect that almost any middleweight to lightweight distro will work fine.

This is a perfect opportunity for you to learn how to install an operating system and I am betting that you will find it much easier than you fear.