What bios settings do I need to change before installing Linux?
from lonesomeCat@lemmy.ml to linux@lemmy.ml on 05 Apr 2025 16:52
https://lemmy.ml/post/28169275

So I got a new HP Victus 2023, and I want to install Fedora on it, it has an RTX 4050 and has win11 preinstalled, my last laptop was a 2014 Toshiba and I only had to disable secure boot for Linux to run, is there something else to disable before installing Fedora ? Maybe TPM?

#linux

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pebbles@sh.itjust.works on 05 Apr 2025 16:59 next collapse

I think I’ve been able to use secure boot with fedora. I didn’t need to change any of my settings. But I build my PC myself, so there was never any windows specific config. I did dual boot at the start for a bit, but now I just have Linux on it.

Overall I doubt you need to change any BIOS settings. I’d just try to install and if you run into issues figure it out from there.

Xiisadaddy@lemmygrad.ml on 05 Apr 2025 17:01 next collapse

You need to disable secure boot for the installation process, but you can turn it back on afterwards. Secureboot just blocks the changes your new install needs to make once its installed it wont mess with anything, and you should have it on to prevent things like rootkits.

Xiisadaddy@lemmygrad.ml on 05 Apr 2025 17:02 collapse

It can cause issues with things like virtual machines but that just means you need to configure them to work with it.

MorphiusFaydal@lemmy.world on 05 Apr 2025 17:30 next collapse

Fedora should play nice with Secure Boot enabled. You also shouldn’t need to do anything with the TPM.

WeAreAllOne@lemm.ee on 05 Apr 2025 17:44 next collapse

I’d say experiment. It’s fun and kinda mandatory in the Linux world 😉

thingsiplay@beehaw.org on 05 Apr 2025 19:15 collapse

But make backups…

Neptr@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 06 Apr 2025 05:28 collapse

WEAK. WASTE 17HRS AND UNCOUNTABLE AMOUNTS OF DATA BY FUCKING AROUND. 40 BILLION SUCH CASES!

gargolito@lemmy.world on 05 Apr 2025 17:51 next collapse

I stopped using Reddit because the majority of tech subs were people asking shit you can just search on google, duck duck go, bing or even just ask one of the free gpt’s available to everyone. Alas, here we are.

Sims@lemmy.ml on 05 Apr 2025 18:32 next collapse

Rarely anything. There can be some newer Bios/chip features that are not supported in the kernel yet, and a few older/quirky machines requires setting correct kernel parameters in the boot phase. But overall, you wouldn’t normally do it any different from win, and a laptop from 23 should be supported with all newer kernels.

I’m sure there are Bios settings that could be changed dependent on operating system. Perhaps some internal timing works best with this and that ram clock, or whatever, but it would be a hazzle to figure out, and there may not be any gain - other than the fun of exploring oc…

PseudoSpock@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 05 Apr 2025 19:06 next collapse

I turn off secure boot, simply because I don’t like it, don’t need it, and it isn’t really secure. But this is only a preference of mine.

irotsoma@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 05 Apr 2025 19:53 next collapse

I didn’t have to change anything including secure boot when I removed windows and installed Fedora on my laptop. Should generally work, but there’s a possibility some newer features may not or may have a Windows-only setting and an other OS setting. Update the BIOS to the latest and just try it…

MangoPenguin@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 05 Apr 2025 19:57 next collapse

Nothing, secure boot should work fine, no reason to disable TPM.

Fecundpossum@lemmy.world on 05 Apr 2025 20:25 next collapse

Fedora works perfectly with secure boot and I keep it enabled when I’m using fedora. It’s worth noting, that if you require any software in the form of a kernel module (for instance, openrazer, a Linux tool for controlling razer devices) it won’t function with secure boot enabled because it isn’t registered at boot. You’d have to reboot to bios, turn off Secure Boot, log in and set your configs, then reboot and turn secure boot back on.

Or you could just leave it off.

lonesomeCat@lemmy.ml on 05 Apr 2025 21:39 collapse

I’m only worried about the nvidia driver, will it work with secure boot enabled? Given I install it from rpmfusion

SteveTech@programming.dev on 05 Apr 2025 22:20 collapse

It can, but it requires creating your own signing key, registering it with secure boot, and signing your nvidia driver.

There’s a guide here: askubuntu.com/a/1049479

But if you’re running any out of tree drivers (e.g. the nvidia driver), I’d recommend just leaving secure boot off.

Fecundpossum@lemmy.world on 05 Apr 2025 22:29 collapse

Yep, I guess I should have lead with that, but I’ve been on an AMD GPU for so long I almost forgot what a pain closed source Nvidia drivers can be.

MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml on 05 Apr 2025 21:13 next collapse

My thinkpad from 2017 has a setting for Windows vs. Linux sleep (i think sleep level 3 being bugged in that CPU generation or something?). Better google your specific model.

Blaster_M@lemmy.world on 05 Apr 2025 21:21 next collapse

Leave it as is. Some people go tin foil hat about Secure Boot being insecure, but that’s like saying “don’t lock the bottom lock on your door because someone can use a lockpock in 2 seconds”.

Fedora works fine and automatically with Secure Boot, and that is an important defense against on-boot malware injection.

nanook@friendica.eskimo.com on 06 Apr 2025 00:58 next collapse

Linux will run fine with secure boot you just have to have it set for other OS not Windows specifically, however, it is a pain in the ass and if you have physical control over your machine I see no good reason to enable it, it significantly compliciates things like building your own kernels.

Geodad@lemm.ee on 06 Apr 2025 02:20 collapse

Is secure boot required for LUKS?

starshipwinepineapple@programming.dev on 06 Apr 2025 03:17 collapse

Nope. They are separate security features so you can use them independently or together. LUKS does disk encryption whereas secure boot verifies the digital signatures of boot loaders/kernels

phanto@lemmy.ca on 06 Apr 2025 05:23 collapse

If you plan on dual booting, remember to disable fast startup on the windows side, or you won’t be able to access the windows partition(s) as read/write in Linux. I have to dual boot for school, (God damn you, Lockdown Browser!) But as soon as I’m done, I’m dropping MS like the hot steaming pile it is.

Mugmoor@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Apr 2025 14:10 collapse

I ran Lockdown in Wine without any problems during my time at school. Given, this was about 7 years ago so things may have changed.

phanto@lemmy.ca on 06 Apr 2025 16:18 collapse

I tried it in Lutris and in a VM, neither worked. I never tried it just in Wine. Hmm… Well, I have two weeks left of school, so I don’t know if it’s worth trying anymore.