Many of the modern brands of manufacturers of hardware components for PCs, as well as software strive to ensure that their products support UEFI. This software solution is intended to become an alternative to the input / output system - BIOS, familiar to many computer technology lovers. What is the specificity of the software in question? What nuances are characteristic for using its capabilities?
What is UEFI?
Consider the basic information about UEFI. What kind of development is this? UEFI is a special interface that is installed between the OS installed on the computer and the software responsible for the low-level functions of the PC hardware components.
Sometimes referred to as BIOS UEFI. In this name, on the one hand, there is some mistake, since the BIOS is a software solution that operates on different principles. UEFI was developed by Intel, the BIOS is software that exists in several versions supported by different brands.
On the other hand, the purpose of BIOS and UEFI are almost the same. BIOS UEFI - formally, not quite the correct phrase, but not contrary to the logic of the software and hardware algorithms for controlling the PC.
Differences BIOS from UEFI
But the first thing we will pay attention to is to find the differences between a “clean” BIOS and a “classic” UEFI. The fact is that the software solution that we are considering is positioned as a more advanced alternative to BIOS. Many manufacturers of modern motherboards for computers are trying to provide support for the appropriate type of software from Intel. Thus, we can trace the differences between UEFI and BIOS, having studied, first of all, the disadvantages of the second system.
The first drawback of the BIOS is that this system cannot provide full use of disk space on very large "hard drives" - those that exceed 2 terabytes in volume. Indeed, a few years ago, such values characterizing the capacity of hard drives seemed fantastic, and therefore, PC manufacturers did not particularly focus on the corresponding lack of BIOS. But today you will not surprise anyone with a “hard drive” of more than 2 TB. PC manufacturers have begun to feel that it is time to switch to UEFI, that this is an objective necessity, based on current technological trends.
Another feature of the BIOS is that it supports a limited number of primary partitions on the hard drive. In turn, UEFI works with 128. In the structure of the new Intel software solution, a new partition table is implemented - GPT, which, in fact, allows you to use the noted UEFI technological advantage.
For all the noted differences between the new software environment developed by Intel and the traditional BIOS I / O system, the main functions of the respective solutions are generally the same. Apart from the fundamentally new security algorithm in UEFI, there are not too many actual differences between systems. Some experts believe that the new software platform allows operating systems to load faster, while others note that this is relevant only for Windows 8. Consider, in fact, the security system implemented in UEFI, in more detail.
New security technology
What is ahead of the new UEFI BIOS - is the level of security. The fact is that there are viruses that can infiltrate a microcircuit that prescribes BIOS algorithms. After that - it becomes possible to boot the OS with advanced user rights, which opens up the widest possibilities for a hacker. In turn, Intel’s new solution provides secure boot - UEFI provides an appropriate algorithm called Secure Boot.
It is based on the use of special keys that must be certified by the largest brands of the IT market. However, as experts say, in practice there are not too many such companies. In particular, with regard to the support of the corresponding option by manufacturers of operating systems, it is fully provided only by Microsoft and only in Windows 8. There is also information that compatibility with the new security system is implemented in some Linux distributions.
UEFI Benefits
Obviously, the noted shortcomings of the BIOS are, at the same time, the advantages of the new software solution. At the same time, UEFI is characterized by a number of other major advantages. Consider them.
First of all, it is a convenient, intuitive and functional interface. As a rule, it implements mouse support - which is not typical for the BIOS. Also, many versions of UEFI (BIOS, this option is also not peculiar) provide for a Russified interface.
The algorithms provided by the new software solution allow loading operating systems in most cases significantly faster than using the BIOS. For example, Windows 8, installed on a computer with UEFI support, can boot - provided that the processor and other key hardware components are adequate - in literally 10 seconds.
Among other significant advantages of the considered software solution, which many IT experts single out are a simpler update algorithm in comparison with the BIOS mechanisms. Another useful UEFI option is the presence in this system of its own boot manager, which can be used if several OSs are installed on the PC.
So, the technological advantages of the new PC control software interface developed by Intel are clear to us. The largest manufacturers of hardware components for PCs ensure the compatibility of the corresponding hardware with UEFI - Gigabyte, ASUS, SONY. The transition to the new system, as many IT experts believe, can turn into a steady technological trend. The opportunities that Intel, which developed UEFI, offer the global IT community, may well be attractive to leading manufacturers of PC software and hardware components. Moreover, the corresponding technological options of UEFI are supported by the largest brand in the market of operating systems.
Secure Boot Facts
Let's take a closer look at the benefits of Secure Boot technology supported by UEFI. What is this concept? This is a secure boot computer protocol that is designed to protect the system, as we noted above, from viruses. True, for its full use, the keys that are used by this protocol must be certified. At the moment, very few software manufacturers meet this criterion. Among them is Microsoft, which has implemented support for relevant algorithms in Windows 8.
It can be noted that in some cases this circumstance may complicate the installation of other operating systems on a PC running UEFI. If you have to install Windows - UEFI may still show some loyalty to this - but provided that the OS version is as close as possible to that installed by the computer manufacturer. It can also be noted that some Linux distributions are also compatible with the Secure Boot option.
But even if, due to the function in question, the loading of a new OS will be prohibited by the system, the UEFI interface structure allows disabling Secure Boot algorithms. It is clear that in this case, loading the OS will not be so safe, however, the corresponding option can be activated again at any time and start working with Windows 8.
Which OSs are fully compatible with UEFI?
In very rare cases, individual IT professionals get an alternative OS installation on a PC with Secure Boot support. For example, it is known that it is theoretically possible to install Windows 7 on some laptops with UEFI BIOS support. ASUS is among the manufacturers of such PCs. But this is rather an exception to the rule. In the general case, there is a low probability of successful installation of even other editions of Windows 8. At the same time, as we noted above, some Linux distributions are also compatible with UEFI options.
UEFI Customization Features
Consider some of the nuances of configuring the considered software solutions from Intel. An interesting option is BIOS emulation using UEFI. What is this opportunity? Indeed, in some versions of UEFI, algorithms are implemented according to which PC control is organized in accordance with the mechanisms used by the input-output system, which is the historical predecessor of UEFI.
Depending on the particular PC, this mode can be called differently. Most often it is Legacy or Launch CSM. However, there is no difficulty in installing UEFI in standard boot mode.
UEFI Access Nuances
Another noteworthy fact that is useful to note is that there are a large number of versions of UEFI. They can vary significantly in PCs issued by different brands. At the same time, the level of accessibility of certain functions on different computers can also vary significantly. It often happens, for example, that when a computer boots up, a menu is not displayed with which you can enter the UEFI settings. But for this case, in Windows, as a rule, an alternative option is provided for loading the necessary options. You need to enter the "Options" and activate the option "Special boot options."
After that, you can reboot - and a few options for loading the PC will appear on the screen. There is an alternative way to provide access to the relevant UEFI options. It works on many PCs. You need to press Esc at the very beginning of the computer boot. After that, the menu in question should open.
The specifics of working in different modes
It should be noted that when changing the normal UEFI operating mode to Legacy, it is advisable to use the necessary programs that require Secure Boot to be disabled or to work when emulating the BIOS, to re-enable the UEFI interface with all the relevant options as soon as possible. Otherwise, Windows 8, as some IT experts say, may not start. However, on many PCs there is no such problem. Some manufacturers are introducing algorithms into the PC management structure that automatically activate the UEFI mode. Some PC models have a hybrid mode, in which the UEFI system boots from any media, and BIOS modulation can be triggered if necessary. Differences in UEFI versions may also suggest that disabling Secure Boot in the normal mode of operation of a software solution from Intel is not possible. To do this, you will have to activate the BIOS emulation function in any case.
UEFI and bootable flash drives
In some cases, users need to load the operating system from a flash drive. The main difficulty is that having a format other than FAT32, the UEFI bootable USB flash drive is not recognized. But this problem can be successfully resolved. How?
So, by default, bootable USB flash drives are formatted in the NTFS file system, which UEFI does not recognize. Therefore, the main task is to ensure that the corresponding hardware component is formatted in a more universal file system - FAT32. The most interesting thing is that it is considered obsolete by many IT specialists. But on the example of one of the most modern software solutions, which, of course, UEFI is, we can trace the relevance of the corresponding standard.
UEFI bootable flash drive: components
What do we need in order for the UEFI bootable USB flash drive to be recognized without problems? First of all, this is, in fact, a USB drive in itself. It is desirable that its capacity was at least 4 GB. It is also desirable that valuable files are not placed on it, since we have to completely format the USB flash drive. The next component we need is a Windows distribution. Let it be a 64-bit version of Windows 7. Another feature of UEFI, which should be noted - 32-bit OS from Microsoft, this system does not support.
Flash drive preparation
If we have the marked components, then we can start work. First, insert the USB flash drive into the USB port. Then - open the command line in the Windows interface. At the same time, the user must have administrator rights. Through the command line, you need to run the DISKPART program - simply by entering this word. After that, you need to enter the list disk command, which will display a list of disks present in the system. You need to find a USB flash drive in it. If it is in the list under 2 number, then you need to enter the seleck disk 2 command.
Formatting a flash drive
Next, format the media. To do this, enter the clean command. After that, you must create the primary partition on the disk. This can be done using the create partition primary command. After that, the created section should be made active. To do this, enter the active command. After that, you can display a list of sections. To do this, enter the list volume in the command line. We find the section that we created. If it is indicated by number 3, then enter the command select volume 3. After that, you need to format it in the FAT32 system. To do this, enter the command format fs = fat32. The basic bootable media is thus ready. But that is not all. You must assign a drive letter to the flash drive. This can be done using the assign command. After that, enter exit and exit the command line.
Writing a distribution kit to a USB flash drive
After all the above steps, you need to copy the Windows 7 distribution to the USB flash drive. This can also be done using the command line. How? For this, a special command is provided - xcopy. You need to enter it, then specify the address of the distribution disk, insert the * character, indicate the letter that corresponds to the flash drive used for loading into the UEFI, then enter the command with / s / e characters. Then you need to go through the command line to the USB flash drive. There you need to get into the efi \ microsoft \ boot directory. You need to copy it to the efi \ boot folder. After that, you need to copy the file called bootmgfw.efi to the efi \ boot folder, and then rename it to the bootx64.efi file.
Work with the flash drive is completed. The UEFI disk with the FAT32 file system, in which we just formatted the USB flash drive, can be recognized without problems. Accordingly, it can also be installed from a Windows 7 PC. Of course, provided that the Secure Boot algorithm is disabled in the UEFI options, which prohibits installing OSes that are different from Windows 8 on a computer.