access to BIOS through Windows?

LMiller7 · 21 Oct 2016

At first thought control of the BIOS from Windows seems like a great idea. But like many "great" ideas they fall apart when confronted by the harsh facts of reality.

In theory universal control of the BIOS from Windows could be achieved. But some very serious technical hurdles would need to be overcome. Some of these issues I understand, but I am certain there are many others I do not.

But I think this would open a Pandors box of security problems. In a time when security is already such a serious problem I think the benefits are not worth the serious problems it would bring.

Dramx · 21 Oct 2016

I maintain PCs at a distance, that are in locales where there is no one who is BIOS-smart. In fact, a few are in locales where there are no people! I'd like to be able to maintain low-level PC functions remotely, as well as reboot remotely. The idea that you need to have hands-on for any PC functionality really seems to be somewhat archaic in this day and age.

P.S. I don't want to start any arguments, but with Macs, low level system edits can be made cleanly and easily through the OS terminal window.

Layback Bear · 21 Oct 2016

Dramx, please understand we are not arguing. We are just stating our opinions on your thread subject and our reasoning.

access to BIOS through Windows?

In my opinion the bios and it's functions is NOT a low level PC function.
Bios is the first critical function that must work properly or all else fails.

From post #12

I maintain PCs at a distance, that are in locales where there is no one who is BIOS-smart. In fact, a few are in locales where there are no people!

Once again I'm lost. I will monitor your thread to see if I can get un-lost.

Their are members on this forum that remotely access other computers but I'm not one of those members. I'm not understanding a need for remote access to a computers bios. What in the bios needs attention. I'm one of those that over clock so I do go into the bios more often than most.
The last time I went into the bios to fix a problem was to lower the over clock on the ram and that did solve the problem I was having.
Most people run the bios the way the computer was shipped to them. You are correct in my opinion most don't even know or care to know what bios is or does.

I do agree with the others; access to the bios using the operating system is a HUGE security risk.
I also have no idea what one can or can not do with a MAC computer.

Hopefully some members that do Remote Access can enlighten us on the need to do what your requesting with remote bios access.
I'm trying to understand the need and desire to do such a thing.

If you could explain your need or desire to remotely access bios it would help my 3 brain cells understand better.

Jack

Dramx · 21 Oct 2016

No arguments at all. I very much appreciate these thoughts about BIOS access, and I admit that if you have an OS that is malware-vulnerable, having the BIOS accessible to it is a bad idea.

I just ran into an issue the other day where a remote computer wasn't set up to automatically restart after a power failure. For a remote computer, that's a killer. My understanding is that this capability needs to be enabled BOTH in Windows and in the BIOS. Yes, that was evidently a fault that can be blamed on the tech who set it up, rather than on the PC, but it's unfortunate that I need to send a tech out to fix it properly even after I get a non-tech finger to restart it.

Layback Bear · 21 Oct 2016

Thank you. Now I understand your desire to access the remote computer bios.

Just my opinion; I would think it's wiser to send a tech to fix the problem rather than setting up your remote computers for remote bios access. I'm not even sure remote bios access can be done. I am sure I don't know how to do such a thing.

Once again thanks for helping me understand your reasoning.

townsbg · 21 Oct 2016

Dramx said:

P.S. I don't want to start any arguments, but with Macs, low level system edits can be made cleanly and easily through the OS terminal window.

These edits are done at the OS level rather than the hardware level. In fact there isn't a graphical menu for any such settings on a mac as there is on a pc. To be technical the BIOS is the system behind hardware communication. It is a common misconception to call the menu behind it the BIOS but that is technically called the CMOS. What is the difference between BIOS and CMOS? As I (and others) have stated not only is it at best unrealistic to expect Windows to be able to control CMOS settings but it is such a huge security risk that you really don't want that kind of exposure even if it does seem more convenient. If manufacturers built in that kind of functionality it would be a huge risk not only to workstations but also servers. A well planned attack at that level could permanently take out huge server farms or dns servers. That is the reason why what you are wanting hasn't been done. That is other than the logistics behind it beyond simple utilities that only provide access to limited features and not critical settings. Personally I don't ever want it done because just thinking about it sends chills down my back like watching a bad horror flick.

Dramx · 22 Oct 2016

As per my example, I can tell a Mac to reboot automatically in the OS. I can do that remotely. Can't do that on a PC. But that's certainly true that a PC BIOS in general allows more system adjustability than a Mac OS. I didn't mean to imply that a Mac could do all low-level system edits from the OS.

townsbg · 22 Oct 2016

Actually if you are remote connected to a PC using either the built in remote desktop or third party hosting then you can reboot a computer. What you can't do is shut it down and expect it to come up on it's own.

Dramx · 24 Oct 2016

townsbg said:

Actually if you are remote connected to a PC using either the built in remote desktop or third party hosting then you can reboot a computer. What you can't do is shut it down and expect it to come up on it's own.

Well, sure. But that's not the point here. If the power goes out for one second, and the computer crashes, I'd like it to be smart enough to reboot. That smartness needs BIOS access in PCs.

townsbg · 24 Oct 2016

Oh you didn't specify. Sometimes that is an option in the bios settings.