The Truth about Windows 10, UEFI, and Secure Boot

Here we go again with Tech sites scare-mongering and spreading misinformation. This time it’s all about Windows 10, UEFI, and Secure Boot. Some tech sites have been suggesting that Windows 10 will not work on UEFI systems unless Secure Boot is enabled, which is a complete misinterpretation of the facts. Based on what little information is available, here’s what’s really happening – and even this is not yet set in concrete:

Windows 8 and UEFI Secure Boot

It has nothing to do with the operating system (Windows 10) per se and is all about the “genuine” logo licensing terms. To explain that further: Microsoft offers all manufacturers the opportunity to apply a “Designed for Windows [version]” sticker to their products. In order to obtain those rights, manufacturers have to agree to a set of conditions, as outlayed by Microsoft under its logo licensing terms.

Do you recall a similar furor regarding Secure Boot when Windows 8 was due for release? When Microsoft announced that UEFI Secure Boot would be a mandatory feature under its logo licensing terms there was a massive outcry from disgruntled users because of the potential for preventing dual booting or even installing a different operating system.

However, following the public outcry, Microsoft amended the terms for its “Designed for Windows 8” logo to include a solution to the potential problem: Microsoft also mandated that every system MUST include a user-accessible switch to turn Secure Boot off. Peace reigned again.

Windows 10 and UEFI Secure Boot

Now, on to Windows 10, and this is where the confusion comes in: Microsoft has intimated that, under the Windows 10 logo licensing terms, it will no longer insist on the inclusion of an option to turn Secure Boot off, leaving it purely optional – as in up to the manufacturers whether they want to include the option or not.

That’s it, that’s what all the fuss is about. Let’s take a look at the implications logically:

• Due to the competitive nature of the market, I believe it’s pretty safe to assume that many manufacturers would choose to include an “off switch” for UEFI Secure Boot even if they are no longer forced to do so.
• Even in the event that certain manufactures choose not to include the option to turn Secure Boot off, only new mobos and systems built and distributed by those particular manufactures under the “Designed for Windows 10” logo would be affected – and, even then, Windows 10 will still work fine.
• Existing (pre-Windows 10) UEFI systems all include the option to turn Secure Boot off. So, those who utilize the upgrade path to existing hardware would not be affected at all.

In a nutshell, Windows 10 will still work fine on both BIOS and UEFI systems, and regardless of whether Secure Boot is enabled or not. Plus, of course, this is all supposing Microsoft does go ahead and drop its mandate forcing manufactures to include an option to disable Secure Boot, we probably won’t know for sure, either way, until RTM (Release To Manufacturing).

I really don’t see an issue here, a mountain out of a mole hill.

Dual Booting Windows 10 & Linux

Could a permanently enabled Secure Boot mean the end of Linux on a Windows PC? No. UEFI is a global standard that Microsoft has no ownership over. Therefore, if Linux distributions include compatibility for UEFI, they’ll be able to run without a problem in a “secure boot” environment.

The rise of mandatory, locked Secure Boot could create a problem for smaller Linux distributions or custom Linux systems—but the Linux Foundation Secure Boot System is a generic loader signed by Microsoft that should allow any Linux system to boot on PCs with Secure Boot enabled.

The latest versions of popular Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, Mint and Fedora, already install just fine on a Windows PC that has Secure Boot enabled, and this trend can only widen. After all, developers will always have the incentive to make their product as compatible with as many machines as possible.

I guess there is always the possibility that Microsoft may eventually stop signing these Linux loaders thus preventing them from functioning in Secure Boot mode, however, I believe that’s a highly unlikely scenario. I’m a half-glass-full kind of person. 🙂

Seriously, after the Windows 8 debacle followed by the Windows 8 to 8.1 upgrade shambles, Microsoft really needs Windows 10 to succeed and I can’t see the company making any decisions that would likely impede that success and/or damage its sagging reputation even further.

Final Word

The jury is still out on just how much value Secure Boot actually adds from a security point of view, but that’s another story for another time. To quote security expert Bruce Schneier… “I think this [secure Boot] is just another piece of security theater that will inconvenience many and benefit no one.”

• FOOTNOTE: If you’d like to participate in a discussion about this topic, feel free to join us on the DCT forum here: Windows 10 first impressions?

The Truth About Windows

I can not tell you how commonly I’ve met with homeowners most effective to hear that that they had replaced all their home windows with energy efficient windows and they simply could not understand why they were not saving any cash. The truth is, every window manufacturer wants you to agree with that setting extra electricity green windows in your own home is going to prevent lots of cash. Well it’s now not! You can argue with me all you want, but when you have ever heard Charlie Wing talk about unmarried pane home windows you will recognize that you aren’t getting all the facts you need to make an educated decision on upgrading the home windows in your private home. So permit’s talk a touch bit approximately why upgrading the windows in your home is one of the remaining things on my listing of electricity development suggestions.

First things first, they’re high priced. Rarely does a window alternative pay for itself earlier than the cease of the beneficial life of the window, that’s regularly 20-25 years! If you have not read my previous weblog publish approximately R-fee I suggest you do that now before you maintain with this article.

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Windows are simply one a part of a device that we name the “envelope” of your home. The envelope consists of partitions, windows, doors, roof, and some kind of flooring in the way of dirt, concrete, rock, or other foundation material. According to the United States Department of Energy, 14% of strength goes through the envelope of homes.

Like each architect, I know the price of a nicely-located window that gives scale, dimension, light, and style to a building. All humans crave light, and need so that it will see out from their houses. But changing the double pane windows you have in your private home isn’t going to prevent the most cash, even supposing they were hooked up more then 20 12 months in the past. The hardest element about strength upgrades is that the stuff that makes the most important distinction is constantly the belongings you can’t see.

There are varieties of warmth loss. Air transported heat loss (how drafty your home is) and surface transported warmness loss (how properly insulated your house is). Windows truly fall into each classes. Homeowners regularly inform me they want to replace their windows because they may be drafty or antique. Well it can not be the window itself this is drafty, however the manner it’s miles established. The biggest distinction most owners see a window alternative is within the installation. Contractors are now caulking across the home windows, reducing airflow, and growing a miles tighter building envelope. We not stuff fiberglass around the shims in windows due to the fact we realize it just filters the air coming in, it would not prevent it. Old single pane home windows with counter weights are simply large open channels for outdoors air to go into the home. So if you have windows with counter weights it’s to your first-rate hobby to replace them. If the window has failed and has condensation interior, it is satisfactory to update it. But if you have double hung windows, in decent form, upgrading to newer home windows must be the remaining item for your listing of home improvements.

The popular double pane window has an R-price of 2. Some of the satisfactory, with ease to be had, windows in the marketplace have an R-fee of five. This is apart from windows specifically made for passive residence programs, that can have higher R-values, however additionally have an awful lot higher rate tags. Windows are generally listed in U-fee. U-price is the inverse of R-fee and for the reason of the instance under we are going to use Maine. Maine is placed in Zone 6, within the present day 2009 Energy Code, adopted most places. The present day requirement for brand new production home windows is U-zero.35 or R- 2.9, rarely better then the R-2 home windows you currently have in your home, because they simply don’t make glass you can see out of that has high insulating houses… Yet.

Let’s look at an instance. If I have been to update one 3′ x 5′ window, a fairly not unusual length window, what will be the consequences? Let’s say the authentic window was a preferred R-2 double pane window and I actually have determined to replace it with a brand new triple pane R-five window. Just for reference the simple heat loss equation I used become (Area X Heating Degree Days X U-cost X 24 hours an afternoon). Without entering into heating degree days and what a British thermal unit (Btu) is, the statistics I got out of the calculation become that it would use nine.Ninety-seven gallons of oil to warmth the present window in Mid-coast Maine for 1 12 months. It could use 3.98 gallons of oil to warmness the new window for 1 yr. And if you made a decision as a substitute to improve your attic hatch, the use of the equivalent 15 rectangular ft, to an R-49, it would use 0.38 gallons of oil in line with yr. At a median of $three.50 in keeping with gallon that could be $35 for the exiting window, $4 for the new window, or $1.34 for the attic hatch. And you surprise why I throw in attic hatch? Well I bet, just like mine, yours does not have any insulation, isn’t always air sealed, and is either a bit of plywood or sheetrock painted to look the equal shade because the rest of the ceiling and costing you $35 consistent with year to preserve warm instead of $1.34!

The other purpose I point out it is because, maximum homeowners, even reachable ones, are going to pay a person to put in a window simply to make sure it’s executed effectively and opens/closes as it is supposed to. However, pretty much any handy homeowner can cut a bit of inflexible insulation, glue it to the back side of an attic hatch, throw on a chunk of weather stripping and instantly have a higher appearing attic hatch for a fraction of the cost! Sure, replacing the window stored you $31 bucks. But the window cost you $500 to shop for, and in all likelihood another $50-a hundred to put in, at $31 bucks consistent with yr it will take you 19 years to pay it off. At $33 for a sheet of 2″ inflexible insulation your attic hatch can pay for itself in much less then one year.

Any exact power professional is going to tell you to do all your air sealing tasks first, because they keep the most cash, and they price the least to implement. And quite tons any home owner can function a caulking gun and a tube of caulk. If you discover your home windows are drafty, buy a tube of caulking and caulk every joint and seam you notice around your window and trim. You also can bear in mind placing foam seals on the lowest of your window to supply a tighter seal. Or remember adjusting or replacing the locks for your windows. It does make a massive difference whether or not or not you lock you windows, so don’t just close them this iciness, make certain they’re locked! Once you have carried out all your air sealing and insulation projects, then its time speak approximately home windows, and heating systems.

The Truth About Windows

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I can not tell you how commonly I’ve met with homeowners most effective to hear that they had replaced all their home windows with energy efficient windows and they simply could not understand why they were not saving any cash. The truth is, every window manufacturer wants you to agree with that setting extra electricity green windows in your own home is going to prevent lots of cash. Well, it’s now not! You can argue with me all you want, but when you have ever heard Charlie Wing talk about unmarried pane home windows you will recognize that you aren’t getting all the facts you need to make an educated decision on upgrading the home windows in your private home. So permit’s talk a touch bit approximately why upgrading the windows in your home is one of the remaining things on my listing of electricity development suggestions.

First things first, they’re high priced. Rarely does a window alternative pay for itself earlier than the case of the beneficial life of the window, that’s regularly 20-25 years! If you have not read my previous weblog publish approximately R-fee I suggest you do that now before you maintain with this article.

READ MORE ARTICLES :

Windows are simply one a part of a device that we name the “envelope” of your home. The envelope consists of partitions, windows, doors, roof, and some kind of flooring in the way of dirt, concrete, rock, or other foundation material. According to the United States Department of Energy, 14% of strength goes through the envelope of homes.

Like each architect, I know the price of a nicely-located window that gives scale, dimension, light, and style to a building. All humans crave light and need so that it will see out from their houses. But changing the double pane windows you have in your private home isn’t going to prevent the most cash, even supposing they were hooked up more than 20 12 months in the past. The hardest element about strength upgrades is that the stuff that makes the most important distinction is constantly the belongings you can’t see.

There are varieties of warmth loss. Air transported heat loss (how drafty your home is) and surface transported warmness loss (how properly insulated your house is). Windows truly fall into each class. Homeowners regularly inform me they want to replace their windows because they may be drafty or antique. Well it can not be the window itself this is drafty, however, the manner it’s miles established. The biggest distinction most owners see a window alternative is within the installation. Contractors are now caulking across the home windows, reducing airflow, and growing a miles tighter building envelope. We do not stuff fiberglass around the shims in windows due to the fact we realize it just filters the air coming in, it would not prevent it. Old single pane home windows with counter weights are simply large open channels for outdoors air to go into the home. So if you have windows with counter weights it’s to your first-rate hobby to replace them. If the window has failed and has condensation interior, it is satisfactory to update it. But if you have double hung windows, in decent form, upgrading to newer home windows must be the remaining item for your listing of home improvements.

The popular double pane window has an R-price of 2. Some of the satisfactory, with ease to be had, windows in the marketplace have an R-fee of five. This is apart from windows specifically made for passive residence programs, that can have higher R-values, however additionally have an awful lot higher rate tags. Windows are generally listed in U-fee. U-price is the inverse of R-fee and for the reason of the instance under we are going to use Maine. Maine is placed in Zone 6, within the present day 2009 Energy Code, adopted most places. The present day requirement for brand new production home windows is U-zero.35 or R- 2.9, rarely better than the R-2 home windows you currently have in your home, because they simply don’t make glass you can see out of that has high insulating houses… Yet.

Let’s look at an instance. If I have been to update one 3′ x 5′ window, a fairly not unusual length window, what will be the consequences? Let’s say the authentic window was a preferred R-2 double pane window and I actually have determined to replace it with a brand new triple pane R-five window. Just for reference the simple heat loss equation I used become (Area X Heating Degree Days X U-cost X 24 hours an afternoon). Without entering into heating degree days and what a British thermal unit (Btu) is, the statistics I got out of the calculation to become that it would use nine.Ninety-seven gallons of oil to warmth the present window in Mid-coast Maine for 1 12 months. It could use 3.98 gallons of oil to warmness the new window for 1 yr. And if you made a decision as a substitute to improve your attic hatch, the use of the equivalent 15 rectangular ft, to an R-49, it would use 0.38 gallons of oil in line with yr. At a median of $three.50 in keeping with gallon that could be $35 for the existing window, $4 for the new window, or $1.34 for the attic hatch. And you surprise why I throw in attic hatch? Well, I bet, just like mine, yours does not have any insulation, isn’t always air sealed, and is either a bit of plywood or sheetrock painted to look the equal shade because of the rest of the ceiling and costing you $35 consistent with a year to preserve warm instead of $1.34!

The other purpose I point out it is because, maximum homeowners, even reachable ones, are going to pay a person to put in a window simply to make sure it’s executed effectively and opens/closes as it is supposed to. However, pretty much any handy homeowner can cut a bit of inflexible insulation, glue it to the back side of an attic hatch, throw on a chunk of weather stripping and instantly have a higher appearing attic hatch for a fraction of the cost! Sure, replacing the window stored you $31 bucks. But the window cost you $500 to shop for and in all likelihood, another $50-a hundred to put in, at $31 bucks consistent with or it will take you 19 years to pay it off. At $33 for a sheet of 2″ inflexible insulation, your attic hatch can pay for itself in much less than one year.

Any exact power professional is going to tell you to do all your air sealing tasks first because they keep the most cash, and they price the least to implement. And quite tons any home owner can function a caulking gun and a tube of caulk. If you discover your home windows are drafty, buy a tube of caulking and caulk every joint and seam you notice around your window and trim. You also can bear in mind placing foam seals on the lowest of your window to supply a tighter seal. Or remember adjusting or replacing the locks for your windows. It does make a massive difference whether or not or not you lock your windows, so don’t just close them this ickiness, make certain they’re locked! Once you have carried out all your air sealing and insulation projects, then it’s time speak approximately home windows and heating systems.