UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with

mjf said:

My motherboard is UEFI BIOS and the GUI is definitely far better. However, I still do an MBR boot.
I must admit it was so long ago that I did the clean install I cannot remember how I chose MBR over UEFI for booting. Does it come up as an option or does it depend on whether your HDD is GPT formatted? What happens when installing to an unallocated drive with a UEFI BIOS. My memory must be going!

Every mobo is different but generally it requires booting UEFI DVD or flash stick choice from BIOS Boot Menu, wiping the HD or deleting all partitions during install in case it is MBR to have it install to GPT disk.

To Bypass UEFI requires changing BIOS to enable Legacy BIOS or Compatibility Support Module (CSM), then wiping the HD of deleting all partitions so it will configure it MBR.

Some mobos hide these settings or lock you out of them. In Win8 they are most often accessed from Advanced Recovery Options as shown in Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7.



An 8 machine also requires turning off Secure Boot.

I see nothing like that on my Asus P8Z68 or AsRock Z77M. The installs were carried out on MBR formatted drives. It appears the UEFI BIOS automatically MBR boots for MBR formatted drives. I'm only guessing that a GPT formatted drive with a UEFI BIOS would put in the MSR partition as well as system reserved when installing.
Any other views?

mjf said:

I see nothing like that on my Asus P8Z68 or AsRock Z77M. The installs were carried out on MBR formatted drives. It appears the UEFI BIOS automatically MBR boots for MBR formatted drives. I'm only guessing that a GPT formatted drive with a UEFI BIOS would put in the MSR partition as well as system reserved when installing.
Any other views?

Hello Michael,

If your UEFI firmware settings has the Legacy BIOS or Compatibility Support Module (CSM) settings, they would need to be disabled before installing with UEFI.

When installing with UEFI, it needs to be done on an unallocated drive. This way when you install from a UEFI USB/DVD of a 64-bit Windows 7/8, it will format the drive as GPT with the MSR and other partitions for UEFI.

Hope this helps. :)

Thanks Brink.
My Asus UEFI motherboard was top of the line when I bought it a couple of years ago and Ive scoured the BIOS and cannot see either "Legacy BIOS or Compatibility Support Module (CSM) settings".
I wonder if any other ASUS motherboard owners have these settings?

Now the only remaining puzzle is you refer to "UEFI USB/DVD of a 64-bit Windows 7/8". I have standard Windows 7 Installation discs. One retail and some OEM for PCs I built. Are you saying that you need UEFI specific installation media? - or create an install USB using
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials...e-windows.html

Thanks for any help here.

Correct. If you use a normal 64-bit Windows 7 installation disc it may not always support UEFI, so it would be best to create a UEFI USB to be sure.

Brink,
If/when I go down the UEFI route I'll take your advice and go the USB way. I still find it irritationg I have no CSM or legacy BIOS control setting on my ASUS UEFI BIOS.

That's ok. You don't need the Legacy BIOS or CSM settings. The Compatibility Support Module (CSM) is a component of the firmware that emulates a BIOS environment; allowing legacy operating systems and some option ROMs that do not support UEFI to still be used.

Unified Extensible Firmware Interface - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You're motherboard has a modern UEFI firmware that fully supports running Windows with or without UEFI. It doesn't need these older settings. :)

I think the evolution of the UEFI BIOS/motherboards explains it Shawn - thanks again.

You're most welcome Michael.