MX Linux Forum

Hello again, fellow MX_Linux friends,
I am now the proud owner of a Lenovo ThinkPad (E15 Gen 3) which, unfortunately, comes with Windows. First order of business is to do a clean install of MX_Linux. I have already downloaded: MX-21.2_ahs_x64

What do I need to do to get this on my USB? Earlier I tried to get my laptop to boot to my older MX_Linux 19 and then, failing in that, my Knoppix I had on USB.
So I am thinking I need to do something to get my laptop to recognize USB. Is that it? I vaguely remember there was a process converting my iso to the USB, but it has been awhile.

I had previously put version 19 on my older laptop with help from folks here, but I have since lost my notes on how this was done when my old machine bit the dust. At any rate this laptop I am sure is much different so maybe the instructions are also.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Well since it has Windows, for now, you should download Rufus and use it to set up your usb drive. Rufus is really easy to use and for best results be sure to set Rufus to use GPT partitioning.

Assuming that it has Win 10 or 11, take a moment to disable Fast Start which can hamper a linux install.

Having done these two steps, enter the bios and disable Secure Boot and then adjust the boot order so that your usb drive is given priority. Then you are good to go.

Thanks for the reply. In the meantime I successfully downloaded uunetbootin and got it on my USB. But now I am having problem accessing the screen for changing boot order. Frustrating.

epitom4 wrote: Sun Sep 18, 2022 2:10 pm Hello again, fellow MX_Linux friends,
I am now the proud owner of a Lenovo ThinkPad (E15 Gen 3) which, unfortunately, comes with Windows. First order of business is to do a clean install of MX_Linux. I have already downloaded: MX-21.2_ahs_x64

What do I need to do to get this on my USB?

Read section 2 of the manual on installation. The manual's linked to in the upper right of the forum. There are also lots of videos you can watch including one on how to make a full-featured live USB.

Thanks. I have read over the section carefully. It was real helpful for earlier stages. My problem now is getting boot order changed.

Added:
Things have deteriorated considerably. I know have this bitlocker recovery screen to deal with. I am about ready to just hand this over to a computer service. Driving me crazy.

epitom4 wrote: Sun Sep 18, 2022 7:04 pm Thanks. I have read over the section carefully. It was real helpful for earlier stages. My problem now is getting boot order changed.

Added:
Things have deteriorated considerably. I know have this bitlocker recovery screen to deal with. I am about ready to just hand this over to a computer service. Driving me crazy.

The most likely scenario is that you have to create an Administrator's password in the bios before you can access the controls to disable Secure Boot and Bitlocker etc.

j2mcgreg wrote: Mon Sep 19, 2022 7:08 am

epitom4 wrote: Sun Sep 18, 2022 7:04 pm
Things have deteriorated considerably. I know have this bitlocker recovery screen to deal with. I am about ready to just hand this over to a computer service. Driving me crazy.

The most likely scenario is that you have to create an Administrator's password in the bios before you can access the controls to disable Secure Boot and Bitlocker etc.

From what I read I understand that I am already administrator since this is a home computer, just me. Am I wrong?

epitom4 wrote: Sun Sep 18, 2022 6:06 pm Thanks for the reply. In the meantime I successfully downloaded uunetbootin and got it on my USB. But now I am having problem accessing the screen for changing boot order. Frustrating.

Yes, it is a learning curve and only you can decide if the effort was/is worth it. For me it is worth it and turned computing into fun and challenging fun

I am not going to provide step-by-step instructions. That is for minds far greater than mine own
You will have to try - get in a muddle n - solve the muddle n - wish you had made notes about how to solve the muddle n when it reappears as muddle n+1

If you manage to get through all that - don't worry - keep making the notes and let the things drift into muscle memory and then - the next stage ... a distro crawler! It's a bit like being a pub crawler but usually with less alcohol and more linux distros

When and/or if you discover how easy it is to use live USB distros on a linux machine you may even try to see what differences there are between them all. What is Kali's strong point? What is antiX strong points? If you make those questions I am sure you will find your answers.

@epitom4 wrote:

From what I read I understand that I am already administrator since this is a home computer, just me. Am I wrong?

In a way, yes. It's a different administrator instance. As the owner of the computer and first user, the operating system will automatically set you as administrator and I think that's the instance you are referring to. However, the bios of your computer is a separate entity and for security reasons it requires that a separate Administator's account be set up before full access to its controls is allowed.

Thanks again, everyone, for the help. It has been a learning experience. I finally caved and sent the laptop to a computer specialist and he did a clean install of MX_Linux.

Now I have a lot of reinstalling to do, like Gimp. But that is actually fun.

epitom4 wrote: Sun Sep 25, 2022 5:48 pm Thanks again, everyone, for the help. It has been a learning experience. I finally caved and sent the laptop to a computer specialist and he did a clean install of MX_Linux.

Now I have a lot of reinstalling to do, like Gimp. But that is actually fun.

I believe GIMP comes preinstalled on MX, doesn't it? By the way, protip: when you install software use MX Package Installer.

Thanks for the tip. No, I had to install it. And I am being very careful in what I install. A few years back I had dependency problems when I added something I shouldn't have. That was Linux Mint, but I imagine the same could happen with any distro.

JayM wrote: Mon Oct 03, 2022 6:10 am

epitom4 wrote: Sun Sep 25, 2022 5:48 pm Thanks again, everyone, for the help. It has been a learning experience. I finally caved and sent the laptop to a computer specialist and he did a clean install of MX_Linux.

Now I have a lot of reinstalling to do, like Gimp. But that is actually fun.

I believe GIMP comes preinstalled on MX, doesn't it? By the way, protip: when you install software use MX Package Installer.

GIMP may no longer be default in MX21 because it's kind of large and heavy for basic drawing, if I remember correctly.