In this article, the editor of Downcodes will give you an in-depth understanding of the two firmware interface types when the computer starts: Legacy and UEFI. They differ significantly in boot operating systems, compatibility, security features, hardware support, and performance. Understanding these differences can help you better choose the appropriate startup mode, optimize computer performance and improve security. This article will explain in detail the working principles, advantages and disadvantages of Legacy and UEFI modes, and their impact on the installation and operation of the operating system, along with FAQs to help you better understand and apply these two modes.
Legacy and UEFI are two types of firmware interfaces on computers that are responsible for loading the operating system when the computer boots. Legacy Mode usually refers to the traditional BIOS compatibility mode, while UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is a modern replacement for BIOS that provides higher security, faster boot times, and support for larger storage devices. In Legacy mode, the system starts using the MBR (Master Boot Record) partition table, while in UEFI mode, the GPT (GUID Partition Table) partition table is generally used.
Legacy mode has better compatibility, so it has better support for old systems and some environments with special needs. In contrast, UEFI mode has a more powerful pre-boot environment, supports larger capacity hard drives (more than 2TB), and introduces security mechanisms at startup, such as Secure Boot, which can prevent the intrusion of malware during the startup process. . It is currently recommended that new systems and hardware use UEFI mode to take full advantage of its benefits.
The startup process of Legacy BIOS mode is relatively old. During the system boot process, it requires hardware devices to provide interrupt handling and device drivers, which is too old in modern computing.
In UEFI mode, the startup process has been modernized and improved. UEFI firmware provides a standardized operating system boot method at startup, which not only includes the functions of traditional BIOS, but also adds some new features to make the system startup faster and more efficient. Safety. Compared with Legacy, UEFI provides a more friendly user interface. Users can select the boot sequence and other settings through the graphical interface, which is easier to use for ordinary users.
In terms of compatibility, although Legacy BIOS can still run on new hardware, some new features and performance optimizations can only be fully utilized when UEFI mode is activated. For example, new versions of Windows and Linux operating systems can better support UEFI, which means that if you use Legacy BIOS mode, you may not be able to enjoy some of the latest features and improvements of the operating system.
Security is an important consideration in today's computing environment. UEFI can provide some security-enhancing features, and Secure Boot is one of them. It can check the signature of the boot loader before the operating system is loaded, ensuring that only a trusted operating system that has not been tampered with can be booted.
Another security feature is the firmware update mechanism in UEFI. Compared with Legacy BIOS, UEFI supports firmware updates while the system is running, without requiring additional tools or entering a special firmware update mode. This brings great convenience to system maintenance and reduces security risks caused by firmware issues.
Legacy BIOS does not support booting from disks larger than 2TB due to limitations of the MBR partition table it uses. Today, as the amount of data continues to grow, the 2TB limit may cause users to encounter difficulties in storage management.
The GPT partition table supported by UEFI abandons these restrictions, allowing users to use large-capacity hard drives and create up to 128 partitions on one hard drive. In addition to space advantages, GPT also has better data integrity and failure recovery characteristics.
In terms of performance, UEFI firmware can usually achieve faster system startup and running speeds than Legacy BIOS. They are more efficient in initial hardware detection and can support features such as Fast Boot, reducing boot waits. time. This is especially important for high-end users who pursue extreme performance.
At the operating system installation level, different modes also have different requirements. Many modern operating systems, such as Windows 8 and later, are optimized for UEFI to better manage hardware resources and leverage their pre-boot networking capabilities for remote troubleshooting and service.
However, if you need to install some older operating systems, or in some specially configured environments, it may be more appropriate to use Legacy BIOS mode, because they may not provide sufficient support for UEFI, or encounter compatibility issues during the UEFI boot process. Sexual issues.
All in all, although Legacy BIOS still exists, UEFI mode has become a future development trend, and it has obvious advantages in security, hardware support, performance and other aspects. Especially for new systems and hardware, enabling UEFI mode will undoubtedly bring a better user experience.
1. Why should you select Legacy mode or UEFI mode in BIOS settings?
Select Legacy mode or UEFI mode for compatibility with your computer hardware and operating system. Legacy mode is an old boot mode suitable for computers using the traditional MBR (Master Boot Record) partition table and BIOS (Basic Input/Output System). The UEFI mode is a new boot mode that supports the use of GPT (GUID Partition Table) partition table and a new generation of BIOS.
2. What are the main differences between Legacy mode and UEFI mode?
Legacy mode uses the traditional BIOS to load the boot program, while UEFI mode uses a new generation of UEFI firmware to load the boot program. UEFI mode supports larger hard drive capacity and faster boot speed. In addition, UEFI mode also provides more security features such as Secure Boot to protect the computer from malware attacks.
3. How to choose the BOOT MODE mode that suits you?
To choose the BOOT MODE mode that suits you, you need to consider the following factors: computer hardware, operating system and personal needs. If the computer is a newer model and is based on UEFI firmware, selecting UEFI mode may be more appropriate. If the computer is an older model and is based on a legacy BIOS, using Legacy mode may be more appropriate. Also, if you are using Windows 8 or higher operating system, UEFI mode may be a better choice. Most importantly, make sure the selected mode is compatible with your hardware and software to ensure stability and performance.
I hope this explanation by the editor of Downcodes can help you better understand Legacy and UEFI modes and choose the startup mode that best suits your computer. If you have any questions, please leave a message in the comment area.