On Mon, 15 Jul 2024 07:09:36 -0400
Hendrik Boom <hendrik@???> wrote:

> Looking for something inexpensive and portable that will run
> GNU/Linux. More difficult than it used to be now that machines can be
> locked to Windows.
>
> Is there any way of testing whether a laptop has an unlocked
> bootloader before buying it? (assuming the seller will trust me
> enough let me run such a test!)
>
> A salesman is likely to say it's unlocked merely because the salesman
> does not understand the question.
>
> Willrefracta boot on a machine with a locked bootloader? (likely not)
>
> Will refracta boot on a laptop without a hard drive at all?
>
> Might laptops insist on getting an EFI partition from the hard drive
> in order to even read a USB stick?
>
> -- hendrik
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I had no idea some PCs/laptops could be locked into using Microsoft
only, to the exclusion of all other OSes.

Is there a list of locked/unlocked products somewhere, so that one may
be more confident of purchasing alternatives without restrictions, and
support products which embrace software freedom?