Klaus Knopper answers your Linux questions
Ask Klaus

Klaus Knopper answers your Linux questions
BIOS Reaction
Klaus: I purchased an HP Notebook 15 AMD. The BIOS was corrupted soon after. Here is how various distros reacted with secure boot and UEFI disabled:
- Mint – Installed okay with a fuzzy screen appearing in the bootup process. The error message said "the hardware acceleration is disabled and this mode should only be used for troubleshooting." I could use the OS. Mint did not allow me to
su
to root. - Fedora – The install process crashed when a notice appeared saying KVM is disabled.
- Tisquel – The install was successful, but it reported that I was not root during the install process and tried to fix the problem. I never saw the message again.
- Yet Another Distro – Reported that the SMBIOS was disabled and crashed.
- Mageia – Crashed during install.
- Korora – Reported the KVM message and crashed during install.
With secure boot and UEFI enabled, Windows 8 booted up okay and reported nothing. I have tried flashing the BIOS, but it is blocked using the HP BIOS tool from Windows and Wine.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.