Samsung Laptops Bricked by Booting Linux Using UEFI

Samsung’s UEFI implementation appears to be faulty. It was most likely tested with Windows only and found to work, but thorough testing with other operating systems doesn’t appear to have been a priority—or perhaps a consideration at all. At present, the bug appears to affect Samsung 530U3C, 300E5C, NP700Z5C, NP700Z7C, and NP900X4C series laptops; if you have one of those laptops, we recommend you exercise extreme caution if you have a need to boot into a Linux environment.

Read more at source: AnandTech - Samsung Laptops Bricked by Booting Linux Using UEFI

 

[JLyman]

Not surprising. Very few manufacturers are implementing UEFI fully and or properly without injecting their own code into it and changing it so heavily it's almost not UEFI anymore. Unless Samsung sells systems with Linux, they really don't have much of a business justification for testing their UEFI with Linux.

 

[Lee]

VM = the way to go. . .

 

[pparks1]

Personally, this type of news makes me sick. Not everybody who buys a computer really wants or needs to run Windows and it absolutely sucks that you are becoming more or less forced too with shoddy tactics like this.

While I know that you can run Linux in a VM, in not every case is this what you want to do.

While Linux may not be your cup of tea, being prevented from using it because of crap like this is pure BS.

 

[JLyman]

VM = the way to go. . .

That's what i do. With Parallels for Mac or Parallels Workstation, it integrates to deeply into my system that it really feels like it's the native OS. I even play games in my VMs sometimes.

 

[Tarka Dal]

Samsung are starting to get a very bad name. Their Customer service is useless!

 

[thatmanbrian]

Interesting as when troubleshooting a drive problem I booted into Linux to gain access, as you do. I noted the boot menu offered two versions of my USB drive holding Linux, one of them as UEFI. I chose the other one and all was well. Not sure if that's relevant?

Win8 64, Asus P8 Z77 mobo

 

[sunnystaines]

thinking of buyimg

[h=2]Samsung NP350E7C[/h]do you know if this one is affected with that problem, i think its series 3 range.

 

[CeejayMode]

thinking of buyimg

[h=2]Samsung NP350E7C[/h]do you know if this one is affected with that problem, i think its series 3 range.

This one is all good.

----------------------------------------

Samsung and other laptop companies are starting to get on my bad side... throwing away the ability for operating systems other than Windows is absolutely crap. Some people honestly don't want or like Windows, but are forced to buy a Windows PC because Linux PCs TECHNICALLY aren't available.

And as someone said prior, Samsung Customer Support is crap. They VOIDED MY 3 YEAR STUDENT WARRANTY BECAUSE I DID A RAM UPGRADE! And funniest thing, the RAM upgrade apparently came under their warranty as being fine. Well, thanks a ton. That's why I've modded the hell out of my Samsung Series 3 laptop (NP350VC-S01AU)... :l

 

[sunnystaines]

ceejay
thanks, as soon as a temp cash flow is sorted hope to get this with w8 home, apparently the winows serial key is kept in the samsung uefi/bios is it visible to users or hidden.

 

[LovingWindows]

but are forced to buy a Windows PC because Linux PCs TECHNICALLY aren't available.

Both System76 and Dell provide computers with Linux installed rather than Windows. I also do believe System76 and Dell ship internationally.

 

[CeejayMode]

but are forced to buy a Windows PC because Linux PCs TECHNICALLY aren't available.

Both System76 and Dell provide computers with Linux installed rather than Windows. I also do believe System76 and Dell ship internationally.

;o this I didn't know! Thanks for the information!

It is a rarity though. These days, especially now, nearly every laptop in stores runs Windows 8, well at least here in Australia *sigh*

 

[CeejayMode]

ceejay
thanks, as soon as a temp cash flow is sorted hope to get this with w8 home, apparently the winows serial key is kept in the samsung uefi/bios is it visible to users or hidden.

It is? I don't think so, I've never recalled seeing it, I do enter the BIOS frequently.

I'll check later today, after I get me sleep. 3:34am and still working on an essay for the next half hour :l

Also, I do recommend the Series 3 notebooks. Rather nice and compact, and pack decent specs for the price

 

[theog]

All about doing your homework.

My OEM test rig,Windows 8 specs:

OS Provided Windows 8 Pro 64-bit Edition Microsoft Office Preloaded Includes a pre-loaded image of select Microsoft Office 2010 suites. Purchase an Office 2010 Product Key Card or disc to activate preloaded software on this PC. Software Drivers & Utilities, Nero Essentials S, Microsoft Office 2010 Starter, Norton Internet Security (60 days trial), Fujitsu Recovery, Windows 7 / Windows 8 Pro Twin-Pack recovery DVD

Compatible operating systems

Microsoft Windows 8, Windows 7 Professional 64-bit, Windows 7 Professional 32-bit, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, Windows 7 Home Basic (EM) 32-bit,\r\nWindows Vista, Windows XP, \r\nopenSUSE Linux

 

[Hopachi]

I even play games in my VMs sometimes.

Me too.

 

[Hopachi]

Samsung Laptops Bricked by Booting Linux Using UEFI

Update: It appears the problem stems from NVRAM corruption. Removing power, opening the laptop up, and disconnecting the CMOS battery appears like it will clear the problem, but that's a pretty serious set of steps to take for most laptops.

At least a fix is possible to un-brick the laptop.
Other updates will follow...

They'll also learn a lesson or two from this in making future UEFI implementations more solid.
After all, from mistakes we learn.

 

[CeejayMode]

Samsung Laptops Bricked by Booting Linux Using UEFI

Update: It appears the problem stems from NVRAM corruption. Removing power, opening the laptop up, and disconnecting the CMOS battery appears like it will clear the problem, but that's a pretty serious set of steps to take for most laptops.

At least a fix is possible to un-brick the laptop.
Other updates will follow...

They'll also learn a lesson or two from this in making future UEFI implementations more solid.
After all, from mistakes we learn.

Glad to see that there's at least a solution ;D

 

[thatmanbrian]

The cause of the original poster's problem appears to be this:

Update: It appears the problem stems from NVRAM corruption. Removing power, opening the laptop up, and disconnecting the CMOS battery appears like it will clear the problem, but that's a pretty serious set of steps to take for most laptops.

It seems premature therefore to blame Samsung for trying to stop you using Linux or indeed blaming UEFI.

As for voiding warranties by replacing RAM, depending which country you are in, I doubt any court would side with the manufacturer if it came to that. Anyway, warranties are not worth the paper they are written on and only a newbie would rely on one rather than consumer legislation.

 

[Phone Man]

After reading the original article Booting Linux using UEFI can brick Samsung laptops - The H Open: News and Features It looks like a Linux kernel problem and Samsung and Ubuntu are working on it. So lets bash Samsung for a Linux problem.

Jim

 

[Lee]

After reading the original article Booting Linux using UEFI can brick Samsung laptops - The H Open: News and Features It looks like a Linux kernel problem and Samsung and Ubuntu are working on it. So lets bash Samsung for a Linux problem.

Jim

Isn't that the way it always works. . .