To UEFI or not to UEFI?  [Solved]

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Sparky
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To UEFI or not to UEFI?  [Solved]

#1 Post by Sparky »

Will I gain anything If I install MX in UEFI mode as opposed to legacy?
I'm now running it in legacy mode, but not sure If I'm missing something. I'll also be doing quite a few other installs of MX soon, so I'd be nice to know in advance.
Last edited by Sparky on Sat Mar 23, 2019 1:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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j2mcgreg
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Re: To UEFI or not to UEFI?

#2 Post by j2mcgreg »

No. Think of it this way: You and your neighbour live in identical condos, however your neighbour installed a robust security front door that made it much harder to move in his furniture.
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fehlix
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Re: To UEFI or not to UEFI?

#3 Post by fehlix »

Sparky wrote: Sat Mar 23, 2019 12:39 pm Will I gain anything If I install MX in UEFI mode as opposed to legacy?
I'm now running it in legacy mode, but not sure If I'm missing something. I'll also be doing quite a few other installs of MX soon, so I'd be nice to know in advance.
One differentiating factor, might be UEFI seems to require a GPT-partition layout. Which means if
you have setup the hd/ssd with a MBR (msdos) partition-table scheme, you are bound to legacy (BIOS) installes.
UEFI is more modern but sometime also more problematic. BIOS(legacy) seems to be simpler,
but also fairly limited, esp. regarding limitation of the MBR (msdos) partition-table.
So as a starter it might look like it is easier to start with BIOS(legacy).
But with some help I would probably recommend to stay with UEFI installes.
Note further: I do often install on GPT-partition UEFI and enable the same linux install also
to boot within BIOS-legacy mode. Because you can have MX Linux install to boot in either of both mode,
as GRUB is flexible enough to have enabled both boot-modes.
HTH
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Re: To UEFI or not to UEFI?

#4 Post by Sparky »

So in the long run UEFI is the better option?
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Re: To UEFI or not to UEFI?

#5 Post by fehlix »

Sparky wrote: Sat Mar 23, 2019 1:07 pm So in the long run UEFI is the better option?
Short answer: yes.
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Re: To UEFI or not to UEFI?

#6 Post by Sparky »

Thanks!
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Re: To UEFI or not to UEFI?

#7 Post by Head_on_a_Stick »

fehlix wrote: Sat Mar 23, 2019 1:01 pm UEFI seems to require a GPT-partition layout
Actually the UEFI specification does include the ability to boot in UEFI mode from an msdos partition table:

https://uefi.org/sites/default/files/re ... pt%206.pdf

^ See section 5.2.1 Legacy Master Boot Record.

However this is dependent on UEFI firmware support and the vast majority of UEFI implementations are buggy and flawed so you are probably correct in practical terms.

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fehlix
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Re: To UEFI or not to UEFI?

#8 Post by fehlix »

Head_on_a_Stick wrote: Sat Mar 23, 2019 2:49 pm Actually the UEFI specification does include the ability to boot in UEFI mode from an msdos partition table:
Yes. Problay you already booted froma USB-stick with MSDOS partition scheme.
Head_on_a_Stick wrote: Sat Mar 23, 2019 2:49 pm However this is dependent on UEFI firmware support and the vast majority of UEFI implementations are buggy and flawed so you are probably correct in practical terms.
That's the point, manufactures are free to implement and how to implement, so rather go with what works with their firmware. The major advantage of GPT is, it does not limit to 4 primary partitions, can handel bigger as ~3GB sized drives and grub can also boot within legacy mode from GPT. DOS-partition do only allow one bootloader for the BIOS to boot into, this what sometimes called the "controlling grub" boot loader. With GPT drives you do not have such limitations.
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Re: [SOLVED] To UEFI or not to UEFI?

#9 Post by Eadwine Rose »

So.. when I look for a new motherboard (building a computer) and it says it's a UEFI mobo, I don't have to do anything special to have the liveusb or system boot? I always create a root, home, and swap partition on the HDD prior to installing.
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JayM
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Re: [SOLVED] To UEFI or not to UEFI?

#10 Post by JayM »

Eadwine Rose wrote: Sun Mar 24, 2019 5:14 am So.. when I look for a new motherboard (building a computer) and it says it's a UEFI mobo, I don't have to do anything special to have the liveusb or system boot? I always create a root, home, and swap partition on the HDD prior to installing.
Sacrificial goats and dribbly black candles will be a help. At the very least, a rubber chicken to wave over your computer while muttering occult-sounding gibberish when attempting an installation. (I'm not a huge fan of UEFI as you can probably guess.)
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