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Microsoft is planning to implement the UEFI OS-booting system in Windows 8, which is fine. What’s not very fine at all is that it’ll be locking out other operating systems from the ARM version, meaning Windows 8 tablets won’t be able to run anything else.
According to the Software Freedom Law Center, Microsoft has confirmed that the “Custom Mode” required to boot alternate operating systems has been prohibited in Windows 8 when it’s running on an ARM device. This means the only boot option will be Standard Mode — Windows 8.
Those running Intel machines will have the option to completely disable all boot locking entirely, but that won’t be possible on ARM devices. Windows 8 tablets based around ARM chipsets will only be able to run Windows 8. [SFLC]
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Now I know it won’t be possible to dual boot Windows 8 with Android, which is sad. I mean, not that I wanted to, but I’d like to have the option. Please tell me hackers will manage to find a way around the block.
I’m sure someone will!
This isn’t the end of the world though, Microsoft has had a good track record supporting unlock tools designed by the developer community with Windows Phone – and I imagine some of that will carry over in some way or another.
That said, there will be a ton of Intel tablets out there too, so that could always be the one aimed at dual-booters.
What’s stopping people from installing their own bootloader and going from there?
I give it 3 weeks between the release of the first windows 8 ARM tablet and that very same device booting into an alpha version of Android. There’s no way they are going to lock the boot loader permanently