Thanks for the update Sjschuchart. I just saw this on Digg and was going to post a link to your article, but you beat me to it.

--jeremy
http://jeremy.linuxquestions.org/

Before you go raising flags against Phoenix for their bios, let me explain a few things since I worked with them directly during the Pentium 4 ramp up prior to launch.

They make the core bios, but it is like a building block. The vendors make additional changes to their bios specific to their machines. Blaming them for these issues is completely without warrant, as their bios is in far more systems than just Toshiba, and they work fine with Linux. It's like blaming Intel's Centrino for your built in webcam not working.

Now there is room to blame Toshiba, and Microsoft directly. This link has information on the acpi code in Toshibas that is specific to Windows.

Congratulations, chessonly, you got slashdotted as well. If this was a troll, it has been quite successful indeed.

I didn't see anyone else post a link to it but there is also openbios as well,
http://openbios.info/Welcome_to_OpenBIOS

You've had a follow up from the author of that original article you quoted chessonly:

http://www.networkcomputing.com/blog...conc.html#more

Can you believe the arrogance?

I've had problems with HP/Compaq laptops too, but NEVER with my Toshiba.

Makes me wonder if this is really an anti-Windows troll or an anti-Toshiba troll... anyway.

http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/toshiba.html

You got to be joking right?
The OP is having trouble with a BIOS that Phoenix also says works only with Vista and you are labeling him a troll?

"It's like deja-vu all over again" -- Yogi Berra

No, really, I was quite serious.

The OP said he ignored the warning and successfully installed both XP and openSUSE anyway. So what's the conspiracy exactly? To make everyone upgrade to Vista?

I guess we learned a BIOS can be tweaked to boot one OS faster than another. That's really all there is to see here. But just in case you want to boot Linux in 3 seconds:
http://www.linuxbios.org/Welcome_to_LinuxBIOS
http://www.fsf.org/campaigns/supportlinuxbios.html

NOTE: The above BIOS isn't designed for Windows -- it's a vast OSS conspiracy.

>> "Makes me wonder if this is really an anti-Windows troll or an anti-Toshiba troll... anyway."

wait until you see consumers marching for their rights ... that would really amuse you forever ...


//like they got nothing better to do ... ^_^

.

LOL
1.tell me something, On a new laptop, do you check the bios page of the manufacturer before installing a new OS to see if the OS you are going to install is compatible with the bios?? NO!
2. I didn't get the warning before hand. First I installed XP, then I got the error , and then I discovered this vista only crap.
Got it?

I am replying to this coz I got yet another 'me too' email from a forum member.

Toshiba rulez cuz...

I'm surprised you got any responses at all. A mysterious BIOS password caused by connecting a USB-to-serial thingy that you suspect has something to do with Toshiba's Vista-tweaked BIOS.

Personally, I suspect it has something to do with the alignment of the planets. I know that's not logical either, you'll just have to have faith and believe it anyway.

EDIT: Come on, tell us the real story... Toshiba screwed you out of a rebate or something, right?

This is . . .stupid.

Do I think Microsoft has some dirty tricks up its sleeve? Yes.
Do I think Microsoft would love for a BIOS to lock out any other operating systems than their own? Yes.
Do I think BIOS manufacturers would enjoy the resulting legal and financial trouble? No.

I'd personally be more concerned about TCPA/TCG devices themselves than a system BIOS simply programmed with features for the use of one operating system or another. If you think about it, even the features like "Wake on LAN" have to interact with your system somehow. Its possible that as one poster said, you simply set a password one night while you were half asleep, and then forgot it.

try to tack it back to the store you got it from and get your money back .
as a comsumer this is the loudest statment you can make
or if you can't tack it back send it to the factory
with the bitch that vis-stool is un useable and you want XP to replace it

i think we should use vista and leave xp for everyone else ... be a responsible good citizen ...


//ok ... ^_^


.

Going back off topic, take a look at this forum post:
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=19860

also Google : enable special keys linux