I have installed chrome os on a surface go 2 and I was unable to boot from usb anymore, than, after many unsucces methods, I found your video and managed to install linux with method nr. 3! Thank you!!!
It is not working for me, Im using Chrome Os Flex and the only terminal i have is the linux vm. Whit it im having the error "system does not support efi variables"
I was expecting a hassle trying to install Ubuntu Desktop 22 LTS on it, but it was much easier than I thought. What I did: Turn off Secure boot and enabled USB boot in the BIOS. Booted from a USB drive prepared with Ventoy, containing the .ISO for Ubuntu. And voila, the installation started. I had no issues removing the existing Windows 10 partitions. Easy peasy!
Huh. I have previously tried to get Ventoy USB Drives to work with my Microsoft Surface Go 2, but it's never worked for me for some reason. Perhaps I should make a new Ventoy USB drive and give it a go? Maybe something's changed since I last tried it? Either way, happy to hear it worked out for you.
I'm thinking maybe there is a (slight?) difference in hardware. Mine is a European version, so the BIOS and/or firmware may not exactly be the same. Also I used a HP dongle from USB-C to USB 2.0 I was quite surprised to get it working so fast. The only hassle I had was to find the BIOS password 😄
Hi there! I am currently looking to buy a surface go (1st gen or maybe 2nd gen, have not decided yet) to use for coding (I am starting to learn coding and looking for backend blockchain development) and need to use it when outside the home (i have a pretty decent pc at home) was wondering if using linux would be better for this purpose compared to windows and if so, which one should i install? Thanks a lot
Unless you need it to be a detachable device with a 10.5 inch screen, I would not recommend going with a Surface Go (Gen 1 or 2) in 2024. Even when they were initially released, the Surface Go Gen 1 was using what, at the time, was considering to be an entry level processor (same can be said about the Gen 2). And as time has passed, the processors are really starting to show their age/limit. They're still usable, but can be kind of slow. Which isn't ideal. Especially when considering that there are newer & more powerful devices that you may be able to pick up at a similar price. So if I were you, I would probably go for a used laptop (or a new entry level laptop) instead of one of these Surface Gos. I feel like that might be more suitable for your use case.
Nice. The method you describe should actually work for most Surface devices. For whatever reason though, it just doesn't seem to work with a lot of the Surface Go devices. It's very weird and incovenient for Surface Go owners.
I need a lot of help here so I installed Ubuntu onto my Surface go but then I realized there was a better Linux version for Surface and I don't know how to boot from a USB now
You can insert an usb hub One containing surface2recoveryfiles. and one containing linux then boot into surfacereoveryfiles and in the blue menu select boot from usb and then select the linux one.
ahh great, had windows 11, wanting to drop to 10, did you first step of turn off secure boot and now anything I try to do is asking me for bitlocker recovery key, so now I dont have an operable Surface and still can't boot so my win10 USB bootable thumb drive 😞 GREAT!
If you want to drop to Windows 10, you shouldn't need to turn off secure boot. Have you tried booting int o a Win10 USB thumb drive with secure boot turned on?
The Ubuntu USB shows the Ubuntu startup install screen just fine. However the bluetooth keyboard is not recognized. None of the keys work including up and down arrows. How do I get the bluetooth keyboard to work? Very nice video.
You need to manually connect to the bluetooth keyboard through the Bluetooth settings (in Ubuntu). Just like you would do when trying to connect a Bluetooth keyboard to a device for the first time.
Interesting video. I am familiar with installing Linux, as dual boot as well. Can this be done on the Surface? I mean, just in case you need to run something that's just available for Microsoft
I can say not all distros are equal. Could never get Ubuntu to boot with Windows 10 dual boot but both Debian and MX Linux (which I am using now) work great. Did use the Ubuntu usb to format the drive space though.
I never tried to dual boot with this device. It doesn't come with a lot of storage space in the first place, so I just didn't feel like it'd be worth it.
Awesome! You helped me a lot with this video! Well done!
Wish I didn't need the brute force method, but at least I found it here
🤞🤞 hope it works
I have installed chrome os on a surface go 2 and I was unable to boot from usb anymore, than, after many unsucces methods, I found your video and managed to install linux with method nr. 3! Thank you!!!
It is not working for me, Im using Chrome Os Flex and the only terminal i have is the linux vm. Whit it im having the error "system does not support efi variables"
Nevermind, brute force worked
I was expecting a hassle trying to install Ubuntu Desktop 22 LTS on it, but it was much easier than I thought. What I did: Turn off Secure boot and enabled USB boot in the BIOS. Booted from a USB drive prepared with Ventoy, containing the .ISO for Ubuntu.
And voila, the installation started. I had no issues removing the existing Windows 10 partitions. Easy peasy!
Huh. I have previously tried to get Ventoy USB Drives to work with my Microsoft Surface Go 2, but it's never worked for me for some reason. Perhaps I should make a new Ventoy USB drive and give it a go? Maybe something's changed since I last tried it? Either way, happy to hear it worked out for you.
I'm thinking maybe there is a (slight?) difference in hardware. Mine is a European version, so the BIOS and/or firmware may not exactly be the same. Also I used a HP dongle from USB-C to USB 2.0
I was quite surprised to get it working so fast. The only hassle I had was to find the BIOS password 😄
Hi there! I am currently looking to buy a surface go (1st gen or maybe 2nd gen, have not decided yet) to use for coding (I am starting to learn coding and looking for backend blockchain development) and need to use it when outside the home (i have a pretty decent pc at home) was wondering if using linux would be better for this purpose compared to windows and if so, which one should i install? Thanks a lot
Unless you need it to be a detachable device with a 10.5 inch screen, I would not recommend going with a Surface Go (Gen 1 or 2) in 2024. Even when they were initially released, the Surface Go Gen 1 was using what, at the time, was considering to be an entry level processor (same can be said about the Gen 2). And as time has passed, the processors are really starting to show their age/limit. They're still usable, but can be kind of slow. Which isn't ideal. Especially when considering that there are newer & more powerful devices that you may be able to pick up at a similar price.
So if I were you, I would probably go for a used laptop (or a new entry level laptop) instead of one of these Surface Gos. I feel like that might be more suitable for your use case.
you also need to disable bitlocker encryption, if it is enabled in Window 10.
ok so just turn off sucure boot thats what i did on my school surface and then volume down + power select my linux arch usb done
Nice. The method you describe should actually work for most Surface devices. For whatever reason though, it just doesn't seem to work with a lot of the Surface Go devices. It's very weird and incovenient for Surface Go owners.
Thank you! That was indeed a pain to do.
I need a lot of help here so I installed Ubuntu onto my Surface go but then I realized there was a better Linux version for Surface and I don't know how to boot from a USB now
Did you try Method 3 with the efibootmgr?
@@OctillionthTech that actually really helped thank you
You can insert an usb hub One containing surface2recoveryfiles. and one containing linux then boot into surfacereoveryfiles and in the blue menu select boot from usb and then select the linux one.
Interesting. That never occurred to me.
Same problem , now solved thank you
Can i use a SDcard
Thanks man!
good video
ahh great, had windows 11, wanting to drop to 10, did you first step of turn off secure boot and now anything I try to do is asking me for bitlocker recovery key, so now I dont have an operable Surface and still can't boot so my win10 USB bootable thumb drive 😞 GREAT!
If you want to drop to Windows 10, you shouldn't need to turn off secure boot. Have you tried booting int o a Win10 USB thumb drive with secure boot turned on?
The Ubuntu USB shows the Ubuntu startup install screen just fine. However the bluetooth keyboard is not recognized. None of the keys work including up and down arrows. How do I get the bluetooth keyboard to work? Very nice video.
You need to manually connect to the bluetooth keyboard through the Bluetooth settings (in Ubuntu). Just like you would do when trying to connect a Bluetooth keyboard to a device for the first time.
Interesting video. I am familiar with installing Linux, as dual boot as well. Can this be done on the Surface? I mean, just in case you need to run something that's just available for Microsoft
Can't speak for all Surfaces, but you can dual boot with the Surface Go 2.
I can say not all distros are equal. Could never get Ubuntu to boot with Windows 10 dual boot but both Debian and MX Linux (which I am using now) work great. Did use the Ubuntu usb to format the drive space though.
I never tried to dual boot with this device. It doesn't come with a lot of storage space in the first place, so I just didn't feel like it'd be worth it.
I use it for network testing and it's handy to have both OS if I need it. I can't imagine using it for modern gaming.@@OctillionthTech