We've been covering the efforts of software companies who want to offer a way to boot up Linux-based operating systems on PCs with Windows 8 installed for some time. In October, the Linux Foundation announced that it had come up with a way for any open source-based OS to be booted on a Windows 8 PC.
While Microsoft set up Windows 8 with a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) for better security, it also makes dual booting to another OS on the same PC more difficult. The Linux Foundation says its solution will " ... obtain a Microsoft Key and sign a small pre-bootloader which will, in turn, chain load (without any form of signature check) a predesignated boot loader which will, in turn, boot Linux (or any other operating system)."
It's been over a month since that announcement, however. ZDNet.com contacted the author of the Linux Foundation announcement, James Bottomley, for an update. He stated, "We're all done and dusted with the signed contract with Microsoft and the binary ready to release."
Bottomley added that there have been some technical issues that have kept the solution from being released. The issues appear to be on Microsoft's end. "I'm not sure how long it will take MS to get their act together but I'm hoping its only a few days," he said.
Source: ZDNet.com
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