Beware: Lenovo’s Windows 10 Signature Edition Blocks Installing Linux

[Batu69]

2016/09/21 15:50 GMT Update: Lenovo speaking to The Register denied any intended blocking for Linux or any other OS. They said that it’s a driver issue on Linux that makes it unable to read RAID on SSD disks.

 

Microsoft opening the source code of a lot of its projects in the last months convinced some people that the company – under its new management – is now good, and that it “loves Linux”, however, this assumption came to be wrong today with the latest monopoly try from Microsoft.

 

In a TL;DR format: Some new laptops that ship with Windows 10 Signature Edition don’t allow you to install Linux (or any operating system) on it; the BIOS is locked and the hard drives are hidden in a way you can’t install any OS. Those news are not some rumors from the Internet, Lenovo for example confirmed that they have singed an agreement with Microsoft for this. Other vendor

Where Did It Start?

Lenovo is one of the largest hardware manufactures in the world, they make everything, from smartphones to laptops and tablets, and they have been rising in the marke due to its “good” price and quality.

 

However it seems that’s the company doesn’t care a lot when it comes to its consumers after they sell you the product, I am not talking about the hardware guarantee or something here, but about the software.

 

Some users have reported that one of the new Lenovo Ultrabooks (Yoga 900 ISK2 and other models) has a locked BIOS setup. which doesn’t allow you to install another operating system on the laptop. It’s simply “locked”; for example if you tried to install Ubuntu on it, the installer won’t detect the hard drives because of this setup.

 

BaronHK is one of those who faced this problem and started talking about it, here’s his quote about the issue:

Quote

They have the SSD in some strange “RAID” mode where Linux can’t see or be installed to it, and neither can Windows unless you add some drivers to your Windows installer media. They removed AHCI mode from the BIOS. Then they wrote additional code so if you try to toggle it to AHCI mode with an EFI variable from EFIshell, it immediately sets itself back to RAID.

 

For the last 11 months, they were silent on why this machine was configured this way. The only reason we know why now is because Lenovo answered my Best Buy review by stating it is locked due to the agreement they signed with Microsoft for the Signature Edition PC program, so it’s very likely that all Ultrabooks in the Microsoft Store, and some outside the MS Store (such as at Best Buy) will eventually be configured so that Linux can’t be installed, even if there are some now where you can install Linux.

 

So consider “Signature Edition” a warning label that means “You aren’t allowed to run Linux, per Microsoft.”.

Lenovo from its side, confirmed the problem yesterday by replying to the guy’s review on BestBuy saying:

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This system has a signature edition of Windows 10 Home installed, it’s locked per our agreement with Microsoft

 

Here’s a screenshot (In case they deleted that review):

Lenovo’s Reply on BIOS Locking

That means that there’s an agreement between Microsoft and Lenovo to do this kind of setup, it’s intended and not just a “bug” in the BIOS or something, as the official response states from the above Lenovo reply.

 

Other laptops from Dell or ASUS for example also come pre-loaded with the Signature Edition. But they provide an option in the BIOS to switch the hard drive mode from RAID to AHCI; which later allows installing Linux. Lenovo however, doesn’t. Many people from other hardware vendors are facing the same problem, check this post.

 

Some users on the Lenovo forums tried to replace the BIOS with a new one beside doing a lot of other things to disable the LOCK, but all their attempts failed, it doesn’t seem that there’s any way to install Linux on those laptops. They have locked that thread now and they said they will update their reply soon.

The Problem Is Caused By Windows 10 Signature Edition And BIOS Lock

Windows 10 Signature Edition is an official public edition since around a year ago, Microsoft says that it’s better, cleaner and more secure, as no 3rd-party software are allowed to be installed on laptops which come pre-loaded with that edition, however, it looks like that edition doesn’t even allow the OS to be replaced, it depends on the hardware vendor, with Lenovo for example, there’s nothing to do, with others, switch the hard drive mode may fix it.

 

Here’s another quote from the bottom line of the Windows 10 Signature Edition page:

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Is it time for a new computer? Microsoft Store has a large diversity of Windows 10 computers, including Surface tablets, desktop computers, portable laptops and tablets, touchscreen all-in-ones, 2 in 1 PCs, and more. Pick from a curated selection of best-in-class computers, including the Surface tablet and other notable brands like Lenovo, HP, Dell, ASUS, Acer, Samsung, Razer, and Toshiba. Whether you need a computer for gaming, entertainment, work, or surfing the web, the Microsoft Store has the computer with the power and performance perfect for you.

 

At Microsoft Store, Windows computers come in a variety of configurations. Need a processor with the power to get you through your toughest work? You’ll find many computers with powerful processors like AMD, Intel Core i5, Intel Core i7, and Pentium available. You can select from computers with plenty of memory so you can run multiple programs and play games will loads of graphics simultaneously without slowing down.

 

Every laptop sold at Microsoft Store comes with the Microsoft Signature Edition. This means that your new laptop will be lightning-fast from the moment you turn on.

 

For you: If you see the “Windows 10 Signature Edition” badge on a laptop (specially Lenovo), DON’T BUY IT! You may not be able to install Linux (or any OS) on it, and there’s nothing you can do to the machine to change this currently.

 

Please also, spread the word and tell your friends and collages about this issue, you may save them a huge headache trying to figure where the problem is or why they can’t install a new OS, the problem is not from Linux or the distribution they are using, it’s a hardware problem due to monopoly tries from Microsoft and hardware vendors.

 

Article source

 

Other source

[steven36]

 Steven J. Vaughan says

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Microsoft isn't anti-Linux anymore and Lenovo is just lazy when it comes to supporting the Linux desktop on its newest Yoga Ultra.

The real reason Linux won't work with the 900 ISK 2 -- or with the Yoga 900S and Yoga 710S -- is Lenovo's proprietary SSD driver. This is not a Microsoft product. Indeed, Windows 10 won't run on these laptops either without the additional driver.

Lenovo has not provided this driver for any other operating system. It also seems to have no plans to do so.

 

Full article :

http://www.zdnet.com/article/whats-really-going-on-with-microsoft-lenovo-and-linux/

Many people are using newer PCs with Linux . I have 2 pcs i dual boot with windows 10. People  trying blame Microsoft for a PC vendors laziness go figure
 

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Recent claims about software installation issues related to Microsoft Signature are inaccurate."

 

http://www.zdnet.com/article/lenovo-reportedly-blocking-linux-on-windows-10-signature-edition-pcs/

 

[Stanners]

Its painful enough going through specs to insure you buy the right thing now I got another point to worry about!

 

Why block Linux -  lets face it you generally only install it cause you have the skills to use it.

They really have no "real" reason to block Linux other than a wish to kill of any competitors period, all part of Microsoft plan to be more like Apple. Lets hope sales are so bad on this that they hang back on making this change across the board!