Many users who are not particularly versed in the settings of the primary input / output systems quite often find the Legacy USB Support item among a huge number of various parameters. What is this in BIOS, why is this option needed, nobody really understands, since its default value is usually set to Auto. However, sometimes you need to change this parameter. That is why it should be considered especially.
Legacy USB Support - what is it?
If we talk about the function itself based on its name, it is easy to guess its purpose. Simply translate the term from English. Interpretation of this option involves support for devices that connect to a computer or laptop using the appropriate interfaces and ports, just at the level of the primary system, as was originally envisaged for the rest of the hardware connected to the motherboard.
But if we say that this is Legacy USB Support, in this particular case we are talking exclusively about peripheral devices (mice, keyboards, etc.). Sometimes this parameter can also apply to removable storage devices. And although this is not explicitly stated, quite often the problems associated with the fact that some types of flash drives are not detected when installing them as the first boot device are eliminated by just activating this option. However, as practice shows, these are isolated cases, and they are mainly associated with devices of little-known manufacturers or specific equipment that does not have support in the BIOS initially.
How to enable Legacy USB Support?
Now a few words about what actions can be performed with such parameters. To get started, just look at its original default value. This is usually the option to automatically select support (Auto).
But what is it? In Legacy USB Support, if you expand the list of all possible options for the set values, you can see both activation (Enabled) and disable (Disabled). What is it for? Only so that the user can choose whether he needs such support. Of course, in the case of flash drives, if they are not detected even if they are previously inserted into the port, after which the computer is turned on and then entered into the BIOS parameters, activation of this parameter is mandatory. Roughly speaking, you need to first insert the USB flash drive into the USB port, and only then turn on the power to start the download.
Is it advisable to activate this option?
But, since the inclusion of an option is mostly associated with peripherals (most often, as already mentioned, with mice and keyboards), many users have legitimate doubts about its activation. Is the system itself unable to identify such components? It goes without saying that if we are talking specifically about the operating system in which the installed drivers are responsible for the operation of such devices, there should be no questions. But few people pay attention to the moment that with disabled support, such devices at the moment you turn on the computer or laptop (even before loading the main operating system) become inaccessible.
In other words, an external USB keyboard cannot be used even to enter BIOS settings. That is why it is not recommended to completely disable this option under any pretext. By and large, it is better not to change the automatic value of choosing whether to enable or disable support at all! But if you are working with outdated versions of Windows like the network version of NT, this option must be enabled without fail.
When it is deactivated, quite often it will be possible to observe the loss of operability by peripheral devices, which will be discussed in the equipment properties in the "Device Manager" (the device is turned off, it must be turned on, etc.). What is most sad, to activate disconnected devices in the manager in this situation will not work in any way.
Summary
What is it - Legacy USB Support, apparently, many have figured out. As for the main conclusion that can be drawn from the foregoing, it should be noted that it is better not to change the default value for automatically activating or deactivating the specified support if necessary, otherwise you won’t be able to enter the primary system. You will have to additionally connect old PS / 2 keyboards and mice. But what if there are no such sockets on the laptop, the main keyboard is out of order, and USB ports do not work if support is disabled? Here is the answer!