Dual Booting Win8, and Linux/Other O/Ss, Problem?

[lxskllr]

Looks like dual booting Win8 could be an issue for people using oem machines designed for Win8. It should make things more secure for the single O/S user, but a hassle for the rest of us.

PC users who run Windows and Linux on the same machine will want to do some research before purchasing a Windows 8 computer. That's because systems with a "Designed for Windows 8" logo must ship with UEFI secure booting enabled—a move that prevents booting operating systems that aren’t signed by a trusted Certificate Authority.

This could pose a problem for Linux users, though in practice most can just change UEFI settings to disable secure boot before installing the open-source OS. But users will have to depend on hardware vendors to make this option possible in the first place.

http://arstechnica.com/business/new...ecure-boot-will-complicate-linux-installs.ars

 

[SimMike2]

I like to have multiple hard drives in my computer, with a smaller partition at the beginning of each. When I install a new OS, I completely disconnect the other drives. When it is finished, I plug in my other drives and use the boot menu on startup (F12 in my BIOS) to switch between operating systems. I hate install programs messing with my already good operating systems. I prefer for the install programs not to see my other OS.

 

[lxskllr]

I like to have multiple hard drives in my computer, with a smaller partition at the beginning of each. When I install a new OS, I completely disconnect the other drives. When it is finished, I plug in my other drives and use the boot menu on startup (F12 in my BIOS) to switch between operating systems. I hate install programs messing with my already good operating systems. I prefer for the install programs not to see my other OS.

I don't think that'll be possible with the Win8 setup. The MB firmware will prevent booting another O/S. That's assuming the oem doesn't release a switch to turn secure booting off. Maybe they will, maybe not, but it's a mild concern now.

 

[yinan]

Why would people still want to dual boot? That is what VMs are for.

 

[lxskllr]

Why would people still want to dual boot? That is what VMs are for.

Sometimes VMs aren't good enough. If I were to dual boot, it would be for gaming. A VM would be great, but it doesn't work with games. There's other specialized uses that won't work with VMs either.

 

[Andrmgic]

Honestly I can't see this as being a big problem..

I would assume that most people that dual boot would build their own machines.. and I'd be surprised if it wasn't an option in UEFI to disable secure boot on an off-the-shelf board.

 

[lxskllr]

Honestly I can't see this as being a big problem..

I would assume that most people that dual boot would build their own machines.. and I'd be surprised if it wasn't an option in UEFI to disable secure boot on an off-the-shelf board.

It would affect a single boot Linux system also. If the mb requires signing, and a workaround isn't provided, the computer becomes a virtual appliance. You'd only be able to use it in the factory shipped state.

Think about the way Linux is used now in a lot of cases. It's put on old oem systems to boost performance, while providing more features than XP. When 2018 comes around, and Win8 isn't cutting it anymore, but the computer's still functional, you could run into a real problem.

It's a lot of what ifs at this point, and it won't affect everyone, but it's concerning to me.

Edit:
Thinking about it, what about bootable rescue CDs? The only ones that'll be allowed are commercial products that get signed keys. I'm liking this less the more I think about it.

 

[VirtualLarry]

This is a DOWNRIGHT CRIMINAL move by MS. Turning the PC into a controlled, walled-garden, ala Xbox. Just wait, you won't be allowed to upgrade your HD, unless you pay for one "signed by Microsoft" in the firmware, that comes with a 500% markup. Well, you can install a third-party one, but then your PC won't pass certification to get on the internet, and then you'll have no internet connection.

That last part hasn't happened yet, but just wait 20 years.

 

[earthman]

This is just the way things will probably be done in the future to provide better security. There is a computer in my truck, but I don't have the expectation of installing my own software on it. Same with things like phones and tablets. Very few people buy these things with the expectation of installing a different operating system, so it would hardly be supported. I doubt that if it is used it will be extensively enforced. I don't really care, since I build my own systems and only use retail box software, but I can see where this might be a potential issue for laptops, or somebody wanting to install retail on an OEM machine. I'm sure there will be a workaround for it. Microsoft is not going to screw up their retail software market. Like someone else said, look at it the other way, an OEM Linux machine with this feature enabled would prevent Windows from booting, so I doubt Microsoft sees this a tool to block other operating systems. Most OEM computers sold have already paid the "Microsoft tax" anyway, so why would they care?