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KuwaitWaddle
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Joined: 26 Jan 2025
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 12, 2025 6:06 am    Post subject: Locked Boot Laptop Reply with quote

Hello, so someone in my school has managed to install Arch Linux on the locked down school laptops in my hs. These laptops have secure boot enabled and require an administrator password to change anything on them. To one-up them I was planning on installing Gentoo on the laptop and would like some guidance about how I can circumnavigate Secure Boot with Gentoo, and if it is even possible.
My current plan is:
1. Compile and install on a hard drive in my computer.
2. Swap the hard drive into the laptop.
3. ? Get around secure boot somehow
4. Update drivers and all that.
5. Flex.
Would this be viable, and if I were to compile and install on one PC would I be able to swap the disk onto the laptop and still expect it to work?
Apologies if this is the wrong board, I am new to this site and think the Gentoo forum is the best for asking questions about Gentoo Installation.
Note: I have never installed Gentoo before, and have mostly used Ubuntu as well as installed Arch only to brick it a few days later, so my experience is limited.
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Banana
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 1893
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 12, 2025 7:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hello and welcome.

At first we do not endorse to do something which is against your local rules in any kind.
Even if this is something everbody in school would do :-)

Here is the wiki about secure boot: https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Secure_Boot
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sMueggli
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Joined: 03 Sep 2022
Posts: 543

PostPosted: Wed Feb 12, 2025 9:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Getting around Secure Boot is hopefully not possible. But it is technically not needed to bypass Secure Boot, if you do not break the chain of trust. The widely used https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Shim can be used.

But you should consider that your actions can have severe consequences. Although it is a good learning experience to deal with Secure Boot, you should also be aware of the possible consequences.

Instead of playing around on the school laptop you can do your research also with Qemu and Secure Boot enabled on virtual machines.
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szatox
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Joined: 27 Aug 2013
Posts: 3504

PostPosted: Wed Feb 12, 2025 12:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've seen computers with password-protected BIOS and unprotected boot menu. A silly, yet surprisingly common oversight.
Once you're in, you're in.

Careful with installing stuff though... Running an unauthorized LiveCD is one thing, property damage is another.
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