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Need help switching to Linux (lemmy.zip)

submitted 3 days ago by Stormy1701@lemmy.zip to c/linuxmint@lemmy.ml

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I am currently trying to escape Windows and want to switch to Linux Mint as my daily driver.

However when I first tried it on a spare laptop everything worked except the WiFi. A kernel update fixed it because it also has ethernet.

My question is can I boot to a live USB on the ethernet laptop, update the kernel on the live USB and use that on the other laptop to install mint with working WiFi?

I tried to use the internet from my phone via Bluetooth but it was so slow it was unusable.

If this is a dumb question I apologise as I’ve been using Linux for less than a day at this point.

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[–] hinterlufer@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago (3 children)

No, that won't work on a live system.

Have you actually tried booting from a Live USB on the laptop in question? It might be that WiFi works there just out of the box. Unless you have some super weird wifi adapter (or use an old Linux version), it should just work.

[–] Stormy1701@lemmy.zip 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The WiFi on both laptops didn’t work at first. On the ethernet one a kernel update fixed it. I guess I’ll have to source a usb dongle.

[–] hinterlufer@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

That's odd... any idea what the model of the WiFi adapter is? Is it a very recent machine?

[–] Stormy1701@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It's an Asus Vivobook X1504Z that I bought last month. I just tried the latest Ubuntu on a live USB and just like Mint there is no wifi or bluetooth.

I think my best bet is waiting for the USB wifi dongle to arrive tomorrow.

[–] hinterlufer@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

you could try LMDE (Mint but with Debian underneath instead of Ubuntu). But I kinda doubt that this would help. You probably won't notice a difference in the user experience.

[–] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

It's always a good idea to test out everything in the live system before committing to the install. I'd also check, if your ISO is the latest version. I've installed mint on quite a few machines but I've never had any problems of that sort.

[–] Stormy1701@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 days ago

The WiFi on both laptops didn’t work at first. On the ethernet one a kernel update fixed it. I guess I’ll have to source a usb dongle.