I want to buy a beautiful ASUS laptop that goes by the following specs:
ASUS X201E
Intel Celeron Processor
OS: Windows 8
Ram: 4 GB
HDD: 500 GB
Screen: 12 inches
The thing is that I want to install openSUSE or maybe other distro on the laptop (erasing windows completely, not running along it), but I’ve heard that Microsoft made installing other OSs on machines with W8 by default harder. My technical knowledge is very basic, so I don’t understand much about this ‘secure boot’ thing. Hence, my question would be: Is it possible for me to install Linux on the machine?
The problem isn’t Windows 8 specifically, but rather the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) interface that arrives with newer computers, and it’s Secure Boot system in particular. Fortunately many hardware vendors allow you to disable Secure Boot, and install other operating systems without a problem.
Since UEFI’s implementation, I’ve only had to work with Dell laptops, so unfortunately I can’t provide any insight into your Asus. However, these Dells have all had the option to switch from UEFI to Legacy, and to turn off Secure Boot from within the BIOS menu. From there, I’ve not had a problem installing various Linux distributions. I’ve been hearing about similar procedures from other manufacturers as well.
Your best option at this point would be to call/email Asus support and inquire as to if UEFI can be set to Legacy, and if Secure Boot can be disabled on the laptop model in question. Or if there is a similar procedure available on their laptops. I did a bit of searching for your particular model, and I’ve not found any information regarding it’s UEFI/Secure Boot options. Though, seeing that a variant of that model is being sold with Ubuntu, I’d say there’s a good chance at you being able to get around the UEFI/Secure Boot system and install Linux.
I have similar problem as OP - Win8 laptop ASUS G75VW where I wanted to put OpenSUSE. I was able to install OpenSUSE there after complete removing of Win8, but after that hard drive is not visible in BIOS setup anymore. Secure boot is disabled (I think), but the only bootable device in BIOS is DVD-ROM now - so I boot through OpenSUSE live-DVD. I tried to communicate with ASUS technical support, but they are useless - basically they said that they can’t answer question related to 3rd party hardware or software (and OpenSUSE is that “3rd party”) also they suggested that BIOS probably expects to see Win8 partition in order to boot (really?) and that they don’t have any instructions how to disable secure boot…
Disk /dev/sda: 1953525168 sectors, 931.5 GiB
Logical sector size: 512 bytes
Disk identifier (GUID): .............................
Partition table holds up to 128 entries
First usable sector is 34, last usable sector is 1953525134
Partitions will be aligned on 2048-sector boundaries
Total free space is 3437 sectors (1.7 MiB)
Number Start (sector) End (sector) Size Code Name
1 2048 67102719 32.0 GiB EF00 primary
2 67102720 1953523711 899.5 GiB 0700 primary
i have a dell laptop with pre-installed win8 and it provides secure boot option from BIOS which you can disable it…
or you can try it in system
Press the Windows (http://support.acer.com/acerpanam/images/icon_Windows8_key.png
) key + C, or swipe in from the right edge of the screen to open your Charms. 1. Click Settings
. 1. Click Change PC Settings
. 1. In PC Settings, select General
. 1. Under Advanced startup, click Restart now
. The system will restart and show the Windows 8 boot menu. 1. In the boot menu, select Troubleshoot
. 1. In the Troubleshoot menu, select Advanced options
. 1. In the Advanced options menu, select UEFI Firmware Settings
. 1. Click Restart
to restart the system and enter UEFI (BIOS).
