Suitable HP Victus laptop to install Linux Mint 21.3 edge (or 22.3)

[linuxh]

Hi All,

I want to make sure that I obtain the right HP Victus laptop that can correctly install and run

preferably Linux Mint 21.3 edge (kernel 6.5) or if necessary Linux Mint 22.3.

It would be helpful if any HP  staff member or user can provide some details on the installation

steps on the HP Victus with any of the following cpus:

-> AMD Ryzen 7535HS/7735HS

-> AMD Ryzen 8645HS/8845HS

-> AMD Ryzen 7 260

-> Intel core i7 13620H

You can assume disabling of secure boot via the BIOS, single boot configuration with Linux Mint only,

and separate partitions for root, home and swap. Details on the SSD partitioning steps using
GPT and UEFI boot mode would be helpful.

Thank you very much for any assistance.

[70007]

Hello Linuxh,

Thank you for posting your concern,

While I can't provide specific installation steps for Linux Mint by HP staff, I can give you some general guidance on installing Linux Mint on an HP Victus laptop with the CPUs you mentioned. The Victus by HP 15.6 inch Gaming Laptop series, such as the 15-fb2000 series, should handle Linux well given their hardware specifications.

Choosing Your HP Victus Configuration:

• CPUs such as AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, Ryzen 7 7735HS, Ryzen 5 8645HS, Ryzen 7 8845HS, and Intel Core i7-13620H are all potential options based on your preference for either AMD or Intel processors.
• Ensure to select a model with either integrated AMD Radeon™ Graphics or discrete NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ graphics depending if you'll run graphics-intensive applications.

Compatibility:

• Make sure the laptop has enough RAM (16 GB DDR5 recommended) and storage (512 GB or 1 TB SSD) for seamless installation and operation of Linux Mint.
• Linux distributions typically support a wide range of hardware, but double-check if there are open-source drivers for your chosen GPU (NVIDIA or AMD) as these may vary in support.

General Installation Steps for Linux Mint on HP Victus:

1. Prepare Installation Media:

   • Download the Linux Mint ISO file (preferably the 21.3 edge version if you want Kernel 6.5, or 22.3 if newer).
   • Create a bootable Linux Mint USB drive using a utility like Rufus or balenaEtcher.

2. Access BIOS/UEFI Settings:

   • Boot your HP Victus and use the F10 key to enter the BIOS setup upon startup.
   • Disable Secure Boot: This is often necessary when installing Linux, and it can be disabled from the "Security" or "Boot" section.

3. Boot from USB:

   • Set your USB drive as the primary boot device via BIOS settings.
   • Restart the laptop and it should boot into the Linux Mint live environment.

4. Install Linux Mint:

   • Follow the on-screen installation instructions.
   • Choose your partitions carefully, allowing for dual boot if you wish or use the entire disk for Linux Mint.
   • Install necessary drivers post-installation, particularly for graphics or Wi-Fi, using package management tools within Mint.

5. Post-Installation Checks:

   • Verify all hardware components are functioning, update your Linux kernel and system using the terminal with standard commands (sudo apt update, sudo apt upgrade).

If you encounter specific issues, such as with specific hardware drivers, consult the Linux Mint support forums or documentation related to your Victus model. These resources often provide community-driven insights based on collective user experiences.

For the latest compatibility and updates, always refer to official HP Support and Linux Mint resources.

[califso]

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Gaming-Notebooks/Victus-Fedora-Boot-loader-not-showing-up-in-bios-boot...

See this thread, HP Victus laptop will only select Windows Boot loader in the BIOS settings. Making the laptop display the GRUB boot loader on startup requires some trickery.

You need to go into windows, use bcdedit, create a copy of the entry for the windows boot loader, but in that copy point to the fedora shim file. 

And disable secure boot while your boot loader issues are sorted out, or else you will be locked out of booting into your bitlocker encrypted windows drive. You can enable it back later.