Ubuntu – Can Ubuntu be installed on Intel Atom based laptop or mini PC

bootbootloaderintel atomlenovosystem-installation

I have run into a lot of conflicting information for this laptop, and I want to warn you all about a couple of things before you jump to conclusions.

1) Lenovo has several Laptops sold under "100s" – some with Celeron others with Atom processors. I am referring to the Atom notebooks here.

2) There is a lot of information suggesting that a 32bit EUFI bootloader is required for these, but I have found nothing in the bios suggesting this.

3) These laptops have very limited bios. You cannot edit the boot order! You cannot disable EUFI!

The complete list of editable options in the bios include:

  • Secure boot (on or off)
  • Reset to setup mode
  • Restore Factory Keys
  • Hotkey mode. (on or off)

I am serious, that is it.

If you enable the boot menu you only get Windows Boot Manager no matter you have on the USB drive. Other options exist but are greyed for unknown reasons.

Does anyone know how to get Linux onto an Atom with such a restrictive bootloader? I have seen threads that suggest it's possible, but no one has described the absolutely limited boot environment I have encountered.

Will booting from USB magically become available if I arrange an image with a 32bit EUFI bootloader?

How do I troubleshoot this?

Best Answer

I was able to install Lubuntu 17.10 onto a Lenovo Ideapad 100S, I think mine might be a little later generation (14-1BY) because the bios does allow modification of boot order, and other things I'm used to in a bios.

Regular install of just the standard 17.10 64-bit iso for Lubuntu did not work; booting into the LiveCD was fine, install seemed fine, but then it wouldn't boot on its own. Through searching threads like these, it seems the Ideapad really does need a 32-bit booter.

I was able to get there (pointed to by other posts like this) using isorespin.sh. I respun the lubuntu 17.10 64-bit iso with options --atom -u -s 2GB (-u updates to latest kernel, and -s makes a persistent partition, because I thought, if this fails, at least I'll have a more usable bootable USB). Check also respun ISOs (suitable for Intel Atom and Intel Apollo Lake devices).

Before, with preinstalled Windows 10 and Quickbooks and Chrome and THAT'S IT, the measly 32gb drive was full and screaming about windows updates it couldn't apply because it had no room. It's irresponsible of Lenovo to make a pc with a drive that small and sell it with windows 10 on it. I pity all the less-computer-literate, low-income households that bought one of these because of the price, and found it largely unusable.

Now with Lubuntu installed I've got 22GB drive space available! More than I'll ever need because this box will only ever need to be used for browsing (including document and spreadsheet writing in Google Docs).

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