Linux Foundation waiting for MS to issue UEFI key. :)

[tek_heretik]

I-don't-think-that-manufacturers-will-make-secure-boot-on-only-they-would-get-way-too-many-complaints. --Forgive-the-dashes-I'm-tracking-a-problem-with-my-installation-of-12.10-and-this-forums-software-in-a-rather-weird-interaction. --I-have-no-ability-to-use-the-space-key-here.

It's an Opera interaction it appears.

As someone suggested to me, download and install SRWare Iron, pretty decent re-tooled version of Chromium, go through the settings thoroughly anyway though... http://www.srware.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=6327

[luckyone]

I-don't-think-that-manufacturers-will-make-secure-boot-on-only-they-would-get-way-too-many-complaints. --Forgive-the-dashes-I'm-tracking-a-problem-with-my-installation-of-12.10-and-this-forums-software-in-a-rather-weird-interaction. --I-have-no-ability-to-use-the-space-key-here.

It's an Opera interaction it appears.

[Frank616]

James:

I hope they fix it soon, yes you can disable secure boot for now (who knows how long until the desktops become like the tables and you cannot disable it...)

Same here. OK for the time being, but this needs to be addressed in some coherant way.

Frank.

[Frank616]

Never mind reformat, low-level that sucker, lol, and who wants Win (h)8

I'm not sure that a reformat would work. If secure boot is enabled in the BIOS, does that not prevent the booting of an unsigned OS whether the disk is reformatted or not?

In any case, with secure boot turned off in the BIOS, I could have reformatted the disk. However, not being certain as to how well this new machine I have (Asus X202E) would work on Linux, I didn't want to do something that would render it unreturnable to the vendor. So, I bought a 256 GB slimline Samsung SSD, and put that in. It formatted ext4 just fine, and I now have a pretty decent netbook with touchscreen running Kubuntu 12.10. The 500 GB HDD with Win8 on it is sitting on my desk, waiting for a new home, and probably a reformat.

Frank.

[tek_heretik]

Not that I am trying to create a conspiracy or anything ...

Actually, I wouldn't be surprised, MS gets away with a lot in the US courts, not so much in Europe, and they bend over backwards for law enforcement, etc, I am starting to think law enforcement, including copyright enforcers hate anything but Windows, I've always said Windows is 'Swiss cheese' for a reason. You actually could be on to something here. That 'key' probably identifies you to both of the aforementioned agencies, they take the machine in, check the key, boom, yer busted. Anti-piracy measure, phht, yeah, right, it's anti-piracy alright, to put us in jail. Big Brother is watching you.

[james147]

I hope they fix it soon, yes you can disable secure boot for now (who knows how long until the desktops become like the tables and you cannot disable it...) but I fear that this will turn some people away from Linux that just want a simple solution and not have to go messing around in the bios to install an new system.

If this wasn't a ploy my Microsoft to restricted Linux installs then why has it been so hard for LF to get a signed binary and why does it need so much arbitrary Microsoft only tech to get it signed? ... Not that I am trying to create a conspiracy or anything ...

[tek_heretik]

Never mind reformat, low-level that sucker, lol, and who wants Win (h)8 anyway, lol again.

[Frank616]

The Linux Foundation has offered a small pre-bootloader as a way around the UEFI problem in Win8 UEFI secured machines. This requires a digital key from MS so that the pre-bootloader can be signed. Guess what? They are still waiting for MS to give them one. Anyone surprised?

FWIW, a couple of recent laptops that I have purchased have a way to disable the secure boot provision, and revert to 'legacy' BIOS. Both my year old Dell M6600 (Win7), and now this newest Asus X202E (Win8) allow the user to disable the UEFI provisions and load Linux.

As long as the BIOS makers allow the disabling of UEFI, we are fine. I did find that trying to dual boot with Win8 is complicated. However, if one replaces and/or reformats the drive, the issues disappear.

What are your experiences dealing with Win8 machines?

Frank.