Instead of the usual BIOS for many, at the moment, new motherboards for desktops and laptops are increasingly equipped with modern UEFI. Installing Windows 7 on such hardware is undergoing a number of changes. This factory software, unfortunately, is being introduced rather slowly and is not ready to replace the BIOS on the majority of boards, which entails a number of incompatibilities and problems with loading in the new mode. Most often, questions arise for people who want to install Windows 7 instead of the eighth version of the system that comes bundled with a laptop just bought.
Should I switch to UEFI
The main reason for the transition from BIOS to UEFI was the small functionality, which is no longer enough for professional work computers that contain voluminous documents and require maximum performance of all components. It is worth noting that when loading the drive in UEFI BIOS mode, installing Windows 7 by default will not be possible on old partitions marked as MBR. But there are two options for solving the problem.
The first is to copy all important data to an external or additional internal storage. The second is more time-consuming and will require converting partitions using bootable flash drives or utility disks like Paragon, but it will allow you to save all available data, with the exception of the local drive with the system itself. In order to conclude that it is advisable to install the system under UEFI on your PC, you need to figure out what advantages the new type of preinstalled software has in comparison with the previous one.
Old but effective BIOS
You can start the review with the Basic Input-Output System - BIOS, since this will be a logical sequence with respect to the output time. The functions for which she is responsible, in general terms, are clear from the name. Basic software did not appear on the same day. With the development of computer components, the BIOS itself has progressed accordingly, so today people can use its wide functionality. Of course, the underlying software alone could not satisfy all the needs of the equipment. For this reason, programs and drivers were developed in parallel, which were already configured directly in the operating system itself. Nevertheless, the BIOS is responsible for such operations as initial identification of the equipment and determination of the device from which it is necessary to boot. It is very obvious that UEFI has such functionality, the installation of Windows 7 and its proper operation on which will necessarily require the options described above.
Multifunctional UEFI
But what is UEFI? If you decipher the abbreviation and translate it into Russian, the innovation is called the Extensible Interface of Embedded Software. System development was started by Intel in 2001 and had a highly specialized direction for server hardware. UEFI was created due to the inoperability of Itanium processors with old firmware, since the core of the server computer needed significantly expanded functionality. Ordinary users saw the new product only in 2006 on board computers developed by Apple. Later, innovation began to appear in the products of other companies, as reported by the first word Unifed in the abbreviation. Among them there is Microsoft, with its contribution to UEFI, the installation of Windows 7 under which was optimized by the company, as well as other software and hardware developers.
UEFI Benefits When Installing Microsoft Systems
Thanks to innovations, it is now possible to install Windows 7 on huge hard disks. GPT UEFI BIOS supports by default, and the system will be located just under such a partition table. It is worth clarifying that the words "huge size" mean drives with a volume of more than 2Tb. The old system only supported such hard drives, the place on which did not exceed this mark. This is due to the fact that the BIOS used the drive to use MBR partitioning, which contained the size of each entry in 32 bits. From the calculations, a figure of 4 billion sectors is derived, which make up just 2Tb. To some, even now, such a volume may seem redundant, but many 3d designers, not to mention employees using server hardware, have long needed such capacity. Thanks to the UEFI BIOS, installing Windows 7, 8 and 10 can now be done on hard drives with sky-high volumes of up to 8 billion Tb.
Compatibility with various equipment
Modern motherboards are equipped with software that supports both old hardware with MBR and new hardware with GPT markup. Now the user can choose the option most suitable for his computer. This is made possible thanks to UEFI dualbios support. Installing Windows 7, 8, and 10 on such equipment will be available in two modes at the same time, one of which is selected by the user directly when booting from the drive.
Visual interface
Some developers not only introduced changes to the code, but also completely redesigned the interface design, allowing them to accelerate user interaction. Another plus was the ability to control UEFI elements with a computer mouse. Installing Windows 7 makes it even more convenient and easier. You only need to get used to the new visual style once, and the desire to return to computers running BIOS completely disappears. Also in the future, developers promise to create additional utilities for UEFI, up to the point that applications will be released that provide access to the Internet without installing an operating system. Part of this task has already been completed, since the pre-installed software is updated via the network protocol.
Additional protection for Windows
Another important point is the so-called safe installation of Windows 7. GPT UEFI - these are new standards that will strengthen security on the operating system from Microsoft. The utility can significantly reduce the chances of losing and leaking information. This option is enabled by default in the software, but at the request of the user can be easily deactivated in the settings.
Speed and orientation in the UEFI interface
Thanks to a redesigned basis, UEFI is able to speed up the loading of Windows at times. Navigating the new interface has become much easier thanks to the bright and visually understandable content. Each category has found an icon like those in the operating system itself. Also, a section of utilities not used until now has appeared. There are applications that allow you to view additional properties of the computer, such as installed equipment, temperature of elements and much more. Of course, the specific set of utilities depends on the manufacturer and type of motherboard.
Migrating from MBR to GPT
When switching from a system installed under the BIOS to MBR, disk layout, you should immediately think about saving important information. If this is not required, you can immediately proceed to the installation. But in the case when the computer contains valuable data for the user, it will be necessary to archive or re-partition the disk using specialized software.
Preparing USB with Windows 7 for Installation on UEFI
Having studied the basics of working with new software and deciding whether it is advisable to work under it on current equipment, it is necessary to start preparing for the process. Installing Windows 7 through UEFI will require certain skills in writing the system distribution itself. Users who are accustomed to using flash drives will need to be equipped with the latest version of windows from Microsoft and one of the programs for recording the distribution on USB. For example, one of such programs called Rufus will be presented.
After downloading the latest version of the application, you will need to pick up a USB flash drive with a capacity of at least 4Gb. You must run Rufus on behalf of the administrator with confirmation of “UAC” access rights. Going to the "Device" section, you will need to click on your flash drive for subsequent recording of the distribution on it. If you want to install a system with MBR or GPT disk layout, the corresponding item should be noted. It is recommended that the file system be left at default FAT32. At the next stage, you will need to select the ISO image of the system that you previously downloaded or purchased in the boxed edition and click the "Start" button. After the end of the process, the bootable flash drive under UEFI will be completely ready.
UEFI boot from the drive on various hardware
Of course, for a start, you need to boot correctly, since the installation of Windows 7 strictly requires UEFI. Gigabyte is developing motherboards with Dual UEFI BIOS. On such equipment, you will need to go to the settings using the F9 key before starting the process and select the appropriate operating mode. Similar actions can be performed on most motherboards of other developers.
Often also apply fast boot in UEFI mode. To do this, by calling the boot device menu, you need to select a flash drive with an assigned tag of the required mode (Lagacy does not have it).
If the user does not use the new BIOS, on the desktop computer there is the possibility of its complete deactivation. It is worth noting that Lagacy Boot cannot be disabled in the settings even when UEFI installs Windows 7. Acer is one of the developers who completely removed the possibility of deactivating any of the modes on their laptops, making it necessary to use only fast boot for selection.
It is very interesting that at first the new built-in security features and partly GPT markup when installing in the mode described above blocked pirate cracks for the Microsoft operating system. Nevertheless, hackers were quick enough to make corrections to their Windows 7 activator, the UEFI mode in which was already fully taken into account.
After loading the method required by the user, further steps to install the system do not undergo changes.
The only thing worth noting is that when the disk is divided into sections, windows will now create a slightly larger number of additional partitions.