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Linux can’t be installed on a recent Lenovo laptop

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Re: Linux can’t be installed on a recent Lenovo laptop

#11

Post by voltagex_ »

dTal wrote: post #8
voltagex_ wrote: post #4

Site is down. http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:fossbos... The article looks dangerously uninformed, from a brief skim. It's based on https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/53ri0m/warning_micro... I can't find any info on what SSD the Lenovo Yoga uses but if it's anything like the NVMe drive in my Dell XPS, it's just the way the card is set up. Depending on which kernel your installer is using it…

I dunno, this looks like a smoking gun: http://i1.wp.com/fossboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/B7g...

I don't think being able to change the drive to AHCI mode would fix the problem. The BIOS (actually UEFI) "locking" and storage driver are two separate issues. I mean, hell, if someone wants to send me one of these laptops I'll test it and do a full writeup.

Of course Reddit has gone off without anyone actually confirming what the issue is. Microsoft would be smart to come out with a statement on this if it picks up any steam.

Re: Linux can’t be installed on a recent Lenovo laptop

#14

Post by colemickens »

dTal wrote: post #6

This was so predictable. And of course, the FSF called it: https://www.fsf.org/campaigns/secure-boot-vs-restricted-boot

It's so predictable that people would run with conspiracy theories that make no sense and link to things that are completely unrelated.

The "issue" that came up today in this article has absolutely nothing to do with SecureBoot.

Re: Linux can’t be installed on a recent Lenovo laptop

#16

Post by colemickens »

Which is more likely? That Lenovo shipped a crappy BIOS, like plenty of OEMs have done before? Or that Microsoft is engaging in a covert conspiracy to block Linux users via forcing Lenovo to put the HD into Intel RST mode rather than ACHI?

It just doesn't make a bit of sense. If Microsoft wanted to block Linux, they would just require that SecureBoot not be disabled and require disablement of user key enrollment.

Besides, a clean copy of the Windows installation media doesn't boot normally either unless you slip the Intel RST driver into a custom built version of the install media.

This is just another conspiracy that I don't think makes any practical or logical sense.

Re: Linux can’t be installed on a recent Lenovo laptop

#18

Post by shmerl »

> Lenovo for example confirmed that they singed an agreement with Microsoft for this.

If true, it's illegal product tying, and those who signed such "agreement" are violating antitrust law. Someone should sue them until they stop doing this. Lenovo are infamous for refusing to refund Windows tax until brought to court, but this is a new low for them.

Re: Linux can’t be installed on a recent Lenovo laptop

#19

Post by gmazza »

voltagex_ wrote: post #7
dTal wrote: post #6

This was so predictable. And of course, the FSF called it: https://www.fsf.org/campaigns/secure-boot-vs-restricted-boot

Has anyone actually confirmed this is anything but missing drivers in 3.2.x kernel versions?

Have a look lenovo forums [1] (also linked prominently from original article), where OP has following to say:

  I am attempting to install ubuntu 16.04 on my yoga 900.
  The bios can see the 512 gb samsung hard drive and so can Windows.

  The ubuntu installer can not see it at all.
...and first person to reply adds:

  I have the same issue with the 900S model. 
 
  I have tried the newest kernel 4.6 but linux doesn't
  even list the pci express device in lspci.
So no, positively not the 3.2.x kernel to blame here.

[1] https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Linux-Discussion/Yoga-900-13ISK...

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