Installing Linux on a PC: Process, Pitfalls, and Practical Guidance

Linux installation remains the surest path to regaining control over your workstation. Security, performance—especially on aging hardware—and open access to powerful tooling all come by default. Below is a seasoned approach, with detailed focus on dual boot and data safety, assuming typical scenarios encountered in modern engineering environments.

Preparation Checklist

• Target device: x86_64 hardware (UEFI firmware; Secure Boot may need disabling)
• Install media: USB 2.0/3.0 flash drive, ≥4GB, FAT32-formatted
• OS image: Ubuntu 22.04.4 LTS ISO (other distributions noted with caveats)
• Backup: Off-system copy of critical data (cloud sync or offline drive)
• BIOS/UEFI access knowledge: Manufacturer-specific (F12, DEL, Esc, etc.)

Not every step is reversible. Data backup isn't optional—if your disk includes irreplaceable files, image the whole drive before continuing. For high-value workstations, test the install procedure on a VM first.

1. Download & Verify OS Image

Acquire the ISO directly from Ubuntu releases. Always verify the SHA256 checksum:

sha256sum ~/Downloads/ubuntu-22.04.4-desktop-amd64.iso
# Compare output to hash at https://releases.ubuntu.com/22.04/SHA256SUMS

A mismatch implies a corrupt or malicious image—do not proceed.

2. Create Bootable Media

On Windows, use Rufus v4.1 or later. On macOS/Linux, use balenaEtcher or dd (experienced users).

Rufus Example (UEFI-compatible):

• Start Rufus.
• Select ISO.
• Set Partition Scheme: GPT for UEFI systems.
• File System: FAT32.
• Click Start.

Known issue: Some older BIOSes require MBR partitioning; UEFI+Secure Boot may reject unsigned kernels on less mainstream distributions.

balenaEtcher Example:

• Open Etcher.
• Select ISO.
• Select USB drive.
• Flash.

Note: Flashing wipes the USB contents. Double-check target device.

3. Hardware Setup & Boot

• Insert USB drive.
• Enter firmware setup. Typical keys: F12 (Dell/Lenovo/HP), ESC (Asus).
• Disable Secure Boot if present; Linux ISOs often lack signed bootloaders.
• Set USB as primary boot device for one-time or persistent boot.

Observation: Laptops with NVMe storage sometimes require BIOS updates for full driver compatibility. Known issue with early 2020 Dell models—BIOS update before install resolved kernel panics on drive detection.

4. "Try Ubuntu"—Operational Verification

Boot into live session (Try Ubuntu). Test:

• Wi-Fi/Bluetooth: Run lshw -C network to confirm device detection.
• Audio: Play a sample file.
• Suspend/resume: Close lid, reopen (on laptops).
• External displays: Connect monitor; check xrandr.

If key peripherals aren't recognized, installation could render the system unusable. In such cases, consider updating kernel/modules post-install or try a newer ISO.

5. Launch Installer—Partitioning Strategy

Install Ubuntu launches Ubiquity or Subiquity (depends on release). Watch out for these installer choices:

Automatic Dual Boot Caveat: In rare cases, Windows BitLocker or disk encryption block partition editing. Decrypt first. The installer will shrink the Windows partition; verify proposed partition map matches expectations.

Manual partitioning—minimum:

• / (root): 30GB ext4
• swap: 4GB–8GB (match RAM for sleep/hibernate)
• /home: Optional, separate partition (isolates user data)

Example partition table for a 500GB SSD (dual boot):

/dev/nvme0n1p1   EFI System Partition   512MB   vfat
/dev/nvme0n1p2   Windows (NTFS)        300GB   ntfs
/dev/nvme0n1p3   Ubuntu root           50GB    ext4
/dev/nvme0n1p4   Ubuntu home           110GB   ext4
/dev/nvme0n1p5   swap                  8GB     swap

6. Timezone, User, and Security

• Timezone selection affects automatic updates, cron jobs, and logs; UTC is preferred for developers.
• Create a strong local password.
• Disk encryption: Strongly recommended if storing confidential material; choose LUKS during install.

7. Installation: Progress and Logs

Monitor progress; verbose logs available on virtual console (Ctrl + Alt + F4). If failure occurs, log messages such as:

[Errno 5] Input/output error

often indicate media issues—replace USB and retry.

8. First Boot & GRUB Configuration

On reboot, GRUB appears:

Ubuntu
Advanced options for Ubuntu
Windows Boot Manager

If Windows is missing, run in Ubuntu:

sudo update-grub

If dual boot restores Windows but breaks Ubuntu, check EFI entries using efibootmgr. Some systems forcibly reset the boot order after Windows Update—BIOS-level fix may be needed.

9. Cross-OS File Access & Practicalities

• Ubuntu mounts NTFS volumes read/write via ntfs-3g, though metadata like file permissions are not preserved.
• Hibernating Windows locks the NTFS partition. Always fully shut down Windows before accessing C drive under Linux. Otherwise, you may see:

  The NTFS partition is in an unsafe state. Please resume and shutdown Windows.
  

• For large files (>4GB), avoid FAT32 shared partitions; exFAT or NTFS is preferred.

10. GRUB Customization

Change default OS selection:

sudo nano /etc/default/grub
# GRUB_DEFAULT=0   # 0=Ubuntu, 1=Windows (index starts at 0)
sudo update-grub

Or set to saved and use grub-set-default for on-demand changes:

sudo grub-set-default 1

Common Installation Pitfalls

• Secure Boot: Fails without signed kernel (mainline Ubuntu OK, custom kernels may not boot)
• BitLocker Encryption: Must be disabled or unlocked for install to proceed
• Mixed UEFI/Legacy Boot: Both OSes must use same boot schema (UEFI or legacy) or system won't dual boot cleanly
• UEFI NVRAM Limits: Some laptops (notably Sony VAIO, certain Lenovo models) limit the number of EFI boot entries—use efibootmgr to delete old entries if needed

Non-Obvious Tip

Network install images (the mini.iso) offer latest packages at install time—useful when network conditions are stable, but introduces risk if connectivity drops mid-install. Also, Wi-Fi chipsets sometimes lack drivers in netinstall, leading to install failures.

Summing Up

A methodical install usually completes within 20–30 minutes, with dual boot provisioned safely. For production laptops or machines handling sensitive development work, use full disk encryption, and consider a test migration on a secondary disk or virtual machine first.

No installer is flawless—oddball firmware, non-standard NVMe controllers, or abrupt power loss can cause setbacks. Keep recovery media handy, read installer release notes, and document partition changes in your syslog or engineer’s notebook for future troubleshooting.

Questions or troubleshooting scenario? Share full error logs and hardware model for faster diagnosis.