Need help understanding UEFI while installing Windows 7 64 Ultimate

[Mikereedus]

It's embarrassing to say how many hours I have invested in fighting the UEFI on my MB. Anyway, I need some help understanding how and why you should choose UEFI when installing Windows. Windows 7 in this particular case.

I'll try to start by explaining some of the issues and some of the parts of UEFI I don't understand. let's begin with my boot options that has had me pulling my hair out.

Asus bios boot options look something like this

1.DVD drive
2.SSD
3.HDD
4.UEFI DVD drive (this particular option has caused me some major headache and I don't understand its use. If I try to install windows 7 using the UEFI drive it will disable my mouse at the Windows 7 install screen.
5.Windows boot device. Can't remember the exact label on that but it is usually tied to my SSD booting ability

The way I finally got my install to go smooth was to only have the first 3 boot options available. Disabling 4 and 5

Also, in my bios I can choose between Windows UEFI or Other OS? Right now I'm using the windows UEFI choice, although I'm doubting I'm fully utilizing UEFI since I did not install my copy of with with UEFI DVD drive

I guess what I really want to know is how to use UEFI? What is it? Why should I use it? and last but not least what is that UEFI DVD drive, why is this a necessary boot option?

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
Pretty much can be summed up as welcome to Skylake and the Z170 world where win-7 is a pain to install

I've heard from a birdie using a dvd install isn't too bad
But mostly win-7 uses AHCI mode and Skylake uses XHCI mode.
I'm sure your board has a SP/2 connection for a mouse or keyboard.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...e-firmware-interface-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[Mikereedus]

I'm currently reading through that thread you linked. It's a good chunk of info to digest.

Do you think a copy of Windows 10 would install With UEFi more smoothly. Or in other words, are UEFI and windows 10 more compatible to each other?

And does anyone know if UEFI creates issues when dual booting say an SSD and HDD...

 

[Mikereedus]

Thanks a bunch ThrashZone!!! Your post lead me to this Intel Skylake Removes Support for USB based Windows 7 Installation - Major Platform Specs Confirmed

Now I know why my USB ports stop working during the windows 7 install with UEFI.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Not sure but most people would install with just the C drive and no other system reserved partitions...
And if there were system reserved created just use this to copy them to the C drive after
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/209885-bootmgr-move-c-easybcd.html

Otherwise uefi is all about secure boot and bitlocker is about all I could ever uderstand what the big deal was and I personally wouldn't use either

 

[AddRAM]

Whoever told you you have to use UEFI ?

There is no benefit at all, and you`ll have nothing but trouble trying to install 7 in UEFI mode, just enable Legacy mode in the Bios and make your life easier.

Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 have no issues with UEFI.

The only usb ports that may stop working during an install on a Z170 are 3.0 ports, 2.0 ports work fine.