X1E-78-100

Setup - general steps

Create a backup USB medium (>32GB) using the tool Wiederherstellungslaufwerk
Shrink C partition, using Disk manager of System Control, add 2 partitions for Linux root and home
install Debian to WSL-2

Install Linux parallel to Windows

These steps are the ones I remember to have performed to get Linux running.

Please use these with care; the list of actions may be incomplete or may simply not work on any other device.

Disable secure boot on HP Omnibook X 14

On windows, go to Einstellungen / System / Wiederherstellung
Then click on Erweiterter Start / Jetzt neu starten (2x)
The system reboots into BIOS Setup Utility
Then set Boot Options / Secure Boot / Disabled
Optionally, you may disable the USB power while sleep+off (This prevents the USB-C hub to drain battery)
Then Save Changes and Exit
Then type the displayed 4digit code and press Enter
Then reboot into Windows

Prepare a USB memory stick

To create a bootable memory stick, download an image from here: https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/ubuntu-24-10-concept-snapdragon-x-elite/48800

Copy this image to a memory stick:

 sudo dd if=Downloads/oracular-desktop-arm64+x1e.iso of=/dev/sdb bs=4M conv=sync status=progress

WARNING: Adapt the command before using it; if /dev/sdb is the wrong disk, you destroy your computer. Check e.g. with sudo fdisk --list for the right of= disk.

Install Grub and Linux (1st try)

Possibly you can go directly to my 2nd try...

On windows, go to Einstellungen / System / Wiederherstellung
Then click on Erweiterter Start / Jetzt neu starten (2x)
Wait: The system reboots into BIOS Setup Utility
Then: Run Problembehandlung / Erweiterte Optionen / UEFI Firmware Einstellungen / Neu Starten
Then: UEFI Menu appears
DO NOT RUN THE BOOTMANAGER (It will not run the installer)
Instead, change the boot order under Setup

Install Grub and Linux (2nd try)

On windows, go to Einstellungen / System / Wiederherstellung
Then click on Erweiterter Start / Jetzt neu starten (2x)
Wait: The system reboots into BIOS Setup Utility
Then: Run Ein Gerät verwenden / USB ROM Drive
Then the installer on USB drive boots. Select "Try or install Ubuntu"
Do a manual install
- allow to install 3rd party software
- do not change the /boot disk-options, only set root and home partitions

Decrypt NTFS

I do not know if this is needed - but I did the following:

On Windows, deactivate Bitlocker in "Einstellungen" / "Datenschutz und Sicherheit" / "Geräteverschlüsselung"
This then takes a while

Run qcom-firmware-extractor

You need an internet connection.

Plug an USB cable to your USB-A port (!) and connect it to you mobile phone
Enable USB Tethering on your mobile phone
On a command shell, run
- sudo apt update
- sudo apt install qcom-firmware-extract
- sudo qcom-firmware-extract
Reboot your PC

Quite a lot of peripherals on a USB-C hub may work now, like external keyboard, mouse, monitor, ethernet.

Update your system

sudo apt upgrade
Reboot your PC