Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

Dev.SN ♥ developers

Windows 8 Update Erases Grub, Enables Secure Boot

posted by LaminatorX on Wednesday March 26 2014, @10:13AM   Printer-friendly
from the It's-a-trap! dept.

deif writes:

A recent Windows 8 update detects other OS installs as a "security problem", erases non-windows bootloaders and enables UEFI Secure Boot, all without user intervention.

From a posting on reddit:

I contacted MS by chat (in Dutch, so of no use to you) and asked them about this. They vehemently denied this was possible at all. Multiple times, in no uncertain terms. Same results were acquired by phone: denial, denial, denial.

I pointed out that it did actually happen, and that it wan't the first time such a thing had happened in the history of MS updates -so "impossible" was BS, to put it shortly.

Then came a chat reply which amounted to "MS updates makes sure W8 functions fine, it does not look at other OS's integrity". This is, in my opinion, a de-facto admission that yes, the update had changed the bootloader back to the W8 version that ignores other OS's, and yes, it had set the UEFI setting back to "secure boot."

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Windows 8 Update Erases Grub, Enables Secure Boot | Log In/Create an Account | Top | 1000 moderator points   | 48 comments | Search Discussion
Display Options Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.

  • (Score: 5, Informative) by cornholed on Wednesday March 26 2014, @11:05AM

    by cornholed (2027) on Wednesday March 26 2014, @11:05AM (#21539)
    It is known that Windows 8.1 wipes Grub [microsoft.com] and that secure boot is enabled by default, microsoft even mentions this on their website and tells you how to fix it [microsoft.com]:

    Does Secure Boot prevent me from dual-booting or running other operating systems on my PC?
    No. UEFI's Secure Boot feature prevents the computer from starting unsigned and unauthorized operating systems. This can prevent certain types of malware (e.g., Boot Kits) from starting on your computer. If you want to single- or dual-boot a Windows 8 certified PC with an operating system that does not support Secure Boot (e.g., Windows 7 or Linux), you can disable Secure Boot. For more information about UEFI and its Secure Boot feature, see Protecting the pre-OS environment with UEFI.
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Moderation   +4  
       Informative=4, Total=4
    Extra 'Informative' Modifier   0  
    Total Score:   5