Windows 8 can block the BIOS ?

[botat29]

I just read this on another forum , is this true

"

..., that was insightful but you also left out the issues with the DRM. The reason for the push to UEFI BIOS isn't to make it easier to set up the computer although that is a great point. but when Windows 8 launches one of the things installed ether via the installer or by first update is a UEFI code that will lock you into Windows 8 and Microsoft. If you go the Test Drive route after 30day's BIOS will lock down the computer and turn it into a very expensive Paperweight or if for any reason Windows thinks it's Pirated and I've even had that happen with a corrupted Hard Drive it will also Lock Bios down and once again you have a Very Large and Expensive Paperweight. Plus the other down side is once the UEFI Update is installed you can only install Windows 8 or later, no Linux or any other OS possible.

That's the worst part of Windows 8 as I see it at present and also one of the many reasons I refused to get the Crosshair V and purchased the Crosshair IV Formula.

[dandelioneater]

Windows 8 sounds worse and worse each day. I'm sure there will be a crack to disable that 'feature' though - it is only a matter of time...............

[Silent_Avenger]

Wow that's a stupid idea if it's true. Looks like MS just lost their enthusiast crowd. How are you supposed to sell a motherboard that's locked to windows? Stupid stupid Microsoft.

[dandelioneater]

^^ I guess I could understand if it was something that stopped your computer from booting into windows, but to lock the bios? what BS. DO NOT touch my Bios windows!

[chrisk]

I won't believe this until I see it.

[botat29]

I guess they gone have some serious oppositions

[Jake_HT]

What could they possibly gain from this?

[JD]

This has been "known" of since before the Developer Preview was released.

I'm fairly certain it will only be on OEM devices and unlikely to see ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, etc to be enforcing this on their consumer motherboards. If you go and pickup a tablet at the store, or a laptop/desktop, then I'm 99% sure it will be locked down.

IMO it's just like the scary WGA during the XP days, but it was quickly worked around in perhaps not-so-legal manners, but the fact is, any protection can and will be broken.

[Masteroderus]

Think back to hacking 101, disabling a bios password via removal of the mobo battery. I just don't see how you can brick a mobo, as you can undo bios changes if you have physical access to the hardware.

But posts like this make me want to learn ubuntu as fast as possible. Also i'm tired of giving microsoft so much of my money.

[ZZLEE]

^ motion seconded