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On 18/10/2021 19:40, Grant Phillips-Sewell wrote: > > > On Mon, 18 Oct 2021, 19:13 maceion@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:maceion@xxxxxxxxx>, > <maceion@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:maceion@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote: > > On 18/10/2021 18:51, comrade meowski wrote: > > On 18/10/2021 18:31, Michael Everitt wrote: > >> On 18/10/2021 18:28, Paul Sutton via list wrote: > >>> Hi All > >>> > >>> I had an e-mail from a potential new Linux / Free software user in > >>> Cornwall, she > >>> hasn't started with it yet, but I did suggest starting off with > >>> LinuxMint as it > >>> seems to 'just work'. Plus for new users it is pretty easy to use, > >>> has good > >>> support (forum,irc etc) as well as a strong user base. > >>> > >>> I just wondered if anyone in that area would be able to provide some > >>> install help > >>> please. I know the install guide is at > >>> > >>> https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/ > <https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/> > >>> > >>> But I don't know much about this EFI/UEFI thing. So if that needs > >>> disabling or > >>> whatever you do. I can't help with that. > >>> > >>> Once it is installed myself and others can try and provide some > >>> support remotely. > >>> > >>> If anyone can respond who is local to Fowey, I can put you in touch. > >>> > >>> Thanks > >>> > >>> Paul > >> How far into Cornwall - we have the Plymouth LUG approaching ... > >> > >> EFI should be mostly covered by the Mint installation procedure, > >> although, getting to > >> boot a non-native install media could be tricky. Who's conversant > with > >> the latest > >> Windoze tom-foolery?! > >> > >> Cheers, > >> veremitz/Michael. > >> > >> > > > > > > EFI has got nothing to do with Windows... it's just the modern > > replacement for crappy old BIOS firmware and has actually been the > > standard on all new PCs for well over a decade. The last thing anyone > > wants to do is turn it off and willingly go back to prehistoric > firmware > > literally from the last century... > > > > It gets confused a lot with Secure Boot which is part of the UEFI > spec: > > that's the bit which mandates the system boots from a signed > > installation image and nothing more. You can be the person who signed > > that image if you set it up that way but more normally and in the > > default state it will indeed trust a valid Microsoft signature. All of > > this is optional and can be disabled but even that's not necessary as > > most of the sensible Linux distros have had support for Support > Boot as > > well for ages. Mint for example has supported the default installer > > image booting with Secure Boot on since 19.1 a couple of years ago so > > there won't be any problems. Unless you're mixing in an Nvidia CPU as > > well in which case there will be problems but that's because of > > complicated Linux kernel tainting issues and is actually a > Linux/Nvidia > > problem, not a Secure Boot problem. > > > > So in short, any newish system probably shipped with EFI on and Secure > > Boot enabled by default. As long as you're not using Nvidia and are > > using a mainstream friendly distro like Mint, Debian, Ubuntu, > Fedora etc > > everything will work just fine left like that. Loads of distros eschew > > Secure Boot though, probably more than support it: off the top of my > > head Gentoo, Arch, Devuan, Void and NixOS don't. > > > > The new users biggest problem will probably be backing up and > preserving > > her stuff from Windows if there's a pre-existing install. It's fine to > > re-partition the laptop's sole disk to make room for the Linux > system if > > she wants to keep Windows around for dual booting but don't try and > > re-partition the disk if it's been bitlockered: the Mint installer > > should refuse to even try but if it does there will be tears. > Bitlocker > > has been enabled by default for years on Windows so if > repartitioning is > > involved make sure whoever walks her through the install checks... > > > > PLEASE, PLEASE > Install Linux Mint on an *External USB Drive* with GRUB on the external > USD Drive. > It is much safer for a newbie than a 'dual single hard disc boot" > > This preserves her Windows machine as Windows (It owns that internal > hard drive) > When she boots with the *external USB hard Drive* plugged in she has an > independent Linux system. > > I use this for all my old pupils! (Xubuntu for lite use) (Mint for some > depends on the RAM they have and age of machine) > Big advantage they preserve and can go back to their Windows machines if > wanted. > > PS This is how I have ben running my own machines since about 2006. > Only the Vista era ones have had Windows removed and Linux installed to > internal drive, BUT they all have Knoppix USB key available as > alternative OS. > -- > Regards > Eion MacDonald > > > > > No. If I am helping then I will discuss the options available to her, > the pros and cons of each option, and leave the decision as to which > approach is best for her... to her! > > I have been multibooting Linux weigh other systems since 1999, on x86 > x64, and briefly PPC (both Old World and New World). Partitioning, > slicing, and bootloaders is not unfamiliar territory. > > Please understand that just because you find an approach the best FOR > YOU this does not mean it is the best approach for everyone. > > Grant. :| > Point taken. -- regards Eion MacDonald -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG https://mailman.dcglug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/listfaq