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by ekiara 4636 days ago
I was recently trying to compile a list of laptops guaranteed to be free from UEFI Secure Boot (mainly because I've have a friend who bought a second-hand laptop with Win8(I think), with plans to install Debian, but then after about a week struggling, he decided it was next to impossible to install).

Anyway, instead of compiling that list I just decided that in future I'd only buy (or recommend to friends) Chromebooks, machines from System76, or MacAirs/MacPros. Maybe now I should add few HPs/Dells to my whitelist.

4 comments

It is not easy, but should be possible. Your best friend will be boot repair: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair

After a very long sequence of strange incantations, my laptop was fully ok.

Just to add a Point about - System76 provides the best ubuntu based laptops which is totally customizable.. If any System76 people are reading this - "Add Keyboard Backlight - People will rush to buy the laptop"
Are there PCs for which it is impossible to turn Secure Boot off?

The only thing I found difficult with Win 8 and UEFI is to install Linux and retain Windows for dual-booting. After turning off Secure Boot, installing Ubuntu was trouble-free.

Asus sells laptops with GNU/Linux over Amazon in Germany.