The guides on this site walk through each procedure from start to finish, but the steps that generate the most questions are almost always the same: getting into the BIOS, understanding why Secure Boot blocks an installer, figuring out which Wi-Fi chipset a laptop has before committing to a distribution, and knowing when a failing hard drive is the actual cause of instability that looks like a software problem. After more than a decade of troubleshooting these issues on hardware from every major manufacturer, I have found that most problems trace back to a small set of configuration checks that people either skip or do not know to look for.
This page covers the essential pre-install checks, hardware diagnostic steps, firmware configuration, driver notes, known pitfalls by manufacturer, and frequently asked questions. For full installation walkthroughs, the guides section picks up where these checks leave off.
Lightweight boot environments have modest requirements, but knowing the specifics of your machine before you start eliminates the most frustrating problems - the ones that surface halfway through an install. The table below covers the practical minimums and recommended specifications for the configurations tested on this site.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | x86_64, 1 GHz | Dual-core, 1.6 GHz+ | 32-bit Atom netbooks need special images |
| RAM | 1 GB | 2 GB+ | 4 GB comfortable for browser-heavy use |
| Storage | 16 GB | 64 GB+ SSD | Mechanical drives work but are very slow |
| USB | One working port | USB 3.0 | Some BIOS cannot boot from USB 3.0 in legacy mode |
| Network | Ethernet or supported Wi-Fi | Intel Wi-Fi | Broadcom/Realtek may need extra firmware |
For detailed hardware compatibility notes and tested configurations, see the full system requirements page.
Every laptop manufacturer has its quirks. These are the issues I see most often, organised by brand. If your machine is from one of these manufacturers and you are having trouble, check here before spending time on general troubleshooting.
Lenovo ThinkPad
Generally excellent Linux compatibility. Watch for the BIOS whitelist on older models - swapping the Wi-Fi card requires a card on the approved list or a modified BIOS. ThinkPads from 2012 onward typically have Intel wireless, which works without issues. The Fn key mapping occasionally requires thinkpad_acpi kernel module configuration.
Dell Latitude and Inspiron
Latitudes are business machines with good driver support. Inspirons are more variable - some models use Realtek Wi-Fi that needs firmware-realtek installed manually. Dell BIOS updates occasionally change the boot menu behaviour, particularly around Secure Boot key management. If USB boot stops working after a BIOS update, check for a new Secure Boot policy option.
HP ProBook and Pavilion
HP machines often have the most restrictive BIOS settings out of the box. The boot menu key (F9 or Esc) can be unreliable with fast boot enabled - disable fast boot in the BIOS before attempting USB boot. Some HP models require a BIOS administrator password to change Secure Boot settings, even if no password was ever set. Clearing the BIOS defaults usually resolves this.
Acer and ASUS
Budget models from both manufacturers frequently use Broadcom wireless chipsets that need proprietary firmware. ASUS machines sometimes have aggressive power management in the BIOS that causes USB devices to lose power during boot - disable USB power saving if the installer starts loading and then fails.
Driver issues on older hardware fall into predictable categories. Understanding which components are likely to cause problems before you install saves time and prevents the frustrating experience of completing an install only to discover that your wireless adapter is not detected.
Driver readiness checks
- Wi-Fi chipset identification: On Windows, open Device Manager and expand Network Adapters. On Linux, run
lspci | grep -i network. Note the exact chipset model - this determines whether you need additional firmware packages after install. - Graphics adapter: Intel integrated graphics works out of the box on virtually all distributions. Nvidia discrete graphics and Optimus (hybrid Intel/Nvidia) configurations often need the proprietary nvidia driver or the nouveau open-source driver with specific kernel parameters.
- Storage controller mode: Verify AHCI mode is enabled in BIOS. Some machines default to IDE emulation mode, which works but reduces performance and can cause detection issues with certain Linux kernels.
- Bluetooth: Usually bundled with the Wi-Fi chipset. If Wi-Fi works, Bluetooth typically works as well. Standalone Broadcom Bluetooth on older machines occasionally needs the firmware-brcm80211 package.
For a structured walkthrough of Wi-Fi and driver preparation, see the Wi-Fi and driver checklist. For dual-boot specific concerns, the dual-boot safety notes cover partition layout verification and installer configuration.