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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

#61

Post by gmazza »

tzs wrote: post #2

It sounds like Lenovo's BIOS is using a RAID mode with the internal SSD that Linux does not understand. Lenovo apparently provides a driver for this RAID mode for Windows 10. If you want to install something else (Linux, Windows 8) you are out of luck until someone produces a driver for that operating system.

If this [1] Lenovo employee's answer is a real deal, and this was in fact sanctioned by MS, I wonder if their actual goal was to prevent people from installing Windows 8/7/whatever. MS did go on record by saying they are willing to block people from installing old versions on new hardware. [2]

[1] http://imgur.com/a/niewu

[2] http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/16/10780876/microsoft-windows...

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

#62

Post by davnicwil »

languagewars wrote: post #33

First they came for the crapware license deals, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Windows User. Then they came for spammer license deals, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Windows User. Then they came to install back doors, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Windows User. Then they came for my ability to install Linux—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Let your wallet do the speaking. It's an open market and you have the choice of just buying from Lenovo's competitors - 'they' will then realise there's value in not doing this.

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

#64

Post by kelnos »

languagewars wrote: post #33

First they came for the crapware license deals, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Windows User. Then they came for spammer license deals, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Windows User. Then they came to install back doors, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Windows User. Then they came for my ability to install Linux—and there was no one left to speak for me.

C'mon, have some class. You're really going to co-opt a quote decrying war crimes and genocide to complain about not being able to install an alternative OS on your hardware?

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

#65

Post by akerro »

Does anyone own novena or librem? I think they have became worth their prices. They're quite expensive, but you don't have to bother with crap like some day you won't be install Linux or BSD distro because someone loves your hardware too much and want to force you to being spied on.

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

#67

Post by Hydraulix989 »

voltagex_ wrote: post #11
dTal wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

"I don't think being able to change the drive to AHCI mode would fix the problem."

One user Bownairo confirmed that changing the drive to AHCI mode did fix the problem by allowing the drive to be recognized in Linux, after manually flashing a modded BIOS by soldering chip programming hardware:

https://imgur.com/a/ox4Ey

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

#68

Post by pmontra »

Somebody managed to circumvent the problem on a Yoga 900 by flashing a new BIOS which allowed access to extra configurations. Some soldering required. The details start at https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Linux-Discussion/Yoga-900-13ISK... Check the link to imgur in that post. Not for the faint of heart. There are other posts with extra details from the same author in the next pages of the forum.

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

#69

Post by [deleted] »

stephenboyd wrote: post #24
dTal wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

I doubt that. It's more likely that Best Buy's "Lenovo Product Expert" misunderstood the review and referred to the agreement to not install any software on Signature Edition devices. I have no serious position on whether Microsoft is currently enforcing secret deals to sabotage Linux, but I'm sure the employee assigned to respond to product reviews would not be given such inside information.

[deleted]

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

#70

Post by akerro »

Yaggo wrote: post #13

Just out of curiosity, what's the rationale for MS & Lenovo to do this, why to risk PR? The number of people wanting to install Linux is marginal and they are already "on the wrong side".

Microsoft wants to kill "old" hardware and force you to use only the one they've certified, so they don't have to support 2 years old CPU and GPU, backport changes to between Windows 7 and botnet10. If they can force hardware manufacturers to lock hardware to only certain software, and apparently they can, they won't need to port drivers back to archaic to Windows 7 or 8. You will be forced to use 10.
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