JacksonL Installation Process

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TL;DR from JacksonL is I am going to just return this laptop and get an older one that works.

Installing Linux on HP Laptop 15-fd1xxx: A Troubleshooting Chronicle

Overview

This document records a full technical journey installing and troubleshooting Linux on an HP Laptop 15-fd1xxx (2024 model). It includes UEFI configuration, BitLocker considerations, dual-boot setup, GRUB repair, driver compatibility, and final lessons learned.

The system was initially prepared using a bootable USB created with Rufus and a standard Ubuntu-based distribution image.

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Hardware Summary

  • **Model:** HP Laptop 15-fd1xxx
  • **CPU:** Intel Core Ultra / 13th Gen Core variant (UEFI-only platform)
  • **Storage:** NVMe SSD (UEFI boot required)
  • **Wi-Fi:** Realtek RTL8852BE (PCI ID b520)
  • **Touchpad:** Synaptics/Elan I²C precision touchpad
  • **Ports:** 2× USB-A, no Ethernet port

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Phase 1: Booting Linux from USB

  • The USB was created using **Rufus** on Windows.
  • Initial attempts to boot showed:
 * BIOS “Legacy” vs “UEFI” confusion.  
 * Error Load failure: [26] Security Violation — caused by Secure Boot blocking unsigned Linux EFI binaries.

Resolution

  • Enter BIOS (press `Esc` → `F10` on boot).
  • Navigate to **Boot Options**:
 * Set UEFI Boot Mode = Enabled  
 * Set Secure Boot = Disabled (or “Allow Other OS”)  
 * Confirm changes and reboot.

Result: The system successfully booted the USB in UEFI mode.

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Phase 2: BitLocker Recovery Event

When Secure Boot was disabled, Windows detected a firmware-state change and triggered a BitLocker Recovery screen.

Root Cause

BitLocker (or “Device Encryption” on Windows Home) uses UEFI and TPM measurements to protect the system. Any modification to Secure Boot, boot order, or UEFI keys invalidates the TPM hash and requires a recovery key.

Workaround

  • Visit Microsoft’s Recovery Key Portal.
  • Sign in using the same Microsoft account linked to the laptop.
  • Enter the displayed 48-digit key to unlock Windows.
  • Once logged in, open **Manage BitLocker → Turn off BitLocker** to decrypt the drive prior to further installations.

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Phase 3: Preparing for Dual Boot

1. From Windows Disk Management: 

  * Shrink `C:` by ~50 GB (≈ 51200 MB).  
  * Leave space unallocated (do not format).

2. Boot again from the Linux USB (F9 → Boot Options → USB). 3. Launch the installer. 4. Choose **Install alongside Windows Boot Manager** to auto-configure partitions.

During installation, a failure occurred: The 'grub-efi-amd64-signed' package failed to install into /target/. Without the GRUB boot loader, the installed system will not boot.


Root Cause

The installer could not download the GRUB EFI package due to missing internet connectivity in the live session.

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Phase 4: Internet Connectivity Challenges

  • The network list in the Linux live environment did not populate.
  • Investigation via `lspci | grep -i network` revealed:

Network controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Device b520

→ Identified as **RTL8852BE** (Realtek Wi-Fi 6E).

Cause

This Realtek chipset requires the `rtw89_8852be` kernel module, only included in kernels ≥ 6.2.

Attempted Fix

sudo apt update sudo apt install linux-modules-extra-$(uname -r)

Result: No effect — the live USB’s kernel (5.15–6.2 range) lacked the correct driver hooks.

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Phase 5: Workarounds and Connectivity Options

USB Tethering

Because the HP 15-fd1xxx lacks Ethernet, a temporary network was established using a smartphone:

Android:

  1. Connect phone via USB.
  2. Enable USB tethering (Settings → Network & Internet → Hotspot & Tethering).
  3. Linux auto-detects a wired network interface.

iPhone:

  1. Connect via Lightning cable.
  2. Select “Trust This Computer”.
  3. Linux auto-detects the connection as wired.

This connection was used to fetch packages or run Boot-Repair.

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Phase 6: Touchpad Non-Function

The I²C touchpad was also unresponsive in the live environment. Reason: the same older kernel lacked the `i2c_hid_acpi` and HP-specific input modules for this hardware generation.

Keyboard navigation or a USB hub was used during installation.

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Phase 7: Root Cause and Final Solution

Problem Summary

Subsystem Symptom Cause Kernel Requirement
Wi-Fi (RTL8852BE) No networks visible Missing `rtw89` driver ≥ 6.2
Touchpad (I²C) No cursor or click response Missing `i2c_hid_acpi` fixups ≥ 6.5
GRUB install Fails in offline mode No network to fetch signed EFI package Internet required

Recommended Fix

Upgrade to or install a distribution with kernel **6.5+**:

  • **Ubuntu 24.04 LTS** – kernel 6.8
  • **Linux Mint 22** – kernel 6.8
  • **Fedora 40** – kernel 6.9

These releases natively support both the Realtek 8852BE and the HP I²C touchpad. No manual driver compilation or patches required.

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Lessons Learned

  • Secure Boot must be disabled (or Linux-signed keys enrolled) before installation.
  • BitLocker reacts to any Secure Boot change — always decrypt before modifying firmware settings.
  • “Device Encryption” on Windows Home = BitLocker under a simpler name.
  • New laptop models often require newer Linux kernels; older LTS versions may lack necessary drivers.
  • For portable devices with few USB ports, keep a small USB hub for installers, tethering, and mice simultaneously.

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Recommendation Summary

Option Pros Notes
Install newer distro (Ubuntu 24.04/Mint 22/Fedora 40) Immediate Wi-Fi + touchpad support Best option for HP 15-fd1xxx
Use current distro + HWE kernel Keeps familiar environment Run: sudo apt install linux-image-generic-hwe-22.04
Replace laptop with older model (e.g. ThinkPad T480) Works with legacy kernels used by peers Only if constrained to older kernel version

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TL;DR

  • The HP 15-fd1xxx’s Wi-Fi and touchpad are too new for the kernel in older Linux installers.
  • GRUB installation failed because no network was available to fetch EFI packages.
  • Upgrading to a newer kernel (≥ 6.5) or using a newer distro fully resolves all issues.
  • Once installed on SSD, the system dual-boots Windows and Linux smoothly.

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Author: ChatGPT (GPT-5) Collaborator: User (HP Laptop 15-fd1xxx owner and Linux explorer) Date: 2025-10-26 License: CC-BY-SA 4.0

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