New Windows Laptop - Want to Convert to Linux

Activating it and making a drive image for a future reinstall might be a good idea if you ever want to sell it or use Windows again.

Johnny B

If you read the posts in the thread you will see there is some controversy about that topic.

Indeed.

And good advice.

The choice is yours to make.

If you never intend to use Windows again or sell it with a factory install....it doesn't matter.

Activating it and making a drive image for a future reinstall might be a good idea if you ever want to sell it or use Windows again.

You do not need to since the key is a part of the bios not something on a piece of paper. Once the OS is installed on a machine and the bios has a key, there is zero activating it in any form or even necessary in this day and age.

Indeed. I agree.

To install Windows can be done in that manner and some do to get rid of bloat on a new computer.

I installed Win 11 in that manner myself on a refurb bought with out a hard drive.

But a fresh install like that won't duplicate the factory install with all the added apps the manufacturer included along with the exact same drivers.

It's not a wrong way to put Windows back on the computer.

But if there's a warranty problem in the near future, that warranty might not be honored.

In addition, since owner claims the computer hasn't been activated, he doesn't absolutely, positively know the computer operates without fault.

It probably works just fine.

Probably.

It's not that hard to make a drive image.

It can be accomplished easily with no cost and it's good insurance.

Is it absolutely necessary? Nope.

May the luck be with him.

Post 5 is simplest solution for this user who is clueless about using linux.  Replace the hardrive.  Put the old one in the laptop bag.

Then the user can go to youtube to learn something.  Spaltry among others have done all the hard work

thanks

Sorry for getting this extremely late.

Actually,  there is no need to activate Windows if you're just going to wipe it and install Linux instead.

When,and if, you reinstall Windows you can activate it then. All that activation does is tell Microsoft you have a computer running their OS, when you tell them is completely irrelevant.

What you need to do to install Linux is either find out what key combination lets you choose from where you want to boot or the one that will take you to the BIOS.

The first is simpler, just press the proper combination as soon as the computer starts, and a window will appear that will let you choose the Linux boot media and the Linux OS will boot.

The second one is not that much more difficult. Again press and hold the proper key combination and it will bring you to the BIOS. Here choose boot order and move the Linux boot disk to the top. Then save and exit

and the Linux OS will boot.

From here, to install Linux, choose 'Use Whole Disk' and it will automatically remove and overwrite the Windows OS and install Linux instead

You also have the option of dual booting Windows and Linux.

After booting into Linux, choose "Install alongside Windows"

In the screen that pops up next, choose how much space you want to give the Linux partition and follow directions.

At this point the Windows partition will be shrunk to fit and Linux will be installed in the mow "free" space.

Turn the computer off, remove the installation stick, and reboot. Here you will get a screen that give you the choice of what OS you want to boot, choose it snd .