Recent content by flroots

Thanks. I'm not interested in dual boot. My goal is to have two Acronis image backups: one for Windows 8 and one for Windows 7 with the HDD partitioned in UEFI/GPT mode. I have that now, but I do need to switch the BIOS mode from UEFI secure boot to UEFI insecure boot when switching from Windows...

Thanks. I think the reason you can't have secure boot of Windows 7 with my computer is that it came with windows 8 and therefore has the signature of that OS only. I would like someone to confirm that to be sure I understand it properly. Pete

Thanks. As explained everything related to boot order and selection of boot devices can be changed without entering any password ie, totally insecure. So far, I've received no explanation why they would choose to remove this level of security. Pete

Thanks. I have set the admin password and that prevents me from changing certain parameters without entering the password. On the other hand, I can change the boot order, change from UEFI to Legacy and back, etc all without entering the password. The BIOS on my old Dell Inspiron would prevent...

I have just succeeded in installing both Windows 7 and 8 to UEFI/GPT partitions. They are separate installs backed up with Acronis ie, not dual boot. The trick was making sure that the OS DVD was booted while the BIOS was set to UEFI mode. I don't believe it will work if you boot the DVDs in...

Thanks. I've now managed to do a clean install of both Windows 7 and 8 to UEFI/GPT partitions on my new Dell Inspiron 15R-5520 laptop. I've confirmed that the new UEFI BIOS is very insecure. One can simply press F12 during boot up and change boot order to any of the following without having to...

Thanks. I wasn't suggesting that the BIOS changed because of Windows 8. It changed because this new technology called UEFI has been incorporated into it. As mentioned, it seems to have lost the security features of the BIOS on my last Dell Inspiron. I was wondering why they removed what I...

I just received my new Dell Inspiron 15R-5520 64 bit laptop running Windows 8. It came with a new BIOS that supports both UEFI and Legacy. Compared to the BIOS on my old Dell Inspiron laptop it seems very insecure. I'm referring to access to the boot order. In my old BIOS I could set a password...

Thank Saltgrass and patcooke. I finally succeeded in installing Window 8 to my MBR partitioned HDD. I did it by typing <shift-F10> at the 'Install Now' screen. I entered the following: The last or perhaps the last two commands were not accepted. I then continued with the install and it worked...

I just received a new Dell Inspiron 15R-5520 64 bit laptop. I also ordered and received from Dell the Windows 8 OS DVD along with a Drivers DVD. I also own a valid Windows 7 OS with product key. I use Acronis True Image 2013 to backup and restore images of the OS. I wish to partition my HDD...

My situation is that I will soon have two laptops: my existing 32 bit laptop running Windows 7 and a newly purchased, soon to arrive 64 bit laptop running (standard) Windows 8. I am thinking of purchasing the $39.99 promotion for Windows 8 Pro before it expires next month. It would be nice to do...

Thanks. I have read the same, but wonder if there's a link (possibly from MS) that verifies it. For convenience sake, I would like to purchase and download the ISO file on my 32 bit laptop running Windows 7 and then use the resulting DVD to clean install Windows 8 Pro to my new Windows 8 laptop...

I might like to upgrade the Windows 8 my new laptop comes with to Windows 8 Pro using the $39.99 promotion. I can purchase and download the ISO file to my current Windows 7 (32 bit) computer. My question is whether the resulting ISO file is for 32 bit only or is it both 32 and 64 bit? Ideally...

Yes, very true. This did happen to me once. I kept getting messages that my license was not genuine. I finally had to call MS to fix. Thanks Saltgrass and Medicted60 for your feedback. I'm satisfied that I can revert back to Windows 7 without problems if the need arises. Based upon what I've...

Thanks. I've used Acronis True Image for years, but simply restoring from an Acronis backup does not keep you activated if Microsoft has invalidated it as part of the upgrade process. I believe that on the occasion of each Windows Update Microsoft verifies your license. Great tutorial. Thanks...