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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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[Rant] A few days ago, I asked if Mint would run okay on a Lenovo T460 (I appreciate all the advice). I got it working, but the installation was a big pain and I totally blame Lenovo. (self.linux)

submitted 6 months ago by FlyingSquid to c/[email protected]

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I got the T460 refurbished and I really didn't want to run Windows 10 on it. I last used Linux for any real length of time a good 20 years ago, so I'm pretty inexperienced with it at this point and I had to figure out how to install it myself.

They made it unreasonably difficult to first install an OS from a USB stick. I had to go into the BIOS, turn UEFI to legacy, turn off secure boot, reboot to boot from the USB stick, install Mint, then turn legacy back to UEFI to get it to boot from the hard drive. This took about 2 hours of trying to figure it out by doing a lot of forums reading.

I do not blame the Mint community or the Linux community as a whole. There is absolutely no reason that it should have been that hard to install Mint on that notebook.

I don't even think getting into the BIOS once time should be necessary, but changing a BIOS setting so you can install the OS and changing it back so you can run the OS off the internal drive is just ridiculous and I find it hard to believe Lenovo couldn't have just made it easier. I'm fairly convinced this was intentional on their part.

I'm not an IT professional or anything, but I know enough to figure this stuff out with effort, but it shouldn't have taken that effort. It should have been almost plug-and-play. This is 2024. The notebook isn't even 10 years old.

Is there actually a good reason for this or are they just kissing Microsoft's ass?

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[–] TCB13 -3 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

That's what you get when you buy Lenovo. It can't even run Windows properly most of the time how did you expect it to run Linux?

Seriously if you go into any large company and ask why they don't use Lenovo they'll simply tell you that the failure rate of those machines is way to high to be worth it. Like order 50 and only 10 are in working condition after 2 years... or a simple USB 3 cable running along the computer will make it slow because there isn't enough shielding on the machine and the high frequency of those cables interferes with your storage controller / NVMe.

[–] FlyingSquid 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

how did you expect it to run Linux?

Because I asked in this community and got a bunch of people who said they ran Linux on it and it worked just fine? Which it does now that it's been installed.

[–] TCB13 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Hardware recommendations are really hard, brands to a lot of shit and there are a LOT of small details that make it so a small revision on the same model can make or break compatibility with any OS... even worse for Linux. Windows has tons of specifics hacks to work on specific hardware and they aren't pretty.

For me, personally I always got the best result with HP EliteBooks from 2 or 3 generations bellow the current one and the latest Debian. But again, that's just personal experience, nobody can guarantee you that you won't pick a very specific EliteBook with some awkward detail and things will fail.

[–] FlyingSquid 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I'm surprised HP notebooks are trustworthy at this point.

[–] TCB13 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Depends on the line... the high end enterprise products (EliteBooks) are very solid and good, they also provide very good servicing, every piece of those machines is replaceable even screws have serial numbers and can be ordered from HP.

ProBooks are a mixed batch, some are decent others are total garbage. Consumer grade HP mostly follows the same trend, if you go for machines that are "Apple-priced" they're good, otherwise crap. Still not as crap as Lenovo became after China.

[–] FlyingSquid 1 points 6 months ago

I doubt I'd be able to afford one of those. I got this because it was $200 refurbished.