Will my laptop be stuck with Windows 8
 

I am looking for a cheap laptop for Linux usage. They are all HP 15 series:

15-f023wm
15-f024wm
15-f010dx
15-f003dx

All come with Windows 8 or 8.1 on a traditional spinning hard drive. I want to replace the original hard drive with a new solid state drive with a non-windows OS.

However, I remember reading that Windows 8 and 8.1 work with a "secure boot" (and / or some other feature) that prevents you from replacing either the OS or the hard drive.

Is that true?

If yes, then how would I learn if the laptop models I like are affected?

Thanks.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...6/#post5214666

i had the same problem trying to install fedora-20 on a win-8 hp laptop for my dad. i personnally wanted to save the windows-8 partition since he paid for the license. but for whatever reason everything i tried (disabling secure boot from uefi/bios, disabling quickboot from the windows restart menu, ...) it would not boot fedora so i had to delete windows.

If you're going to remove Windows, there is no problem to install Linux.
It is very straightforward: disable "Secure Boot" (or "SCM" for some models) option in BIOS and switch boot manager to legacy BIOS mode. That's all.

schneidz - Were you able to use Linux after ridding the system of Windows?

Teufel - Will that work even if I replace the original hard drive with a solid state?

it doesn't matter what a drive do you use - ssd or spinning one.
BIOS launces boot code from device attached to specified bus, regardless device type

It is part of the UEFI specification to include options to disable EFI-mode booting (the so-called "Legacy" boot, or "CSM") and Secure Boot so in theory you should be fine.

However, the actual implementation of this standard appears to be variable with little in the way of standardisation.

More info about Secure Boot here:
http://www.rodsbooks.com/efi-bootloa...ecureboot.html

As above.
On my cheapo Windows 8.1 laptop (sadly out for repair) I could easily turn off Secure Boot and EUFI, boot from USB and install to another USB stick.
I did this because I wanted to keep the Windows 8.1 install intact for warranty (thank goodness I did, perhaps) and other reasons. It would have been a lot simpler* to just put in an SSD in place of the HDD and install Linux on that.

*well, apart from the physical need to take the machine apart to replace the storage.

Same as everyone else; turn off secure boot. Turn on legacy boot. Install. I have done this at least three times on separate machines and it has been effortless.

yup.

Harming or removing Windows isn't a reason of denial of warranty.
Most of people do not even know that purchaser might demand to remove preinstalled Windows and accordingly reduce laptop's price. Of course, Windows logo hologram will be removed as well. Sad that the stain will be scratched, but it isn't a magor issue. There might be sticked the penguin.

Probably not in and of itself, no. However, it is always a lot more convenient not to have to resort to threats of legal action in order to have a warranty honoured.
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...aviour-765549/
I don't know about you but I don't have a few thousand pounds GB to spend upon trying to have the warranty honoured on a piece of kit which cost a couple of hundred so I like to be careful.

Edit: I realise the above is an old link but I have seen this a lot more recently with, I think, NewEgg. It is far from uncommon.

No need to spend thousands of money, just make it obvious to seller that you will decidedly pursue your rights in court, and it is enough to replace broken laptop with new one. The seller interested to refuse warranty since he has some money per any sold stuff, but when it's go to court they piss. I know four persons who replaced their laptops with damaged hdds this year only. Two of these hdds was badblocked and non-bootable and two even was undetectable (no any OS at all).

Vendors and manufacturers are very inconsistent in the way that they honour warranties. If the vendor and/or manufacturer refuses to honour the warranty because a clause states that the OS cannot be replaced then what do you do? Being in the right is not in and of itself enough to ensure that you will be dealt with fairly.
You also mention that the HDDs were damaged, so the vendor or manufacturer would not be able to use the lack of pre-installed OS as an excuse.

Thank you everyone!