Dual booting users will now have a difficult time with Windows 8 machines as systems with "Designed for Windows 8" logos must be shipped with UEFI secure booting enabled. It prevents machines from booting operating systems without a Trusted Certificate Authority. Linux is an open-sourced operating system with many variations thus can't get a Trusted Certificate Authority that easily.

This move by Microsoft was due to a growing threat of malware using that targets the root path of the operating system with a full reinstall of the operating system being the only solution.

While it do presents a challenge, users can disable secure booting provided that vendors would make the option available. Another work-around on this is to install a signed version of Linux and upgrading a dual-booted machine from Windows 7 to Windows 8.

This also replaces the BIOS we many been used in our PCs with UEFI. However Microsoft states that they will continue support on the legacy BIOS interface but says that UEFI will have far richer capabilities, faster boot times and better security.

Disabling Secure Booting

"There's no indication that Microsoft will prevent vendors from providing firmware support for disabling this feature and running unsigned code." According to Red Hat developer Matthew Garrett in his blog. Hardware manufacturers most commonly provide for minimum firmware requirements in their manufacturing, while being true it also indicates that there might be 50/50 chance of vendors giving the option disabling secure booting.

Signed Versions of Linux

It is possible to provide signed version of Linux but it would be a long and hard task of passing every piece of code through every OEM. "Finally, if we self-sign, it's still necessary to get our keys included by ever OEM." ended by Matthew Garrett on the topic.

This might not affect much of PC users since most of users that dual-boot have highly technical skills. It might restrict their hardware choices so expect more ways of circumnavigating UEFI in the future. Are we seeing the end of the era of BIOS, seeing it like the passing of the 5 ½ inch floppy discs? More importantly, is this a new anti-trust case for Microsoft?