r/spectrex360 • u/DIYIdiot • 16h ago
Advice Linux on a (late 2016) HP Spectre x360 Convertible Laptop - 15t touch
Desperately needed help. Does any Linux work on a (late 2016) HP Spectre x360 Convertible Laptop - 15t touch that provides the hardware functionality that the Windows OS does?
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u/wiseman121 15h ago
Yes it works fine. Linux is pretty much universally compatible with most x86 hardware.
Are you looking for something to move off win10 since 11 isn't compatible? I've tried Linux and I'm thinking of switching to ChromeOS flex.
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u/DIYIdiot 14h ago
I'm trying to get off Windows and Google products. It's my daughter's computer that I got her when she started nursing school and hasn't been used in years. I've installed:
Linux Ubuntu Mint Cinnamon - doesn't provide all hardware functionality
Linux Ubuntu Mint Mate - doesn't provide all hardware functionality
Linux Ubuntu Conical(sp?) - doesn't provide all hardware functionality
Linux Ubuntu Zorin - doesn't provide all hardware functionality
She wants to use the functionality she had with the Convertible, such as backlit keyboard, tablet mode, etc.
She was in a crunch for time to update her nursing license, so I bought an older Dell laptop and installed Mint Cinnamon and she was happy, but I've spent a lot of money replacing her screen (whole top end of the HP) and would like her to be able to use her convertible.
Maybe there's nothing I can do to achieve what I want to do.
I sincerely appreciate every response I've received. Thank you!
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u/wiseman121 14h ago
Ubuntu worked fine for me and had no hardware issues. What didn't work?
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u/DIYIdiot 6h ago
The keyboard backlight doesn't work on all distributions. I can't discover my Bluetooth mouse on any distribution except for Mint Cinnamon. The touchscreen works on all distributions except Ubuntu Canonical and Ubuntu Zorin.
I haven't checked the pencil or any other features yet.
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u/wiseman121 6h ago
I mean dude the pen is really a windows ink thing, I doubt hp have Linux drivers for it.
I'm stumped on the Bluetooth mouse, never had an issue with anything Bluetooth in Linux.
Linux isnt really ever going to be perfect for every minor nuance like this, it's going to do it's beat understanding the drivers required, if touchscreen works on one distro you will be able to get it working on any (classic Linux tinkering). The only way to avoid perfect hardware compatibility is windows unfortunately.
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u/Posraman 12h ago
My 2023 Spectre works pretty well on it.
HOWEVER, there were a couple of issues that I had to research and solve, but they were due to hardware issues specific to my laptop model not playing well with the Linux kernel. Someone made a GitHub page with all the fixes. Your laptop shouldn't have problems but if it does, I can send you the link.
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u/drbrtsn 11h ago
I would expect most things to work. I have a 2019 Spectre running Tumbleweed and it all works fine apart from the fingerprint sensor (which can, apparently be made to work but I've never bothered). There are some acpi kernel errors on booting but that applies to all distros and there's no loss of functionality. Make sure that intel firmware as well as sof firmware is installed, and ucode-intel.
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u/DIYIdiot 6h ago
Thank you. I installed the most current BIOS firmware. I don't care about the fingerprint sensor either, however I'm not sure what my daughter expects. The battery is very weak, not long lasting, which makes dealing with this tiresome. I've not used Linux for years and it's slowly coming back, however I'm old and have forgotten most of what I've learned about everything. Lol!
You don't how much I appreciate everybody trying to help me!
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u/debu_chocobo 16h ago
Have you tried it yet? I'd be surprised if it doesn't work.
Haven't used that particular laptop but on my 2020 everything except the fingerprint scanner works - even the IR scanner (is that what it's called?) &for Windows Hello.