📎 AI Summary:
The thread discusses Saltgrass’s experiments with Windows 8 Secure Boot features, noting that enabling Secure Boot prevents Windows 7 from booting on his machine due to BIOS and hardware limitations, particularly with non-UEFI compatible devices like certain graphics cards. He highlights that the Compatibility Support Module (CSM) can help bridge this gap for older devices. Later, he notes that EVGA has released a UEFI-compatible BIOS update for the 660 Ti graphics card, which could improve Secure Boot compatibility for such hardware. The overall sentiment is informational, focusing on troubleshooting and hardware compatibility related to Secure Boot.

Saltgrass

Excellent Member
Microsoft Community Contributor
Joined
Oct 16, 2009
Messages
15,153
Thread Author #1
I have been playing around with the Secure Boot feature to see if I could tell what properties it might show. Currently, to enable the full Secure Boot feature, I have to use the on board graphics, since my Graphics card does not have a UEFI Op Rom.

So far, I know Windows 7 will not boot on my machine when the Windows 8 Secure Boot bios settings are enabled, which means disabling the CSM (Compatibility Support Module). When the Windows 8 Secure Boot is on and I try to Boot Windows 7, I am returned to the Bios with a notification that some settings have been reset for compatibility. Windows 7 boots fine after that.

Because many systems will have devices that will not meet the Windows 8 standards, like Graphic Cards, the secure boot may really only be fully available on new systems.

But the CSM seems to be a way to bridge the gap by ignoring certain non-UEFI Op Rom devices during boot. Msinfo32.exe shows Secure Boot ON with the module enabled and certain options being set. I am thinking that would stop Root Kits, but have not found anything to confirm that it would.

I suppose I need to go find a really bad Root Kit somewhere to test !! :devilish:
 

Solution
There is now information that EVGA has a UEFI compatible bios available for a 660 Ti. There may be other cards also, I saw where there were some folks asking for an update and it had been promised.

Saltgrass

Excellent Member
Microsoft Community Contributor
Joined
Oct 16, 2009
Messages
15,153
Thread Author #2
There is now information that EVGA has a UEFI compatible bios available for a 660 Ti. There may be other cards also, I saw where there were some folks asking for an update and it had been promised.
 

Solution