DOS computer boot up - the next generation

[GoFlyKiteNow]

The computer boot up - the next generation

Wave goodbye to BIOS and say hello to UEFI

Those frustrating boot-up moments while we wait an absolute age for our computers to load up are set to get somewhat shorter with the impending retirement of system BIOS. Despite now being a very old technology and relatively stuck in its ways, the BIOS is still found in many modern machines. Instead of taking around 25 - 30 seconds before giving the all-clear for an operating system to start, a new kid on the block is well on its way to offering instant-on.

It's not quite there yet, but the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) is getting closer.

The system boot upgrade comes in the form of UEFI, which is currently up to version 2.3 and is said to break the ties of being based on the specifications and design of old technology.

The Forum overseeing its development includes eleven industry leaders and says it "will provide a clean interface between operating systems and platform firmware at boot time."

UEFI started life as an Intel specification but has now changed into a general standard that offers similar boot and runtime services as the BIOS, but has the advantage of not being specifically tied to any processor architecture. It also has a different approach to dealing with the process of identifying and activating hardware prior to handing over to the OS.

For example, instead of telling the operating system that there's a mouse attached to a specific port, UEFI simply recognizes that somewhere in the machine there's a device that behaves like a mouse.

The future-proof standard is already being used in some devices, with 2011 being earmarked as the tipping point for machine domination. More information on UEFI is available from the Forum's website.

 

[singveld]

next generation??

apple have that since they move to intel processor.


their boot time and shutdown put pc notebook to shame.
during their powerpc time, they are as slow if not slower, but it is now years ahead of windows.

 

[Kunoichi]

New computers will ‘boot up in seconds’


New computers will ‘boot up in seconds’

Wave goodbye to BIOS, say hello to UEFI, a new technology that will drastically reduce start-up times.

By Claudine Beaumont, Technology Editor
Published: 10:01AM BST 04 Oct 2010

The next generation of computers will boot up in seconds as old BIOS technology makes way for the new UEFI standard Photo: ALAMY

The next generation of home computers will be able to boot up in just a few seconds, as 25-year-old BIOS technology makes way for new start-up software known as UEFI. BIOS technology, which has been used to boot up computers since 1979, was never designed to last as long as it has, and is one of the reasons modern computers take so long to get up and running.

By contrast, UEFI – which stands for Unified Extensible Firmware Interface – has been built to meet modern computing needs, and will soon be the pre-eminent technology in many new computers, enabling them to go from ‘off’ to ‘on’ in seconds. “At the moment, it can be 25- to 30 seconds of boot time before you see the first bit of OS sign-on,” Mark Doran, head of the UEFI Forum, told the BBC.

“With UEFI, we’re getting it down to a handful of seconds. “It’s not quite instant-on, but it is already a lot better than conventional BIOS can manage.” BIOS technology has barely changed since the early days of mass computing, and the system struggles to cope with modern computing evolutions, such as USB-connected keyboards or flash drives.

UEFI is a more adaptable system, that can cope with keyboards and peripherals being connected to different ports, and which could also be used to support the next-generation of touch-screens and natural gesture interfaces. Experts expect UEFI to start gaining a significant foothold in the computing market from as early as next year.

Many consumer electronics companies are working hard to reduce the boot times of their machines, a factor that is particularly important with mobile devices and tablet computers. Google’s forthcoming Chrome OS has a rumoured boot time of just a few seconds.

 

[Jah_rastafar_I]

Re: New computers will ‘boot up in seconds’

New computers will ‘boot up in seconds’

Wave goodbye to BIOS, say hello to UEFI, a new technology that will drastically reduce start-up times.

By Claudine Beaumont, Technology Editor
Published: 10:01AM BST 04 Oct 2010

The next generation of computers will boot up in seconds as old BIOS technology makes way for the new UEFI standard Photo: ALAMY

The next generation of home computers will be able to boot up in just a few seconds, as 25-year-old BIOS technology makes way for new start-up software known as UEFI. BIOS technology, which has been used to boot up computers since 1979, was never designed to last as long as it has, and is one of the reasons modern computers take so long to get up and running.

By contrast, UEFI – which stands for Unified Extensible Firmware Interface – has been built to meet modern computing needs, and will soon be the pre-eminent technology in many new computers, enabling them to go from ‘off’ to ‘on’ in seconds. “At the moment, it can be 25- to 30 seconds of boot time before you see the first bit of OS sign-on,” Mark Doran, head of the UEFI Forum, told the BBC.

“With UEFI, we’re getting it down to a handful of seconds. “It’s not quite instant-on, but it is already a lot better than conventional BIOS can manage.” BIOS technology has barely changed since the early days of mass computing, and the system struggles to cope with modern computing evolutions, such as USB-connected keyboards or flash drives.

UEFI is a more adaptable system, that can cope with keyboards and peripherals being connected to different ports, and which could also be used to support the next-generation of touch-screens and natural gesture interfaces. Experts expect UEFI to start gaining a significant foothold in the computing market from as early as next year.

Many consumer electronics companies are working hard to reduce the boot times of their machines, a factor that is particularly important with mobile devices and tablet computers. Google’s forthcoming Chrome OS has a rumoured boot time of just a few seconds.

Few seconds?

I'm really waiting with baited breath.

Currently the only way to boot up quickly is to use a high speed hdd like a raptor or SSD along with tweaking your OS to make up uneccessary programs load.

I really wonder when this few seconds boot up will finally take place. Few seconds is very fast and if it took 10 seconds which is also pretty fast it's already too slow since i doubt 10 can be counted as a few.

 

[Char_Azn]

next generation??

apple have that since they move to intel processor.


their boot time and shutdown put pc notebook to shame.
during their powerpc time, they are as slow if not slower, but it is now years ahead of windows.

The problem doesn't really have much to do with Windows/Microsoft. Windows is an OS and only comes into play after the initial BIOS start up which means the problem is the adoption of new technology by Hardware manufacturers.

There isn't a problem with Mac for this case coz Apple themselves a hardware manufacturer.

 

[Ash007]

The problem doesn't really have much to do with Windows/Microsoft. Windows is an OS and only comes into play after the initial BIOS start up which means the problem is the adoption of new technology by Hardware manufacturers.

There isn't a problem with Mac for this case coz Apple themselves a hardware manufacturer.

EFI has been around since Itanium was out, around 2000. Its used to address several problems that can't be solve with just BIOS. Macs has been using EFI for a very long time now. At least since 2008 when I got my 1st MBP. Was surprised when an update mentioned EFI in its descriptions. Apple are not just a hardware manufacturer. Cpu, motherboard, are Intel based now since 2008 as well. Its more like they control the full computing stack. From hardware to OS, they are probably the last old school computer makers. When Windows/Microsoft came about this changed, all other manufacturer switched to using it in their system or died. I view this akin to "outsourcing", having FTs, instead of developing your own system. Like most memes in this forum, FTs maybe well and boast revenues, population for a while, but is detrimental in the long term. Most other manufacturer just can't be bothered switching to EFI given that there are no push from Microsoft, or no inherent benefit. Most consumers at that time have learned to put up with BIOS boot time.

 

[Alamaking]

Next time I sit down, my comp auto on already, cox i put it to sleep, talk cock

 

[neddy]

Most consumers at that time have learned to put up with BIOS boot time.

to browse the web, i just use the smartphone ... save me 5 minutes starting up my PC.

If pc still have the 1990s limitations like using hi-memory and that department threading craps that reduce the number crunching speed (sorry if I spell wrong, my it knowledge is rusty)

it will be extinct soon

 

[singveld]

The problem doesn't really have much to do with Windows/Microsoft. Windows is an OS and only comes into play after the initial BIOS start up which means the problem is the adoption of new technology by Hardware manufacturers.
.

Sorry but this UEFI is being push by none other than yours truly Microsoft.

 

[Ash007]

Sorry but this UEFI is being push by none other than yours truly Microsoft.

EFI has been pushed by Intel since 2000, Apple was the only computer company that adopted it, same with USB. I would say, Apple is the one that started it rather then Microsoft. As usual, they are either too late, or not prepared enough. Look at the concept of tablet. Microsoft started it like 5 years ago, but did not went anywhere. Look at the Ipad now.

 

[Char_Azn]

I view this akin to "outsourcing", having FTs, instead of developing your own system. Like most memes in this forum, FTs maybe well and boast revenues, population for a while, but is detrimental in the long term. Most other manufacturer just can't be bothered switching to EFI given that there are no push from Microsoft, or no inherent benefit. Most consumers at that time have learned to put up with BIOS boot time.

It is easy for a single company to switch over to whatever they want to coz they virtually control the entire aspect of their product. I'll use an example of dictator vs democracy since U used FTs

In a dictatorship like Apple where they control everything, they can shift their capital city, change the law/constitution or hell even the name of the country(think Myanmar) as and when they like becoz they have full control of everything.

In a democracy, you will need to respect the opinions of everyone and not able to make much needed changes becoz there are pple opposing the change

The same could be said of Apple and MS. Apple controls all aspects of their own hardware. True they do get chips from Intel and other manufacturers but ultimately those are just parts, they are the ones who put the entire parts together and decide what to use to start up the hardware portion before the Mac OS kicks in

Microsoft on the other hand is a software developer/publisher can try to use their market dominance to influence the hardware manufacturers using their products but ultimately it its up to pple like HP/IBM/Dell who decides whether to adopt it or not

Better products don't always get adopted and if someone switch to another technology it takes some years to catch up. A good example would be USB and Firewire

On another note about the dictatorship vs democracy, Apple likes to sue everyone that piss them off while MS is normally the one getting sued

 

[Char_Azn]

EFI has been pushed by Intel since 2000, Apple was the only computer company that adopted it, same with USB. I would say, Apple is the one that started it rather then Microsoft. As usual, they are either too late, or not prepared enough. Look at the concept of tablet. Microsoft started it like 5 years ago, but did not went anywhere. Look at the Ipad now.

BTW

The Itanium versions of Windows 2000 (Advanced Server Limited Edition and Datacenter Server Limited Edition) supported EFI 1.10 in 2002. Windows Server 2003 for IA-64, Windows XP 64-bit Edition, and Windows 2000 Advanced Server Limited Edition, all of which are for the Intel Itanium family of processors, support EFI, a requirement of the platform through the DIG64 specification.

Apple adopted it in 2003


And as I was saying

Microsoft introduced UEFI support for x64 Windows operating systems with Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista Service Pack 1. Microsoft does not offer support for 32-bit UEFI since vendors did not have any interest in producing native 32-bit UEFI firmware because of the mainstream status of 64-bit computing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extensible_Firmware_Interface#Operating_systems

Pple need to get this into their heads. This issue is a hardware issue which affects companies like HP, IBM, Dell, Acer etc more then it affects MS. Dun freaking blame MS for all things PC, do some research first. If the hardware manufacturers wants a switch, its a simple case of MS patching Windows to support it. See image below, Windows or Mac OS or Linux only loads at the very last step.

 

[Jah_rastafar_I]

to browse the web, i just use the smartphone ... save me 5 minutes starting up my PC.

If pc still have the 1990s limitations like using hi-memory and that department threading craps that reduce the number crunching speed (sorry if I spell wrong, my it knowledge is rusty)

it will be extinct soon

Wow your pc takes 5 mins to boot up?

That's seriously slow you might want to check to see if you have unneccessary start up programs or not.


It should be less than 2 mins at the most.

 

[Ash007]

It is easy for a single company to switch over to whatever they want to coz they virtually control the entire aspect of their product. I'll use an example of dictator vs democracy since U used FTs

In a dictatorship like Apple where they control everything, they can shift their capital city, change the law/constitution or hell even the name of the country(think Myanmar) as and when they like becoz they have full control of everything.

In a democracy, you will need to respect the opinions of everyone and not able to make much needed changes becoz there are pple opposing the change

The same could be said of Apple and MS. Apple controls all aspects of their own hardware. True they do get chips from Intel and other manufacturers but ultimately those are just parts, they are the ones who put the entire parts together and decide what to use to start up the hardware portion before the Mac OS kicks in

Microsoft on the other hand is a software developer/publisher can try to use their market dominance to influence the hardware manufacturers using their products but ultimately it its up to pple like HP/IBM/Dell who decides whether to adopt it or not

Better products don't always get adopted and if someone switch to another technology it takes some years to catch up. A good example would be USB and Firewire

On another note about the dictatorship vs democracy, Apple likes to sue everyone that piss them off while MS is normally the one getting sued

The point I wanted to make in the previous post was more about the products per Se rather then on the individual company. Sorry, if its misunderstood. I do not agree that companies can be viewed as "democratic" or not. All of them are a dictatorship. The real democracy comes with the consumers. SJ has said multiple times, if you don't like his products don't buy them. It is as simple as that. The problem with Microsoft in the 90s is its dominance, 90% of consumer grade computer then runs windows, IE etc. Hence, the abuse tactics they could get away with back then.