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Guide on BIOS vs UEFI

Importance:
Both BIOS and UEFI govern the startup process of the computer. Understanding the differences between BIOS and UEFI is crucial, especially in the field of IT support, system administration and computer-related exams. However, BIOS is getting more outdated, and UEFI is the current standard.

What is BIOS and UEFI?
BIOS (Basic Input Output System) and UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) are firmware interfaces that initiate the hardware of your computer during the booting process before the operating system takes over.

How it works:
BIOS looks for the MBR to find the boot sector to start loading the operating system, while UEFI uses the GPT which can support disks larger than 2TB, and has a faster booting time.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on BIOS vs UEFI

  • Understand how BIOS and UEFI work differently during the startup process.
  • Remember that BIOS uses MBR, while UEFI uses GPT.
  • Always keep in mind that UEFI is the newer system and supports booting from disks larger than 2TB, a capability not supported by BIOS.
  • If the question involves systems with large disks (more than 2 TB), the answer likely relates to UEFI.
  • If there's a question about older systems, BIOS might be the correct answer.

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BIOS vs UEFI practice test

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is an older firmware interface that initializes the computer hardware and enables the operating system to start. UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is a more recent firmware interface that was developed to address the limitations of BIOS. UEFI supports larger hard drives, faster boot times, better security features, and is capable of running on multiple platforms. The key differences between BIOS and UEFI include the graphical interface, support for GPT partition schemes, increased security options, and hardware compatibility. BIOS utilizes an MBR partition table, while UEFI uses GPT partitioning, allowing for a greater number of partitions and larger hard drive size. UEFI also offers Secure Boot, a feature that can help protect the boot process from malicious software and unauthorized access.

Time: 5 minutes   Questions: 5

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