It's too bad we can't tell what companies have secure boot locked to enabled without buying it. It is a conspiracy against linux and other alternative operating systems. I will keep in mind of staying away from Acer. BTW, if anyone has secure boot locked to enable, please provide make and model so we don't get screwed.

thanks

You can. Any x86 machine that has a Windows 8 Logo certification must have the option to disable Secure Boot and to manage your own keys.

Does this apply to amd64 machines? My Acer definitely has the Windows 8 Logo certification.

It could be a coincidence on Acers part... My Acer tech support query has been elevated to level 2, but I must wait until Monday till level 2 techs are available. Level 1 wanted my BIOS upgraded before proceeding.

Yes, it applies to x86 and x86-64 (aka amd64, EM64T or x64) machines. If you have the logo and there isn't an option to disable Secure Boot. If there is not such an option than this is a fraud from Acer and you should even be able to sue them.

I second that; sue; indubitably-
:hattip:

ACER BIOS INFORMATION
http://i1353.photobucket.com/albums/...5F1EF89C3C.jpg

LEGACY BOOT (FOR COMPARISON)
http://i1353.photobucket.com/albums/...5DD18CA276.jpg

UEFI SECURE BOOT ENABLED (LOCKED IN AND GRAYED OUT)
http://i1353.photobucket.com/albums/...5DC77B0457.jpg

UEFI SECURE BOOT ENABLED (LOCKED IN AND GRAYED OUT) CLOSE UP
http://i1353.photobucket.com/albums/...5DC48E0340.jpg

As you can see its grayed out. Unlike the other options, I am unable to toggle it.

That makes me mad to hear that I should be able to unlock secure boot. I don't want to sue them, I would just like to disable it.

I did a Google Search "How to unlock secure boot when it is grayed out"

https://www.google.com/#hl=en&sugexp...w=1440&bih=736
Still looking to try to help-

I'll post back next week when I get a hold of Acer Tech Level 2 support. :S

http://www.windowsecurity.com/articl...s-mean-IT.html

If I learned anything from this. Make sure you play with the BIOS settings before you buy.

Difficult to check if secure boot can be enabled or disabled when buying a desktop/laptop online.

100% BS. Boy, there noses are getting longer and longer each day. I wonder what extra incentives MS gives the OEMs to lock down secure boot even if it has the logo. Hey MS, don't BS me, OK...

Acer Tech Level 2 support informed me that a BIOS password must be set to disable secure boot.

Strange as I have never put a password on the BIOS before.

I have a bad tendency to forget passwords that I never user. I wrote the password on the back of the laptop.

It's good that you wrote that psswrd down-
Have you now the Secure Boot disabled?

Yes I have secure boot disabled. An administrative BIOS password is necessary to disable secure boot.

Thanks for posting back. While I can see the reason for setting up that password when disabling Secure Boot, this should without any question have at least been documented in the manual.

great work snmcdonald this is good to know

Good luck with that. I mentioned that to the Level 2 Tech. Acer provides a kb article on disabling secure boot but does not mention this caveat. I recommended adding a foot note at the very least.

I talked to three different level 1 techs and the one that recommended me to level 2 did not write up an advance notice so I had to re-explain the whole scenario on Monday to another level 1 tech. I doubt they will record it, hopefully somebody with this Acer problem stumbles upon this thread.

Thanks Command Guru

I do feel stupid though, the solution is so simple. I've never bothered with BIOS passwords though.