Hi, I red all posts, but I can't understand a thing: I know that Windows can not complete the installation process on the GPT partition, but it can completely run on the GPT partition once it is installed. My motherboard has the modes "Only Uefi", "CSM" and "Only Legacy". Now, I would install Linux onto the same disk, but in UEFI mode. If I switch in my BIos setup to "Only UEFI" mode, the present Windows will boot, after that I will convert MBR to GPT? In practice, the problem of the vga drivers during the installation is also valid at every Windows boot, or is it related only during the installation of Win7 on "Only UEFI" mode? TIA
Windows 7 originally can be installed on GPT. Don't know why you decided otherwise. Just start installation disc/USB stick in UEFI mode. If your motherboard/BIOS has CSM module then you probably don't need messing around with VGA videodrivers and ACPI workaround at all.
When you have CSM/legacy boot options available, then there is not even a need for installing in EFI/GPT format at all. Or you are planning on using more then 4 primary partitions on the drive, when not, Legacy BIOS/MBR will be the best option. Select only legacy and install in legacy bios/mbr mode.
Yes, I would have more than 4 partitions and I would have Linux on Uefi too. I could convert my current Win7 installation to GPT and then change the bios to "Pure UEFI". But if do it, will not use Vga drives anymore, correct? Maybe I will have to use only the last part of this guide. I mean this: and skip the first steps because I have already a Win7 system installed. I know, I have a lot of ideas and a lot of confusion
Why are you so focused on pure efi when you have CSM available, then you can install win 7 x64 in UEFI/GPT mode and won't have problems with any hardware (if supported on 7). But activation on UEFI can be a problem, 7 Pro and Enterprise can be KMS activated, the others need either a valid slic (for daz loader to be able to work or manually installing the oem:slp and certificate) or a valid activation key. nvm, probably for dual booting win/linux.
Ah, so you already have an installed Windows 7 at CSM mode which you don't want to get rid of? So find some instructions on how transfer working system from CSM mode to UEFI mode (which also require entire disk to be reformatted from MBR to GPT, but you can do it without data loss with, Acronis programs for example). But your activation will probably wear off after that and you will need to redo it. Will be no problem if it's true license, else will work only with Pro and Enterprise. And don't worry about any VGA-related stuff, for you it will work fine as it is .
But in CSM mode could I install Linux in UEFI/GPT too? I felt like a I read that for arch/manjaro is better to disable CSM to boot in Uefi mode. Yes, it is exactly what I would do. The activation is not a problem: I use the good Rearm Wizard project (perpetual rearm, here at MDL forum ). But if I can install either Win7 and Manjaro (Arch) Linux without disable CSM (as Enthousiast replied me), I will not need to switch to Pure Uefi.
@manatails Normally under UEFI Class 3 with the graphics card's ROM GOP memory C0000 address is empty and if use UefiSeven loader then at C0000 is fake VESA UefiSeven: Spoiler Code: 000C0000 56 45 53 41 00 03 22 00 00 C0 01 00 00 00 2C 00 VESA..".......,. 000C0010 00 C0 30 00 00 00 30 00 00 C0 3A 00 00 C0 47 00 ..0...0...:...G. 000C0020 00 C0 55 65 66 69 53 65 76 65 6E 00 F1 00 FF FF ..UefiSeven..... 000C0030 55 65 66 69 53 65 76 65 6E 00 45 6D 75 6C 61 74 UefiSeven.Emulat 000C0040 65 64 20 56 47 41 00 4F 56 4D 46 20 49 6E 74 31 ed VGA.OVMF Int1 000C0050 30 68 20 28 66 61 6B 65 29 00 90 90 90 90 90 90 0h (fake)....... 000C0060 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 ................ Could you please make a UefiSeven version that always insert fake VESA at memory C0000? I would like to test it in UEFI + CSM mode when at this address is the ROM Legacy of the video card.
Yeah! I tested it on a computer ASUS P8H61-M LE R2 + PCIe AMD HD7450 (ROM legacy+GOP) with WinXP SP2 64-bit UEFI and legacy - works as it should and forces in C0000 UefiSeven in UEFI+CSM mode Start mode and contents C0000: legacy bios mode without UefiSeven MBR + boot.ini + NTLDR - legacy ROM AMD UEFI + CSM + UefiSeven normal - legacy ROM AMD UEFI + CSM + UefiSeven forced - forced fake VESA UEFI pure class 3 (CSM disabled) + UefiSeven normal - fake VESA I have a request to add cosmetic changes to messages displayed in verbose mode and in memory under C0000, adding the word "force" or "forced" or something else that distinguishes the forced version from the normal version e.g.: Spoiler Code: Offset 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F ---- ASC II ---- 000C0000 56 45 53 41 00 03 22 00 00 C0 01 00 00 00 2C 00 VESA..".......,. 000C0010 00 C0 30 00 00 00 30 00 00 C0 3A 00 00 C0 47 00 ..0...0...:...G. 000C0020 00 C0 55 65 66 69 53 65 76 65 6E 00 F1 00 FF FF ..UefiSeven..... 000C0030 55 65 66 69 53 65 76 65 6E 00 45 6D 75 6C 61 74 UefiSeven.Emulat 000C0040 65 64 20 56 47 41 00 4F 56 4D 46 20 49 6E 74 31 ed VGA.OVMF Int1 000C0050 30 68 20 28 66 61 6B 65 29 00 90 90 90 90 90 90 0h (fake forced) 000C0060 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 ................ 000C0070 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 90 ................ Code: UefiMain UefiSeven 1.23 forced UefiMain You are running in verbose mode, press Enter to continue Initialize Found a GOP display adapter
I'm glad it worked for you, I will update the main branch to make it configurable. But could you explain why you wanted to use fakevesa over real legacy ROM?
I thought that thanks to this I will boot WinXP SP2 64-bit on ThinkPad X220 under UEFI with CSM. This laptop has probably an incomplete (incorrect) UEFI bios - it is impossible to disable CSM, there is no Secure Boot or Fast Boot options.