Competency Based Learning Activity

Sheets

Sector: Electronics

Unit of Competency: Electrical, electronic and control engineering at the

operational level
PIGDAULAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Pigdaulan, Butuan City

Lesson 3:
Flash update BIOS/UEFI
Objectives

After completing this lesson, you should be able to:

1. understand the purpose of BIOS/UEFI Flash Update;
2. identify the procedures in BIOS Flash Update;
3. appreciate the importance of BIOS Flash Update.

PRETEST

Directions: Carefully read the following questions. Choose the letter of the best
answer and write it on your notebook.

1. Serves as a sort mechanism, test and disable your hardware. It also

dictates boot devices, CPU-boosting software, overclock settings, and a
number of other parameters.
A. POST C. BIOS
B. CMOS D. UEFI

2. The most recent version of the BIOS. shares many similar features with
old-school often referred to as legacy BIOS versions.
A. POST C. BIOS
B. CMOS D. UEFI

3. A computer involves deleting the program to load another version of the

same app from a disk. The cycle derives its name from the use of flash
instead of mechanical memory by the BIOS.
A. Deleting B. Flashing C. Booting D. Formatting

4. The following Updates to UEFI BIOS consist of two primary files, which are
those?
A. TXT/EXE file C. TXT/FXE file
B. TXT/SXE file D. TXT/VAT file

5. The best way to find your BIOS edition is by typing into the Windows
search bar to open the Device Details app.
A. msmis B. msinfo C. msflsh D. msexe
RECAP
In the previous lesson, you have learned about Power on Self-test and Basic-
Input-Output-System (BIOS) configuration procedures. You were made aware that
when power is turned on, POST (Power-On Self-Test) is the diagnostic checksequence
performed by a computer's standard input / output mechanism (or "start program")
to decide if the computer keys, random access memory, disk drives, and other
hardware are operating properly. And the key role of a computer's BIOS is to control
the early stages of the initialization process, ensuring the operating system is loaded
into memory correctly. With these, you can perform POST and BIOS configuration.
This lesson is a continuation of the previous topic where you will know how to update
or flash your BIOS/UEFI.

LESSON

Most PC users go without upgrading their BIOS. After all, PC output is also
not influenced by the BIOS update. And why would you do that? There are two words:
continued stability. An outdated BIOS can reduce PC performance, lower PC
reliability, weaken overclock settings, and remain incompatible with some devices.
When faced with problems, most computer users would try everything in the book
without knowing their problems emanating from an outdated BIOS. The general
advice is: you 're good before you start finding problems with hardware reliability.

What Is a UEFI BIOS?

The BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) serves as a sort of mechanism, test
and disable your hardware. It also dictates boot devices, CPU-boosting software,
overclock settings, and several other parameters.
BIOS stands for the basic input and
output system, and the BIOS chip
must configure the other
components on your PC, such as
the CPU, GPU, and motherboard
chipset. Yet a few years back,
motherboard makers, in
collaboration with Microsoft and
Intel, launched a replacement for
standard BIOS chips called UEFI.

Image 1.1 BIOS

The UEFI (United Extensible Firmware Interface) is the most recent version of
the BIOS. UEFI BIOS shares many similar features with old-school — often referred
to as legacy — BIOS versions. The greatest breakthrough of the UEFI BIOS is its
clickable and more open user interface (UI).
UEFI BIOS also offers fantastic additional functionality such as device
debugging, more easy overclocking usability, overclocking profiles, and faster
flashing capability. The emergence of UEFI BIOS versions has made way for large
(2.2 TB) storage structures that would not operate on the legacy BIOS. It also allows
pre-boot environments that can be used when needed to move files, diagnose issues,
and even browse the internet without the need for an operating system (OS).
That version of BIOS depends on the model and the make of the motherboard.
Some older motherboards will not make a UEFI BIOS while new motherboards will.
Nonetheless, the procedure for updating the BIOS is basically the same.
Updates to UEFI BIOS consist of two primary files:
• A TXT file that lists unique changes made to this version of the BIOS.
• The real EXE file for an update to your BIOS. Before downloading, read out
the text address.
You should find you are unable to access the EXE file like a normal executable
program. The file will be flashed, instead of loading it.
Flashing a computer involves deleting the program to load another version of the
same app from a disk. The cycle derives its name from the use of flash instead of
mechanical memory by the BIOS.

How to update/flash your PC BIOS

1. Find the latest version of the BIOS: Make sure that you are downloading a new
version before updating the BIOS. The best way to find your BIOSedition is by typing
msinfo into the Windows search bar to open the Device Details app. Your BIOS
version will appear in the window that opens to the right, under yourprocessor speed.
Type your version number and date, then compare it to the new version available on
the support page of the manufacturer's website on your motherboard.

Image 1.2
msinfo
2. Enter the UEFI BIOS: After booting your PC, you will see text that tells you which
button to press to access the UEFI BIOS. (The exact button needed, and the actual
UEFI control panel configuration of each motherboard varies, so these instructions
would be more guideposts than step-by - step instructions.)

Image 1.3
UEFI/BIOS
mode

3. Boot into the UEFI control panel (where possible): While not all motherboards
provide this feature, you can boot into the UEFI control panel on some models and
use an integrated update tool to connect to the internet and flash the new firmware
from the server of the manufacture. This incredibly pleasant function makes the
upgrading as painless as possible to newer firmware revisions.
4. Find the latest BIOS update from the support page of your motherboard: go
to the support page on the website of the manufacturer for your motherboard. In the
support and downloads area, the new BIOS update should be available.

5. Download and unzip the update file for BIOS.

Image 1.4
unzipping EXE
file

6. Transfer update file onto a USB flash drive.

Image 1.5 EXE

file copying

7. Reboot your PC to the UEFI control panel.

8. Start the firmware upgrade tool or flashing tool of UEFI and back up to your
flash drive the current firmware of your PC: this will protect you if something goes
wrong.

9. Using the same UEFI tool to pick the new firmware file you saved on the
flash drive: running the firmware update tool should take just a few minutes, just
make sure you don't shut down your PC during this phase. This is crucial.

10. Restart your system until the flashing cycle is finished: Your modified
computer BIOS is ready to rock.

Your BIOS upgrade can require several restarts to the BIOS, so wait until the
entire process is complete. Then enter your BIOS again or use the command prompt
form to search your BIOS update. Your recently revised BIOS edition will be available
at the top of the screen.
That is, it! There is a fair amount of stigma around updating the BIOS unless
it's absolutely necessary, but the procedure is really easy, painless, and in the future,
it can eliminate some PC issues.

WRAP-UP

This lesson talked about updating/flashing BIOS/UEFI. Specifically, it

discussed how to flash update BIOS/UEFI, and the proper way to do it. Also, how to
find the version of BIOS/UEFI.

In addition, most of those considerations for BIOS upgrades include:

Hardware upgrades newer changes to the BIOS would allow the motherboard to
accurately recognize new hardware such as processors, RAM, etc. If you have
updated your CPU, and the BIOS does not remember it, the solution could be a BIOS
light. Security upgrades the new BIOS upgrades arrive with security improvements
that help the BIOS survive modification and improve detection of viruses in the boot
sector if the motherboard allows boot sector scanning. And increased stability as
motherboards contains bugs and other problems, the manufacturer must release
BIOS patches to correct and repair those bugs. It will affect directly on data
transmission and retrieval speeds.

Now, as learners, aside from the several points mentioned above. You can use
the blank spaces provided in the next page to answer and react to the following cases
or scenarios:

• Would you be able to make use of this knowledge obtained in this lesson? In
what scenario would it be?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

• What are the challenges you encountered in learning this lesson?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

VALUING

DIRECTION: Read and answer the following questions carefully in two to three
sentences each number.

1. What is the essence of following the correct procedures in updating/flashing

your BIOS/UEFI?

References
• Google.” Update EUFI/BIOS on windows” Accessed July 11, 2020
https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/update-uefi-bios-windows/
• Google.” How to check BIOS version” Accessed July 11, 2020
https://www.howtogeek.com/196916/how-to-check-your-bios-version-and-
update-it/
• Google.” How to update your BIOS” Accessed July 12, 2020
https://www.pcworld.com/article/187437/how-to-update-your-bios.html
• Google.” BIOS” Accessed July 13, 2020
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/what-is-bios-in-computers-how-does-it-
work/
• Google.” UEFI/BIOS mode” Accessed July 13, 2020
https://www.partitionwizard.com/partitionmagic/uefi-vs-bios.html-
• Google.” Importance of updating BIOS” Accessed July 13, 2020
https://bit.ly/32aKSHU
 Competency Based Learning Activity
Sheets

Sector: Electronics

Unit of Competency: Electrical, electronic and control engineering at the

operational level
PIGDAULAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

🅒🅢🅢-➊
Pigdaulan, Butuan City

W4Q3

Lesson 4:

BIOS vs. UEFI

OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson, learners should be able to:
1. differentiate BIOS and UEFI;
2. define and explain BIOS and UEFI;
3. appreciate the importance of BIOS and UEFI.

PRETEST

Directions: Carefully read the following questions. Choose the letter of the best
answer and write it on your notebook.

1. A computer firmware interface that acts as a "middleman" to connect a

firmware of a device to the operating system.
A. POST C. BIOS
B. CMOS D. UEFI

2. It is a non-volatile firmware which ensures that even after the power off,
the settings won't vanish or change.
A. POST C. BIOS
B. CMOS D. UEFI

3. A UEFI feature introduced by Windows 8 and is now standard for Windows

10.
A. Safe boot B. Safe mode C. Booting D. Formatting

4. The BIOS uses to store data about the hard drive.

A. GUID C. GPT
B. MBR D. GUI

5. Intended to replace BIOS completely and put in several new features and
improvements that couldn't be introduced via BIOS.
A. POST C. BIOS
B. CMOS D. UEFI
RECAP
In the previous lesson, you have learned about how to update or flash your
BIOS/UEFI. You were made aware that about the proper procedures of updating
BIOS/UEFI. And an outdated BIOS can reduce PC performance, lower PC reliability,
weaken overclock settings, and remain incompatible with some devices. When faced
with problems, most computer users would try everything in the book without
knowing their problems emanating from an outdated BIOS. The general advice is:
you 're good before you start finding problems with hardware reliability. This module
is a continuation of the previous topic where you will know about the comparison
and difference between BIOS and UEFI.

LESSON

UEFI versus BIOS, which one is better, and which one to use? It's a good topic
for someone who needs to figure out how the basic technology operates, so that they
can personalize their custom computers' nuts and bolts. In short, UEFI is newer,
better and is loaded on most modern computers. Yet stuff isn't as easy as black and
white. Here's a review of the features that UEFI and BIOS offer, and why you may
prefer one over the other.

UEFI is the abbreviation of Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, which is a

computer firmware interface that acts as a "middleman" to connect a firmware of a
device to the operating system. This is used to configure components of the hardware
and to launch the operating system that is stored on the hard disk drive when the
device begins.

Image 1.1 UEFI

BIOS

IOS is short for Basic Input / Output Order, also known as System BIOS, ROM
BIOS, or PC BIOS. It is a firmware installed on the motherboard of the computer
device. BIOS firmware is pre-installed on a PC's mainboard. It is a non-volatile
firmware which ensures that even after the power off, the settings won't vanish or
change.
 Image 1.2 BIOS

UEFI is intended to replace BIOS completely and put in several new features
and improvements that could not be introduced via BIOS. Below are some of those
features discussed.

UEFI vs. BIOS

Compared with BIOS, UEFI has the following advantages:
• UEFI requires consumers to handle drives bigger than 2 TB while the previous
legacy BIOS could not accommodate massive hard drives.
• UEFI supports a GUID Partition Table of more than 4 main partitions.
• Computers using UEFI hardware have a speedier boot cycle than the BIOS.
Different modifications and improvements within UEFI will help you boot the
device faster than ever.
• UEFI encourages stable initialization, which ensures it is easy to test the
integrity of the operating system and ensure no malware tampers with the
startup process.
• UEFI provides networking feature inside the UEFI firmware itself, which
allows remote troubleshooting and UEFI setup.
• UEFI has a better graphical user interface, and the configuration menus are
much richer than the old BIOS.

You can note after reading the above, that UEFI has a number of advantages over
BIOS. And because of these advantages UEFI is considered a counterpart to BIOS.
But not all computer or devices support UEFI. The hardware on your disk will
support UEFI for use with UEFI firmware. Additionally, the system disk will be a GPT
drive. If not, the technical partition magic helps you to transform MBR disk to GPT
disk. In this way, you can successfully boot your machine in UEFI mode.

Breaking free of size limits

The BIOS uses the Master Boot Record (MBR) to store data about the hard
drive while the GUID partition table (GPT) is used by UEFI. The major difference
between the two is that in its table, MBR uses 32-bit entries which restrict the total
physical partitions to only 4. That partition can only have a maximum size of 2 TB
because GPT uses 64-bit entries in its table which significantly expands the support
for the hard drive's size possibilities.
 Furthermore, UEFI supports bigger HDDs and SDDs. The potential size limit
of UEFI for bootable drives is more than nine zettabytes, while BIOS can only
boot.
2.2 terabytes or less from drives.

Speed and Performance

As UEFI is separate from the processor, it may be able to increase the
computer's boot time and speed. This is particularly the case when you have built
huge hard drives on your computer. This enhancement would rely on how you setup
UEFI to work. UEFI can do well when the hardware lessons are initialized. This pace
boost is usually a percentage of the actual boot time and you will not see a big
improvement in average boot time. Developers can take advantage of UEFI shell
environment that can execute command from other UEFI apps to further improve
device performance.

Security
Safe boot is a UEFI feature introduced by Windows 8 and is now standard for
Windows 10. UEFI 's greater advantage is its protection over BIOS. UEFI can only
allow the loading of authentic drivers and services at boot time, ensuring that no
malware can be loaded at computer startup. Microsoft has introduced this feature in
Windows to address piracy problems, though Mac has been using UEFI for quite
some time now. Secure Boot operates by having a cryptographic boot loader
authentication that will allow the Kernel to sign digitally. This cycle continues until
complete initialization of the operating system. This safe boot feature is also one
reason why it is difficult.

Why Choose UEFI?

One reason to choose this over the more familiar BIOS is because Intel will no
longer support the "traditional" BIOS by 2020. UEFI delivers the following
functionalities and benefits:

• Languages: BIOS is written in assembler while UEFI is written in simplified C

language.
• Drives: UEFI supports smaller HDDs and narrower SDDs. The potential size
limit of UEFI for bootable drives is more than nine zettabytes, while BIOS can
only boot 2.2 terabytes or less from drives.
• Drivers: UEFI has complex and separate drivers while BIOS has ROM (read-
only memory) drivers. For BIOS, hardware upgrades allow the ROMs to be re-
tuned for reliability. This standard refers to UEFI drivers which are
individually written and upgradable.
• Boot time: UEFI provides the operating system with a faster boot time in most
situations.
• Protection: UEFI allows for improved security functionality. "Free Boot" does
not require the machine to boot from encrypted or unauthorized applications.
A visible key must be in the OS. A PC is vulnerable to malware corrupting the
startup process, without Secure Boot enabled.
• Data processors: UEFI runs in either 32-bit or 64-bit mode. BIOS only
operates in 16-bit mode and can only use 1 MD of executable.
 • GUI: UEFI offers a more intuitive graphical user interface which, unlike BIOS,
you can access with a mouse and keyboard.

Why Choose BIOS?

Some explanations why a user may pick Legacy BIOS rather than UEFI
include:

• BIOS is best because you don't need to have precise control of how the
computer functions.
• If you only have small drives or partitions, BIOS is sufficient too. Although
several newer hard drives surpass the 2-terabyte limit of the BIOS, not every
user wants that amount of space.
• The "Safe Boot" functionality of UEFI could allow OEM manufacturers to
prohibit users from running other operating systems on their hardware. If you
stick to BIOS, you are going to side-step this issue.
• BIOS provides access to the interface's hardware information, though not
every UEFI implementation does. Hardware specifications are nevertheless
available inside the OS.

ACTIVITIES
I. Direction: Using the table below, cite the pros and cons features of UEFI
and BIOS.

UEFI BIOS
Pros Cons Pros Cons

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.
 II. Direction: Write down in the Venn Diagram the differences of UEFI and
BIOS. Give at least 5 each.

UEFI BIOS

WRAP-UP

BIOS and UEFI are two computer firmware interfaces which act as an
interpreter between the operating system and the firmware. Both interfaces are used
to configure the hardware components at device initialization and to launch the
operating system that is stored on the hard drive.
Either UEFI and BIOS are low-level software that operates by booting the PC
before booting the operating system, but UEFI is a more advanced option that allows
bigger hard drives, quicker boot times, additional protection options and luckily
display and mouse cursors.
Nowadays UEFI is gradually replacing the traditional BIOS on most modern
PCs because it includes more security features than the legacy BIOS mode and also
boots faster than legacy systems. Unless your machine supports UEFI firmware, you
can use UEFI boot instead of BIOS to convert the MBR drive to GPT disk. When you
boot from a network that only supports BIOS, though, you'll need to boot to the
legacy BIOS mode.

VALUING
DIRECTION: Read the following questions carefully. State your answer in two to
three sentences each number on the space provided.

1. What will you choose between BIOS and UEFI? Why?

 2. How will you use the knowledge you acquired about BIOS/UEFI?

3. Cite a situation in which you can apply the knowledge of understanding

BIOS/UEFI?

POSTTEST
Direction: Write T on the line if the statement is correct and F if the statement is
wrong.
1. The UEFI is intended to replace BIOS completely and put in several new
features and improvements that couldn't be introduced via BIOS.

2. BIOS firmware is pre-installed on a PC's mainboard. It is a non-volatile

firmware which ensures that even after the power off, the settings won't vanish or
change.
3. The UEFI requires consumers to handle drives bigger than 4 TB while the
previous legacy BIOS could not accommodate massive hard drives.
 4. BIOS encourages stable initialization, which ensures it is easy to test the
integrity of the operating system and ensure no malware tampers with the startup
process.

5. UEFI has a better graphical user interface, and the configuration menus are
much richer than the old BIOS.

6. The BIOS uses the Master Boot Record (MBR) to store data about the hard drive
while the GUID partition table (GPT) is used by UEFI.

7. The potential size limit of BIOS for bootable drives is more than nine zettabytes.

8. As UEFI is separate from the processor, it may be able to increase the

computer's boot time and speed.

9. The UEFI allows for improved security functionality. "Free Boot" does not
require the machine to boot from encrypted or unauthorized applications.

10. UEFI allows for improved security functionality. "Free Boot" does not require
the machine to boot from encrypted or unauthorized applications.

References
• Google.” UEFI vs. BIOS” Accessed July 14, 2020
https://www.partitionwizard.com/partitionmagic/uefi-vs-bios.html

• Google.” Difference between UEFI and BIOS” Accessed July 14, 2020
https://www.maketecheasier.com/differences-between-uefi-and-bios/

• Google. “What is UEFI, and how is it different from BIOS?” Accessed July 15,
2020
https://bit.ly/3ewVaEF

• Google.” UEFI BIOS” Accessed July 16, 2020

https://www.servethehome.com/updated-asus-uefi-bios-generation/

• Google.” BIOS” Accessed July 16, 2020

https://windowsreport.com/pc-wont-exit-bios/