I'm hoping to install the Zorin 17.3 Core OS on my new HP Envy x360 16 inch 2-in-1 Laptop PC. Before I do, I want to list my checklist here (sources linked), and see if there's anything I forgot that the community can help me with. I know from searching the forums that I'm not the first to attempt this.
Back up the current OS - When I got the laptop, the OS disk didn't come with it (did get what I believe is the sleeve with the serial/product number for it, though). While I don't know if I can reuse said number to authorize a fresh Windows install from another source, it'd be good to know if I could - would save me some time and money on the OS backup.
Boot Zorin from a USB drive (usual site instructions) with turned off LAPIC and ACPI support, and in the HP BIOS, disable "Secure Boot", enable "Legacy support", then use the Zorin USB drive to interrupt POST process during HP logo by pressing F9. If possible, do NOT delete pre-installed Windows OS - keep under a dual-boot, so as to extract ACPI tables if need be (see AskUbuntu link).
At the blue Boot BIOS boot devices screen, select "USB Device - 0.00" to boot to the violet legacy Ubuntu boot screen, with a keyboard icon at the bottom; this is apparently different from the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface version.
In the boot menu, press F6 and press "e" to open the Editor menu for GRUB; change the boot parameters to "nolapic acpi=off i8042.nopnp", then look for the words quiet splash and add the grub parameters folling the word "splash" > quiet splash acpi=off spec_store_bypass_disable (https://forum.zorin.com/t/zorin-os-install-leads-to-black-screen-hp-envy-x360-laptop/27551/4).
Remove "nolapic acpi=off" parameters from GRUB boot configuration, then proceed to boot.
When installing, on the window confirming intent to install 3rd party drivers, click that box to mark it as "yes". Once install is completed, run "sudo apt update && sudo apt dist-upgrade", then remove the USB installer, reenable "Secure Boot", and reset BIOS to boot from drive; subsequently reboot and retest (See Zorin Black Screen link).
Profit?
Thoughts? If one of these steps is unneccessary, or out of order, please tell me - full disclosure, I have no idea what half of these words mean (re: my username), but following a set series of instructions will (hopefully) lead me through.
This sounds terribly complicated to me, where did you get that list? It very well may be that you have to do some or all of those things, depending on your hardware, but I'd suggest keeping things simple.
Check this article on how to install Zorin OS first:
Regarding your first point, you can clone your entire drive at its current state using Rescuezilla. Later, you can pour the contents of the cloned drive back into the original, and it'd be as if nothing ever happened.
Keep in mind that you need to have a dedicated drive to store the image, and that drive needs to be at least equal in size. The cloning process takes a good while; best leave it running overnight.
One last thing to consider: what is your goal? If you are just mildly curious about Zorin OS — or any other Linux distribution for that matter — I'd strongly suggest running it inside a virtual machine. It's not quite the same but the performance difference is barely noticeable.
A virtual machine poses no risks whatsoever to your current system, and you can just destroy them at your own leisure if something goes wrong, and just start over from scratch.
The reason I suggest this is because dual booting with Windows is, in my opinion, more headache than it's worth. It inevitably leads to trouble and it's really not fun to troubleshoot. So, if you are just browsing, use a virtual machine instead.
Hi Zorin NOOB
You have clearly done your homework. You are more prepared than I ever was with my ZorinOS installs. And as such I suspect you will be fine.
My experience has been that Zorin is one of the better distros for “just working”. This is not to devalue the information found in other forum posts.
You might feel more secure in installing after trying ZorinOS via a live USB first to make sure your PC works with it.
Also I note that the forum posts that you link to are from a couple of years ago. There is a good chance that developers have resolved the issues identified in those posts via kernel updates.
My fall back strategy was always to buy a new SSD (an excuse to upgrade?) and then remove the drive with Windows intact. Then install new OS on new SSD via USB.
That way worst case is. Just put original back in. (If you do that. Make sure to copy the Windows BitLocker keys to somewhere else)
But I am no engineer and others will know better than I on this.
Hi all - typing this from Zorin! Turns out things have improved BIOS-wise, and (barring a faulty flash drive) the testing of the OS on HP Envy went off without a hitch! Going to overwrite Windows in a bit, and see if it holds.
@zenzen, the list was compiled from the cited sources in the links - I am not the first to attempt running Zorin on the HP Envy laptop, and it appeared quite a few people had problems running Linux on the laptop in general. Thankfully, (as GrungeLover pointed out), the issues behind previous problems, whatever they may have been, appears to have been handled. In light of this, I will not be altering anything, as the list cautioned for. This ain't my first Zorin rodeo - did my first install on a custom desktop 3 years ago - but it is my first time running it on a laptop. Goal is just a better build, while I get said desktop restored (beware rm commands).
@GrungeLover, Thank you! My experience with Linux is that "unprepared" means "misery", so I wanted to double-check things by others before attempting anything. Just tried your recommendation - it does indeed work (so far). Going to install over Windows, and update on the results - stay tuned.
Micro$oft Windows has been overwritten and purged, and the new Zorin OS fully functioning and running. So far, all systems are nominal - including the touchscreen interface, which others had problems with apparently.
Knock on word, it should stick; unless you see an update from me on the matter, I'm giving the standing opinion for future users that Zorin OS 17.3 is fully compatible with the HP Envy x360 16" 2-in-1 Laptop PC.
That’s great news. I’m glad you didn’t have any trouble getting it up and running.
I’ve been very tempted to get a used Elite Dragonfly x360 that I saw for sale recently. I was assuming that I would have to go with Ubuntu or Fedora. It looks like I am going shopping.
