My Experience Installing and Tweaking Qubes OS on the ROG Zephyrus G16

Laptop Specifications

    • Model: ROG Zephyrus G16 GA605WI
    • CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX370
    • IGPU: AMD Radeon Graphics
    • DGPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070

In this post, I’ll share the steps I took to successfully install Qubes OS on my laptop, along with some troubleshooting tips for the bugs I encountered along the way.

Installation Steps

  1. Create a Bootable USB:
    I used Etcher to burn the Qubes OS ISO to a USB drive.

  2. BIOS Configuration:

    • Disable Secure Boot and Fast Boot.
    • Set the USB drive as the primary boot device.
  3. Booting from the Grub Menu:
    I initially attempted to install using the latest kernel, but faced issues like a dead pane error and black screens. After experimenting with various kernel boot parameters, I found the following settings worked best:

    • On the multiboot2 line, add ioapic_ack=new (this enables trackpad functionality during and after installation).
    • On the module2 line, add nomodeset, (I bet you know what this does) then proceed to boot and install normally.
  4. Post-Installation Configuration:
    After the installation, on the first boot, repeat the kernel parameter adjustments. If not loaded up, this time include the trackpad functionality code in the Xen default line and nomodeset in the module2 line before booting into the desktop.

Enhancing Touchpad Gestures

Once you’re on the desktop, you may notice that the touchpad gestures aren’t optimal. To fine-tune them, follow these steps:

  1. Open the terminal in Dom0 and enter:

sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/99-touchpad.conf

Use the code below and save

Section "InputClass"
  Identifier "touchpad"
  MatchIsTouchpad "on"
  Driver "libinput"
  Option "Tapping" "on"
  Option "NaturalScrolling" "on"
  Option "DisableWhileTyping" "on"
  Option "ClickMethod" "clickfinger"
  Option "TapButton1" "1"
  Option "TapButton2" "3"
  Option "ScrollMethod" "twofinger"
EndSection

Save the file by pressing Ctrl + X, then Y.

Making Kernel Parameter Changes Permanent

To avoid having to adjust kernel parameters every time you boot, you can make these changes permanent:

Open the grub configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/default/grub

Add nomodeset and ioapic_ack=new to the appropriate line.

Save file and run

sudo grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg

Reboot or wait to resolve Wifi Issue

Resolving Wi-Fi Connection Issues

To address Wi-Fi connectivity problems, update to the latest kernel:

  1. Connect your laptop to the internet via an Ethernet cable or use a usb wifi dongle and plug any to the sys-net not sys-usb. Once internet connection is established.

  2. Open the terminal in Dom0 and check for the latest kernel updates:

sudo qubes-dom0-update --enablerepo=qubes-dom0-unstable --action=list kernel-latest-qubes-vm

  1. Install the latest kernel:

sudo qubes-dom0-update --enablerepo=qubes-dom0-unstable kernel-latest-qubes-vm

  1. After installation, change the kernel for sys-net through the advanced settings to the newly installed kernel.

  2. Reboot your laptop.

And there you have it! Your Qubes OS installation is now complete, and you’re all set to dive into the realm of secure computing. Everything has been functioning well so far, although I didn’t test the webcam since i have it tapped out. The keyboard’s RGB lighting is operational, but there seems to be a power management issue. The fans run continuously, even during light usage, though the noise level is quite low. Logging out and entering sleep mode both work seamlessly, and I also installed KDE, which is functioning perfectly.

Update to come:

  • Windows 11 appVM
  • GPU Pass through to appVM
  • Gonna try to game for sure

Happy computing!

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