BIOS and UEFI

Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)

Tip

---

As the UEFI system sits on top of the old BIOS system, UEFI can be disabled or even removed completely to run in Legacy Mode, meaning that the BIOS has taken back over.

UEFI was introduced with Windows 8 as a replacement / upgrade to the BIOS system. One example of this upgrade is that it allows for computers to use hard-disks larger than 2 Terabytes (2,000 Gigabytes). Unfortunately, UEFI was also secretly manipulated by Microsoft in tandem with certain hardware manufacturers to prevent - or at least make it very difficult - to replace or dual boot Windows 8 with another operating system.

• Some basics of MBR v/s GPT and BIOS v/s UEFI

Explains the differences.

• UEFI Installation Guide

Guide to install Manjaro on newer UEFI systems

Basic Input / Output System (BIOS)

Tip

---

Some unpleasant hardware manufacturers have configured the BIOS to automatically disable the screen backlight if Windows has been removed, resulting in a dim screen. A guide has been provided to reactivate the backlight.

The GRUB is used to manage and boot up linux operating systems on computers that use the BIOS system. These are typically older computers or those that did not come with Windows 8 pre-installed. It is worthwhile noting that the UEFI can be disabled on many systems to run using the BIOS instead; this is known as running in Legacy Mode. Computers sold prior to the release and pre-installation of Windows 8 - which introduced UEFI - will therefore use the BIOS.

• Fix the Dim Screen Problem

A BIOS-related problem: how dare you remove Windows!

• Enable your Computer to use Virtual Machines

Enable virtualisation in your BIOS settings.

• Restore the GRUB Bootloader

What to do if something goes wrong...