BIOS or UEFI? Know The Difference!
Previously computers had BIOS. BIOS is a program that starts when you boot up your computer. Computer nowadays comes with upgraded more advanced UEFI programs which are faster and has more features such as higher hard drive support, fast boot process, and better graphics support. Some of the new PCs ships with UEFI but stills mentions BIOS to reduce the confusion for regular users. Almost all new computers nowadays come with UEFI.
What Is a BIOS?
BIOS: Basic Input-Output System.
BIOS is a small firmware software installed in a chip on the motherboard. Whenever you start your PC, BIOS starts first and it is responsible for all the start-up process and to make sure that all parts and processes are working properly. After the first process then it wakes up the bootloader for windows to boot.
Many major settings can be changed and configured from BIOS menu. Major settings such as system date and time, boot device order and priority and hardware devices configurations. Usually to access boot menu all you need to do is press F2 on startup, but in some models, hotkey could be changed to Esc, F10 or Delete key. When you save the settings in your BIOS, it’s saved on the motherboard inside the chip and then it restarts the system with newly updated settings.
BIOS runs a POST- Power on Self-Test before starting the operating system. If any part malfunctions or any error comes up then BIOS will show the error on screen or make a series of beep code. Every error has a different beep code, you can look up in the manual for more details. Once POST finishes, BIOS will look for MBR-Master Boot Record. MBR is stored on the boot device which could be your hard drive or a USB Drive.
You might have heard the word CMOS- Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor. It’s a battery backed up memory device, BIOS stores many settings there. But the process of data storage is advanced now with flash memory chips.
Why the BIOS Is Outdated
BIOS are here since the start of the computer era, and it hasn’t advanced or upgraded much. Systems with MS-DOS also had BIOS released in the early 80s. In order to technology and firmware, of course, BIOS has advanced with time. Over time new extinctions were implemented such as ACPI- Advanced Configuration and Power Interface. This option allows BIOS to work more smoothly and configure more accurately. But the BIOS hasn’t upgraded as much as the time of it did while having DOS.
BIOS comes with its own boundaries. BIOS can only boot with 2.1 Terra-Bytes or fewer storage drives. Nowadays 3TB drives are too common. BIOS runs on 16-bit processor mode, BIOS has only 1mb of storage capacity to run multiple tasks which lead to slower boot process and hardware check.
BIOS needed an upgraded replacement for a long time. First, in 1998, Intel started to make EFI-Extensible Firmware Interface. In 2006 Apple chose EFI system for their MAC devices. After a whole year in 2007, all the other major brands such as Microsoft, AMD, Intel agreed to the new EFI system. This industrial standard is now accomplished by the Unified Extended Firmware Interface Forum, and not held by the Intel only. Windows Vista and 7 are the first ones to be introduced with a UEFI system. Today, almost all new computers come with UEFI rather than the old BIOS system.
UEFI over BIOS.
UEFI has replaced the BIOS completely. You cannot jump from BIOS to UEFI on your old computer. A new hardware needs to be purchased. Most of the UEFI has an option to go back to BIOS so you can install older operating systems too.
- UEFI is now so advanced that it can now boot from very large drives, theoretically 9.4 Zettabytes!! And that’s all internet data x3 times!! The reason behind that is GPT partition system over MBR. And boots in a more standard way.
- Rather than 16bit UEFI can boot from 32 and 64-bit processor mode and has more space than 1Mb having BIOS chips which help to run more tasks faster and smoother than ever. That makes boot up process faster.
- Another advantage of it is that now UEFI has a better UI than BIOS with mouse pointer support and graphics adjustments. In other features, UEFI has its own Secure Boot option to ensure there is no malware on boot process, supports networking features inside UEFI itself and much more.
- UEFI is not just a small firmware as BIOS but a tiny operating system itself as it can be saved in a flash memory chip on board can be executed from an external hard drive or from a network storage.
Conclusion
either if it is BIOS or UEFI, if it crashes then it has a recovery option too. or simply restoring the BIOS settings to default can solve many issues. or if you are having a BIOS system and want to upgrade then try consulting IT Professionals for tips.
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