Looking for support on installing Ubuntu on Snapdragon X
Ubuntu Version:
26.04, 25.10
Desktop Environment (if applicable):
NA
Problem Description:
I’ve got a new Asus laptop Vivobook based on Snapdragon X.
I tried Ubuntu 26.04 LTS but it fails straight away after Try Ubuntu with some error mount: efivarfs failed /sys/firmware/efi/efivars … Operation not supported
displayed for a fraction of a second then laptop reboots in Windows 11
I did follow advice to change BIOS values (from Insyde), e.g. Secure Boot, Fast Boot
I could see there is some success installing Ubuntu on X1E (Elite), I’m looking forward seeing some development on basic X1.
Relevant System Information:
Asus Vivobook X1407Q
Snapdragon X1-26-100
26.04 is beta and is available only to test and report results to Canonical developers. It might work but is not expected to as it is only for testing so have you also tried with 25.10 with the same results ? Is this a new Asus model just released?
Is the drive or are the drives on the computer GPT. I would expect so with windows 11 and I would expect an EFI install. If you can boot any Linux usb, you can use a terminal and as root (use sudo) run: parted -l That command will list the information needed. If you can’t boot and use any Linux, you can find the disk label from windows explained at the link below.
The error regarding efivars would mean that the iso you are booting from or the hardware are not EFI capable which is highly unlikely if the computer is new. Most computers have an option in the BIOS for a one time boot which can be either EFI or legacy/CSM and I would think you would need EFI. You can easily determine if there is an EFI partition on the current drive with windows with the parted -l command listed above from any Linux system. If you can’t boot a Linux, you can get it from windows but it is a multi step process described at the link below.
I did try 25.10 - same failure.
Asus model from 2025-04? (label on the back).
As you expected, it is GPT:
Get_Disk (as Admin) says
Drive Number 0 … Size 476.94 GB … Partition Style GPT
As I said, I did make two changes in BIOS, Disabled
Secure Boot
Fast Boot
There is no Legacy / CSM switch.
Is it possible that the RAM is somehow protected so efivarfs cannot be created?
I couldn’t see any obvious switch in BIOS, I was considering trying to contact the provider Insyde. Any other idea?
I did read the suggested threads, I can see there are a few other people stuck in exactly the same failure @stuart.mark.anderson
and @alexvinarskis said in May25 “Asus Zenbook A14 should work in all three variants (x126100 that I personally tested…” slightly different model (Zenbook) same processor
Which specific iso for the different releases of Ubuntu did you download? You did download from the official site, correct? Did you verify the download as explained at the Ubuntu download page? What software did you use to write the iso to the usb? Do you have another computer available to test boot the usb to eliminate a bad download or bad write as the problem? And finally, what software did you use to write the iso to the usb? The Ubuntu site recommends balena etcher although I don’t know if that will help.
Indeed a few more people reported some issue with x1-26-100 and/or LCD variant booting Ubuntu ISO on Zenbook A14. Unfortunately I had issue with my laptop, but im getting it back next week and will then be able to re-test and either verify what and how works, of fix if it doesn’t.
Used kubuntu Startup Disk Creator to write on SD card. Plugged into a classic USB port (not USB-C - I did read that some slower USB ports don’t work on some machines, but since it does start I thought that should be OK - I don’t have a USB-C pen drive yet).
I don’t have another Snapdragon laptop.
The fact that it failed in similar way with two different iso images suggests to me it’s a problem with the HW / config (BIOS/UEFI) - assuming the iso should work.