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Can someone explain Windows GPT ( UEFI ) installation?
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Tsumi
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You need your motherboard set for UEFI boot. You need your SSD set as a GPT drive (not MBR), and I don't think this can be done during the installation of Windows, the drive would need to be formatted as GPT previously. I don't think there is any way of converting a MBR drive to GPT either without destroying the data. Installation needs to be done from either a disc or a FAT32 drive with the necessary UEFI files, should be included automatically with Windows 8. You need a GOP-compatible GPU. And you need Windows 8/8.1.
Your sig system should be completely UEFI fast boot compliant. If your SSD is already set up as a GPT drive, and you're running Windows 8/8.1, all you would need to do is go into your bios, set UEFI as your only boot method (no legacy), and enable GOP UEFI Fast Boot (or something termed similar to that). This will by default enable SecureBoot as well, which would be problematic if you dual boot.
Your sig system should be completely UEFI fast boot compliant. If your SSD is already set up as a GPT drive, and you're running Windows 8/8.1, all you would need to do is go into your bios, set UEFI as your only boot method (no legacy), and enable GOP UEFI Fast Boot (or something termed similar to that). This will by default enable SecureBoot as well, which would be problematic if you dual boot.
Tsumi I was hoping you would chime in! I did some reading and saw a video where the guy just installed a brand new drive and set the boot to UEFI CD/DVD and it was fairly automated. I noticed it created 4 partitions instead of the normal 2 I usually see. He said that will tell you right there that its setup for UEFI.
I want to rebuild using a 4790K and M.2... Any advice on a mobo? I am worried about available PCIe lanes since I run a Creative ZXR sound card I want to run as far away from the video card as I can. I am partial to Asus for it's awesome fan control as I am a bit of a Silent PC nut. I do know the AsRock Extreme 6 has full M.2 X4 support meaning I could run the Samsung drives but I don't know how good the AsRock Fan control is and I don't know if I will be gimping my Video card if I use my Sound card in a large PCIe slot to get some space between them. Or maybe Running the Plextor with an Asus Z97 board will be fast enough with UEFI boot. Your advise please!
I want to rebuild using a 4790K and M.2... Any advice on a mobo? I am worried about available PCIe lanes since I run a Creative ZXR sound card I want to run as far away from the video card as I can. I am partial to Asus for it's awesome fan control as I am a bit of a Silent PC nut. I do know the AsRock Extreme 6 has full M.2 X4 support meaning I could run the Samsung drives but I don't know how good the AsRock Fan control is and I don't know if I will be gimping my Video card if I use my Sound card in a large PCIe slot to get some space between them. Or maybe Running the Plextor with an Asus Z97 board will be fast enough with UEFI boot. Your advise please!
bigdogchris
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If you boot to the installation mode in EFI mode and install Windows GPT disk will be selected automatically.
On my Asus board when I press the Boot Menu button I get choice like UEFI: USB or just USB. If you select UEFI and install Windows it will install as GPT.
You do not need to format the drive ahead of time but I would recommend zeroing/secure erasing/diskpart clean the drive just to wipe out MBR.
On my Asus board when I press the Boot Menu button I get choice like UEFI: USB or just USB. If you select UEFI and install Windows it will install as GPT.
You do not need to format the drive ahead of time but I would recommend zeroing/secure erasing/diskpart clean the drive just to wipe out MBR.
Tsumi
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Hmm, not sure about the whole GPT thing. I just did it the safe way and formatted the disk as GPT first.
All Z97 boards should have UEFI boot. Basically, any board with true UEFI should have UEFI boot.
All Z97 boards should have UEFI boot. Basically, any board with true UEFI should have UEFI boot.
SuperSubZero
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If you are in UEFI mode, a clean disk will automatically be GPT-ified. If there is an MBR style partition setup and you don't remove it, Windows won't install. UEFI and GPT have to go together. BIOS and MBR have to go together. There is no swapping parts.
bigdogchris
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That's OK, I am sure for you that it's not necessary to format it ahead of time.
NoxTek
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Yup, if you've got your UEFI Windows installation media setup properly and boot from it in UEFI mode, the installer will automatically create GPT style partition tables. You don't need to create them before hand.
Just to add to the conversation, I am pretty sure that with the default Windows 7 installation media there are some extra steps to get your the installer to boot via UEFI. I seem to remember having to create and copy some boot files around when creating my Windows 7 on-a-stick installer.
I've noticed with Windows 10 (at least on the preview builds sofar) none of that is necessary. It's installer is setup to do UEFI or legacy BIOS booting right out of the box. I'd suppose it's that way with Windows 8 too but I never tried it...
Interested parties might want to check out Rufus which makes creating bootable UEFI installation media (a thumb drive) a snap.
Tsumi
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Yeah, Windows 7 requires extra steps to create a flash drive that's UEFI bootable, but the installation disc doesn't require extra steps. Windows 8 is fine in both UEFI and BIOS.
However, you won't get GOP boot with Windows 7, as GOP boot requires SecureBoot if I recall correctly.
Ok... so I am moving over to an Asus Z97 Pro with Plextor M6e and 4790K... I can install Windows 8.1 from a disk and get UEFI correct? Do I need to make bios settings to ensure UEFI is done or just boot UEFI CD/DVD? I read to enable Hardware Fast boot when a UEFI install is done.
bigdogchris
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Look at page 3-65 of the user manual. Otherwise make sure the boot configuration in the BIOS is in UEFI mode and not legacy. You shouldn't need to change anything from default.
NoxTek
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All you should have to do is boot from your install media in UEFI mode - this is critical - most BIOSes will offer you the option to boot in legacy or UEFI mode for a particular device.
So for instance on my Gigabyte UEFI board when I get ready to install Windows off my handy dandy USB 3.0 thumb drive, I hit F12 at the POST screen to get the boot device selection menu. On that menu my thumb drive is listed twice - once for legacy mode and once with a big fat UEFI behind it. I choose the UEFI boot option. The Windows installer will then boot and do it's install in UEFI aware mode, creating GPT style partitions and setting up my Windows install as a UEFI boot. It should be the same if you're booting directly off the Windows install DVD too (but by god use a thumb drive.... sooooo much faster!)
After the install you may need to go into your UEFI BIOS and set your boot priorities up so that your hard drive (or RAID0 array in my case) is set to boot first in UEFI mode.
SuperSubZero
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As long as the DVD drive can boot in UEFI mode, it will all be GPT.
I have a new Z97M-Plus rig with the m6e, it's nice but for some reason shows constant activity LED. No idea why. It's also supposedly in PCIe mode and Intel RST won't do anything with it.
I have been debating teh Plextor M6e upgrade over my Samsung 850 Pro but not sure if it's worth it or not? Is the UEFI install worth doing over legacy?