Think of installing Linux simply like opening the bonnet of a car to change the engine. Right now, your computer is designed to automatically start the "Windows engine" located on your hard drive every time you turn the key. To swap to Linux, you just need to pop the hood (enter BIOS) and tell the car to start using the new "Linux engine" sitting on your USB stick or DVD instead.
Step 1: Pop the Hood (Enter BIOS/UEFI)
Restart your computer with the USB or DVD containing the Linux installation media inserted. As soon as your computer starts booting, press and hold the BIOS/UEFI key. This is usually one of the following: F2, F10, F12, or Del. Your screen should display which key to press during startup.
Step 2: Choose the New Engine (Boot from USB or DVD)
Navigate to the Boot tab in the BIOS/UEFI menu. Set the boot order so that your USB drive or DVD drive is the first boot device. This ensures your computer boots from the Linux installation media before attempting to boot from the hard drive. Save your changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI menu.
Step 3: Install Linux
After booting from the USB or DVD, follow the on-screen instructions to install Linux on your PC or laptop. The installation process will guide you through partitioning, selecting your preferred settings, and completing the setup.
Additional Things to Try If Linux Won't Boot
Sometimes, Windows and PC manufacturers do their best to lock the computer down to ensure you stick to the Windows ecosystem. They install digital locks and obstacles that act like welding the bonnet shut, making it difficult for you to gain the control necessary to swap your operating system. Whilst these extra settings will not be required for the vast majority of new Linux users, those using some of the lesser known or smaller Linux OS may need to turn these settings off. Here is how to bypass those locks:
Fixing the "Verification Failed: (0x1A) Security Violation" Error (Ventoy Multiboot USB)
If you are using a Ventoy multiboot USB and see a blue screen displaying "Verification failed: (0x1A) Security Violation" when trying to boot, this means your PC's Secure Boot is blocking Ventoy because it does not recognise its digital signature. This is very common on HP laptops and other modern PCs. You have two options: enroll Ventoy's security key (recommended — keeps Secure Boot on), or disable Secure Boot entirely.
Option A — Enroll the Ventoy Key (Recommended)
This is the preferred fix as it keeps Secure Boot active while allowing Ventoy to run:
- When the blue "Verification failed: (0x1A) Security Violation" screen appears, press Enter (or OK)
- On the next screen — the Shim UEFI Key Management screen — press any key before the 10-second countdown ends
- Select Enroll key from disk and press Enter
- Select VTOYEFI from the list and press Enter
- Select the file ENROLL_THIS_KEY_IN_MOKMANAGER.cer and press Enter
- Select Continue and press Enter
- Select Yes and press Enter to confirm enrollment
- Select Reboot and press Enter — Ventoy will now boot normally
Note: You only need to do this once. After enrolling the key, Ventoy will be trusted by your PC on every subsequent boot.
Option B — Disable Secure Boot via BIOS (HP Laptops)
If enrolling the key does not work, or if you prefer a simpler fix, you can disable Secure Boot directly in the BIOS:
- Restart your PC and press F10 (HP) or Esc then F10 to enter the BIOS setup
- Navigate to the Advanced tab, then select Secure Boot Configuration
- Set Secure Boot to Disabled
- Press F10 to save and exit, then select Yes to confirm
- Your PC will restart and Ventoy will boot without the security violation error
On non-HP computers, the Secure Boot option is usually found under the Security or Boot tab in BIOS. The key to enter BIOS varies — common keys are F2, F12, or Del.
Selecting GRUB2 Boot Mode in Ventoy (For Testing on an Existing Linux Install)
Ventoy offers a GRUB2 boot mode as an alternative to its default boot method. This is particularly useful if you are testing a Linux ISO on a machine that already has Linux installed, or if the default Ventoy boot mode fails to load a specific distribution correctly.
- When to use it: Use GRUB2 mode only when the default Ventoy boot mode fails, or when booting on an existing Linux system where GRUB2 is already the system bootloader. It is not needed for standard installations.
- Linux only: GRUB2 mode can only boot Linux ISO files that contain a GRUB2 configuration file — it cannot boot Windows, WinPE, or Unix images.
- How to activate it: In the Ventoy main menu, highlight your chosen ISO, then press Ctrl + R to switch to GRUB2 mode. Press Ctrl + R again to return to normal mode.
- Alternative method (Ventoy 1.0.80+): Highlight your ISO and press Enter to open the secondary boot menu — you can then select Boot in GRUB2 mode directly from the list without using keyboard shortcuts.
Always try the default (normal) boot mode first. Only switch to GRUB2 mode if you encounter problems loading a particular Linux distribution.
Disable Secure Boot
Secure Boot acts like a strict security guard employed by Microsoft. Its job is to check the digital ID of anything trying to boot up; if it isn't on the Windows "approved list," it blocks it. While major Linux versions like Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora, openSUSE and Debian do not require Secure Boot to be disabled, some smaller Linux OS needs you to disable Secure Boot. To remove this guard:
- Navigate to the Security or Boot tab in the BIOS/UEFI menu
- Locate the Secure Boot option and disable it
- Save your changes before exiting
Disable Fast Boot/Fast Startup
Fast Startup is a trick Windows uses to make your PC feel faster, but it effectively puts your computer into a deep hibernation rather than fully shutting it down. This allows Windows to maintain a grip on your hard drive even when the computer looks off, preventing Linux from accessing the drive. You need to force Windows to let go:
In BIOS/UEFI:
- Navigate to the Boot or Advanced tab
- Look for "Fast Boot" or "Fast Startup" and disable it
- Save your changes
In Windows:
- Open Control Panel
- Go to Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do
- Click "Change settings that are currently unavailable"
- Uncheck "Turn on fast startup (recommended)"
- Save changes and restart
Switching from Windows 11
Ensure Windows Bitlocker is suspended, before changing the operating system to Linux.
If you continue to experience issues, or if you encounter problems after installing Linux, consider using free AI platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity AI. or Grok AI. These tools can provide detailed answers and solutions to any Linux-related questions. Both platforms are free to use and do not require registration.
