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.

    Alienware and secure boot

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by ali_ale, Oct 27, 2012.

  1. ali_ale

    ali_ale Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    was wondering if anybody has figured out how to use secure boot( uefi ) with windows 8. I tried switching to secure boot after installing windows laptop wont boot up and I am using A09 bios on my m14x r2
     
    ali_ale, Oct 27, 2012
    #1
  2. LinkRS

    LinkRS Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    56
    Messages:
    295
    Likes Received:
    22
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Hi Ali_ale,

    I am not 100% certain at this point, but I believe that you need to have secure boot enabled before installing Windows 8. It might even be necessary to do a clean install to enable it. I plan on upgrading my M17X R4 within the next few days, and will post back if I find anything to add. :-(

    Rich S.

    Hi Ali_ale,

    Update: I just upgraded my laptop to Win 8, and I too was unable to enable Secure Boot, even before upgrading. The option is grayed out in my BIOS, so I couldn't enable it. I'm going to play around with a few things and will post back if I get something new.
     
    LinkRS, Oct 27, 2012
    #2
  3. ali_ale

    ali_ale Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Thanks for the update LinkRS, I was able to enable secure boot but then the windows doesn't boot up. Secure boot seems faster than legacy and also I prefer the secure boot alienware logo.
     
    ali_ale, Oct 27, 2012
    #3
  4. Heihachi88

    Heihachi88 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    124
    Messages:
    1,148
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    56
    How did you activated it?
     
    Heihachi88, Oct 28, 2012
    #4
  5. LinkRS

    LinkRS Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    56
    Messages:
    295
    Likes Received:
    22
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Hi Heihachi88,

    If you set "Boot List" to UEFI, and then disable "Legacy Option ROMs", you will be able to enable Secure Boot (as well as expose some Windows 8 settings). However, if you are using Intel SRT (like I am), disabling the option ROM prevents the computer from booting. You would have to stop using SRT, and add the disks to the UEFI Boot List (might happen automatically after a boot, I'm not sure). It is presumed that Secure Boot would then work, but I am not sure if you have to do a fresh install of Windows 8 to enable it.

    Rich S.
     
    LinkRS, Oct 28, 2012
    #5
  6. Prasad

    Prasad NBR Reviewer 1337 NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    1,804
    Messages:
    4,956
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    106
    Thanks.. good read! A few questions:

    1. If I have no SSD, with Intel RST installed, is Intel SRT in use?
    2. What Windows 8 settings getting exposed are you talking about?
    3. I've already got a Windows 8 install running with UEFI.. Would disabling Legacy Option ROM present any benefits at all?
     
    Prasad, Oct 29, 2012
    #6
  7. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist®

    Reputations:
    37,250
    Messages:
    39,346
    Likes Received:
    70,717
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Question: Why would you want to enable it? What benefit are you expecting from it? I am intentionally avoiding that because I don't want it.
     
    Mr. Fox, Oct 29, 2012
    #7
  8. ratchetnclank

    ratchetnclank Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,084
    Messages:
    1,506
    Likes Received:
    900
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Nothing but switching to UEFI gives a faster boot time.
     
    ratchetnclank, Oct 29, 2012
    #8
  9. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist®

    Reputations:
    37,250
    Messages:
    39,346
    Likes Received:
    70,717
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Hmm... seems like a lot of calories being burned up if that's the only benefit to be realized. :confused: With an SSD boot time is not an issue anyway. With a HDD having a faster boot time would be a good thing, but it will still be slow after booting.
     
    Mr. Fox, Oct 29, 2012
    #9
  10. pianoforte

    pianoforte Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    80
    Messages:
    75
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15

    Tried that Fast boot, very impressed with the start up time(9 seconds from the instant the power button was pressed off a cold boot).
     
    pianoforte, Nov 1, 2012
    #10
  11. Heihachi88

    Heihachi88 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    124
    Messages:
    1,148
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    56
    I have about the same boot time with my SSD's without secure boot option.. wonder if it would more faster with secure boot on :D
     
    Heihachi88, Nov 5, 2012
    #11
  12. abec

    abec Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I just finish installing w8 on m14x-r2.
    I wonder if this is correct setting for booting ?

    071120122185.jpg
     
    abec, Nov 7, 2012
    #12
  13. DDDenniZZZ

    DDDenniZZZ Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    810
    Messages:
    1,311
    Likes Received:
    35
    Trophy Points:
    66
    I have the m17x r4 but the options are the same. You can enable secure boot though as well.
     
    DDDenniZZZ, Nov 12, 2012
    #13