Windows 7 UEFI install

[Chris MacDonald]

Hey folks,

 

I am building my new PC and the motherboard is UEFI capable (looks so much nicer than the old BIOS) and I am aware that windows 8 is an EFI install, and that windows 7 is capable of it; though after much trying I still couldn't get it to work.

 

My question I suppose is; does UEFI make a difference once you're actually in windows? Presumably doing a UEFI install over the standard one simply changes the front end of the installer so that it looks a little bit more sexy, and maybe adds some additional driver support, but ultimately it installs the same O/S as a standard install?

 

I've done lots of research on UEFI but all of the articles I've read seem to be focused on the motherboard/BIOS side of things, not the O/S.

 

I've been told it will make my boot times better, and everything faster to load, etc. Is this really true? I find it hard to believe that it changes the install that much.

[Zdravko Barisic]

Hi,

You do not really need to strugle with all that stuff, UEFI is needed only if you wish to install Win 7/8 on 3GB HDD, which should be MBR HDD, etc..

If you have common SSD+HDD, you are free of instaling UEFI way, but if your system HDD is 3GB HDD, than you should go with UEFI.

In other words, no use of UEFI. It is jsut way of installing procedure, nothing more, nothing less.

[RyderSK]

I have no idea what Zdravko wanted to say..

 

Anyway. "UEFI capable" is buzzword, it doesn't mean you get to choose between age-old BIOS and new UEFI format in most cases (I have yet to see someone who would want to to overwrite it, in some cases you get dual-bios, which is also just two versions of UEFI, not UEFI and Bios).

 

It provides easy interface (the one from Asus is simply amazing to use), faster boot times and is less-prone to some problems.

 

It doesn't interfere with neither Windows install (apart from telling it to boot from USB in case it isn't setup by default, which is not often but happens) or Windows during runtime. The new graphical install of Windows is part of Windows itself, not UEFI. Also the speed is mostly dependant from SSD Drive, it's not speeded up much by UEFI, although probably is, to some extent.

[Chris MacDonald]

Thanks guys, just as I thought then. I suppose it pays to do a little research & ask questions, I wasted so much time trying to get the EFI installer in windows 7 to work yesterday!

[RyderSK]

What "EFI installer" do you refer to ? There is no such thing I know of, there is no connection between UEFI and installing OS/creating partitions. You simply create bootable USB , insert it and install from there. If it won't boot directly to install, then you go to UEFI and select the USB as bootable drive and repeat. There is not much science to figure out.

[Chris MacDonald]

http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=209045

[RyderSK]

I see what you meant by your original post now. I didn't however experienced this with my old P8P67 Asus board when installing Win7 from USB so I presume this was rather faulty early UEFI of that board.

 

I think you're unnecessary confusing it, just create a bootable USB and if you encounter problem then go from there.

[paneli]

You simply can't install Windows on a HDD who is larger then 2.2TB.

To do that the HDD must be converted to GPT.

 

Also, GPT is more recommended with SSDs. In order to install in GPT, turn off legacy in you bios (leave it as EFI only) and make sure drives are set as AHCI, not IDE.

 

When plugging in the USB drive with the OS it will appear in two options:

 

1. The USB drive name.

2. The USB drive name with [EFI]

 

Chose what is right for you.