Installing Windows via UEFI BIOS. Creating a bootable UEFI USB flash drive with Windows Windows 7 installation and activation of uefi

Instead of the BIOS that is familiar to many at the moment, new motherboards for desktop computers and laptops are increasingly equipped with modern UEFI. Installing Windows 7 on such hardware is undergoing a number of changes. This factory software, unfortunately, is being implemented rather slowly and is currently not ready to replace the BIOS on the vast majority of boards, which entails a number of incompatibilities and problems with loading in the new mode. Most often, questions arise from people who want to install Windows 7 instead of the eighth version of the system that comes with the laptop they just purchased.

Is it worth switching to UEFI?

The main reason for switching from BIOS to UEFI was the lack of functionality, which is no longer enough for professional work computers that contain voluminous documents and require maximum performance of all components. It is worth noting that when loading the drive in UEFI BIOS mode, installing Windows 7 by default will not be possible on old MBR partitions. But there are two options for solving the problem.

The first is to copy all important data to an external or optional internal drive. The second is more labor-intensive and will require converting partitions using bootable flash drives or disks with utilities like Paragon, but will allow you to save all existing data, with the exception of the local disk with the system itself. In order to draw a conclusion about the advisability of installing a system under UEFI on your PC, you need to understand what advantages the new type of pre-installed software has in comparison with the previous one.

Old but effective BIOS

You can start your consideration with the Basic Input-Output System - BIOS, since this will be a logical sequence regarding the release time. The functions for which it is responsible are generally clear from the name. Basic software didn't appear overnight. As computer components developed, the BIOS itself progressed accordingly, thanks to which today people can use its wide functionality. Of course, core software alone could not meet all hardware needs. For this reason, programs and drivers were developed in parallel, configured directly in the operating system itself. However, the BIOS is responsible for such operations as initial hardware identification and determining the device from which to boot. It is very obvious that UEFI has similar functionality, installation of Windows 7 and its correct operation on which will necessarily require the options described above.

Multifunctional UEFI

What is UEFI? If we decipher the abbreviation and translate it into Russian, the innovation is called Extensible Embedded Software Interface. The development of the system was started by Intel back in 2001 and was highly specialized in server equipment. UEFI was created due to the inoperability of Itanium processors with old firmware, since the kernel of the server computer needed significantly expanded functionality. Ordinary users saw the new product only in 2006 on board computers developed by Apple. Later, the innovation began to appear in the products of other companies, as indicated by the first word Unifed in the abbreviation. Among them there is both Microsoft, with its contribution to UEFI, under which the installation of Windows 7 was optimized by the company, and other software and hardware developers.

Advantages of UEFI when installing systems from Microsoft

Thanks to the innovations, it is now possible to install Windows 7 on huge hard drives. GPT UEFI BIOS supports by default, and the system will be located under such a partition table. It is worth clarifying that the words “huge size” mean drives with a capacity of more than 2Tb. The old system only supported hard drives whose space did not exceed this mark. This is explained by the fact that the BIOS used the MBR partitioning to work with the drive, which contained the size of each record of 32 bits. From the calculations, a figure of 4 billion sectors is derived, which is exactly 2Tb. Even now, such a volume may seem excessive to some, but many 3D designers, not to mention employees using server equipment, have long needed such capacity. Thanks to UEFI BIOS, installing Windows 7, 8 and 10 can now be done on hard drives with a sky-high capacity of up to 8 billion TB.

Compatible with various equipment

Modern motherboards are equipped with software that supports both old hardware with MBR and new hardware with GPT partitioning. Now the user can choose the option that is most suitable for his computer. This was made possible thanks to UEFI dualbios support. Installation of Windows 7, 8 and 10 on such equipment will be available in two modes simultaneously, the choice of one of which is made by the user directly when booting from the drive.

Visual interface

Some developers not only introduced changes to the code, but also completely redesigned the interface, allowing for faster user interaction. Also another advantage was the ability to control UEFI elements using a computer mouse. This makes installing Windows 7 even more convenient and easier. You only need to get used to the new visual style once, and the desire to return to computers running BIOS completely disappears. Also, in the future, developers promise to create additional utilities for UEFI, even to the point that applications will be released that provide access to the Internet without Partially this task has already been completed, since the pre-installed software is updated via the network protocol.

Additional protection for Windows

Another important point is the so-called secure installation of Windows 7. GPT UEFI is a new standard that will enhance protection on the Microsoft operating system. The utility can significantly reduce the chances of information loss and leakage. This option is enabled by default in the software, but can be easily deactivated in the settings if desired by the user.

UEFI Speed and Orientation

Thanks to the redesigned basis, UEFI can significantly speed up Windows boot times. It has become much easier to navigate the new interface thanks to bright and visually understandable content. Each category has an icon similar to those found in the operating system itself. There was also a utility section that had not been used until now. There are applications that allow you to view additional properties of your computer, such as installed hardware, temperature of elements, and much more. Of course, the specific set of utilities depends on the manufacturer and type of motherboard.

Transition from MBR to GPT

When switching from a system installed under BIOS to MBR disk partitioning, you should immediately think about saving important information. If this is not required, you can proceed directly to the installation. But in the case when there is data valuable to the user on the computer, it will be necessary to archive it or repartition the disk using specialized software.

Preparing USB with Windows 7 for installation on UEFI

Having studied the basics of working with the new software and deciding whether it is advisable to work under it on the current equipment, you need to start preparing for the process. Installing Windows 7 via UEFI will require certain skills in writing the system distribution itself. Users accustomed to using flash drives will need to be equipped with the latest version of Microsoft windows and one of the programs for burning the distribution to USB. As an example, one such program called Rufus will be presented.

After downloading the latest version of the application, you will need to select a flash drive with a minimum capacity of 4Gb. You must run Rufus as an administrator with “UAC” access rights confirmation. Going to the “Device” section, you will need to click on your flash drive to subsequently write the distribution kit to it. If you want to install the system with MBR or GPT disk partitioning, you must check the appropriate box. It is recommended to leave the default file system FAT32. At the next stage, you will need to select the ISO image of the system that was previously downloaded or purchased in a boxed edition and click the “Start” button. After the process is completed, the bootable USB flash drive for UEFI will be completely ready.

Booting from a drive in UEFI mode on various hardware

Of course, first you need to boot correctly, since this is strictly required by the UEFI installation of Windows 7. Gigabyte develops motherboards with Dual UEFI BIOS. On such equipment, before starting the process, you will need to go to the settings using the F9 key and select the appropriate operating mode. Similar steps can be performed on most motherboards from other manufacturers.

Fast boot in UEFI mode is also often used. To do this, you will need to call up the boot device menu and select a flash drive with the required mode tag attached (Lagacy does not have it).

If the user does not use the new BIOS, the desktop computer has the ability to completely deactivate it. It is worth noting that Lagacy Boot cannot be disabled in the settings, even when UEFI is being produced. Acer is one of the developers who has completely removed the ability to deactivate any of the modes on their laptops, resulting in the need to use only fast boot to select.

It is very interesting that at first the new built-in security tools and partly GPT markup, when installed in the mode described above, blocked pirated cracks for the Microsoft operating system. Nevertheless, the hackers were quickly able to make corrections to their Windows 7 activator, the UEFI mode in which was already fully taken into account.

Having loaded with the method required by the user, further steps to install the system do not change.

The only thing worth noting is that when partitioning a disk, windows will now create a slightly larger number of additional partitions.

Progress does not stand still, new “tricks” are appearing to make life easier for users, and sometimes bring them headaches. The emergence of UEFI and GPT disks has become one of the problems that has complicated the life of those who want to independently install the OS on their computer. Let’s figure it out. In this article we will look at a “clean” installation of the system “from under BIOS\UEFI.” What needs to be done?

1. You need to find out exactly what kind of boot interface your computer/laptop has, a standard BIOS or a new UEFI.
This can be found out by reading the specifications of the motherboard of your computer or laptop. UEFI also differs in appearance as more advanced, with colorful graphics and full-fledged graphic elements, more advanced settings, the ability to work with a mouse (not always), etc.
2. You need to find out exactly what structure (style) your system disk has, MBR (Master Boot Record) or GPT (GUID Partition Table). All further actions will depend on this. Failure to clarify these points leads to unsuccessful installation of the system and loss of time.
To find out which drive is on your computer, right-click on the “Computer” icon and select “Manage”. In the window that opens, select the "Disk Management" tab, right-click on the disk (not the partition) and select "Properties" and go to the "Volumes" tab. The screenshots below show the differences between disks with different structures. All this is possible if your system is in working order. If the system is missing or damaged, then use boot programs such as Acronis or similar. The structure of the disk does not depend on which disk, SSD (electronic) or HDD (mechanical).

After finding out what kind of BIOS you have and what the hard drive structure is, the task of starting to install the operating system is divided into 3 different installation methods:
- installation from a classic BIOS on a standard disk with an MBR structure,
- installation of a UEFI (EFI) interface on a disk with an MBR structure,
- installation from UEFI on a disk with a GPT structure.

Important note. There is a misconception that in order to boot from bootable media, from a burned DVD/CD or from a created bootable flash drive, you need to go into BIOS\uefi and change the settings in the Boot priority list and put our media in first place. This is not only difficult, but also dangerous. It’s easier and more correct to use the hot key to call BootMenu with a list of available bootable media when you boot your computer and select the one you need. Every computer/laptop has such a key. A list of such keys is given below in the text. But in the list of priorities in the Boot settings of the BIOS or UEFI, the system hard drive should be the first, which reduces the system boot time and does not waste time searching for boot records from media we do not need.

As a rule, this installation method does not cause big problems for users.
We burn the installation ISO image of the OS to DVD using any program for working with DVD/CD discs. I recommend DVD+RW for recording as the most convenient and which can later be rewritten if recording errors are detected on it or when a newer version of the system is released. A prerequisite is to enable the disk check function after recording. Despite the fact that DVDs are gradually being replaced by other storage media, installing a system with DVD remains the most correct and basic installation method.
An alternative method is to install the system from the created flash drive. For installation “from under BIOS”, any available program for working with flash drives is suitable. For example, Windows7 USB DVD tool or Rufus or similar programs. See an example of creating a flash drive using Rufus below.
So, we create bootable media, install the media in the drive or insert a flash drive into a USB port, and reboot the computer. Now we need to boot from it. The simplest way is to call BootMenu, i.e. menu for selecting boot media using a hot key. This can be Esc, F2, F8, F10 or F12 (different keys on different computers, laptops).

In the BootMenu list, select the bootable media from which you intend to install the OS and proceed directly to the installation. As a rule, at the beginning of booting from the media, the message “Press any key to boot from CD” appears (press any key) or some kind of pre-boot menu appears, where we select system installation.
You can go a more complicated route. We go into the BIOS again using a hot key (the BIOS entry key is different from the bootmenu entry key), go to the boot media priority selection section (Boot) and install our media in first place. We save, reboot the computer and it should boot from our DVD or flash drive. Keep in mind that when installing from some media, the process may loop, i.e. Every time you reboot, we go back to the system installation. To fix this, after the first reboot of the computer during the OS installation process, you need to again set the priority to the hard drive.
If your media is not found in the bootable media selection list or does not boot from it, try restarting your computer again. If nothing happens after this, then most likely the DVD was not recorded correctly, with errors, or the drive does not read it. If the same thing happens with a flash drive, then you need to know that not every flash drive is suitable for such purposes, also some computers have protection against booting from USB, or the flash drive was not created correctly. The USB port may not be working correctly, especially usb3. Try switching from a port (connector) to a port with a usb2 interface.
After booting from bootable installation media, the process of directly installing the operating system begins, but changes on your hard drive do not occur until you select, delete, format, etc. manipulations in the window for selecting a location to install the OS.

Currently, the fleet of computers and laptops includes models with different versions of UEFI. The old version of this interface is not much different in appearance from the classic BIOS, but they contain sections and items with its (uefi) settings. The parameters and names may differ in different models, but the essence remains the same. By default, these uefi options are enabled and to install the system on an MBR disk we need to disable them. The designations will be different on different computers, usually “Secure Boot” or “UEFI Boot”, “Legacy (CSM) Boot”, “Launch CSM”, or “CMS Boot”, “UEFI and Legacy OS”, “CMS OS”. There is only one task: Secure Boot, UEFI Boot must be disabled (Disabled), and Legacy Boot must be enabled (Enabled). After performing these manipulations, installing the system is not much different from installing it under a regular BIOS. You can also go into BIOS\UEFI and set your bootable media as a priority, but it is better to call up the list of available bootable media using a hot key (see list of keys) and select the one you need. Please pay special attention to the list of media; as a rule, the same media will be present there, but with different labels, with and without the uefi label. For example DVD xxxx - UEFI and DVD xxxx, Flash xxxx - UEFI and Flash xxxx. You need to select exactly the line without uefi.

When installing a system under modern uefi with a full-fledged graphical interface, the media selection process is minimized. It supports installation on both gpt and mbr disks. Use a hot key to call up the list of bootable media (BootMenu) and select the one you need, but (attention!) do not make a mistake with your choice. Choose the one without the UEFI tag, as stated above. The same can be done by logging directly into UEFI and without changing the boot priority. Thus, modern UEFI starts working with bootable media already at the connection stage and adjusts to it, in which mode to boot from it, in normal mode or uefi mode. If there is no uefi tag on the boot media, then it will boot in standard “BIOS” mode.

This method (works when installing Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10)
– When installing Windows, while at the stage (in the window) of selecting partitions, press the key combination Shift + F10. A command prompt will open.
Further:
Enter the diskpart command to launch the diskpart file utility
Enter the list disk command to display a list of physical disks connected to your computer.
Enter the command select disk N, where N is the number of the disk you want to convert.
Enter the clean command to clean out the disk.
Attention! All hard drive partitions will be deleted!
Enter the convert mbr command to convert the disk to MBR
or the convert gpt command to convert the disk to GPT.
Use the Exit command to exit diskpart
Use the Exit command to close the Command Prompt window.
Continue with Windows installation. To create new sections you need to click on the button
“Configure disk” in the window for selecting a partition for installing the operating system.

If you still do not want to convert the disk for some reason, then we burn the installation DVD of the system from the original 64-bit image or assembly that supports this installation method. Or we create a flash drive with a specialized program for working with bootable flash drives. The program parameters must be set to "UEFI and GPT disk" mode. The screenshot shows an example of how to do this in the Rufus program.
Loading from the created media is done in exactly the same way as described in the previous section (2), but exactly the opposite. In the old UEFI, you need to enable all the “Secure Boot” or “UEFI Boot” functions, and when selecting boot media from the BootMenu, select the line that contains the UEFI label. The same thing needs to be done if you want to change the boot priority in the UEFI itself in the appropriate sections. If your media (dvd/usb flash) does not have the UEFI label in the BootMenu list, it means it does not support this function and you will not be able to install the system from it to a GPT disk.

Additionally, the task is divided into installing the OS on " clean" and on "simple" installation from under an already installed system.

What is the difference between a “clean” and a simple installation from Windows...
Clean reinstallation of Windows- this is manually launching an already inserted installation CD/DVD disk or flash drive with Windows OS during the computer startup, pressing any key on the keyboard after the Press any key message appears on the screen. To do this, in the input/output system (BIOS), it indicates to the PC where the operating system is located, on the hard drive or CD/DVD, changes are made that allow you not to use the old operating system to start the installation and, finally, to completely remove it, by deleting all old partitions, creating new ones and formatting each new partition of the hard drive. This method will help you install Windows from any operating system (Linux, Unix, DOS, Windows XP) and is a guarantee of reliable PC operation. The disadvantage of this method is that after installation you will have to reinstall all drivers, programs, etc., and before installation, transfer and save the necessary data to a non-system partition or disk or other media. The method also requires increased attention when creating and deleting partitions on the disk, in order to avoid deleting the necessary user data. Still, this is the best method for installing an operating system.

"Easy" reinstallation- this is launching a CD/DVD disc with Windows with the operating system already loaded. Such an installation is not clean, since the old version of the operating system, which is usually infected with viruses, controls the launch of the installation of the new version of Windows and cannot remove itself. Viruses remain, and the new version is installed on the old one. This is, of course, the most convenient and simple installation method, but also the most unreliable, because errors and viruses of the old system can simply be transferred to the new one and the result will be disastrous. In addition, not every build of Windows OS supports this method. As a rule, system builders strongly recommend not installing the system in this way to avoid incorrect installation.

This article looked at "clean" installation of the system “from under BIOS\UEFI”.

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Modern computers come with UEFI on board. UEFI is an interface between the operating system and firmware. Designed to replace BIOS. By the way, Apple has been using this technology for a long time. But this is not so important, the important thing is how to install W7?

Let's go in order.
Let's say you have Windows 8 (working or not) and you want to change it to Windows 7.
So.
First, you need to disable Secure Boot. This is a feature UEFI- it prevents loading executable files or drivers if they are not signed with one of the pre-installed keys.
To disable it, log into UEFI. When you turn on your desktop or laptop, press the “F2” or “Delete” key. In the “Boot” tab, change the “Secure Boot” value to “Disabled”. An additional item “OS Mode Selection” will appear, select “UEFI and Legacy OS” Now save the settings using the “F10” buttons, then select “Yes” and press “Enter”. The computer will begin to restart.
Go to UEFI again. In the same tab, go to the “Boot Device Priority” parameter and in step 1, select the device from which you will install Windows. Press “F10” again, then “Yes”.
That's it, the computer is ready to install Windows 7.

If, when installing on a new hard drive, Windows complains about the GPT partition style, then (after changes in UEFI):
We insert the installation disk or flash drive, and after a short while, we boot into the Windows 7 installation program.

Click install. We accept the license agreement. Select the full installation.

Call the command line using the combination “Shift + F10”. On the command line, enter the commands sequentially:
diskpart
seldis 0
clean
convert gpt
exit
exit

Click “Update”.

Now the continue installation button will be active.
Click “Next”.

Without an operating system, a laptop cannot work, so it is installed immediately after purchasing the device. Now some models are distributed with Windows already installed, but if you have a clean laptop, then all actions must be performed manually. There is nothing complicated about this, you just need to follow the instructions below.

UEFI replaced BIOS, and now many laptops use this interface. Using UEFI, you manage hardware functions and boot the operating system. The OS installation process on laptops with this interface is slightly different. Let's look at each step in detail.

Step 1: UEFI Setup

Disk drives are becoming less and less common in new laptops, and the operating system is installed using a flash drive. If you are going to install Windows 7 from a disk, then you do not need to configure UEFI. Simply insert the DVD into the drive and turn on the device, after which you can immediately proceed to the second step. Those users who use a bootable USB flash drive will need to follow a few simple steps:

Once you launch the device, you will immediately be taken to the interface. In it you need to go to the section "Additionally" by pressing the corresponding key on the keyboard or selecting it with the mouse.

"USB Support"

"Full Initialization"

In the same window, go to the very bottom and go to the section "CSM".

There will be a parameter here "Launch CSM", it is necessary to transfer it to the state "Enabled".

Now the additional settings will appear where you are interested "Boot Device Options". Open the pop-up menu opposite this line and select "UEFI Only".

"Both, UEFI First"

A section has appeared here. Go to it.

Against "OS type" please indicate "Windows UEFI Mode". Then return to the previous menu.

Still in the tab, go to the very bottom of the window and find the section "Boot Priority". Opposite here "Boot Option #1» indicate your flash drive. If you can’t remember its name, then just pay attention to its volume, it will be indicated in this line.

Click F10 to save the settings. This completes the process of editing the UEFI interface. Continue to the next step.

Step 2: Install Windows

Now insert the bootable USB flash drive into the slot or DVD into the drive and start the laptop. The disk is automatically selected first in priority, but thanks to the settings made earlier, now the USB flash drive will start first. The installation process is not complicated and requires the user to perform just a few simple steps:

The OS installation will now begin. It will last for some time, and all progress will be displayed on the screen. Please note that the laptop will restart several times, after which the process will automatically continue. At the end, the desktop will be configured, and Windows 7 will start. All you have to do is install the most necessary programs and drivers.

Step 3: Installing drivers and necessary software

Although the operating system is installed, the laptop cannot yet function fully. The devices lack drivers and also require several programs for ease of use. Let's look at everything in order:

Now that the laptop has the Windows 7 operating system and all the necessary important programs, you can safely begin to use it comfortably. After the installation is complete, just go back to UEFI and change the boot priority to the hard drive or leave everything as it is, but insert the USB flash drive only after the OS has started, so that the startup takes place correctly.

The situation is such that installing Windows, a procedure that was previously possible for experienced users, is now quite simple and understandable for ordinary computer users who are faced with this task for the first time. Moreover, completing the task becomes even easier if you have the latest and most convenient version of BIOS on your computer - UEFI.

UEFI is the latest version of BIOS, the peculiarity of which is, finally, a convenient and intuitive interface, as well as support for not only a keyboard, but also a computer mouse as a pointing device. As a rule, many new computers receive a similar BIOS version, which means that more and more users are encountering UEFI for the first time.

Previously, we have already discussed in detail on our website. Here, the entire sequence of actions is performed in exactly the same way: preparing media with the Windows distribution, entering the BIOS and installing the device as the main bootloader, and then proceeding directly to the Windows installation procedure itself.

How to install Windows using UEFI BIOS

Step One: Preparing Bootable Media

First of all, installing Windows on a computer begins with preparing bootable media. If you have a Windows disc, skip this step and move on to the next one, but if you don't have a Windows distribution yet, you'll need to create a bootable USB flash drive or disk.

Previously, our website has already described in more detail how to create a bootable flash drive, so if you are interested in this issue, carefully study the article at the link below.

Stage 2: Enter the UEFI BIOS and set the main bootloader

Connect the disk or bootable USB flash drive with Windows to your computer. Your next step will be to enter the BIOS. To do this, the computer is rebooted, and then almost immediately as the computer starts to turn on, the key responsible for entering the BIOS is pressed many times in a row - as a rule, this is the F2 or Del. We have already described the possible keys in more detail on our website.

Once in the UEFI interface, in the upper area of the window, go to the tab "Boot" (Loading). The default boot devices are displayed here. Select an item "Boot Option #1" and in the miniature window that opens, select CD-ROM (if you are using a Windows distribution disk) or the name of your bootable flash drive.

Save changes by pressing F10 , and then exit the BIOS by clicking the key Esc .

Stage three: installing Windows

The computer will begin to restart, so all you have to do is wait for the Windows Installer to appear on the screen. We will not describe further actions in this article, since we have already devoted a detailed article to this issue on the website.

As you can see, the procedure for installing Windows via UEFI BIOS is extremely simple and straightforward, and therefore, by carefully following the instructions, even an inexperienced user can cope with the task.