Loading Linux onto a Toshiba laptop

Bocasbeachbum · 08-02-2014, 02:04 PM

I have a new Toshiba laptop and Linux would not load. I called Toshiba and the tech said that the hardware of Toshiba prevents you from nuking Windows 8 and loading possibly anything else but specifically Linux. Has anyone else encountered this problem and what can be done.

DavidMcCann · 08-02-2014, 02:54 PM

Call-centre staff are just that: seldom experts. The problem is the secure boot feature. You can either turn it off, or use a special Linux pre-loader:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/20278...ows-8-pcs.html
http://www.extremetech.com/computing...fi-secure-boot

And here's some information on disabling secure boot
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...-a-4175493614/

Bocasbeachbum · 08-10-2014, 07:53 AM

I went around the problem and it is resolved.

273 · 08-10-2014, 08:50 AM

Do you mind posting how you solved the problem? I'll be buying a new laptop soon and one of the options would be a Toshiba so if you've any tips or saw any articles that helped I'd be grateful for the information.

Bocasbeachbum · 08-10-2014, 09:19 AM

There was a problem with the sound card so I took the laptop back and went to a computer store that built me what I wanted. It has 2 hard drives and they loaded windows 7 on one. I will load Linux on the other. Most computers that come pre-loaded have a bios inhibiter that prevents you from loading anything but windows 8 and they do not let you remove that.

273 · 08-10-2014, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bocasbeachbum

Most computers that come pre-loaded have a bios inhibiter that prevents you from loading anything but windows 8 and they do not let you remove that.

That sounds a bit strange to me because for x86 systems in order to be Windows 8 certified a machine must allow the user to turn off secure boot.
See here for more information:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/l.../dn486875.aspx
The relevant part being

Quote:

Originally Posted by Microsoft

All computers that are x86-based and certified for Windows 8 must meet several requirements related to Secure Boot:

They must have Secure Boot enabled by default.

They must trust the Microsoft certification authority (CA), and thus any bootloader that Microsoft has signed.

They must allow the user to add signatures and hashes to the UEFI database.

They must allow the user to completely disable Secure Boot.

However, I understand that dual booting may still be an issue and even with Secure Boot turned off EUFI may still make the install harder -- which is why I was curious as to how you solved your problem.