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
The rep that replied to the 1 star review probably didn't have all the technical information about what prevented Linux to be installed and just assumed it was due to the Windows Signature edition being exclusive to the laptop.
This wasn't a support rep replying to a support ticket, just some sales rep replying back to a review on Best Buy's site. If you'd ever been to a Best Buy you'd know that they aren't exactly the most knowledgeable folks when it comes to technical questions (with it's exceptions of course).
Again, the "statement" comes from a Best Buy sales rep that probably didn't know better.
Limited BIOS/UEFI is one of the reasons I hate laptops.
Heck, the 1 star review even tells the whole story, I don't know why people don't read it.
Someone should check product page if there is a manual with firmware options, when I was going to buy E560, I checked all the options in the manual.
Microsoft is innocent until proven guilty, or if you want you can blame Microsoft but remember how would you feel if someone kidnapped you and held you in some detention camp. Be vigilant and not vindictive for the past Microsoft sins.
How is this Microsofts fault and not Intels?
1. Guys buying the Yoga 900S wanted to run Linux on it.
2. The BIOS is locked into a custom RAID mode that Linux can't install to... neither vanilla Windows 10 for that matter.
3. Guys in Lenovo forums ask for a way to enable AHCI and Lenovo doesn't help them.
4. A guy posts a 1 star review on Best Buy's site warning people about this issue.
5. A Lenovo sales rep on Best Buy's site that probably didn't know better says that is because they have an agreement with Microsoft.
6. Shitstorm ensues.
The Linux kernel that Unraid 5 uses doesn't fully support my built in network chip and had to get a network card. I guess I should blame Microsoft too... for some reason.
If this is just all about NVME support, a BIOS fix will do the trick and also seems like the likely solution. Will be interesting to see Lenovo's official response on this...
www.techrepublic.com/article/lenovo-denies-deliberately-blocking-linux-on-windows-10-pcs/This comes from a company rep, not a random store sales rep.
About the BIOS fix, they already said they won't supply one, that was what triggered the 1 star review in the first place.
they need to allow un binding of the drives so customers can choose the config...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Garrett
Because the reddit I linked leads to his blog (mjg59.dreamwidth.org/44694.html), where he plainly says that this is not MS doing.
Microsoft is not blocking anything or anyone. It's Lenovo who have chosen to use a proprietary NVMe RAID controller and only write a Windows driver for it. If you want a Linux driver, yell at Lenovo to write one, or get off your fat ass and write one yourself (isn't that what open source is all about?).
But nope, Linux fanboys would rather blame Microsoft (spelled with a dollar sign because that's edgy and cool) because that's easier than actually trying to understand what's actually going on, and also because they are subhuman and/or certifiably retarded. As some of the posters in this thread have demonstrated.
These are the same people who vote in elections for important things like splitting from Europe and choosing the next US president. And we wonder why the world is screwed.
so lenovo did a bad bios, intel has a new req for better power management and somehow that deathspiraled into linux vs microsoft...
I mean seriously we have a group of models from one brand (not even a manufacturer, they farm that out) with a dumb bios and suddenly the world had ended satan is here and he demands you switch to windows 10... way to fan the fire y'all.
This is not hard, if you are not purposefully trying to lock out other OS's...