Workaround to install Ubuntu 20.04 with Intel RST systems
It seems like it’s been almost two years since I last completed this blog and after cleaning the dusty cobwebs from this site (I couldn’t access the admin panel because the PHP version was not supported by one of the components of this blog). One of the articles I will share this time is about Windows-Linux dual boot on one of my work equipment (Dell XPS 13).
After not using dual boot for a long time because Windows already offers WSL2 on Windows 11, this time I had to reinstall Linux in dual boot on my notebook. This was done because I had to use LXD, which is not possible on WSL2. However, it turns out that the default installation configuration of XPS 13 gave me difficulty installing Linux in dual boot. According to some research, the only Linux distribution that is still possible to install on a modern Windows laptop with Dual Boot is Ubuntu (I tried using the most basic distribution, so there was very little choice, namely Manjaro, Fedora, Debian and Ubuntu).
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Change Secure Boot Options on Windows 11
One of the biggest hurdles to installing Ubuntu on a modern laptop is features. Secure Boot which is enabled by default. Although intended to protect the system from untrusted bootloaders, this feature often hinders Linux’s live USB boot process, especially on distributions that do not yet have a Microsoft signing certificate.
Remarks : On a Dell
Here are the steps to disable Secure Boot via BIOS/UEFI on Windows 11:
Enter BIOS/UEFI settings
- Open Settings → System → Recoverythen click Restart now in the Advanced startup. Windows will restart into the Advanced Recovery menu.
- Choose Troubleshooting → Advanced Options → UEFI Firmware Settingsthen click Reboot. The laptop will reboot directly to the BIOS interface.
- You can also press the button
F2(on Dell) repeatedly immediately after pressing the power button when the laptop is on.
Disable Secure Boot
- After entering the BIOS, go to the tab Boot Or Security — location varies depending on the Dell BIOS version installed.
- Search for options Secure Boot and change the status of Enabled become Disabled.
- On some Dell XPS 13 models, there are additional options Secure Boot Mode. Make sure the value is changed to Other operating system Or Disabled.
- Save the changes by pressing
F10or choose Save and exitthen validate by pressing Yes.
Attention: Disabling Secure Boot theoretically makes the system more vulnerable to malicious bootloaders. However, for dual-booting purposes with reliable Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, this is a common and safe practice.
Once Secure Boot is disabled, the system is ready to move on to the next step, changing the storage controller configuration. This step is necessary because Intel RST (Rapid Storage Technology) – which the Dell XPS 13 uses by default – is not recognized by the Ubuntu installer.
Change hard drive configuration from Raid to AHCI
How to use Intel RST RAID on the default storage controller on many modern laptops, including the Dell XPS 13. This mode makes the NVMe drive undetectable by the Ubuntu installer, so the partitioning process cannot be performed. The solution is to change the controller mode from RAID to AHCI (Advanced host controller interface).
Critical Warning: Directly change storage mode from RAID to AHCI without proper procedure will cause Windows I can’t start (Blue Screen of Death/BSOD). Follow the steps below carefully to avoid data loss.
The safe procedure is to first activate the mode Secure Boot under Windows before changing the BIOS configuration. This forces Windows to reload compatible storage drivers when first booting in AHCI mode.
Step 1 Enable Secure Boot on Windows (via CMD as administrator)
Open Command Prompt Or Windows Terminal as administrator, then run the following command:
# Aktifkan Safe Boot minimal
bcdedit /set {current} safeboot minimalRestart Windows, but don’t do it let Windows boot completely – first enter BIOS by pressing F2.
Step 2 Change SATA controller mode in BIOS
- When restarting, immediately press
F2to access the Dell BIOS. - Access tabs Storage Or System configuration.
- Search for options SATA operation Or Storage interface.
- Change the value of RAID enabled become AHCI.
- Save with
F10and restart.
[Tangkapan layar: Dell BIOS → System Configuration → SATA Operation: AHCI]
Step 3 Disable Secure Boot after Windows successfully boots
Windows will start Safe mode and automatically install the appropriate AHCI driver. After successfully entering Windows into Safe Mode, reopen Command Prompt as administrator and run:
# Nonaktifkan Safe Boot — kembali ke mode normal
bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safebootReboot once again. Windows should now boot normally with AHCI mode active.
Verification: To make sure AHCI mode is active in Windows, open it Device Manager → IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers. If you see an entry Standard SATA AHCI controllermeans the configuration is successful.
Once the above two steps are completed (Secure Boot is disabled and the storage mode is changed to AHCI), the laptop is ready for the dual-boot Ubuntu installation process. The next step is to boot from the Ubuntu Live USB and run the installer as usual.
That’s all for this article, I hope it’s useful and Happy Coding!
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