Tag: IdeaPad

Categories
Tech

Ubuntu on IdeaPad

My Lenovo IdeaPad 540S running Ubuntu 20.04
My Lenovo IdeaPad 540S running Ubuntu 20.04

I run Ubuntu 20.04 LTS on my Lenovo IdeaPad S540. It is not officially supported, but it works fine.

Warning

No matter how hard I tried, the fingerprint reader could never be detected by Ubuntu.

Before installing

  • Change disk mode to AHCI
  • Disable safe boot (otherwise, wi-fi adapter will not work) This was true for Ubuntu 18.04 but solved in version 20

Suggestion

Install TLP for better battery management.

sudo apt install tlp

Fix wi-fi drivers after every system update

This is required under Ubuntu 18.04, not under 20.04.

# NOTE: you need an internet connection to perform these actions.
# You may share your smartphone connection via usb!

sudo apt update;
sudo apt install git build-essential;
git clone https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/iwlwifi/backport-iwlwifi.git;
cd backport-iwlwifi/ || exit;  # Exit in case cd fails
make defconfig-iwlwifi-public;
sed -i 's/CPTCFG_IWLMVM_VENDOR_CMDS=y/# CPTCFG_IWLMVM_VENDOR_CMDS is not set/' .config;
make -j4;
sudo make install;
sudo modprobe iwlwifi;

At BIOS update

I kept my Windows partition just in case, and it turns out pretty useful if you need to update your BIOS. Firmware encapsulation is likely feasible, but I didn’t explore it.

After the update, you will need to set BIOS settings again: change disk mode to AHCI (Storage > AHCI) and disable safe boot. Ignore warning about data loss (thrilling, isn’t it?).

Windows may need to restore the system after a couple blue screens, do not worry.