Wednesday, September 21st 2016
Microsoft Entering Agreements with Laptop Makers to Block Linux
Digital freedom activists are up in arms over a discovery by Lenovo Yoga 900S and Yoga 710S users that you simply can't replace the pre-installed Windows 10 Signature Edition operating system with one of your choice, such as Linux. Redditor BaronHK tried installing Linux on their notebooks and couldn't, so a support ticket was raised with Lenovo to guide them to install Linux. Lenovo responded that the notebook features Windows 10 Signature Edition, and that "it has been locked as per Lenovo's agreement with Microsoft."
On the Yoga 900S and 710S, Lenovo deployed a proprietary soft-RAID setup that cannot be recognized by Linux installers. You can't even change the SATA controller mode in the BIOS setup program. Even Windows installations don't succeed without special F6_install drivers by Lenovo, and the company only provides drivers for Windows. Lenovo cannot argue that its hardware specifically requires Windows, because Live images of Linux, (such as Ubuntu) function just fine on these notebooks. It's just that you can't make your Live session permanent by installing Ubuntu on the device. Lenovo has since gone into full damage control and denial. It removed the thread from its support forums (view a cached copy), and even changed its explanation from "we blatantly admitted to anti-competitive practices that could cost us a billion-dollar class-action lawsuit" to "we simply don't have drivers for our deliberately unusual RAID setup."
Source:
The Next Web
On the Yoga 900S and 710S, Lenovo deployed a proprietary soft-RAID setup that cannot be recognized by Linux installers. You can't even change the SATA controller mode in the BIOS setup program. Even Windows installations don't succeed without special F6_install drivers by Lenovo, and the company only provides drivers for Windows. Lenovo cannot argue that its hardware specifically requires Windows, because Live images of Linux, (such as Ubuntu) function just fine on these notebooks. It's just that you can't make your Live session permanent by installing Ubuntu on the device. Lenovo has since gone into full damage control and denial. It removed the thread from its support forums (view a cached copy), and even changed its explanation from "we blatantly admitted to anti-competitive practices that could cost us a billion-dollar class-action lawsuit" to "we simply don't have drivers for our deliberately unusual RAID setup."
127 Comments on Microsoft Entering Agreements with Laptop Makers to Block Linux
I so much like Vulkan to really take off fast so I don't have to deal with Microsoft products.
I am a PC gamer and currently the only reason I put up with Microsoft is because there is no other option for me.
the DOJ should be investing Lenovo for shady practices. But, I'd also be happy if they get sue'd for this.
#boycottLenovo
Wont be long til someone releases a modded BIOS.
there is no 'agreement' what is going on here is that lenvo is using RAID with some of there NVME controllers
and for whatever bassackwards reason removing AHCI support from the bios
the issue is linux doesn't have drivers for said NVME ssd
there is nothing going on here other then Lenvo being stupid
think about it if microsoft wanted to prevent linux installs why would they do it buy telling lenvo hey use THIS brand new raid controller coupled WITH this NVME drive to prevent Linux from being installed
WHAT sense that makes none
what this is is a bunch of wanna be linux users pointing the figure at Microsoft when the issue is with the linux kernel not supporting the hardware
the register of all places clarifys
www.theregister.co.uk/2016/09/21/lenovo_denies_plot_with_microsoft_to_block_linux_installs/
there is also entries on various Linux-Distro wikis telling users the same thing that linux doesn't support those controllers in raid mode
wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Lenovo_IdeaPad_Yoga_900
Give them a big enough fine to discourage ANY others to even attempt this again!
this thread stops here I am tired of seeing this story today
given the level of education the reps on that board had neither would surprise me
hes just a forum rep he in no way speaks for either company and I suspect he was caught off guard and didn't know how to reply so he just made up some bullshit the mods the operate out of china and we all know how that ends these are the same so called 'reps' that threatened to ban people over speaking out against the company
the kernel doesn't support the driver and anybody thats been any-ware near UEFI security would tell you that removing ACHI support is probably the stupidest way to restrict a os install ever
'agreement` could refer to them being told to use the RAID driver path because it radically improves performance on NVME systems which doesn't excuse lenvo completely removing AHCI from the bios
@ the very least, this suggests foul play and SHOULD be looked into.
explain it if Microsoft wanted to block linux installs all they would need todo is tell lenvo to revoke the public GRUB UEFI keys AND The key self-install option which is a whole hell of a lot harder to get around then simply not supporting ACHI mode
again anybody that remotely understand the subject here will tell you that disabling ACHI is in no plausible way related to blocking linux its just a stupid decision made by lenvos historically inept firmware team
Like those laptops you can buy for cheap in Akihabara or some shady shops in China/Taiwan/Hong Kong....
Also, I concur with onemoar. The rep probably didn't know exactly why Linux couldn't be installed on the laptop (no support for NVMe RAID) so he said that it was because of the Windows Signature edition being exclusive to that laptop.
but hey I only been here 6 years what do I know