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Hardware Issues (When Linux Does Not Work Properly)

If Linux starts but something does not work correctly, you are not stuck. Most issues are fixable. This page helps you identify and deal with the most common problems.

First: identify what is wrong

Common issues include:

no Wi-Fi
screen resolution is wrong
display flickering or black screen
no sound
keyboard or touchpad not working
system feels very slow

Important: this is normal

Linux runs on a huge range of hardware.

Sometimes:

drivers are missing
hardware needs manual setup
settings are not optimal by default

This does NOT mean your system is incompatible.

Most common issue: graphics problems

Symptoms:

black screen after boot
flickering display
low resolution (e.g. stuck at 1024x768)
laggy performance

What this means

Your graphics driver is not fully active.

What to do

Do NOT try random fixes.

Follow the correct path:

Go to:

Step 11 - Graphics Driver Decision

This step determines:

your GPU type
the correct driver
the exact installation method

Wi-Fi not working

Symptoms:

no networks visible
Wi-Fi option missing

What to do

Check if Wi-Fi is turned on (some laptops have a switch)
Try connecting via Ethernet (if possible)

Then go to:

Step 13 - Install Software

Install:

additional drivers
firmware packages

No sound

Symptoms:

no audio output
speakers not detected

What to try

restart the system
check volume settings
check output device

If still not working:

go to Step 13 - Install Software

Touchpad or keyboard issues

Symptoms:

touchpad not responding
gestures not working

What to try

test with an external mouse
check system settings

Then continue to:

Step 13

USB not detected

Symptoms:

USB drive missing
external devices not recognised

What to check

try a different USB port
try another device
restart the system

System is very slow

Possible causes:

running from USB (this is normal)
missing graphics acceleration
low RAM

Important:

Running from USB (Live Mode) is ALWAYS slower.

This is not the final performance.

If nothing works

You still have options:

try a different Linux distribution (Step 5)
re-create the USB (Step 6)
check BIOS settings (Secure Boot, UEFI)

Important warning

Do NOT:

follow random internet fixes
paste unknown terminal commands
install drivers blindly

Always follow the guided steps in this process.

When to continue

If Linux is usable (even with minor issues):

proceed to Step 9 - Install Linux

If not:

go back to Step 5 and choose a different distribution