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How do I check that my system is Linux-compatible? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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Not too long ago I installed Mint onto a laptop that turned out to have a network card by Broadcom, which doesn't have Linux support, so that didn't work. I'm going to upgrade my currently Windows PC to Mint at the end of Win10 support in October, and I want to be sure I don't have any hardware that is incompatible with Linux. Which manufacturers are obstinate like that?

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[–] 18 points 1 year ago (7 children)

Also keep in mind that laptop wifi cards are usually easily replaceable, so if you end up with that being the only problem it's usually cheap and easy to solve

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  • [–] 11 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    this

    these cards are about $ 5-12 and i pull them from junk laptops all the time

    not the "easiest" thing to solve but well within the abilities of somebody who can build a PC

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    If you happen to have a nice enterprise laptop, you can usually access the card very easily. For example HP EliteBook laptops (which are sort of nice laptops, but with a bad keyboard) you won’t even need any tools to open the bottom lid. Lenovo ThinkPad laptops tend to require a screwdriver. Never actually swapped a wifi card on either of these, but I guess there could be one more screw holding the card in place. Definitely doable, and it won’t take too long.

    Contrast that with HP Pavilion or Acer Aspire TrashBooks. Yes, I have opened a few of those, and I regret every minute of it. Normally, you need to disassemble the whole thing before you get to even see the parts you need to swap. It’s not quite as painful as opening Apple hardware, but it’s not far behind. Verdict: 2/10, would not recommend.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    Not all laptops have replaceable wireless cards. If you have a thinner machine they probably soldered it on. But I can’t find any rhyme or reason to what manufacturers do and don’t solder.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Interesting, I don't think I've ever seen a laptop where it was soldered.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    My Thinkpad P1's is soldered :( At least that came with a good Intel Wireless card.

    But somehow on my T14s (a much smaller machine) it wasn't soldered.

    But then on the bigger T14 it is soldered. So I have no clue what is going on at Lenovo. At least the machines with good wifi cards are soldered, and the shit ass ones are

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