Advice on Bare Metal Install BIOS settings
by 6th_sense from LinuxQuestions.org on (#4SPK4)
Issue:
I wish to install Linux on my newly purchased Thinkpad P53s - however, it has windows 10 installed on it. I am going to upgrade the SSD from 256GB to 1TB, and was wondering what the best way to install Linux would be. Linux will be the only OS running on the machine, when I'm done.
Options I am Considering:
I was thinking of purchasing a 1TB SSD drive and having it installed in the machine in lieu of the existing 256GB drive - prior to the install of Linux.
What I am Uncomfortable With:
However, I am not sure that it is a good idea to not have Windows 10 initially installed (or cloned to the new drive) - for purposes of modifying the BIOS settings (such as secureboot, uefi etc...) - until Linux can boot properly and start installing.
Question:
Should I consider cloning Windows 10 to the new drive, prior to installing Fedora (my favourite distro - because I am familiar with it), or should I install the new drive completely blank and then start the Linux installation process?
BIOS Settings Question:
I am also interested in finding out what BIOS settings are best for a Linux install.
On one of the other website forums I partake in, an individual mentioned that legacy bios settings (ie with uefi and secureboot both off), are probably not going to hurt....
Will I be sacrificing performance/advanced functionality if I leave UEFI off?
What are your thoughts on these matters?


I wish to install Linux on my newly purchased Thinkpad P53s - however, it has windows 10 installed on it. I am going to upgrade the SSD from 256GB to 1TB, and was wondering what the best way to install Linux would be. Linux will be the only OS running on the machine, when I'm done.
Options I am Considering:
I was thinking of purchasing a 1TB SSD drive and having it installed in the machine in lieu of the existing 256GB drive - prior to the install of Linux.
What I am Uncomfortable With:
However, I am not sure that it is a good idea to not have Windows 10 initially installed (or cloned to the new drive) - for purposes of modifying the BIOS settings (such as secureboot, uefi etc...) - until Linux can boot properly and start installing.
Question:
Should I consider cloning Windows 10 to the new drive, prior to installing Fedora (my favourite distro - because I am familiar with it), or should I install the new drive completely blank and then start the Linux installation process?
BIOS Settings Question:
I am also interested in finding out what BIOS settings are best for a Linux install.
On one of the other website forums I partake in, an individual mentioned that legacy bios settings (ie with uefi and secureboot both off), are probably not going to hurt....
Will I be sacrificing performance/advanced functionality if I leave UEFI off?
What are your thoughts on these matters?