The world's biggest PC seller Lenovo has announced that it will be releasing a series of updates to the firmware in some of its signature laptops so that Linux can be installed on them.
Some of the models, as released originally, could only run Windows 10.
The models in question were unable to see Linux installed on a proprietary RAID mode that was locked by the UEFI of the laptops in question.
The firmware fixes will enable choosing the SATA Controller Mode on Lenovo laptops that are set to RAID mode.
{loadposition sam08}A Lenovo spokesperson told iTWire that the company's Yoga 900/900S laptops with 360 degree hinges had specifically been designed to maximise the touch functionality of Windows 10.
"Lenovo’s Yoga design requires very specific, complex and unique drivers that require even greater amounts of testing, to ensure class-leading performance with Windows 10.
"To support its Yoga products and our industry-leading 360-hinge design in the best way possible we have used a storage controller mode that is unfortunately not supported by Linux and as a result, does not allow Linux to be installed.
"Beyond the controller set-up limitation, other advanced capabilities of the Yoga design would likely not work with current Linux offerings."
However Lenovo has now released firmware fixes for the Yoga 900S-12ISK, the Yoga 900-13ISK2 and the Yoga 900-13ISK for BIZ.
It said that newer models like the Lenovo Yoga 910 convertible would come with the option to select SATA Controller Mode in the UEFI.
Fixes for the IdeaPad 710S-13IKB, IdeaPad 710S-13ISK and IdeaPad 710S Plus-13ISK will be issued soon, the company said.
"We do not intentionally block customers using other operating systems such as Linux on Lenovo Yoga or any other device. Lenovo consumer PCs are designed, tested, and optimised for Windows 10," it added.