UEFIohjelmistoon

UEFIohjelmistoon refers to the software component of the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) system. UEFI is a modern replacement for the traditional BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) firmware interface found in most computers. It acts as a bridge between the computer's hardware and the operating system, initializing hardware components during the boot process and allowing the operating system to interact with them.

The UEFI firmware is stored on a non-volatile memory chip on the motherboard. When a computer powers on, the UEFI firmware executes before the operating system loads. This initialization process includes tasks such as performing power-on self-tests (POST) to check hardware integrity, identifying and configuring hardware devices, and then locating and booting the operating system from a storage device like a hard drive or SSD.

Compared to BIOS, UEFI offers several advantages. It supports larger hard drives (greater than 2 terabytes) due to its use of GUID Partition Table (GPT) instead of Master Boot Record (MBR). UEFI also allows for faster boot times, enhanced security features like Secure Boot which prevents the loading of unauthorized operating systems or drivers, and a more user-friendly graphical interface for configuration. The UEFI specification is maintained by the Unified EFI Forum, an industry consortium.