UEFI vs BIOS: What's the Difference? Convert BIOS to UEFI Without Data Loss - EaseUS

Timestamps:

00:00 UEFI vs BIOS: what's the difference
00:28 What is BIOS
01:18 What is UEFI
02:14 What's the difference between UEFI vs BIOS
03:01 How to interconvert MBR and GPT
04:19 How to set UEFI or BIOS boot mode

What is BIOS?

BIOS stands for Basic Input/Output System. It is stored on an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), allowing the manufacturer to push out updates easily. The BIOS must run in 16-bit processor mode and has 1 MB of space to execute it.

The BIOS goes through a POST (Power-On Self Test) to check if your hardware configuration is ready for normal work, and after that, the BIOS looks for a Master Boot Record (MBR) to launch the bootloader to eventually launch Windows. It's how the MBR works that constraints the BIOS cannot recognize the hard drives larger than 2TB.

You can access BIOS during the initial phases of the boot procedure by pressing del, F2, or F10.

What is UEFI?

UEFI stands for Unified Extensible Firmware Interface. It does the same job as a BIOS, but with one basic difference: it stores all data about initialization and startup in a .efi file, instead of storing it on the firmware. This .efi file is stored on a special partition called EFI System Partition (ESP) on the hard disk. UEFI has a graphic and slicker interface, supports over 2 TB hard drives.

When you deploy Windows to a UEFI-based device, you must format the hard drive that includes the Windows partition by using a GUID partition table (GPT) file system.

What's the Difference Between UEFI and BIOS, Which is better?

UEFI supports drive sizes up to 9 zettabytes, whereas BIOS only supports 2.2 terabytes.
UEFI provides faster boot time.
UEFI has discrete driver support, while BIOS has drive support stored in its ROM, so updating BIOS firmware is a bit difficult.
UEFI offers security like "Secure Boot", which prevents the computer from booting from unauthorized/unsigned applications.
UEFI runs in 32bit or 64bit mode, whereas BIOS runs in 16bit mode. So UEFI is able to provide a GUI (navigation with the mouse) as opposed to BIOS which allows navigation only using the keyboard.

How to Interconvert MBR and GPT

You can interconvert MBR and GPT with EaseUS Partition Master without data loss.

Step 1. Download and launch EaseUS Partition Master on your Windows computer.
Step 2. Right-click the MBR disk that you want to convert and choose "Convert to GPT" or "Convert to MBR".
Step 3. After that, find and click the "Execute 1 Operation" button on the toolbar and choose "Apply" to start the conversion.

How to Set UEFI or Legacy BIOS Boot Mode

Step 1. Restart PC and press F2, F8, F12, Del to enter the BIOS boot menu.
Step 2. From the BIOS Main Menu screen, select Boot.
Step 3. From the Boot screen, select UEFI/BIOS Boot Mode, and press Enter.
Step 4. Save the changes and exit BIOS, reboot the PC from the GPT disk.

#BIOSvsUEFI #UEFIvsLegacy #LegacytoUEFI

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[ericowen]

Hey Chris, UEFI is Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, not Unidentified Extensible Firmware Interface, as you stated in the video at 1:23.

[AmmarDeeper]

mine does not show the option to convert it

[spearsg]

Actually, BIOS boot is a little faster than UEFI on my system. I know the whole internet says UEFI is faster.

[qlxrmqq]

At the current time there are no drives that are even close to 1 Zettabyte and if there was 99% of the population could not afford it and Bios Legacy is more reliable than UEFI and 95% of the population does not have over 2 terabytes on a single hard drive.