We have the worst Windows 8 supported Notebooks (Secure Boot)

This is infuriating,

Secure boot is a great feature of both Windows 7 and Windows 8. Yet we can't use it properly. Even the most basic, cheap notebooks that come with Windows 8 are likely to have Windows 8 installed with secure boot right out of the box! This is not a special feature. It's not a unique or difficult feature. It's BASIC.

I even created a EFI ready USB drive. Diskpart, Select USB, Clean, Convert GPT, Create Partition, Format FS=Fat32, moved Win 8 install files over. Then at reboot, booted into EFI, in the repair Windows I did same to disk, diskpart, select SSD, clean, convert GPT. Reboot and install.

I still can't select a EFI HDD, there still is no option for secure boot, there is nothing in the BIOS that suggests I have a secure boot, EFI, GPT ready HDD! I'm doing a moronic method where I use a Genteoo shellx64.efi shell to boot into to run bootx64.efi.

Going through Google and Bing, I can see that Acer, Dell, Asus, HP and EVEN ANCIENT APPLE machines can install Windows 8 with Secure EFI Boot. But our Clevo's that are supposed to be the most customizable, accessible, consumer gaming machines (Gamers are notorious about optimizing and customizing settings)! We don't have that option show up on the BIOS.

In the BIOS you can disable legacy USB support, the description says disable and only enables USB for EFI mode. Guess what? No option appears to boot USB via EFI, even if your have a EFI ready USB drive. All you get is, gotta use a shellx64.efi shell to boot it.

I don't understand this. I know that Clevo is working on releasing BIOS/EC that supports Windows 8. What I don't understand is, why is Clevo waiting weeks after Windows 8 release (ETA when it will be released) to do this? Windows 8 has had EFI Secure Boot support for over a year available to the public!!! The MSDN RTM was available since August!!! I just don't understand this.

It really really baffles me! Consider this also. Among consumers who are the most likely to adopt new technology, new ways to make your boot faster, safer and secure? Gamers/Techies or college primadonna in a Starbuck's café with a Mac/clueless sheep with Dells for Facebook and email, etc? Yeah I think Gamers/Techies. Who are the most likely to buy a Clevo? Yeah, it just doesn't add up.

I know this is just a rant. It's all it is. As above stated, I have complete faith we will have a BIOS that supports it. And like many of the modern age, I'm impatient and use forums as my soapbox like a brat. I admit all of that. But aren't you baffled as well?

 

You have to use the new v14 BIOS and 11 ec that should be in the BIOS thread...I can't test it, but it is the first BIOS that has the secure boot options incl.

 

You should consider yourself lucky. My notebook will never receive a BIOS updates to support Windows 8. Not to mention that driver support is at its worst.

 

Didn´t know install Win8 also need BIOS update, can´t understand how MS thinks, just a OS. I think i will continue use WSV2K8R2 for at least 2 years.

 

I don't quite think that's the issue. CLEVO's BIOS are far from being the most customizable. With the exception of Prema, no other modifications exist for us.

Our hardware supports it quite a lot. However, Windows 8 brought in quite a few new features that would need to include the BIOS options for which. CLEVO being up-tight like they are has to then just implement them into the interface for us. Many other notebooks/desktops I've looked at have had all these options available prior.

All I can say though is that CLEVO is implementing the features for us.... Slowly, but surely. On the other hand; at least they update the BIOS frequently whereas other manufacturers may only do it a few times in the lifespan of the notebook.

 

I don't have anything against Clevo. But when you pay $2000+ on a laptop, you expect top notch Driver and BIOS support.

 

blacky, when to move on to a new clevo machine?

 

It could always be worse... ASUS has the worst frequency of updating I've ever seen in my life. I had two top of the line boards from them at one point... Never saw a single update.

Albeit, Clevo is a bit behind on the driver updates; I find them all manually though.. Only downfall is certain drivers won't work (i.e chipset) straight from the manufacturer.

Sager takes a day or two to respond to e-mails. MySN is definitely my first spot to look for updates. They have new BIOS up the moment the come out.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the bios update is REQUIRED for windows 8. You only need it for the extra features, such as that ultra fast boot and windows/bios integration.

 

Just form my google search, my impression most other notebooks didn't need a BIOS update and all other notebooks advertised for Win8 should have it already.

Confirm that the 14/12 Bios/EC has it, but Sager has yet to release theirs still.

Anyway, this thread was just a rant that's all.

 

What BIOS version are you running right now?

I see EC 11/BIOS 14 up right now....

> Anleitung BIOS-Update.txt (Grösse: 0,00 MB / Hinzugefügt: 30.10.2012 21:14:47)
> P151EM1_BIOS_1.02.14.zip (Grösse: 3,20 MB / Hinzugefügt: 30.10.2012 17:22:28)
> P151EM1_EC_1.02.11.zip (Grösse: 2,00 MB / Hinzugefügt: 30.10.2012 17:22:29)

 

I wanted to this summer, I even picked my reseller and got some of the components for it (HDD, SSD) but then my clients delayed paying their contracts and I needed the cash for something else. I could buy it now, but than again, since I waited for so long, I would rather wait for the next generation of Clevos. I am hoping they will use 16:10 screens or higher resolution LCDs.

 

Thats why we've had UEFI boot enabled on our BIOS's since the release of the EM series. So that either in Win 7 or Win 8 that you would be able to install in UEFI mode if you want to. On our latest Win8 BIOS's we've also enabled the feature to turn on and off SecureBoot.

 

Would be nice if other Clevo builders/sellers had done the same. But I think maybe builders/sellers need to petition Clevo to start doing the BIOS in-house, streamlined, and in a timely and easier fashion for their sellers/builders and customers. It's almost like Clevo BIOS = Android.

 

BIOS customization requests take about 48 hours to get done once the request is put in. Its up to the Clevo customers to KNOW what they are requesting . Thats the biggest issue is that Clevo doesn't mandate any options or anything as remember they are the ODM they just make based on what their customers (AKA business) tell them to make. We just choose to do all the customization in house on our end, which does hamstring us a little in features that we can expose, but all in all allows us much better management of firmware and BIOS.