5 ms·

I think it was confirmed that the computer is locked to windows due to ms/lenovo contract http://imgur.com/a/niewu http://imgur.com/a/niewu

by mikkom 10y ago

UK-AL 10y ago
Yes, because a low level customer support agent is going to be privy to a secret agreement. In reality the agent probably misunderstood what's bring asked.
- leereeves 10y ago
  Low level customer support agent is probably working off a script.
  - UK-AL 10y ago
    They probably looked for word linux in a script, and typed in the answer. In reality the script read, "can I buy this with linux installed?", the answer would be only "windows 10 signature edition". They probably don't even know what linux is.
    - leereeves 10y ago
      Yes, and someone, not a low-level tech, wrote that script and wrote the reply: > This system has a Signature Edition of Windows 10 Home installed. It is locked per our agreement with Microsoft.
      - UK-AL 10y ago
        They're probably only allowed to install windows at factory. Doesn't mean they've blocked it.
        leereeves 10y ago
        Are you saying the story is wrong and they haven't "locked [the SSD] in a proprietary RAID mode that Linux doesn't understand"?
        UK-AL 10y ago
        Theres a difference between explicitly locking out linux, and using a piece of hardware that doesn't have linux driver.
        leereeves 10y ago
        According to a comment there, it's not hardware, it's a BIOS setting. > I've been able to successfully get past Lenovo's lock through direct bios flashing. I'm looking into better solutions, hopefully I can find a way to do this without an external programmer. I was going to keep people updated from the Lenovo forum, but as this is no longer an option I will keep people updated from here. https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/53ri0m/warning_microsoft_signature_pc_program_now/d7vozf6 https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/53ri0m/warning_micro...
        khedoros 10y ago
        Yes, but it's a setting that causes the hardware to behave differently, and which would need driver support to function.
        leereeves 10y ago
        The problem is that it's locked. As a default it would be fine, if it could be changed without removing the BIOS chip.
        khedoros 10y ago
        I agree completely with that. I responded because I partially disagreed with your earlier statement; I think it misses the point. It's a locked UEFI setting causing a problem: true. The setting is causing a piece of hardware to behave in a mode not handled by the current Linux driver: also true. So there are two ways of looking at it. First: It's a software issue that Lenovo should clear up (i.e. remove the locks on the appropriate parts of the UEFI configuration) Second: It's a hardware issue that the Linux community can address by writing a driver for the alternate hardware mode.
plgs 10y ago
I would refrain from calling that a confirmation. It's a statement expressed by customer support, without any context.

I think it was confirmed that the computer is locked to windows due to ms/lenovo contract http://imgur.com/a/niewu http://imgur.com/a/niewu

by mikkom 10y ago

I think it was confirmed that the computer is locked to windows due to ms/lenovo contract http://imgur.com/a/niewu http://imgur.com/a/niewu

UK-AL 10y ago

Yes, because a low level customer support agent is going to be privy to a secret agreement. In reality the agent probably misunderstood what's bring asked.

leereeves 10y ago
Low level customer support agent is probably working off a script.
- UK-AL 10y ago
  They probably looked for word linux in a script, and typed in the answer. In reality the script read, "can I buy this with linux installed?", the answer would be only "windows 10 signature edition". They probably don't even know what linux is.
  - leereeves 10y ago
    Yes, and someone, not a low-level tech, wrote that script and wrote the reply: > This system has a Signature Edition of Windows 10 Home installed. It is locked per our agreement with Microsoft.
    - UK-AL 10y ago
      They're probably only allowed to install windows at factory. Doesn't mean they've blocked it.
      - leereeves 10y ago
        Are you saying the story is wrong and they haven't "locked [the SSD] in a proprietary RAID mode that Linux doesn't understand"?
        UK-AL 10y ago
        Theres a difference between explicitly locking out linux, and using a piece of hardware that doesn't have linux driver.
        leereeves 10y ago
        According to a comment there, it's not hardware, it's a BIOS setting. > I've been able to successfully get past Lenovo's lock through direct bios flashing. I'm looking into better solutions, hopefully I can find a way to do this without an external programmer. I was going to keep people updated from the Lenovo forum, but as this is no longer an option I will keep people updated from here. https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/53ri0m/warning_microsoft_signature_pc_program_now/d7vozf6 https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/53ri0m/warning_micro...
        khedoros 10y ago
        Yes, but it's a setting that causes the hardware to behave differently, and which would need driver support to function.
        leereeves 10y ago
        The problem is that it's locked. As a default it would be fine, if it could be changed without removing the BIOS chip.
        khedoros 10y ago
        I agree completely with that. I responded because I partially disagreed with your earlier statement; I think it misses the point. It's a locked UEFI setting causing a problem: true. The setting is causing a piece of hardware to behave in a mode not handled by the current Linux driver: also true. So there are two ways of looking at it. First: It's a software issue that Lenovo should clear up (i.e. remove the locks on the appropriate parts of the UEFI configuration) Second: It's a hardware issue that the Linux community can address by writing a driver for the alternate hardware mode.

plgs 10y ago

I would refrain from calling that a confirmation. It's a statement expressed by customer support, without any context.