4 ms·

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

by 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.
        sliken 10y ago
        Right, but it also breaks official microsoft windows media. How much sense does that make?
        khedoros 10y ago
        For RAID hardware, it's not that unusual to have a device that isn't supported by standard Windows install media. To install Windows, you'd put the Intel-provided driver on another medium (or slipstream it into the Windows one), and click "load driver" in the installation GUI. Lenovo apparently wants to treat that computer as an appliance; if someone borks their installation enough that even a system restore won't fix it, it's a call to Lenovo support, and a bill if the machine's out of warranty. For customers whose Windows installations are working correctly, it's access to a faster, more power-efficient driver. That's how it makes sense, IMO.

by UK-AL 10y ago

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.
        sliken 10y ago
        Right, but it also breaks official microsoft windows media. How much sense does that make?
        khedoros 10y ago
        For RAID hardware, it's not that unusual to have a device that isn't supported by standard Windows install media. To install Windows, you'd put the Intel-provided driver on another medium (or slipstream it into the Windows one), and click "load driver" in the installation GUI. Lenovo apparently wants to treat that computer as an appliance; if someone borks their installation enough that even a system restore won't fix it, it's a call to Lenovo support, and a bill if the machine's out of warranty. For customers whose Windows installations are working correctly, it's access to a faster, more power-efficient driver. That's how it makes sense, IMO.