Laptop Recommendations?

[SteveRiley]

question tough. Where should I install the grub boot loader? MBR? or none?

Your computer has a UEFI firmware, not BIOS. The partition style on your disk is GPT, not MBR. Therefore, you don't have an MBR. On UEFI machines with GPT disks, the EFI system partition controls booting the machine. Each installed operating system places a boot loader into this partition. Each installed operating system registers the boot loader with the UEFI by creating an entry in the firmware's non-volatile memory (NVRAM). All UEFI machines include a rudimentary boot manager that you can activate by pressing a key during power-up (it's F10 on my Thinkpad T520). This boot manager displays a list of registered boot loaders. When you select one, the boot loader starts the associated operating system.

GRUB knows how to handle this. It sets itself up more or less like a tiny operating system -- it places a boot loader in the EFI system partition and registers with the firmware. GRUB also creates a menu of the installed operating systems that it knows about. Thus, when you start the computer, GRUB is the thing that loads. It presents its menu. When you select an operating system, GRUB hands over control.

On BIOS-based machines, GRUB is a necessity for handling multi-boot. On UEFI-based machines, it's really not required at all. But because so many people are familiar with it, nearly all Linux distributions continue to package it.

I checked the partitions again via Windows disk manager. The partitions are the same as before.But the surprizing thing is that all partitions, except Windows OS, are 100% free (empty) and seems to be non-formated.

Please take a photograph of this and post it here. I'm perplexed.

Also, except C:/, non shows up in Explorer. when I right click on C: partition I get a context menu including "shrink", but on all other partitions a right click shows a one item "help" menu. Could I perhaps delet any of these empty partitions? Or should I make a Windows recovery system and point the distination to the big recovery partition?

Don't do anything else just yet. Let me see that photo first.

I also, noticed that kubuntu live USB does not boot by a simple system start up, although the secure boot is disabled. Later I found out that I need to get into Windows and while holding down the shift key restart the system. This got me into a boot menu with the USB shown as an item. by selecting it I got into Kubuntu and I started to play and check the things out.

You need to disable the fast-boot feature. While you're at it, you also need to make some changes to the Windows clock. See post #4 in my knowledge base article Dual-booting Kubuntu on a Windows machine.

However, I could not get my wireless connected in live USB trial. Also, the invidia graphic card was not picked up in this live trial.

Please show the output of lspci -k here.

As for upgrade to 8.1,the only thing that perplexed me and I detested it, was that through the upgrade process I was forced to register the product by opening a Microsoft account with my email address (from any provider) as User ID and a Password.
Then Upon completion of upgrade at system reboot, the log in screen did not accept my own log-in credentials and instructed me that I must log in with the Microsoft registeration account's uid and pw. By doing such I was then logged in. Now I am wondering who owns and controls this laptop??

You do. This is not some sinister effort by Microsoft to take over your PC. Nevertheless, I think they've made it too hard to discover how to complete the install with only a local account. In the same article I linked earlier, look in post #3. I explain how to create a local account during setup. But you've already gone the Live account route. Fortunately, it's possible to disconnect your Live account and switch to a local one.

[marco07]

Just a quick response! I will be back to report more when more is done.
Thanks!

[marco07]

Your computer has a UEFI firmware, not BIOS. The partition style on your disk is GPT, not MBR. Therefore, ...

Thanks for explanation!

Please take a photograph of this and post it here. I'm perplexed.

Done. I hope they are clear and readable.

Don't do anything else just yet. Let me see that photo first.

Did not.

You need to disable the fast-boot feature. While you're at it, you also need to make some changes to the Windows clock. See post #4 in my knowledge base article Dual-booting Kubuntu on a Windows machine.

Could not disable (un-check) the "fast start up" box. It is greyed out

Please show the output of lspci -k here.

Fortunately, this issue is resolved when I run the live USB this time. Apparently last time when I booted the live USB from within the Windows, the wireless connection was switched off before the USB boot-up. So is the nvidia graphic card which was picked up by USB live this time around.

You do. This is not some sinister effort by Microsoft to take over your PC. Nevertheless, I think they've made it too hard to discover how to complete the install with only a local account. In the same article I linked earlier, look in post #3. I explain how to create a local account during setup. But you've already gone the Live account route. Fortunately, it's possible to disconnect your Live account and switch to a local one.

Thanks! I will decide on this later after installing the linux systems.
BTW, I did shrank the C:/ partition already w/no problem at all. But did not proceed w/installation to see if I can disable the fast start up option. Any idea why it is greyed out?
Thanks!

[Qqmike]

Let's not wander off-track here, marco07, but quickly, just this: "...the log in screen did not accept my own log-in credentials and instructed me that I must log in with the Microsoft registeration account's uid and pw." Rest assured, you are not alone. Happened also to me (on an Asus machine w/Windows 8.1), and others. Best advice is to either accept it or do as SteveRiley says and switch AFTER completing the setup. I do agree, it is somewhat unsettling, and I didn't like it either. Doing it Microsoft's way helps them, I guess, to help you organize and synchronize everything in their cloud-thing, Skype, social media, and such. (Btw, FWIW, I kept it as is, using the non-local MS u/n and p/w--never took time to switch it, and all is well so far.)

[marco07]

@Qqmike
Thank you! My goal right now is to have kubuntu installed. Then I will pay attention to this issue. I may decide to keep it as well.

[marco07]

I now have the fast boot disabled too. But with USB live inserted, the box still boots into Windows at start-up. I still must press shift key and restart the laptop in order to get into boot menu. The only item remaining to be done from SR list (his last post) is the clock set up. I have no idea what DWORD is and how to create it. And elevated command??

[SteveRiley]

I now have the fast boot disabled too. But with USB live inserted, the box still boots into Windows at start-up. I still must press shift key and restart the laptop in order to get into boot menu.

The firmware's boot order is set to boot from the hard drive first. You can probably change this in the firmware's settings.

The only item remaining to be done from SR list (his last post) is the clock set up. I have no idea what DWORD is and how to create it.

Once you navigate to the TimeZoneInformation registry key, go to the menu and choose Edit -> New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value.

And elevated command??

To perform system level commands at the command prompt, you have to open it with Administrator privileges. The instructions for doing that are right there in the sentence.

[marco07]

The firmware's boot order is set to boot from the hard drive first. You can probably change this in the firmware's settings..

I did this, which BTW, I thought it was already set as default by Lenovo. Anyhow, after
changing the order of boot-up device in firmware settings, I plugged in the live USB and started up the
laptop. It booted into live kubuntu with wireless detected and screen set to the deault
resolution (maximum.) I then proceeded with system installation on a 55 GB partition
in the free space of the hard drive already detected by the installer. The partition
was manually set up through the installer's partition manager.
The installation went smooth with no problem at all. Upon completion of the process, I
restarted the laptop. However, it booted into Windows system. Again here, I restarted the
system while holding down the shift key. This got me into a menu followed by a submenu with no
indication of kubuntu at all. Amongst the submenu line items, I, logically, selected a
so called HDD0... line item, which fortunately led me to the grub menu with kubuntu &
Windows being listed. Clicking on kubuntu, the system was booted up correctly.

Now I am wondering what more needs to be done to get properly into the grub (or is it
Windows boot manager) menu right when the laptop is turned on.
Thanks!

Edited later:
I forgot to mention that while setting the clock, after creating the DWORD as instructed, when I went to firmware settings menu, I could not find "Clock" any where in the menu, I Looked under every sub menus no Clock at all.
Now, my local time which was showing the correct time zone and time before, shows 7 hours ahead.
Do I need to go back and delete the created DWORD?

[millusions]

Sony Vaio,

have used a lot of hardware / software through the years and really liking Sony Vaio laptops,
this being my 2nd after a few dells and few toshibas

thats just my 5 cents.

[millusions]

Yet another reason for favoring ThinkPads is Lenovo's custom ordering capability. You can start with a base model and alter its specs to your liking. For example, right now on the Lenovo web site I'm tweaking a T540p to the way I'd like. The base system price is $899. My modifications:

* Memory: from 4 GB to 16 GB -- add $340
* Storage: from 500 GB hard drive to 256 GB solid state drive -- add $320

Getting really screwed here, for 320$ you can buy 2 x 256GB ssds, same goes for ram.
huge rip off

[millusions]

Sony Vaio's have a little problem, they are fragile.
Me and my colleagues travel a lot and I've never seen (the hinges of) a Vaio live for more than ~10 flights...

But if you are mainly stationary, yes they are usually compatible.

That's a pretty broad statment,
it reminds me of people saying how fragile iphones are, when they are dropped they shatter,
i think im on my 4th of 5th iphone and yet to shatter one.


when you say sony vaio is fragile, it means as opposed to what?
what beastie laptop survives 10 flights with you?

[millusions]

he he re: junk. i love my sony since the first i3 i had, comes with practially no bloatware, great battery time, awesome lcd..

the problem with Lenovo, in Australia, is the customer support, its terrible. At one stage, and this might not be the case at present, Lenovo had the best battery time out of all laptops.


wow, check in a laptop? not in this region, even on international flights the laptop goes in carry onboard bag and beats the inflight movie players

[SteveRiley]

Getting really screwed here, for 320$ you can buy 2 x 256GB ssds, same goes for ram.
huge rip off

Indeed. In post #26 of this thread, I compared Lenovo's prices to those from NewEgg. The markup is about 100% at Lenovo.

[millusions]

Indeed. In post #26 of this thread, I compared Lenovo's prices to those from NewEgg. The markup is about 100% at Lenovo.

somehow missed your very thorough post,

pay 1/2 AND keep the old bits, thats an offer nobody can refuse!

[marco07]

Hello folks;
just an update as to where I stand on dealing with my newly purchsed Thinkpad T540p as of now:
Well, I am pretty much stuck in the same situation as I last posted above (post #53). That is, accessing kubunta from within the Windows. I have researched and read many related and applicable posts in this forum and else where on the internet to no avail.
I have followed some suggestions I found by googling which caused me to bork the access to my Windows OS two times and was compelled to use "Recovery" system to restore the Windows 8.0 OS and yet had to go through upgrading it to 8.1 version each time ( a 2-3 hrs process).

The bottom line, this Thinkpad model (t540p) is not as linux friendly as I read and assumed it to be. So, anyone contemplating of buying one, be careful and google "Linux on Thinkpad t540p" and read many issues encountered by many with no suggested effective solution.
As for me, I have, for now, accepted the awkward way of accessin Grub by either, from within the Windows restarting it while pressing the shift key, or at power-on, just before start of Windows boot-up, pressing the "Enter" key, which brings up a device start-up menu, and selecting the (HDD0) which evidently grub is installed on (auto selected during install) and clicking on ubuntu.
Any thoughts and suggestions will be appreciated.