All users of personal computers are aware of the BIOS environment. This is the component of the system that boots first, respectively, before starting the operating system. BIOS is invariably present on every computer, since without it the expedient operability of all elements of your computer in a single network is impossible. Not so long ago, a new software environment was introduced that replaced the BIOS called UEFI.
In this review, we will talk about what UEFI is, how to work in such a system utility. Consider the functionality, tab navigation, as well as setting up the UEFI BIOS. In conclusion, we will find out how to reset the settings in the described software environment.
What is UEFI?
In order to understand what UEFI is, you should first define this abbreviation. The Unified Extensible Firmware Interface , translated into Russian, stands for " Unified Extensible Firmware Interface ". From the above definition, it becomes clear that such a system utility is aimed at expanding the interface of the firmware code, as well as diversifying it with various third-party functions.
UEFI is a utility with built-in extensions to the input / output system firmware code interface. She, in turn, acts as a link between the components of a personal computer and the operating system. Such parent software replaced the outdated BIOS, primarily to increase user capabilities for configuring various elements of the computer system.
Reasons UEFI replaced BIOS
If we talk about why UEFI replaced the BIOS input and output system, you can get a whole discussion out of the opinions of those who like this innovation, and those who don't. However, one thing can be said with certainty - the primary problem of BIOS was the small functionality, as well as the scarcity of the interface.
Continuing the list of critical shortcomings of the input and output system, we can also note the lack of fine-tuning of many physical elements of the computer. The advantage of such a system was ease of use and minimal interface, bribing inexperienced users when setting up the UEFI BIOS.
In the UEFI system, all of the above deficiencies have been fixed. It, like its predecessor, is focused on initializing computer devices and exchanging data between them, as well as with the operating system. The UEFI software environment is primarily aimed at working with the latest OS platforms, preferably the latest versions of Windows 8/10 and MacOC.
For followers of older versions of operating systems, there is also a decent solution. They can still use their favorite systems, but with a more complicated installation and switching process. It is worth noting that on many computers with UEFI on board there is the ability to connect firmware code to the BIOS environment.
What are the fundamental differences between UEFI and BIOS
In order to fully see the whole picture of the differences between BIOS and UEFI, you should take a look at the list of functions that have undergone a change. Below in the article is a list of the largest changes in the new version of UEFI BIOS.
- advanced interface;
- support for storage media with a large amount of memory;
- support for file systems and various partition tables;
- lack of restrictions for disks with partitioning of MBR tables;
- the program code functions both in 32-bit and 64-bit systems;
- independent drivers for equipment of different platforms;
- support for Internet protocols;
- UEFI as a portable operating system.
This is not the whole list of innovations that the UEFI system received, but only a small part of them, which, in turn, has a great influence on improving the work in this environment and directly in the environment of a personal computer, as well as in setting up the UEFI BIOS.
UEFI Software Features
Above from the review, you could find out what UEFI is, what is its fundamental difference from BIOS. Now we will consider the main functionalities of the new input and output environment, as well as the provided Gigabyte UEFI BIOS setup tools.
Feature List:
- many diverse features that make this utility a portable operating system;
- the presence of a browser on board the program;
- tools for fine-tuning all components of the computer;
- the ability to use a computer mouse to work in this software environment;
- the ability to make remote diagnostics of problems in the system with their further elimination;
- the ability to see the names of operating systems, and not the names of disk storage media;
- acceleration of computer boot;
- the presence of a built-in download manager;
- increased computer security;
- the ability to scale.
The bulleted list presented some of the main features that are present in UEFI. Using this environment, you can perform a large number of fine-tuning your system and increase the level of PC security.
UEFI Main Menu Tab Navigation
From the above material, you became aware of the functionality of the UEFI system utility. We will now briefly review the tabs and navigation on them. Actually, those places in which the above functions are located.
- The main window of the program. Displays the system time and monitoring readings of accessories (temperature, voltage, fan speed, etc.).
- Main. Displays the main components of the system, such as the processor, memory, hard drives, drives, and more. This tab contains the choice of language and information about the connected drives to the computer. Also, in a similar menu, you can change some computer settings.
- All Tweaker. A similar menu is responsible for overclocking the component equipment.
- Advanced. This menu contains advanced information and access to the fine-tuning of the PC hardware described in the second paragraph.
- Power. Displays power settings.
- Security. The Security Bot is located here to protect computer data, as well as to configure passwords and access rights.
- Boot. It contains tools for switching to the BIOS environment, as well as a number of other settings related to starting the computer. For example, such as selecting a priority disk from which the PC will be launched, monitoring the boot time and the parameters at which the computer will be started.
- Tools ("Service"). A tab that contains the manufacturer’s branded programs, as well as a portable browser for accessing the Internet.
- Exit Serves to save data, reset to factory settings and exit the UEFI software environment.
This is what the system menu of the program is. From the material presented above, you were able to find out what is hidden under the tabs in the UEFI menu. As a rule, fine tuning and tuning of the UEFI Asus BIOS and other models are carried out in such menus.
General configuration of components in the UEFI program
For Gigabyte UEFI DualBIOS, BIOS settings are located in the menu items Main, Avanced and All Tweaker. In these tabs, you can fine-tune all the elements of your computer hardware.
The main desire of users is to overclock their devices, which is available in the "All Tweakers" option. In the "General" tab, you can configure the language and change the time, as well as add some functions as desired. Directly in the "Advanced" section, you can configure the core frequency, cache size and processor clock speed.
Setting up the UEFI software environment of popular manufacturers
Gigabyte, ASRock, Asus, etc. are considered to be popular manufacturers of such system utilities. They are configured in the same way as other manufacturers. After all, the algorithm of the program remains unchanged, whether it is setting up Asrock UEFI BIOS or Gigabyte UEFI DualBIOS. Only the general features of the interface and the presence of additional subsections in the settings tabs described in the section above change. In order to make fine adjustments for such manufacturers of the UEFI system, use the above guide to the program tabs.
It is worth noting that some manufacturers do not have the All Tweaker tab, so access to overclocking the system is not available. This phenomenon can be seen when setting up BIOS in the Asus UEFI BIOS. But also, on the contrary, there may be other parameters in the system menu that the manufacturer adds to improve the operation of the computer firmware code with your operating system.
How to reset UEFI BIOS to factory settings
If after configuring any system parameters a failure occurs, you should reset the settings. In order to reset the settings in the UEFI environment, follow the guide below:
- Log in to the UEFI software environment.
- Go to the Exit tab.
- From the list that appears, select the item Load Setup Defaults or Load Default Settings with the left mouse button. This resets the system to the default settings.
- Then click on the Exit Saving Changes tab, thereby exiting the program, but at the same time saving the produced parameters.
In this way, you can reset the system to the default settings. If necessary, you can use a similar function to return the system to its previous configuration.
Conclusion
This material has been considered in detail what UEFI is, what differences it has from the previous BIOS system. We found out what functionality the program has, what was added and fixed in it compared to its predecessor. And also briefly reviewed how to configure BIOS UEFI from various manufacturers of such a system.