Re: How to tell whether a new computer uses EFI or BIOS?
I think you may be somewhat confused. There is nothing to my knowledge
(forgive me if I'm mistaken) that is taking the place of BIOS.
"Mark Conrad" <noneof@urbusiness.invalid> wrote in message
news:noneof-58DC36.11405021062007@news.west.earthlink.net...
>
> Generally the sales staff is clueless,<g>
>
> Is there any easy way to fire up a new computer and determine whether
> the input/output system is the new EFI?
>
> (Extendable File Interface)
>
> ...or just the regular old BIOS?
>
> (Basic Input Output System)
>
>
>
> I need a brand that sports the newer EFI system, do not want to risk
> getting stuck with the older BIOS system.
>
> Sorry for this somewhat technical inquiry.
>
> I am a clueless dummy, myself.
>
> I was told to ask this question here, to avoid buying a computer that
> was not suitable for my needs.
>
> Mark-
Re: How to tell whether a new computer uses EFI or BIOS?
Look up the definition of 'extendable' and do a google search for EFI.
"Mark Conrad" <noneof@urbusiness.invalid> wrote in message
news:noneof-58DC36.11405021062007@news.west.earthlink.net...
>
> Generally the sales staff is clueless,<g>
>
> Is there any easy way to fire up a new computer and determine whether
> the input/output system is the new EFI?
>
> (Extendable File Interface)
>
> ...or just the regular old BIOS?
>
> (Basic Input Output System)
>
>
>
> I need a brand that sports the newer EFI system, do not want to risk
> getting stuck with the older BIOS system.
>
> Sorry for this somewhat technical inquiry.
>
> I am a clueless dummy, myself.
>
> I was told to ask this question here, to avoid buying a computer that
> was not suitable for my needs.
>
> Mark-
Re: How to tell whether a new computer uses EFI or BIOS?
Learn something new every day. Go to www.microsoft.com and search for 'EFI
and Windows Vista'
"Mark Conrad" <noneof@urbusiness.invalid> wrote in message
news:noneof-58DC36.11405021062007@news.west.earthlink.net...
>
> Generally the sales staff is clueless,<g>
>
> Is there any easy way to fire up a new computer and determine whether
> the input/output system is the new EFI?
>
> (Extendable File Interface)
>
> ...or just the regular old BIOS?
>
> (Basic Input Output System)
>
>
>
> I need a brand that sports the newer EFI system, do not want to risk
> getting stuck with the older BIOS system.
>
> Sorry for this somewhat technical inquiry.
>
> I am a clueless dummy, myself.
>
> I was told to ask this question here, to avoid buying a computer that
> was not suitable for my needs.
>
> Mark-
How soon will it replace BIOS, I don't know. Who knows maybe something
else will replacr EFI... From what I have read, IIRC, apparently the
changes in the Vista Boot process were in part made to permit or help
booting EFI devices.
John
Unknown wrote:
> I think you may be somewhat confused. There is nothing to my knowledge
> (forgive me if I'm mistaken) that is taking the place of BIOS.
> "Mark Conrad" <noneof@urbusiness.invalid> wrote in message
> news:noneof-58DC36.11405021062007@news.west.earthlink.net...
>
>>Generally the sales staff is clueless,<g>
>>
>>Is there any easy way to fire up a new computer and determine whether
>>the input/output system is the new EFI?
>>
>>(Extendable File Interface)
>>
>>...or just the regular old BIOS?
>>
>>(Basic Input Output System)
>>
>>
>>
>>I need a brand that sports the newer EFI system, do not want to risk
>>getting stuck with the older BIOS system.
>>
>>Sorry for this somewhat technical inquiry.
>>
>>I am a clueless dummy, myself.
>>
>>I was told to ask this question here, to avoid buying a computer that
>>was not suitable for my needs.
>>
>>Mark-
>
>
>
Re: How to tell whether a new computer uses EFI or BIOS?
Yep! I was wrong. That'll teach me to shut up until I'm sure.
"John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
news:uFGGRgDtHHA.1728@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Oh yes there is:
>
> Extensible Firmware Interface
> http://www.intel.com/technology/efi/
>
> How soon will it replace BIOS, I don't know. Who knows maybe something
> else will replacr EFI... From what I have read, IIRC, apparently the
> changes in the Vista Boot process were in part made to permit or help
> booting EFI devices.
>
> John
>
> Unknown wrote:
>> I think you may be somewhat confused. There is nothing to my knowledge
>> (forgive me if I'm mistaken) that is taking the place of BIOS.
>> "Mark Conrad" <noneof@urbusiness.invalid> wrote in message
>> news:noneof-58DC36.11405021062007@news.west.earthlink.net...
>>
>>>Generally the sales staff is clueless,<g>
>>>
>>>Is there any easy way to fire up a new computer and determine whether
>>>the input/output system is the new EFI?
>>>
>>>(Extendable File Interface)
>>>
>>>...or just the regular old BIOS?
>>>
>>>(Basic Input Output System)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>I need a brand that sports the newer EFI system, do not want to risk
>>>getting stuck with the older BIOS system.
>>>
>>>Sorry for this somewhat technical inquiry.
>>>
>>>I am a clueless dummy, myself.
>>>
>>>I was told to ask this question here, to avoid buying a computer that
>>>was not suitable for my needs.
>>>
>>>Mark-
>>
>>
>>
>
Re: How to tell whether a new computer uses EFI or BIOS?
"Mark Conrad" wrote, in part:
| Generally the sales staff is clueless,<g>
|
| Is there any easy way to fire up a new computer and determine whether
| the input/output system is the new EFI?
|
| (Extendable File Interface)
|
| ...or just the regular old BIOS?
|
| (Basic Input Output System)
_____
"Mark Conrad" <noneof@urbusiness.invalid> wrote in message
news:noneof-58DC36.11405021062007@news.west.earthlink.net...
|
| Generally the sales staff is clueless,<g>
|
| Is there any easy way to fire up a new computer and determine whether
| the input/output system is the new EFI?
|
| (Extendable File Interface)
|
| ...or just the regular old BIOS?
|
| (Basic Input Output System)
|
|
|
| I need a brand that sports the newer EFI system, do not want to risk
| getting stuck with the older BIOS system.
|
| Sorry for this somewhat technical inquiry.
|
| I am a clueless dummy, myself.
|
| I was told to ask this question here, to avoid buying a computer that
| was not suitable for my needs.
|
| Mark-
Re: How to tell whether a new computer uses EFI or BIOS?
Mark Conrad wrote:
> In article <uFGGRgDtHHA.1728@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl>,
> John John <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote:
>
>
>>Extensible Firmware Interface
>
>
> Ah, so that is what EFI stands for. Just shows how clueless I am about
> anything pertaining to EFI.
>
> What little I have read about it when I did Google searches was that it
> is supposed to be the 'Next Great Thing'.
>
> Didn't Microsoft originate EFI about 8 years ago, seems I read that
> somewhere.
>
> Another 'tale' I read somewhere is the the PC hardware manufacturers
> would not tolerate switching their hardware to support EFI.
>
> Yet another tale is that those PC manufacturers would relent "in a few
> years" and support EFI after all.
>
> Wonder how many of these tales one can believe.
>
>
> Supposedly, Apple already runs EFI in their new computers.
>
>
> Oh well, guess I will 'wonder' about something else, this EFI seems to
> be a blind alley as far as PCs are concerned.
>
> Mark-
Like someone else said in another post, find another vendor for your
needs! This is not the kind of thing that you can walk in to a big box
store or a Geeks-R-Us store and expect high school kids with part time
jobs to help you with! Even experienced and knowledgeable computer
sales people have little to no information on this because it is so new
and at this time it is generally only used on expensive high end
multi-processor server boards. Why do you *absolutely* need this?
Yes, the Intel Mac are supposed to have EFI, but that is as much as I
know about EFI and Macs, you would have to ask on a Mac newsgroup for
more help with that. EFI was developed by Intel, not Microsoft, Intel
initially developed it for their Itanium processor. The type of
motherboard that will most likely have EFI will be high end server
boards. If you really want to be sure get an Itanium board, I am 99.99%
sure that these are EFI boards, they can only be booted with EFI and you
will need an Operating System capable of running on Itanium, like
Microsoft's IA64 Server products. The thing (Itanium board) is going to
cost a small fortune.
Other than that you should email Intel and ask them for advice and
recommendations. They do sell high end server boards that use EFI.
Another vendor that would almost certainly be able to advise you would
be HP, their high end server products would probably have something to
suit you. Other than that you can try the high end motherboard
manufacturers like Tyan or Supermicro, they may be able to offer
something that would fit your budget and needs. And when I say "budget"
don't expect "budget" priced boards, even the cheapest of these boards
will be pricey!
As I said earlier, you will need good vendor support to properly select
and use these boards. These are not the kind of products where you can
rely on some guy in a call centre half way around the world to help you
with when things don't work, the problems you are likely to run in will
not be on their scripted answer sheets! You will need to have a close
working relationship with reliable partners for your project to be
successful, you will need to work with support engineers and sales staff
at a higher level than the ones you get when you dial published sales
and support phone numbers.
I found no Core-Duo board documentation that specifically states EFI
compatibility but if the above are, I would think that the newer Core2
boards must also be EFI capable.
However, having an EFI capable board and actually using it is another
matter. Reminds me of computers shiping with USB ports when the newest
Windows was Windows 95A or Windows NT4. More on that later in another
post, when I will attempt to remove my other foot from my mouth and post
my other findings on EFI.
John
John John wrote:
> Mark Conrad wrote:
>
>> In article <uFGGRgDtHHA.1728@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl>,
>> John John <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Extensible Firmware Interface
>>
>>
>>
>> Ah, so that is what EFI stands for. Just shows how clueless I am
>> about anything pertaining to EFI.
>>
>> What little I have read about it when I did Google searches was that
>> it is supposed to be the 'Next Great Thing'.
>>
>> Didn't Microsoft originate EFI about 8 years ago, seems I read that
>> somewhere.
>>
>> Another 'tale' I read somewhere is the the PC hardware manufacturers
>> would not tolerate switching their hardware to support EFI.
>>
>> Yet another tale is that those PC manufacturers would relent "in a few
>> years" and support EFI after all.
>>
>> Wonder how many of these tales one can believe.
>>
>>
>> Supposedly, Apple already runs EFI in their new computers.
>>
>>
>> Oh well, guess I will 'wonder' about something else, this EFI seems to
>> be a blind alley as far as PCs are concerned.
>>
>> Mark-
>
>
> Like someone else said in another post, find another vendor for your
> needs! This is not the kind of thing that you can walk in to a big box
> store or a Geeks-R-Us store and expect high school kids with part time
> jobs to help you with! Even experienced and knowledgeable computer
> sales people have little to no information on this because it is so new
> and at this time it is generally only used on expensive high end
> multi-processor server boards. Why do you *absolutely* need this?
>
> Yes, the Intel Mac are supposed to have EFI, but that is as much as I
> know about EFI and Macs, you would have to ask on a Mac newsgroup for
> more help with that. EFI was developed by Intel, not Microsoft, Intel
> initially developed it for their Itanium processor. The type of
> motherboard that will most likely have EFI will be high end server
> boards. If you really want to be sure get an Itanium board, I am 99.99%
> sure that these are EFI boards, they can only be booted with EFI and you
> will need an Operating System capable of running on Itanium, like
> Microsoft's IA64 Server products. The thing (Itanium board) is going to
> cost a small fortune.
>
> Other than that you should email Intel and ask them for advice and
> recommendations. They do sell high end server boards that use EFI.
> Another vendor that would almost certainly be able to advise you would
> be HP, their high end server products would probably have something to
> suit you. Other than that you can try the high end motherboard
> manufacturers like Tyan or Supermicro, they may be able to offer
> something that would fit your budget and needs. And when I say "budget"
> don't expect "budget" priced boards, even the cheapest of these boards
> will be pricey!
>
> As I said earlier, you will need good vendor support to properly select
> and use these boards. These are not the kind of products where you can
> rely on some guy in a call centre half way around the world to help you
> with when things don't work, the problems you are likely to run in will
> not be on their scripted answer sheets! You will need to have a close
> working relationship with reliable partners for your project to be
> successful, you will need to work with support engineers and sales staff
> at a higher level than the ones you get when you dial published sales
> and support phone numbers.
>
> John
How to tell whether a new computer uses EFI or BIOS? 
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