Should I change BIOS Mode to UEFI?

Megahertz · 27 Feb 2021

Don't use Rufus.
Make it using MCT

Megahertz · 27 Feb 2021

flexmcmurphy said:

I am getting a bit confused here because I have Dell BIOS A04 which is supposedly the latest BIOS version (June 23, 2020) but in the Windows 10 "System Information" screen and in the HWiNFO tool it says the date of that BIOS firmware is Aug 13, 2012?
There are other Dell BIOS firmware versions, I guess I could try the A14 version which is dated Nov 20th, 2018. But I'm not sure if that is an older or a newer firmware than A04?

It is a big mess
Opening the A04 archive, latest file (QCL01EC6.fd) was created in August 13, 2012
It seems that A14 version is a newer firmware than A04.
Opening the A14 archive, latest file (QCL01A14.fd) was created in May 17, 2018

Berton · 27 Feb 2021

Some comments: I don't dual-boot, have rehabbed a Desktop and 2 Notebooks to run Linux Mint. My first step in getting acquainted with Linux is to download the .iso to create the Bootable LiveDVD, save it to drive then run File Explorer or a program to burn the .iso to a DVD-R or DVD+R disc. Boot to that disc and use USB Image Writer to create a bootable USB drive using that .iso file as the Source, required 4GB but 8GB better. The main purpose is to check the computer's hardware for usability such as Network connections to assure a dual-boot install would be successful. The latest Linux Mint 20.x has been very good in seeing and installing my Ethernet-connected Networked printers plus the 2 NAS drives also Ethernet connected, the latest Ubuntu should also do it. One of the Notebooks has only a 32GB SSD that can't be changed and wouldn't Upgrade a couple versions back of Win10 due to known space limitations.

AddRAM · 27 Feb 2021

flexmcmurphy said:

This is great information thank you very much.

"Check if BIOS is UEFI capable"
I downloaded the HWiNFO tool and it showed that my BIOS is UEFI capable.

"Update your BIOS to the latest available"
I am getting a bit confused here because I have Dell BIOS A04 which is supposedly the latest BIOS version (June 23, 2020) but in the Windows 10 "System Information" screen and in the HWiNFO tool it says the date of that BIOS firmware is Aug 13, 2012?
There are other Dell BIOS firmware versions, I guess I could try the A14 version which is dated Nov 20th, 2018. But I'm not sure if that is an older or a newer firmware than A04?

"See if you there is a option to boot a Win 10 installation drive in UEFI."
I guess the USB installation drive will need to be created (in something like Rufus) such that it supports UEFI in the first place? I think when I clean installed Win 10 recently I made a setting in Rufus to create USB installation media with Legacy Mode BIOS which, I guess, is why my system is now using Legacy BIOS.

Cheers,

The only way to confirm what Bios you have is to be in the Bios, you can not go by or trust any piece of software once you are in windows.

If you bought the PC (made around 2012) and never flashed the Bios, then it`s still has the original Bios.

zbook · 28 Feb 2021

Find a smartphone camera to take pictures and post images into this thread.

Open the BIOS and view the menu settings.

Look for this BIOS menu options:
Legacy
UEFI native (without CSM)
UEFI hybrid (with CSM)

The most up to date BIOS firmware is A04:
https://www.dell.com/support/home/en...on-15r-se-7520

These are older BIOS versions:

Code:

VERSION	RELEASE DATE	IMPORTANCE
A14	20 Nov 2018	Urgent
A13	02 Apr 2018	Urgent
A11	12 Mar 2014	Optional
A10	16 Jul 2013	Recommended
A09	02 Jan 2013	Recommended
A07	23 Oct 2012	Recommended

This tutorial is on dual boot:
Dual Boot Windows 10 with Windows 7 or Windows 8

Code:

UEFI benefits
Firmware that meets the UEFI 2.3.1 specifications provides the following benefits:

Ability to support Windows 10 security features like Secure Boot, Microsoft Defender Credential Guard,
 and Microsoft Defender Exploit Guard. 
All require UEFI firmware.
Faster boot and resume times.
Ability to more easily support large hard drives (more than 2 terabytes) and drives with more than four partitions.
Support for multicast deployment, which allows PC manufacturers to broadcast a PC image that can be received by
 multiple PCs without overwhelming the network or image server.
Support for UEFI firmware drivers, applications, and option ROMs.

A GPT drive may have up to 128 partitions.

flexmcmurphy · 28 Feb 2021

@zbook

Thanks for those useful links however I thought @Megahertz established that A04 is not the most recent firmware. There is also a post over at dell.com community forums suggesting the same.

I also mentioned previously that I have MBR on my Win 10 installation currently and I'm not seeing any mention of UEFI in my BIOS screens and that is probably because I installed Windows 10 from USB installation media I created with Rufus in which I asked it to install as Legacy BIOS rather than UEFI.

Also I was asking about dual booting Windows 10 with Ubuntu not another version of Windows.

zbook · 28 Feb 2021

When available please post images of the BIOS boot menu options.

AddRAM · 28 Feb 2021

Go to dell.com, look up your PC and find the latest Bios, it will tell the date of when it was made, and if there is a new bios. There has probably been maybe 3 or 4 since your PC was built. Entering your Service Tag Number is the most efficient way to look up your PC`s data.

https://downloads.dell.com/manuals/a...uide_en-us.pdf

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en...e-7520/drivers