What the heck is EFI?

[Ash Ish]

I bought a new computer yesterday: specs. are: Core i7 4770
Z87- D3HP motherboard
8Gb ram.
Zotac gtx 760 AMP 2 GB
Some computer guy installed windows 7 professional edition.
So i had a Windows 7 Ultimate CD with both 32 & 64 bit versions. When i tried to installed W7 ultimate (its not a bootable CD, installation was tried within window7 professional) a msg comes saying "This 32 bit of Windows cannot be installed to an EFI- based computer. Installation cannot proceed. Use a 64 bit version of Windows to install to an EFI- based computer"
What does this msg means and is there any problem in win7 professional edition when it comes to gaming or doing 3D rendring work.

 

[Hawkeye22]

(U)EFI has replaced the traditional BIOS on new motherboards.

Here is the wiki on UEFI.

 

[Ash Ish]

Sir you are saying that UEFI has repalced traditional Bios on motherboard...what does it mean, is it a matter of concern, what should i do now

 

[Ash Ish]

Also i have a 2TB hard disk!

 

[Ash Ish]

Please help me...its important

 

[crisan_tiberiu]

Dont panic UEFI = New "Bios", you dont have to do anything.

 

[Ash Ish]

So is there going to be any problem while installing windows or something that i need to pay attention on?

 

[Tom Tancredi]

Okay basic Computer 101: BIOS was the way the computer asked, when powered up, What is here? And each component would shout out what was 'powered on', for example I am a keyboard, I am a sound card, etc. BIOS then would collect this information and say OKAY Where is the Operating System, here OS this is what is on the computer. So now the OS (Windows, Linux, DOS, etc.) would know 'what' it could use/talk to.

BIOS was the longest part of the computer 'boot' process, so a 'software' solution was developed called UEFI, that just talks the components to the OS direction and leaves it to the OS to deal with it. The problem for 'Windows' is no version before 7 SP1 can support UEFI, it doesn't have the code to understand it and Microsoft will NOT do any such 'fixes' to unsupported OSes.

As " a matter of concern", it be as much to worry about as much as the technical specifications on how the Power Plug was made and meets both IEEE and UIL standards.

 

[Ash Ish]

By the way i didn't gave any command for any UEFI to takeover any bios!!?
I'm really freaking out because its my first i7 baby and i don't want any complications. 🙁

 

[Ash Ish]

Sir Tom that was helpful i just need to ask one more thing. Does UEFI creates any problem in installing any softwares or any game titles

 

[fricklesmn]

Hello,

(U)EFI will not cause any problems with programs or games, as Windows controls that. Basically UEFI is just the motherboards operating system, but it passes control to Windows as soon as it boots the OS

 

[Tom Tancredi]

UEFI has NOTHING to do with installing, it is built into the Motherboards, it is required and needed. It again isn't a 'SOFTWARE' your installing, so no it has nothing to do with software or game titles.

 

[Hawkeye22]

It will not effect your programs or games.