Microsoft blocking Linux Installations through agreements with some Laptop Makers

Lenovo is one of the laptop makers that is under an agreement with Microsoft to prevent the replacement of the Windows 10 signature edition operating system with one of your choice such as Linux. The Lenovo Yoga 900 S and Yoga 710 S both have this operating system installed on them and as per a Lenovo spokesperson it has been locked up with regards to Lenovo's agreement with Microsoft.

The primary issue with these models is that they are using a proprietary soft-RAID program that cannot be recognized by Linux installers. You can’t change the SATA controller mode in the BIOS setup as well. Windows installers won’t work as well without the special installer drivers from Lenovo. So Lenovo with these models has guaranteed that they only can be used in their designed configurations.

Lenovo has since gone into full damage control and denial. It removed the thread from its support forums (view a cached copy), and even changed its explanation from "we blatantly admitted to anti-competitive practices that could cost us a billion-dollar class-action lawsuit" to "we simply don't have drivers for our deliberately unusual RAID setup."

While this article sounds negative, for most of us this isn’t a big deal because we use the computer as a tool as it was designed to be used. But for those of you that like to play, these models are not the ones to purchase.