Dell Inspiron 17 7779 2-in-1 Arch Linux Installation

prthorsenjr · 2019-12-22 14:08:55

Hi,

I currently have a Dell Inspiron 17 7779 2-in-1 running Windows 10.

I want to remove the HDD running Windows 10 and install two new ssd drives. One M.2 ssd drive and another 2.5 inch ssd drive. The M.2 drive will be the one that I install Arch linux on, the other will be for other data.

While I can do an install with UEFI, I'd prefer to turn secure boot (UEFI) off to simplify things, unless someone here can explain to me the merits of leaving secure boot (UEFI) on and proceeding with installing Arch linux that way.

My hope is to make this laptop my daily driver.

So, has anyone done an Arch linux installation on this hardware? If so, what was your experience? What did you have to do to get Arch linux installed? What gotchas do I need to be aware of?

If this is not the appropriate place for this discussion, please move this thread to when it should be.

Thanks,

Pete

ewaller · 2019-12-22 16:06:04

Are you asking about uEFI? or are you asking about Secureboot? Secureboot requires uEFI; uEFI does not require Secureboot.

What are your requirements? In general, I recommend using uEFI over legacy BIOS mode. uEFI is a modern boot environment that does not have to a binary blob to the 'boot block' of a drive that BIOS grabs at startup. It is capable of mounting a vfat boot volume and finding everything it needs to boot from there. It is also uses a partitioning scheme that permits more than four (primary) volumes. Lastly, it can boot most modern operating systems without the need for a boot loader (Grub, systemd-boot, rEFInd).

Secure boot, on the other hand, ensures that the kernel you are booting has not been tampered. Unless you really require that, and are willing to deal with signing the kernel, It is probably safe to disable it -- end still use uEFI.

More info: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Secure_Boot

prthorsenjr · 2019-12-22 16:13:32

ewaller,

Thank you for your reply. I did not know that "Secureboot requires uEFI; uEFI does not require Secureboot". I appreciate you clarifying that for me. When I do my install, I will make sure that disable Secureboot and proceed with uEFI.

Having never done an installation with uEFI I am sure that it will take me a little longer to sort through the wiki and get things write. No problem, this is all a learning experience.

Thanks a lot,

Pete

Arch Linux

#1 2019-12-22 14:08:55

Dell Inspiron 17 7779 2-in-1 Arch Linux Installation

#2 2019-12-22 16:06:04

Re: Dell Inspiron 17 7779 2-in-1 Arch Linux Installation

#3 2019-12-22 16:13:32

Re: Dell Inspiron 17 7779 2-in-1 Arch Linux Installation

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