Linux installation Australia-wide · Fixed price · Free compatibility check
Love your laptop or desktop but tired of how it runs? Send it to ArkPC and get it back as a clean, fast, fully updated Linux computer, set up and tested by Linux specialists in Brisbane. That is Linux installation Australia-wide: you post it to us from anywhere, and we post it back.
$175 per device + return delivery ($40 laptop / $50 desktop). All prices include GST.
Is this Linux installation service for you?
Our Linux installation service is a good fit if any of these sound familiar:
- Your computer still works, but its current operating system no longer gets updates or won’t upgrade to the latest version. Linux gives capable hardware years more secure, supported use.
- It has become slow and cluttered. A clean Linux system starts quickly and has no bloatware or trial software.
- You want more privacy. No advertising ID, no forced accounts and far less telemetry.
- You want to learn Linux, code or study IT, but you don’t want to lose a weekend to drivers, Wi-Fi and sleep problems.
- You want a reliable second computer for the family for web, email, documents and video calls.
- You’d rather reuse than replace. Giving a good machine a second life keeps it out of landfill and money in your pocket.
How our Linux installation service works
- Order online and choose your Linux distribution. You pay by card, and you won’t need a quote or a phone call.
- Back up your files and remove any firmware (BIOS) passwords.
- Print and sign the Device Intake Form.
- Pack and post your device (with its power adapter for laptops and mini PCs) to the address in your order email. We recommend Australia Post Tracked.
- Free check on arrival. We inspect the device, test the hardware and email you a Condition Report.
- Installed and tested. Linux is installed, updated, configured for your hardware and tested.
- Sent back to you by Australia Post Tracked with Signature Required. You’ll be emailed at each step.
What’s included
- Free compatibility assessment and hardware check
- Condition Report emailed once your device has been assessed
- Your chosen Linux distribution, installed clean and fully updated
- Drivers, firmware and settings configured for your hardware
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, sound, display, webcam, USB and sleep tested
- Careful packing and return by Australia Post Tracked, Signature Required
- Email updates at every stage, from received and assessed to installed and sent
- 30-day guarantee on our installation work
- Local Australian support from the team that builds ArkPC Linux computers
- Parts only fitted if you approve and pay for a written quote
Free compatibility check, no surprises
Not every component works well with every Linux distribution. Some wireless cards and older storage drives can cause problems. That’s why every job starts with a free compatibility check.
If a part would stop your system running reliably, we email you a written quote with our recommendation. You approve it by paying online, or decline it with one click. Nothing is fitted or charged without your approval.
If you decide not to go ahead, or your device can’t be completed, we refund the $175 service fee and send it back. The only cost is the return delivery.
Linux installation pricing
One fixed price for the installation, plus return delivery. You won’t pay hourly rates or need a quote to get started.
| Device | Linux installation service | Return delivery | Total (GST incl.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laptop | $175 | $40 | $215 |
| Desktop or mini PC | $175 | $50 | $225 |
- You arrange and pay for posting your device to us. Please use a tracked service and pack it well.
- The return delivery fee is non-refundable once your device has arrived, because it covers getting your device home whatever the outcome.
- Payment is by card. One device per order. For several devices, place a separate order for each one.
Linux distributions we install
Choose your distribution when you order. Not sure which one? Linux Mint and Ubuntu are the easiest choices if you’re coming from another operating system.
| Distribution | Best for |
|---|---|
| Linux Mint (Cinnamon or MATE) | Familiar desktop layout, very easy for beginners, great on older hardware |
| Ubuntu desktop | The most popular Linux desktop, with huge software choice and long-term support |
| Ubuntu Studio | Ubuntu with audio, video and graphics production tools ready to go |
| Debian | Rock-solid and conservative, ideal if you value stability above all |
| Ubuntu Server, CentOS Stream, AlmaLinux | For home labs, servers and IT study |
| Kali Linux | For security professionals and students |
Why not install Linux yourself?
Getting Linux onto a computer is the easy part. Getting it to run properly on your exact hardware is where most people get stuck. These are the problems we fix every day:
- Wi-Fi or Bluetooth not working, or dropping out
- Laptop not waking from sleep, or the battery draining overnight
- No sound, screen brightness or touchpad gestures
- Firmware settings and locked devices blocking the installation
- Failing drives or batteries that only show up after hours of testing
We prepare and test Linux computers for customers across Australia every day, so we know which hardware works and how to set it up so it stays working.
Is my computer suitable?
Almost any laptop or desktop with a 64-bit processor will run Linux. How well it runs is a different question, and the answer depends on what is inside it:
- Storage. A solid-state drive (SSD) makes the biggest difference of all. On an SSD, Linux usually starts in seconds and programs open quickly. On an older mechanical hard drive, the same computer can feel slow, however good the rest of it is.
- Memory. 4GB is the minimum for a modern desktop. With 8GB or more, web browsing with many tabs, video calls and office work run smoothly. The type and speed of memory your computer takes also sets how far it can be upgraded.
- Build quality. Computers built from quality parts, such as business-grade laptops and desktops, generally run Linux better and for longer than budget models.
- Hardware compatibility. Most components work straight away, but some wireless cards, card readers, webcams and graphics chips have weak Linux support. These parts are behind most dropouts, missing sound and laptops that won’t wake from sleep.
This is where we come in. Our free compatibility check tests every part of your device before any work starts. If something would hold it back, such as a mechanical drive, too little memory or a Wi-Fi card that doesn’t get along with Linux, we tell you in your Condition Report and quote the upgrade. You decide whether to go ahead, and nothing is fitted without your approval.
Your device must also power on, belong to you, and not be locked to an organisation or protected by a firmware password.
Not sure about your computer? Order anyway. The compatibility check is free, and if your device can’t be done we refund the service fee.fee.
Why choose ArkPC for your Linux installation?
- Linux specialists. Linux computers are all we sell, and every one is installed and tested in-house.
- Linux installation Australia-wide. Send your device from any state or territory, and it comes back to your door.
- Fixed online price. Order in minutes, with no quotes or call-outs and no hourly rate.
- Written Condition Report. You know exactly what state your device arrived in.
- You stay in control. No part is fitted and no extra charge made without your approval.
- Local support. Questions after your device is home? Our support page is the place to start.
Would you rather start fresh? Browse our refurbished Linux laptops and refurbished Linux desktops, all tested and ready to use.
Linux installation service: frequently asked questions
Will my files be kept?
No. All drives are completely erased during the installation. Please back up everything you want to keep before sending your device. We do not provide data backup or recovery.
Can you keep my current operating system and add Linux alongside it?
No. We install Linux as the only operating system on the device, on fully erased drives. This gives the cleanest, most reliable result.
How long does it take?
We work through devices in the order they arrive and as quickly as we can. You get an email when your device arrives, when its Condition Report is ready, and when it is on its way back with tracking.
Where do I send my device?
The delivery address is included in your order confirmation email, together with packing instructions and the Device Intake Form.
What do I need to include in the box?
Your device, its power adapter (for laptops and mini PCs) and the signed Device Intake Form. Desktops do not need a power cable. Please do not include bags, cases or other accessories.
What if my computer needs a new part?
We email you a written quote with our recommendation. You approve it by paying online, or decline it with one click. If you decline, we refund the service fee and send your device back, and only the return delivery fee applies.
What if my device cannot be done?
We refund the $175 service fee and return your device. Only the return delivery fee applies.
How is my device sent back?
By Australia Post Tracked with Signature Required on delivery, so please make sure someone can sign for it.
Is there a warranty?
Our installation work is guaranteed for 30 days after your device is sent back. Your hardware stays covered by its original manufacturer warranty, if any. Parts we supply carry their own warranty as stated on your quote.
How do I pay?
By card, online, at the time of ordering. Parts quotes are also paid by card.
Can I send more than one device?
Yes. Place a separate order for each device so each one has its own tracking, Condition Report and updates.
Ready to give your computer a fresh start?
Order online, post your device, and get it back running Linux, installed, updated and tested by ArkPC.
Please read the Linux Installation Service Terms before ordering.
