I bought a Samsung series 9 laptop with 64-bit Windows 8 pre-installed and wish to install Linux (probably Ubuntu 13.04 when it comes out next week, but also considering Mint 14). Now there have been multiple reports of firmware problems and laptops bricking up irrevocably when installing Ubuntu when UEFI is enabled. The standard advice seems to be to update the BIOS to the latest version and then disable UEFI mode to reduce the chance of bricking.
My questions:
- What are the disadvantages of doing so?
- What else do I need to watch out for?
- If I disable UEFI, do I need the 32 rather than the 64-bit version of Linux?
Best Answer
There are several differences between BIOS-mode and EFI-mode booting:
All of these are absolutely trivial compared to the big drawback to EFI-mode booting on Samsung laptops that you've identified: If the Samsung firmware bug is triggered, your new computer will become a useless lump.
Concerning the bit-width of Linux, in EFI mode, you're best off with the 64-bit version. Although the 32-bit version can work with some hoop-jumping, the 64-bit version will be easier to install and will work better. In BIOS mode, either version will work, although I still recommend the 64-bit version because it's likely to be faster, particularly with some types of programs.