PC shows two entries when booting from USB to install Windows 11

Discussion in 'Windows 11' started by Windows 10 User, Aug 29, 2023.

  1. Windows 10 User

    Windows 10 User MDL Guru

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    I still don't understand if my MSI BIOS is called UEFI or BIOS. When choosing the "UEFI Firmware Settings" Windows 11 setting in "Advanced options", my PC boots in what is called "BIOS" and not "UEFI". I thought "UEFI" was the sucessor of "BIOS", not the same thing. Anyway, since this PC is recent, why is it still called "BIOS" and not "UEFI"?
     
  2. Flipp3r

    Flipp3r MDL Guru

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  3. Flipp3r

    Flipp3r MDL Guru

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    Modern PC is UEFI, Legacy is BIOS. Most still call it a bios for simplicity...
     
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  4. Windows 10 User

    Windows 10 User MDL Guru

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    #24 Windows 10 User, Sep 1, 2023
    Last edited: Sep 1, 2023
    (OP)
    So, does that mean in my case the UEFI firmware already includes a NTFS driver? If so, why?
     
  5. acer-5100

    acer-5100 MDL Guru

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    It's a brand new PC from this year according to OP, it's unlikely that it doesn't understand the ntfs fs.

    Aside the academical question, this doesn't change by a comma, the answer to his question.

    The boot environment, has two entries because one is for UEFI mode and the other is for MBR mode, the first one it's because the pen-drive is recognized as bootable in UEFI mode.

    If it's because the EFI folder is seen inside a fat32 partition or a NTFS one, is irrelevant.
     
  6. Windows 10 User

    Windows 10 User MDL Guru

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    But I chose the GPT Rufus setting, not the MBR one.
     
  7. acer-5100

    acer-5100 MDL Guru

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    I already explained that.

    In UEFI mode a media is bootable if the EFI folder (and its content) is found.
    In MBR mode the device can be selected just because is plugged, no matter if it's really bootable or not. They are two completely different ways to manage the problem.

    The UEFI is actually a mini OS, it checks the filesystem.
    The BIOS knows nothing about the filesystem. It just tries to boot from a specific sector of the HDD which in turn points to the MBR which, in turn points to the PBR which in turn,points to the bootloader file. That file (for windows it's ntldr for NT3/4/5, bootmgr for NT 6.xx/10) may be there or not.

    If the MBR or the PBR or the bootloader or its configuration file(s) are missing/corrupted your PC don't boot and you see an error. But that isn't a BIOS business.
     
  8. Flipp3r

    Flipp3r MDL Guru

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    MSI UEFI includes an NTFS driver because their USB backup software creates a single NTFS partition on the USB key. No 4GB limit in file size and bootable for recovery.
    When you boot a key setup with Rufus, Rufus detects the NTFS driver is there and does not load it's own...
     
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  9. acer-5100

    acer-5100 MDL Guru

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    It's not rufus in charge its the UEFI.

    Obviously if you have a single partition formatted as NTFS rufus can't load anything unless the UEFI is able to access that partition by itself.

    On the other hand if the pendrive is formatted with a fat partition is not relevant what happens next.
     
  10. Flipp3r

    Flipp3r MDL Guru

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  11. acer-5100

    acer-5100 MDL Guru

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  12. Tito

    Tito Super Mod / Adviser
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    @acer-5100

    The laptop is question belongs to the MSI Katana 15 B12V series, as mentioned by @Windows 10 User. For a modern UEFI Class 3 consumer device like it, the firmware doesn't allow booting from any legacy MBR media at all.

    @Flipp3r's explanation is adequate in this case, which can be further verified by dissecting the MSI firmware. The second entry has nothing to do with MBR-styled booting for this particular PC, period.
     
  13. acer-5100

    acer-5100 MDL Guru

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    Which is what I told him since the beginning
    But the OP told it was still available.

    I reply with my guesses, then with the informations that are provided to me, I can't do anything if I get the wrong infos, when specifically asked.

    So, please read the whole thread instead of just a couple of messages at the end of it.
     
  14. Windows 10 User

    Windows 10 User MDL Guru

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    This is very confusing...