Running Linux Mint 20.3/21.3 and Ubuntu Linux 22.04LTS on HP Victus, HP ProBook, HP 14/15 laptops

[linuxh]

Hi All,

Any assistance with the following would be much appreciated..

(1) I would like to firstly inquire whether it is possible to install and run Linux (particularly

Linux Mint 20.3/21.3 (edge versions) or Ubuntu Linux 22.04LTS) on the following HP laptops.

(1.1) HP Victus gaming laptop with 15.6 inch screen, AMD 8645HS/8845HS cpu, 16 GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Nvidia RTX3050 graphics card.

(1.2) HP ProBook laptop with 14/15.6 inch screen, AMD 7530u  cpu, 16 GB RAM, 512GB SSD,

(1.3) HP 14/15 laptop with 14/15.6 inch screen, AMD 7530u cpu, 16 GB RAM, 512GB SSD.

(2) If (1) is possible then please provide some detailed steps on how to do this on any one

of the above laptops. Some information that may help is as follows.

(2.1) I have an old Linux machine that is permanently set in legacy boot mode. I can employ 

this machine to create a bootable usb drive with a live iso image of Linux Mint or Ubuntu

Linux using the command dd.

(2.2) If it is feasible then I would prefer the following approach: Firstly, enter the HP laptop

BIOS, disable UEFI mode and activate legacy boot mode permanently. Then, boot from the

above-mentioned usb drive with the live Linux iso image, start the installation process,

delete the Windows partition from the SSD and install Linux using separate partitions for

/,  /home, swap space, and also leave some open space at the end of the SSD to create

additional partitions for installing future versions of Linux (this would be a multiple boot

system).

Thank you very much for your assistance.

[Raj_05]

Hi @linuxh,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It's definitely possible to install and run Linux (such as Linux Mint or Ubuntu) on the HP laptops you mentioned, including the HP Victus, HP ProBook, and HP 14/15 models. Here’s a general approach based on your preferences.

Create a Bootable USB Drive

• On your old Linux machine, use dd to create a bootable USB stick with the Linux Mint or Ubuntu ISO:

sudo dd if=/path/to/linux.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress
 

• Replace /path/to/linux.iso with the path to the Linux Mint or Ubuntu ISO, and /dev/sdX with the correct device path for your USB stick (for example, /dev/sdb).

Prepare BIOS Settings on Your HP Laptop

• Disable Secure Boot: You'll need to disable UEFI and Secure Boot in the BIOS of your HP laptop.
• Enable Legacy Boot: In the BIOS settings, disable Secure Boot and set the boot mode to legacy (or "CSM" if it's available).
• Boot Order: Set your USB drive as the primary boot device, then save and exit BIOS.

Boot from USB and Begin Installation

• Once you've set up the USB stick and configured BIOS, restart the laptop and boot from the USB.
• You'll enter the live session of the chosen Linux distribution.

Partitioning Your SSD for Multi-Boot Setup

• Launch GParted (or use the partitioning tool within the installer) to partition your SSD.
  • Delete Windows Partition: Identify the Windows partition and delete it.
  • Create Partitions:
    1. Root (/) Partition: Format it as ext4 (typically around 20-30GB).
    2. Home (/home) Partition: This will be for your personal files and settings (rest of the SSD or as much space as needed).
    3. Swap Partition: It's recommended to set up swap space, either as a partition or as a swap file (typically 2GB or more).
    4. Free Space: Leave some space unallocated at the end of the drive for future installations.
• When partitioning, make sure you're using a MBR (Master Boot Record) format for legacy boot, instead of GPT (GUID Partition Table).

Install Linux

• Start the installation process. Select "Install Linux Mint" or "Install Ubuntu" (depending on your choice).
• During installation:
  • Choose "Something else" when asked about installation type.
  • Select the partitions you’ve created: root (/) and home (/home), and make sure to install the bootloader (GRUB) on the primary drive (usually /dev/sda).
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

[Raj_05]

Post-Installation Configuration

• After installation, the system will prompt you to reboot.
• Reboot and remove the USB drive, and the system should boot into Linux.
• From here, you can install additional software and drivers, such as the proprietary Nvidia drivers for the RTX 3050 on the HP Victus.

Notes on Your Specific Laptops

HP Victus (AMD 8645HS/8845HS, RTX 3050)

• You may need to install Nvidia proprietary drivers after installation for optimal performance.
• Ensure that your laptop’s hardware (like the Nvidia GPU) is supported by the latest drivers in Ubuntu or Linux Mint. You can install the necessary drivers using:

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-xxx
 

HP ProBook and HP 14/15 (AMD 7530U)

• These laptops should work well with Linux, as AMD's open-source drivers generally work well on Linux for CPU and integrated GPU.
• Ensure you have the latest Linux kernel (at least 5.4 or later) for better hardware support.

Multi-Boot Setup Considerations

• With the unallocated space you’ve left, you can install multiple Linux distributions later by simply creating new partitions in the free space.
• If you're using a multiple boot system, GRUB will manage booting between the different Linux installations.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Alden4

HP Support 

[linuxh]

Hi Alden4,

Thank you very much for providing a detailed installation procedure framework. It is
certainly reassuring to hear directly from an expert HP member of staff.

Your assurances that Linux will install and run correctly on the HP laptop models

mentioned in my previous posting are encouraging.

However, as you know, due to limited resources most computer users are hesitant

to purchase a machine on risk in order to avoid the troubles and losses that may

result from Linux not installing or running properly.

On the other hand, it is fair to say that HP has significant resources and also direct

access to its own laptops.

Based on this substantial infrastructure, HP is in an excellent position to perform

real installations of Linux Mint 20.3/21.3, Ubuntu Linux 22.04LTS, etc, on the

previously mentioned HP laptops and post the actual installation steps, results and recommendations on the HP Support Community website.

The availability of such test results will be very helpful to potential HP customers

trying to decide which machine they should purchase for installing and running Linux.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

PS: Of course, it will be even better if HP offers a range of affordable laptops (eg.

HP 250, 14/15, ProBook, Victus, etc) with the option of choosing Windows, freeDOS
or Ubuntu Linux 22.04LTS as the pre-installed operating system.

[Raj_05]

Hi @linuxh,

Thank you for your response, 

I'm sending a private message to assist you with the next action.

Please check your Private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Community profile Next, to your profile Name, you should see a little blue envelope, please click on it or simply click on this link.

I hope this helps! Keep me posted.

Alden4

HP Support