Windows 8, UEFI and all that - what to expect

English Open Chat
1

My computer died yesterday. I’m now running with my older test box (with 12.3 Beta1 - I guess this is a good test).

I have ordered a replacement, but it won’t be here for a week or so. It comes with Windows 8, and therefore presumably with UEFI. I looked for a comparable machine with preinstalled linux, but none showed up in a search.

My possibilities are:

  • Delete windows 8, and make this a linux only box;
  • Take the disk drive from my dead computer, and install in the new box (assuming an available slot);
  • Try shrinking the Windows 8, to free up space.

I didn’t want Windows 8, but now that one is coming, I suppose I should try it out. So the second of those options looks like the best if I can work it. The old disk drive is an MBR drive, and I want to keep some data partitions if possible, though I presumably could back them up then reformat.

  • Will there be a problem mixing MBR and GPT drives?
  • If linux is entirely on the MBR drive, how does it boot? Or should I put a “/boot” on the main drive?
  • What problems will UEFI give - I assume that I can turn that off in the BIOS.

I’m not sure if UEFI support for linux is there, yet, for 12.3. But if it is, I would like to experiment with it. I assume that 12.3 RC1 will be available by the time I am ready to install.

I’m just looking for comments and suggestions here, preferably based on some knowledge.

2

Linux has no problems with it. Cannot say anything about Windows.

  • If linux is entirely on the MBR drive, how does it boot? Or should I put a “/boot” on the main drive?

It’s a bit more complicated than that. If you want to retain Windows you will likely need to switch to UEFI boot.

  • What problems will UEFI give - I assume that I can turn that off in the BIOS.

Nothing. It is just different pre-boot environment. Once Linux is booted, you do not know difference.

I’m not sure if UEFI support for linux is there, yet, for 12.3.

Sorry? It is there for openSUSE 12.2 and has been there before.

3

didn’t want Windows 8, but now that one is coming, I suppose I should try it out.

That is up to you of course, but for me there is no logic in there :wink:

4

Henk, we’re dutch !! If something’s payed for, it should be consumed, whether we like it or not. MMMM, thinking about it, maybe Windows 8 is beyond that; pay gladly for something you’re getting rid of immediately :smiley:

5

Well, avidjaar is not revealing if (s)he is Dutch. But I am very bad as a Dutchman. When I get a system and there is Windows on it (sometthing that seems to be diificult to avoid), I switch power on and put the openSUSE DVD asap in the system. Then I install using “the whole disk”. I know I have then payed for something I do not use. There is a TV card in my system I do not use. There is a radio in my car I do not use. When I would go and use all things I have payed for, there wouldn’t be time to do nice things. rotfl!

6

Yes, I believe if your not dutch that is called extortion. :wink:

7

Exactly! For me that is it also (as said, I am bad as a Dutchman, do not like coffee either >:( ).

8

Whaaaa, no coffee??? Sorry, we can’t be friends. :cry:

9

Also have an Article you could look at here: https://forums.opensuse.org/content/111-partitioning-hard-disk-during-install.html

Thank You,

10

On Mon, 28 Jan 2013 18:06:01 GMT
nrickert <nrickert@no-mx.forums.opensuse.org> wrote:

> My possibilities are:
>
> - Delete windows 8, and make this a linux only box;
> - Take the disk drive from my dead computer, and install in the new
> box (assuming an available slot);
> - Try shrinking the Windows 8, to free up space.

On my first attempt on a UEFI desktop machine (Win 7), I’d tried
installing from DVD which missed several steps of the installation
process - a feature apparently - and I got horribly confused by all the
UEFI nonsense so gave up. I then attached an external USB-drive and
installed openSUSE on that, leaving the internal drive alone. That way,
I also was able to boot everything normally from GRUB2.

On a later installation, I used a USB-stick instead of a DVD and took
your third way, shrinking Windows main partition (using the Windows
software even though that left a lot of unused space in the partition).
I made no special changes to BIOS except to ensure it would boot from
the stick and installation went ahead OK. After successful
installation, I was able to boot either openSUSE or Windows 8 from the
GRUB2 menu. Piece of cake!

–
Graham P Davis, Bracknell, Berks.
openSUSE 12.3-B1 (64-bit); KDE 4.9.98; AMD Phenom II X2 550 Processor;
Video: nVidia GeForce 210 (using nouveau driver);
Sound: ATI SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA); Wireless: BCM4306

11

Thanks, everybody.

Those are very useful responses.

and I will continue to read any new responses to this thread.

12

I would buy a system76 box if you want to absolutely assure yourself of no issues; it comes preinstalled with ubuntu, but you can overwrite it with whatever you want. They do not use UEFI bios in their machines and the disks use an MBR type partitioning.

13

On 2013-01-28 20:06, hcvv wrote:
>
>> didn’t want Windows 8, but now that one is coming, I suppose I should
>> try it out.
> That is up to you of course, but for me there is no logic in there :wink:

Know your enemy :stuck_out_tongue:

–
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 12.1 x86_64 “Asparagus” at Telcontar)

14

On 2013-01-28 22:46, anika200 wrote:
>
> hcvv;2522816 Wrote:
>> Exactly! For me that is it also (as said, I am bad as a Dutchman, do not
>> like coffee either >:( ).
>
> Whaaaa, no coffee??? Sorry, we can’t be friends. :’(

ROTFL! X’-)

–
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 12.1 x86_64 “Asparagus” at Telcontar)