Just yesterday we announced that Windows 8 might not allow Linux installation on new computers. Well, it seems that Microsoft He has not been slow to respond to the rumor that is circulating on the network, and has tried to explain the operation of the controversial starting system UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface). On this matter, the company comments that it can be activated (or not) depending on the intentions of the equipment manufacturers and users.
As reported Europa Press:
Microsoft wanted to end the controversy by explaining in depth the true operation of UEFI. Those from Redmond comment on the official Building Windows 8 blog that UEFI is a protection system built into their new operating system. This system runs when you turn on the computer and prevents intrusions before the OS has fully booted.
Using UEFI would prevent another operating system from booting. Normally, users who want to install a second system on their computer, carry out the operation in such a way that when the computer starts up it allows to choose between the systems. With UEFI that possibility is ruled out, and that is the controversy.
From Microsoft they confirm that the system works in this way and that it aims to maintain the security of the computers even at a time when they are vulnerable, at startup. The company assures that this is its objective and in no case is it intended to prevent or prohibit the installation of other systems.
In fact, from Microsoft they confirm that the use of UEFI is not an imposition and that the manufacturers of the equipment and users can decide whether to use it or not. In this way, the function can be deactivated, losing its security but maintaining the options for using other systems.
“Microsoft supports that equipment manufacturers have the flexibility to decide who manages security certificates and how they allow customers to import and manage certificates and secure boot management. We believe it is important to support this flexibility for OEMs and allow our customers to decide how they want to manage their systems, "say Redmond.
In other words, that the brown for manufacturers ... there it is!