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Microsoft Surface Dual boot with OpenBSD

Anonymous
2014-12-10T18:03:54+00:00

I have been seriously considering a purchase of the Micrsoft surface despite thinking the price is still a little rich for my blood. 

My only drawback is that I also enjoy linux and some benefits it has over Microsoft but like using microsoft as well. 

That said, I would like to know if Microsoft is willing to provide assistance in dual booting with a Linux flavor like OpenBSD or other.  I have seen a few people manage it through different ways but am concerned that could damage the product during an update

  • similar to the playstation update that removed the option for Linux OS.

My focus is a Microsoft supported way of doing it rather than what appears to be a personal jailbreaking and accepting that the warranty may be void afterwards.

Surface | Surface Duo | Operating system

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-01-26T06:11:05+00:00

    You get with OpenBSD on that one.  Microsoft won't have anything to do with it.

    Like any other Linux installation, BSD of all flavors will be similar.  You will see the option of running it along with Windows during the installation.  GRUB or GRUB2 will handle that on its own and takes over the control as the boot loader.

    Secure Boot may be an issue.  Most current version of Linux will install if Secure Boot is enabled but what it does is shut it off (for the Linux bootup).  Not all of them do and you need to check on that before doing anything else.

    OpenBSD should have the installation documentation on their site and you need to go through it and take notes before attempting to do it.

    Personally, I do not recommend a dual boot scheme.  There are times when GRUB gets an update and takes out the entire boot loader for both operating systems.  In fact, the only way you can rescue the data if that happens is boot a "live CD" of Linux and copy the data off that way.

    I do not recommend a dual boot scheme and would recommend a VM setup with either Hyper V (which is already in the machine) or VirtualBox from Oracle.  That way, if something happens, Windows remains intact.  BUT, that eats up storage space.

    What you could do instead of doing any of the above is keep the tablet as it is and get the i3 model and wipe it out and put OpenBSD on it and have it as the Linux machine.  If not the Pro 3, some of the older "Pro" models are still being sold and you can do it with them.  That can be a bit expensive doing that.

    By the way, Linux has no issue with the Intel Core i5 4200U "Haswell" CPU when it comes to video and OpenGL.  That problem only happens with Windows 7 and Windows 8.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-01-26T04:30:14+00:00

    Thanks for sharing that it should work, does MSFT provide a guide for doing this or am I on my own?

    please let me know.

    thanks!

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-12-10T18:38:09+00:00

    Actually, no company support 'dual boot' but do support VM.  It is recommended that you VM Linux/UNIX in a Windows installation.  That way, in case GRUB screws up during an update (and it will at times), that can actually take out both operating systems in one shot.  I have seen that happen before.

    If you go VM, you can actually recover from that and Windows remains intact and functional.

    The operating system is software and not hardware and the warranty covers hardware - BUT - the primary operating system that came with the machine has to be on it and functional if you need to return it for repair/replacement.

    I would recommend to contact Microsoft Technical Support on what is covered in that scenario.  They can confirm to you if it does break the warranty.

    Other than that, it should work but rely on the boot loader in Linux to be the primary and not the Windows Boot Manager.  You may also have to shut off Secure Boot in the BIOS.  Again, contact Microsoft Technical Support on those details for the Surface Pro 3.

    It should work.

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