HP ENVY and linux mint

[ernestoleobardo]

Hi;

I've just bought an ENVY - 17-ae108ca this Saturday March 3th 2018.

The laptop is with two partitions (C and F):

Partition C : already installed with Windows 10 (500Gb )

Partition F : empty (500Gb).

I want to install Linux Mint in partition F but not sure how to do it. My idea is :

1) Changing boot order - USB device first.
2) Restarting the laptop with the already inserted bootable Linux Mint USB.

3) How to select the partition F for installing Linux Mint?

Thank you in advance.

[Huffer]

You have the right idea. When you run the Linux installer you want to use the manual hard drive partitioning routine, not automatic. 

Where you put the root ('/") partition is all important. You want to put it at the start of that empty 500-gig partition. 

When I install Linux I usually do a root partition of maybe 50 gigs to hold the system files, then I set a swap partition equal in size to the amount of memory the computer has and then a "/home" partition using the balance of the available disk space. It may also ask you where you want to put the boot loader ("grub") and you can put it at the base of the whole hard drive so you will then get a grub menu allowing you to boot either Windows or Linux. During Linux install do not mess with any of the existing Windows partitions. You will set the Linux partitions to a Linux file system and I like ext4 or ext3. Swap is its own type of file system. 

If you have never installed Linux before you need to take it slow and be sure you understand each change you are making to the hard drive structure. You also want to be sure to have a backup of your current system in case it goes wrong and you cannot boot the computer (far from impossible). 

Post back with any other questions and please accept as solution if this is the answer you needed. 

[ernestoleobardo]

Thank you.

I tried to install Linux Mint in an old VAIO laptop but it failed because of NVIDIA.

My new HP ENVY includes also NVIDIA and I hope have not problem.

I will install Linux Mint this week according your instructions.

I will keep in touch my result.

Regards.

[Huffer]

Well switchable nVidia graphics is kind of a rite of passage for Linux users. It can be done but let's just say it is an advanced exercise in Linux installation. Make sure you have the very latest kernel for your distribution. Good luck. 

[ernestoleobardo]

Hello again;

Finally Linux Mint was successfully installed in my HP ENVY. 

The only issue now is booting either Windows 10 or Lunix Mint. I have to go into the BIOS and select the operating system I want to boot. 

Do you know how to enable dual booting without to have to go every time into the BIOS?

I am enjoying Linux Mint and getting starting the tutorial.

Regards

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

You need to install grub  which is the Linux bootloader. Looks like you have Windows on one drive and Linux on another.