Windows 8 PCs Shut the Door on Linux

[anush]

Once Windows 8 starts shipping on PCs, however, that may no longer be possible. It turns out that a new feature included in the operating system in the name of security may also effectively make it impossible to load Linux on officially Windows 8-certified hardware.

 

"It's probably not worth panicking yet," wrote Red Hat developer Matthew Garrett in a Tuesday blog post on the topic. "But it is worth being concerned."

 

'It Won't Be Installable'

The problem derives from Microsoft's decision to use a hardware-based secure boot protocol known as Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) in Windows 8 rather than the traditional BIOS we're all familiar with. Microsoft principal lead program manager Arie van der Hoeven explained and demonstrated UEFI in a talk at the company's BUILD conference earlier this month.

 

 

 

[xwinuser]

I think there will have to be a compromise of some sorts. I "think" that Windows cannot lock out the other operating systems without getting sued again for being a monopoly.

 

I am running the Windows 8 Dev Preview but of course I am not running it on a Windows 8 certified box.

 

I had not heard of this issue but it is definitely real. I started doing a little research and there is plenty talk about it on the web. Mostly among Linux users of course.

 

At this point, I am not concerned. Will have to wait and see what happens around March 2012.

 

http://www.crn.com.au/News/274817,windows-8-wont-kill-linux-says-microsoft.aspx

 

http://http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/09/windows-8-secure-boot-prevent-linux-installation/

 

http://geeknizer.com/how-windows-8-kill-linux-multiboot-os/

[anush]

I think there will have to be a compromise of some sorts. I "think" that Windows cannot lock out the other operating systems without getting sued again for being a monopoly.

 

I am running the Windows 8 Dev Preview but of course I am not running it on a Windows 8 certified box.

 

I had not heard of this issue but it is definitely real. I started doing a little research and there is plenty talk about it on the web. Mostly among Linux users of course.

 

At this point, I am not concerned. Will have to wait and see what happens around March 2012.

 

http://www.crn.com.a...-microsoft.aspx

 

http://http://www.om...x-installation/

 

http://geeknizer.com...x-multiboot-os/

 

yes let's wait and see

[Wizard]

Don't spread FUD.

http://techcrunch.com/2011/10/28/linux-foundation-canonical-and-red-hat-weigh-in-on-secure-boot/

[xwinuser]

FUD?

[Krydos]

LMGTFY, https://www.google.com/search?gcx=w&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=fud Fear, uncertainty, and doubt.

[xwinuser]

Ah yeah. Not concerned right now.

 

FUD, LMGTFY...will have to remember those. What the kids say these days... j/k

 

I could have Googled it but that would not express my feelings about the use of an new (to me anyway) acronym. Thanks though. I've been schooled and therefore I am passing it on to my friends. lol

 

LMGTFY, https://www.google.c...&ie=UTF-8&q=fud Fear, uncertainty, and doubt.

[maths222]

Also, Linux has a wide community base. I am certain that, if Microsoft switches to UEFI, Linux/grub/syslinux/etc. will have a version created that supports UEFI.