Key takeaway: Most common Linux installation problems have simple, well-known fixes involving BIOS settings or a wired connection during setup — very few are actually serious or hardware-related.

Most Linux installations on modern hardware go smoothly, but a handful of issues come up often enough to be worth knowing about in advance. None of the problems below are usually serious, and all have straightforward, well-documented fixes.

Problem: the USB drive won't boot, or Secure Boot blocks the installer

If your PC boots straight into Windows instead of the installer USB, the boot order in your BIOS/UEFI settings needs changing, or you need to use the one-time boot menu (often F12, F11 or Esc at startup) to manually select the USB drive.

If you see a message about Secure Boot or an "unauthorised" or "invalid signature" error, most mainstream beginner distributions (Linux Mint, Ubuntu, Zorin OS, Fedora) are actually signed and compatible with Secure Boot left switched on — so try leaving it enabled first. If a specific distribution's installer still fails, entering BIOS/UEFI settings and temporarily disabling Secure Boot usually resolves it; you can typically re-enable it afterwards if the distribution supports it, or leave it disabled if it does not.

Tip: Check your chosen distribution's official documentation for its specific Secure Boot compatibility before you start, since this varies and is often clearly stated on the download page.

Problem: the installer or new system boot-loops or hangs

A black screen, endless restart loop, or the installer freezing partway through is most often caused by a graphics driver compatibility issue, particularly on PCs with older Nvidia or certain integrated graphics chips. This is usually fixable at the boot menu itself.

  1. Restart and, at the installer's boot menu (the first screen with options like "Try/Install" and language selection), look for an option to edit boot parameters — often reached by pressing "e" or "Tab" depending on the distribution.
  2. Add the text "nomodeset" to the end of the boot line, then continue booting.
  3. If the installer now loads correctly, proceed with installation as normal — you can address graphics drivers properly once the system is installed and updated.
  4. If it still fails, try a different boot option often listed as "Safe graphics" or "Compatibility mode" on the same menu.

Problem: Wi-Fi doesn't work after installation

Some Wi-Fi adapters, particularly certain Broadcom and Realtek chips found in budget and older laptops, need a proprietary driver that is not included by default for licensing reasons. This is a known, common issue with straightforward fixes.

  1. Connect via an Ethernet cable temporarily if possible, or use another device to look up your specific Wi-Fi chip model (often findable via a quick web search of your laptop's exact model number).
  2. Open your distribution's "Driver Manager" or "Additional Drivers" tool (included in Linux Mint and Ubuntu-based distributions) and check for a proprietary Wi-Fi driver listed there.
  3. If none appears automatically, search "[your laptop model or Wi-Fi chip] Linux driver" for distribution-specific installation instructions, which usually involve a short terminal command.
  4. As a temporary workaround, a cheap USB Wi-Fi adapter with known strong Linux support can get you online immediately while you sort out the built-in adapter.

Before you start: If you rely on Wi-Fi for daily use, it is worth searching your exact laptop model plus "Linux Wi-Fi" before installing at all, so you know what to expect and are not caught without internet access afterwards.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to permanently disable Secure Boot?
For a home PC used only with mainstream, trusted distributions, yes — the main downside is a very slight reduction in protection against a specific, uncommon category of malware, not a practical concern for most users.
Why does "nomodeset" fix boot problems?
It tells the installer to use a basic, more universally compatible graphics mode instead of trying to load a specific driver that may not yet work correctly with your hardware, letting installation complete so proper drivers can be sorted out afterwards.
What if none of these fixes work for my specific PC?
Search your exact laptop or desktop model alongside your chosen distribution's name — installation issues are almost always hardware-specific and someone with the same model has very likely documented a fix already.

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