Is it possible to simply load Linux onto the laptop or do you have to pay attention to something or something? So I have a Windows10 Laptop from 2017 from HP?

Is it possible to simply load Linux onto the laptop or do you have to pay attention to something or something? So I have a Windows10 Laptop from 2017 from HP?!

Linux is the operating system kernel for a whole range of so-called Linux distributions.

You can also "load" the kernel on a computer running Windows 10, but it will not do much for you.

What you seem to mean is whether you can install one of the many GNU / Linux distributions on your laptop.

The basic answer is yes!

The counter question (s) is / are:

What do you expect from it?

What do you imagine under (a) Linux (-Distribution) at all?

How do you come up with this idea?

What do you want to do with the laptop (office, internet, watch video, stream etc.)

Is it possible to simply load Linux onto the laptop or do you have to pay attention to something or something?

Yes, there are some things to keep in mind:

Should GNU / Linux be installed next to Windows or instead?
Linux can't work with the file systems used by Windows, it needs a file system that can work with links and file attributes (BtrFS, ext, ect.)
For a GNU / Linux system normally at least two partitions are needed (SWAP and /) but in the best case there are / home and / tmp as own partitions.
Linux is an alternative and not a replacement for Windows!

Linux Hase

Simply safe and stress-free: Just take a VM with Linux.

A parallel installation is of course just as possible, but of course it would be good if you provide some free space on the HDD, so that the installer can create a new partition there.

Your information is based on outdated versions of Linux. Meanwhile, Linux can properly handle NTFS or FAT32 file systems used with Windows. Therefore, Linux can be a replacement, or an improvement.

There's another hook or even several:

Not all printers or scanners are supported. For peripheral devices, the availability of drivers must be checked. I've noticed that QNAP network drives are poorly supported. You have to reconnect after every start, in other words mount.

Linux is not suitable for fans of gaming.

Meanwhile, Linux can properly handle NTFS or FAT32 file systems used with Windows.

GNU / Linux systems have been around for a long time, but they can't store their data on such file systems without losing all file attributes (execution rights, ownership, etc.).

Not all printers or scanners are supported.

Whether and what hardware worked but nothing to do with the installation of the system. Incidentally, in my> 12 years with GNU / Linux I had only once a hardware for which could not be brought to run (was a network interface), but about 6 months later was no longer a problem.

For peripheral devices, the availability of drivers must be checked.

That's the same, it's always about device drivers / modules, whether internal or external hardware.

I've noticed that QNAP network drives are poorly supported.

Whether this is so I can't confirm or deny lack of own hardware of this kind. Since, however, on all NAS devices anyway a Linux on it would be surprised if not because the manufacturer has built a hurdle., Because in all cases it is up to the hardware manufacturer for the provision of drivers is responsible. Or do you think that Microsoft builds all the drivers themselves? - They have almost nothing of what they sell themselves!

Linux is not suitable for fans of gaming.

That is also true, based on Windows games, but is irrelevant to the issue (installation of the operating system).

Linux Hase

The problems mentioned by me are very important for the installation.

What use is a smooth installation if important functions do not work?

I report from my own experience. Although QNAP has a Linux system. What good is that if the necessary entry in the fstab is executed after the network connections have been established? Unfortunately, I did not find a solution in the forums for the used Linux-Mint, but only the comment that it is an imposition of QNAP that Linux is supported so badly. Of course, the manufacturer is responsible, but what good is the user, if not de Linux authors, but someone else is responsible? The Linux authors have done a great deal in that virtually all driver problems have been solved for even exotic notebooks and graphics cards. That was by no means self-evident at Microsoft. I first had to look for the right drivers for the chipset for my notebook, and my somewhat outdated notebook running Vista is not supported by Windows 10, but it does appreciate the latest Linux mint.

VM has the disadvantage on old hardware that it becomes prohibitively slow in contrast to a direct installation on disk. Thus, my outdated notebook is estimated to be 4 times faster than the pre-installed Vista, so again usable.

For a 2017 device?

As the CPU should hopefully bring everything necessary for a virtualization. (Maybe no IO-SRV, but given).

Ultimately, the VM is a simple alternative to take a quick look at, usually can work well on modern hardware and who, of course, can make a native installation.

The question was:

Is it possible to simply load Linux onto the laptop or do you have to pay attention to something or something?

If you want to answer the question as accurately as you do, then you would have to check on each of their operating system first whether there's support for all hardware.

But in my experience, that's nothing fundamental, because no other operating system on this planet supports more hardware than Linux does!

What use is a smooth installation if important functions do not work?

Also, a Windows will be installed first before then inserting the manufacturer's CD of the motherboard manufacturer to all hardware to use it. Not to mention retrofitted hardware and external peripherals.

Unfortunately no solution found, but only the comment that it was an imposition of QNAP,

Which is also completely correct.

The Linux authors have done a great deal in that virtually all driver problems have been solved for even exotic notebooks and graphics cards.

Right, see above.

That was by no means self-evident at Microsoft.

and it is still not today. Or you can install Windows 10 on a Pentium 1 and fully use all the hardware?

I first had to look for the right drivers for the chipset for my notebook,

No idea what "artful" should be, but every kid knows that the newer or more exotic the hardware the less likely that it will be "soon" supported, even on Windows. The stupidest of course it is when it comes to the network chips, because then "the cat bites in the tail" Driver Download without working Internet:-(

and my somewhat outdated notebook running Vista is not supported by Windows10, but I'm happy with the latest Linux mint.

Also, I have hardware, a keyboard with a smart card reader, which is no longer supported since Windows XP, but works immediately under any GNU / Linux. (I read my driver card)

Linux Hase

2017 is like new for me, I think of devices that are at least 5 years old, I do not buy a new one every 2 years.

I also meant the device of the questioner - If it was a 10-year-old box, of course, see the other sausage.

All right. Nevertheless, I have experienced that an approx. 8 years old printer from HP was not supported by Linux-Mint. By that I mean, that I appreciate Linux, since almost everything is possible with gui. Even so, without testing, you can't just dub the old system with Linux before you're convinced that essential components are supported.

Until about 2 years ago, I have inevitably stayed with Vista, because I did not manage to get the WLAN function with Linux.