Giveaway of the Day Forums

1. 

   Anonymous
   Unregistered

   http://www.zdnet.com/another-way-around-linuxs-windows-secureboot-problem-7000000829/

   Another way around Linux's Windows SecureBoot problem
   Summary: Yes, it's true that you won't be able to easily install Linux, or any other operating system, on Windows 8 PCs, but there is a way around the problem. Open hardware for open-source software.

   slow death by suffocation” for Linux.

   Well, Fedora, Red Hat's community Linux distribution decided to co-operate with Microsoft's key signing service, Verisign. Thus, in the Fedora plan, Fedora will create its own Windows 8 system compatible UEFI secure boot key using Microsoft's own system.
   Linus Torvalds, Linux's founder and guiding light, take: was "I'm certainly not a huge UEFI fan, but at the same time I see why you might want to have signed bootup etc.”
   Canonical, Ubuntu Linux's parent company, came up with its own answer. Canonical's secure boot solution (PDF Link) is to “provide keys and signed boot images for use with secure boot functionality.” In short, Ubuntu will come up with its own independent key that's compatible with the “Windows 8 Hardware Certification Requirements [WIN8HCR]."
   We need to support Linux-friendly hardware vendors. There is no law that says computers with UEFI must use Secure Boot. Yes, Microsoft may want it that way, but if we support companies that offer open systems we can still get open hardware to go with our open-source software.

   Posted 11 years ago #
2. 

   mikiem2
   Moderator

   A UEFI Bios [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Extensible_Firmware_Interface ] is cool, & doesn't necessarily have any effect on what OS you're running -- setting/adjusting the bios is just like running whatever app, e.g. you can use a mouse. Your motherboard manufacturer may even include or provide a mini-*nix OS you can run right from boot as part of or tied into the Bios -- handy if Windows won't start & you need to go on-line for help.

   My understanding of the win8 boot setup is that it will be possible to check for an embedded or included key, & MS advertises that will provide an extra deterrent to root kits, which can load before Windows does, often so they can instruct Windows not to see certain malware & related files. I've read that alleged deterrent isn't much of one really. Manufacturers like HP may also use this key setup for DRM -- you can't just install the Mac OS on your PC now because Apple embeds an ID of sorts in the Bios, & it might work much the same way. It may very well be that this whole secure boot thing is just for that sort of DRM -- PC manufacturers already can include copies of Windows that can't be installed on other hardware, & this may be just a newer version to work with UEFI.

   Personally, FWIW, I dislike the win8 boot loader & menu, a LOT, so use EasyBCD to install win7's, or put it back. In my experience win8's loader starts portions of Windows earlier, before you select which copy you want to run if you use a boot menu, & that can be problematic... I've seen driver problems, & I've seen those loaded portions of win8 conflict with XP &/or win7. If you had a machine whose Bios demanded a key that Vista/win7 loader wouldn't work -- you'd have to go with a *nix loader that had one, & that'd be harder & more trouble-prone. Wouldn't likely effect me or others who build their own, at least I hope not, as it doesn't make sense to me to have bare motherboards force secure boot, but it could pose problems for some people who buy a complete win8 system & want to add XP or win7.

   Posted 11 years ago #

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