The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Legacy changing to UEFI Boot?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Grajjie, Sep 8, 2014.

  1. Grajjie

    Grajjie Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    78
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Hey guys,

    I have a Alienware 17 with i7-4700MQ and GTX 780M and I got this around a year ago. It came with windows 7 but about 4 months ago I decided to do a clean install of windows 8.1.

    I was just wondering if I can just switch from legacy to UEFI boot in the bios without doing a fresh install or not. I looked everywhere and I got some conflicting answers.

    Thanks in advance! :)
     
    Grajjie, Sep 8, 2014
    #1
  2. DDDenniZZZ

    DDDenniZZZ Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    810
    Messages:
    1,311
    Likes Received:
    35
    Trophy Points:
    66
    It won't boot if you switch them, it will just go to a black screen i think. You have to do the installation as UEFI or legacy and its effectively stuck then. There are ways around it, but its not worth the hassle if you ask me.

    Best to do a fresh install under UEFI if you really want it. Boot times are marginally quicker but its really whether you can be bothered with fresh/clean install.
     
    DDDenniZZZ, Sep 8, 2014
    #2
  3. Spartan@HIDevolution

    Spartan@HIDevolution Company Representative

    Reputations:
    39,614
    Messages:
    23,562
    Likes Received:
    36,871
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Ditto.........
     
    Spartan@HIDevolution, Sep 8, 2014
    #3
  4. Grajjie

    Grajjie Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    78
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Thanks for the reply. I guess I'll just stick with legacy until I want to do a fresh install.
     
    Grajjie, Sep 8, 2014
    #4
    Ferris23 likes this.
  5. Spartan@HIDevolution

    Spartan@HIDevolution Company Representative

    Reputations:
    39,614
    Messages:
    23,562
    Likes Received:
    36,871
    Trophy Points:
    931
    If you are on Win 7, then I've tried both, legacy or UEFI (legacy ROM enabled) is exactly the same in terms of boot up speed so don't bother

    on Windows 8 then UEFI makes a big speed boost on bootup
     
    Spartan@HIDevolution, Sep 8, 2014
    #5
  6. J.Dre

    J.Dre Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    3,700
    Messages:
    8,323
    Likes Received:
    3,820
    Trophy Points:
    431
    If you come across issues with devices (USB, etc.) then update your system BIOS. :thumbsup:
     
    J.Dre, Sep 8, 2014
    #6
  7. Doctor JO

    Doctor JO Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    103
    Messages:
    153
    Likes Received:
    37
    Trophy Points:
    41
    Nothing happen when you use windows 8, if you disable legacy it will allow you fast windows 8 boot but not allow boot from usb and dvd like windows instalation, if you disable legacy when use w7 it could damage your windows files and system won't boot, but when with w8 disable legacy and activate w8 fast booting it give you nice pic ;)
     
    Doctor JO, Sep 9, 2014
    #7
  8. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

    Reputations:
    3,658
    Messages:
    6,874
    Likes Received:
    969
    Trophy Points:
    281
    This sums it up well.
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, Sep 10, 2014
    #8
  9. Spartan@HIDevolution

    Spartan@HIDevolution Company Representative

    Reputations:
    39,614
    Messages:
    23,562
    Likes Received:
    36,871
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Just installed Windows 7 this time in Legacy Mode vs. how I installed it before which was UEFI + Legacy ROM enabled.....boot time is exactly the same.....
     
    Spartan@HIDevolution, Sep 10, 2014
    #9
  10. Doctor JO

    Doctor JO Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    103
    Messages:
    153
    Likes Received:
    37
    Trophy Points:
    41
    If you install windows 7 in uefi with activated legacy device it's ok, if you install windows 8 and after turn of legacy it's change boot windows logo and you get fast booting :)
    If you install windows 7 in uefi with activated legacy device it's ok, if you install windows 8 and after turn of legacy it's change boot windows logo and you get fast booting :)
     
    Doctor JO, Sep 11, 2014
    #10
  11. mariussx

    mariussx Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    173
    Messages:
    604
    Likes Received:
    190
    Trophy Points:
    56
    You can still boot from USB and DVD with uefi enabled and legacy disabled. You need to disable secure boot though. When secure boot is disabled, fast boot can not be enabled. Windows 8.1 will show secure boot is disabled in the lower right corner, while windows 8 does not show anything.
     
    mariussx, Sep 11, 2014
    #11
  12. Doctor JO

    Doctor JO Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    103
    Messages:
    153
    Likes Received:
    37
    Trophy Points:
    41
    Hmmm, ok I will chek it later...
     
    Doctor JO, Sep 11, 2014
    #12