Windows 8 Secure Boot: Designed to Lock Out Linux?

[RuskiSnajper]

Microsoft trying to turn PC into iMac, if so ... over my dead body.

Microsoft has no authority to do that for the whole industry, if so it could shape out to be a conspiracy, imo

[Arctucas]

For the average user, who, in most likelihood, is not even aware operating systems other than Windows exist and only buys pre-built PCs, this is basically a non-factor. Ignorance is bliss, after all.

I, personally, would not purchase a motherboard if it had no way to override or disable this type of restriction. When enough people feel the same, and the enthusiast market segment manufacturers begin to lose money, you can bet it will become an 'option'.

[OneMoar]

Originally Posted by Arctucas

For the average user, who, in most likelihood, is not even aware operating systems other than Windows exist and only buys pre-built PCs, this is basically a non-factor. Ignorance is bliss, after all.

I, personally, would not purchase a motherboard if it had no way to override or disable this type of restriction. When enough people feel the same, and the enthusiast market segment manufacturers begin to lose money, you can bet it will become an 'option'.

ofc but when people start pointing fingers and spinning-words logic and common sense go out like the trash

[A Cheese Danish]

Silly question: Does this mean any PC shipped with W8 will not allow another OS to be installed?

[qubit]

Originally Posted by A Cheese Danish

Silly question: Does this mean any PC shipped with W8 will not allow another OS to be installed?

If this came to pass, yes. That kind of lockout it exactly what it's for.

That wasn't such a silly question.

[A Cheese Danish]

Originally Posted by qubit

If this came to pass, yes. That kind of lockout it exactly what it's for.

That wasn't such a silly question.

I kinda figured. Basically screws the business world.

[happita]

If this becomes a reality, EVEN if it is as an option, or if it has a "switch" you can damn well guarantee that when enough non-enthusiasts have adopted this....or forced to adopt I should say.....Microsoft, Trusted Computing, or whoever is behind this will charge a fee and say that "Hey, we're not going to let this 'technology' go for free anymore....we don't have the capacity or resources to help continuing this endeavor."
So this price that is charged has to go somewhere....and what better way NOT to incur the cost than to tack on the extra expense onto us customers? OS prices will go up....as if they aren't high enough? Pretty soon it will be an "option" at a price, then it will be standard in all PCs with an "on/off switch" with a price, and finally we will have no more say in it....oh and the price is one with the total cost and can no longer be negotiated. Plain and simple, this all comes down to control. More control, more certainty.

[DannibusX]

You know, I'm on the fence about this. On one hand, it's a great idea to keep people from infecting their systems with malware and viruses. At least until someone figures out how to bypass it over the internet. On the other hand, it could lead to some systems only allowing (essentially) Microsoft Windows to be installed.

If it were to be implimented it would definitely have to be regulated with an option in the BIOS/UEFI. There's no way Microsoft should be allowed to have a defacto monopoly like that.

[D4S4]

Originally Posted by DannibusX

monopoly

cuz dat just be the way microsoft rolls.

[TRWOV]

Originally Posted by qubit

Proposed changes to the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) firmware specifications would mean PCs would only boot from a digitally signed image derived from a keychain rooted in keys built into the PC. Microsoft is pushing hard to make this mandatory, so that users cannot override it.

This is only for OEM PCs that want to carry the "Designed for Windows 8" logo. This will only affect people buying a Dell and wanting to dual boot it. The lock can be turned off if desired although it will be up to the OEM if the option is included or not.

Originally Posted by Katanai

This article: Designed to start a flamewar?

+1

[enaher]

Probably has an off switch, lawsuits anyone?

[caleb]

Lucky us there is MSDN/AA

[Saidrex]

Dont care, im not going to use Windows 8 anyway, high price - same shit, only uglier inteface.

[_JP_]

Originally Posted by Saidrex

Dont care, im not going to use Windows 8 anyway, high price - same shit, only uglier inteface.

This guy gets it!
For now, I fell the same way about Win8.

[Bundy]

Well I hope Win 8 is totally malware free then...because I use a linux boot distro to recover files.

Also, how are all the school boys going to access their porn now?

[NdMk2o1o]

Originally Posted by OneMoar

typical foss user ranting lulz people like you are why linux has less then a 5% share of the desktop market

No, Windows users like YOU are why Linux has 5% share of the market

[Shihabyooo]

MS looking for another Lawsuit ?
If they really include an option to turn it off, and give the buyer the choice whether to use it or not when buying a new Laptop/ Prebuilt Desktop, I don't see it being much of a problem. If anything, if there claims that it stops viruses from completely ruining the system, it might prove to be a very useful utility.

Originally Posted by DrPepper

Actually it's more to do with the fact Linux is a niche OS that is only used by professionals and techies since the average user doesn't want to go through all the hoops to get what they want out of software.

...and the two types of users mentioned above won't have a problem running Linux on a Win8 machine, even if there is no off button


Edit: wait a sec, does that mean Win 8 will only run on a UEFI equipped system ?

[ron732]

Microsoft up to no good yet again.

[Static~Charge]

Rule #1 when dealing with Microsoft: Do not ascribe their actions with altruism, especially where competition is involved.

Microsoft is trying to kill two birds with one stone here. First, they want to stop malware infecting the boot record, and Secure Boot will certainly do that. Second, they want to discourage people from using other operating systems, and Secure Boot will put a damper on that, too. Naturally, Microsoft doesn't say anything about item #2, because that would draw the unwanted attention of Federal regulators for anti-trust behavior.

Deny it all you want, OneMoar, but that won't make it go away.

[Captain.Abrecan]

Isn't this rather benign? This bios feature thing is supported in linux too, has been for years. If you turned it on, you wouldn't be able to install windows on a linux box.

It is the device manufacturer's responsibility to allow you to unlock the device, not Microsoft.

[PCpraiser100]

Shouldn't be an issue, just prioritize your hard drives with the Linux one first if this is the case. If you can't afford a second hard drive, YOU CAN'T AFFORD LINUX!

[m4gicfour]

Since I'd be infracted if not more for posting a photoshopped GIF of a microsoft logo bukkake-ing a pc.. well you'll just have to make do with that colorful description.

This sort of stuff makes my skin crawl. Regardless of who's behind it - Microsoft or otherwise - It's only acceptable in my mind if the "off" button is a REQUIRED part of the specification. Furthermore, having it turned off should have no effect on any part of the OS. If this is about hardening the boot path against damage like they seem to be saying it is, there's no reason why it should effect anything to be off. I know corporate politics far to0 well (unfortunately) to think that anything of this sort offered up by the guys in the money making spots is anything but a thinly veiled attempt at making more money.

[Ahhzz]

Originally Posted by OneMoar

the lot of you keep overlooking the point that it HAS a off button AND its A uEFI foundation spec NOT a Microsoft one its not any different the SLIC embedded in most oem bios's
http://mjg59.dreamwidth.org/5552.html

Microsoft is pushing hard to make this mandatory, so that users cannot override it.


yup, you're right... M$ has NOTHING to do with it, and are perfectly fine with users turning it off.....

[WhiteLotus]

Don't worry everyone who lives in Europe, our master overlords will make sure that Microsoft will release a different product to comply with their/our competition laws.

[erocker]

Due to the cleaning up I've had to do here any off topic, insulting, flaming posts will be given points. No warnings, as this is your warning. That includes responding to this post.

Stay on topic and behave.