UEFI UEFI UEFI

[Npl]

Im late to the party, but I just got and assembled my haswell system this week.
I wasnt aware of the steps necessary to install the system in "uefi mode" and the first installation thus ended beeing oldschool and rather lame, but I realised when installing a secondary linux partition that somethings wrong.
To cut a long story short, after a reinstall boot time is now ridiculously short and whats even better for me: you can select the OS right from the Motherboard boot screen. No more messing with multiple bootloaders, its just a folder-per-os and the motherboard [strike]Bios[/strike] Efi Menu already informs you about your boot-options with correct names.

Is this something thats still now publicly known, cause I dont remember anyone talking big about it (from a practical POV). Its also not so simple to get all ingredients right from the start so maybe thats the reason.

(Now to decide whether I stick with the IGP or buy a powerhogging and noisy card which I utilise maybe once a month...)

 

[eastmen]

I love it , but didn't have any problems setting it up with my bulldozer rig. A lot of pre made computers are coming with it pre set up also

 

[Npl]

I dont know why, I think my MB defaulted to booting from the cdrom in non-uefi mode.
And once your harddrive is partitioned the wrong way (no GPT), you cant do anywthing but wiping it per commandline. Also doesnt help that MS only offers it with 64bit windows

 

[Davros]

So to use uefi you have to install the o/s in uefi mode ?
is that a bios option ?

 

[Npl]

So to use uefi you have to install the o/s in uefi mode ?
is that a bios option ?

A typical modern installation media supports 2 boot otions: uefi and legacy. If you insert one of these you get those 2 options (or rather the ones that are activated in bios), the prefered option is adjustable in bios.

So my first attempt was either the wrong bootmode or my HDD came factory-prepared with the wrong partition table.

 

[Malo]

So to use uefi you have to install the o/s in uefi mode ?
is that a bios option ?

An example is my Helix. Windows 8 will only run properly and read key information in UEFI mode. However to restore factory settings from DVD I have to switch it to legacy mode to boot from the CD then once it's installed I need to switch it back.

 

[Npl]

I just found the first isse with UEFI. Apparently if I havy my Bluetooth adapter connected during start, it will be initialized at a rather late time and bring down some parts of the system - the monitor switches to standby and I cant bring it back.

Have to enable Full USB Initialization in the Bios...

 

[tongue_of_colicab]

Are you using a usb 3 port? I had the same problem with my mouse and keyboard. Took quite some time before I could enter my windows password. After plugging them into a usb 2 port all is well.

 

[Davros]

I've seen quite a few mboards (non uefi) that will not accept input from a usb keyboard before windows boots. Had to use a ps2 keyboard to access the bios

 

[Rodéric]

Doesn't make me want to upgrdage ^^
I'm waiting for Broadwell (AFAIR, Haswell refresh anyway), so I'll get UEFI and stuff...

Any other gotcha to be aware of ?

 

[Npl]

Nope, its usb2.
And I can choose where USB is disabled, partial enabled or enabled during "Fast Boot".
The first option ensures you will never again reach the bios with a usb keyboard, the second gives me the troubles with the Bluetooth adapter, and the third just works.

Rodéric: my Athlon X2 4800+ was getting a bit dated and 2GB Ram was beginning to be an issue as well. Played the waiting game for quite a while =)

 

[Rodéric]

Nope, its usb2.
And I can choose where USB is disabled, partial enabled or enabled during "Fast Boot".
The first option ensures you will never again reach the bios with a usb keyboard, the second gives me the troubles with the Bluetooth adapter, and the third just works.

Rodéric: my Athlon X2 4800+ was getting a bit dated and 2GB Ram was beginning to be an issue as well. Played the waiting game for quite a while =)

Sure, I'm just curious about the problems I may have when I also upgrade to UEFI and an up to date system in the near future ^^

 

[Albuquerque]

USB booting issues are nothing specific to UEFI, these are all examples of firmware options that the manufacturer has decided to implement (or has poorly implemented.)

UEFI has existed on Lenovo devices for quite a while, and they do not suffer these same problems. UEFI exists in a b0rked way on my Intel DX79Si, and has suffered some USB challenges but not all of them -- and those challenges were fixed in later firmware revisions.