[yavor at doganov.org: Re: Defining Free Software Business]

[Marc SCHAEFER]

On Tue, Jun 27, 2006 at 12:12:21PM +0200, Alfred M. Szmidt wrote:
> Can you change the CPU microcode (I'm not familiar with new CPU's)?

There is an interface for that on GNU/Linux for some processors.

However it's undocumented (the microcode itself).

> since you wouldn't be able to update your microcode.  Kinda like
> wanting the source code to your toaster, but the software is on a ROM
> chip.

An EPROM can be changed.  I did that once (recycling a proprietary
autochanger :->)

> I suspect that no hardware manufacturer _wants_ to have such a
> partnership.  Check http://www.fsf.org/campaigns/free-bios.html for an
> interesting encounter between the FSF and IBM.  The manufacturers
> simply don't even want to cooperate in anyway.

Interesting, didn't know about it.