Software Overview for HP 8200 Elite and 6200 Pro Desktop Models

UEFI BIOS Tools
For HP business desktops
May 2011
Table of Contents:
Abstract .............................................................................................................. 1
Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1
BIOS Tool Changes .............................................................................................. 2
Customer Impact ................................................................................................. 3
DOS-based Tools ............................................................................................ 3
Windows-based Tools ..................................................................................... 4
Password Changes .......................................................................................... 4
For more information .......................................................................................... 4
Abstract
The Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) is a specification that defines a
new interface and architecture for system firmware that initializes computer
hardware subsystems before starting the OS boot process. This document describes
basic changes in BIOS tools as implemented by UEFI BIOS.
Introduction
Legacy BIOS is limited to a 16-bit processor mode and 1 megabyte of addressable
space. By comparison, the UEFI processor mode can be either 32-bit or 64-bit. 64-
bit UEFI supports long mode, which allows applications in the pre-boot execution
environment to have direct access to all memory using 64-bit addressing.
UEFI was designed to bring modularity to system firmware by implementing a
driver-based approach to platform initialization. Hardware and device chipsets
have a UEFI driver that allows the system firmware to initialize them through a
standard application programming interface (API) rather than having to program
them directly. UEFI also establishes its own pre-OS environment called the UEFI
Shell, with APIs and services that can be used to create applications for a variety of
purposes, including configuration.