14 DAY TRIAL // “Microsoft loves Linux” is a phrase that’s becoming more popular these days after the software giant struggled to get closer to the open-source community with updates for its products, but according to a new report, the firm isn’t really such a big supporter of Linux.
FossBoss writes that Microsoft has banned Linux on a number of Windows 10 PCs that are labeled as Signature Edition, which are supposed to provide the cleanest Windows experience on the market.
Signature Edition devices run Windows 10 with no bloatware or other pre-installed apps, and the operating system is specifically tuned for performance, according to Microsoft itself.
But if we are to trust today’s report, Microsoft has made it impossible not only to install bloatware on these PCs but also to install Linux, as the company found a way to lock the SSD in a proprietary RAID mode that can only be read by Windows.
Lenovo says some devices are locked
Living proof is said to be none other than Lenovo’s Yoga 900 ISK2 UltraBook, which comes with Windows 10 and is supposed to be part of the Signature Edition series. According to Reddit user BaronHK, it’s impossible to install Linux because of the aforementioned restriction, and when contacted, Lenovo confirmed that it has an agreement with Microsoft in place to make this happen.
“This system has a Signature Edition of Windows 10 Home installed. It is locked per our agreement with Microsoft,” a Lenovo employee responded in a reply to a comment made by BaronHK when complaining that it’s impossible to install Linux on the Yoga 900.
For the moment, however, it appears that not all Signature Edition devices come with this restriction, and Lenovo’s comment might not be relevant to this case, as support staff often posts inaccurate information and is unlikely to be given access to such details regarding corporate deals.
We’ve reached out to Microsoft to ask for more details about this possible restriction configured for Signature Edition devices, so we’ll update the article when we receive an answer. In the meantime, just don’t take anything for granted, especially given the vague information available on this.
UPDATE: Lenovo has released a statement to explain that Linux is not blocked on Windows 10 PCs and the OS can actually run on its devices with updated kernel and drivers.