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December 12th, 2021 23:00
Area-51 R2, disable Legacy OPROM?
Hi,
My Alienware Area-51 R2 Specs:
- Intel Core i7-6800K CPU @ 3.40GHz 3.40 GHz.
- 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor.
- Windows 10 Home.
- Intel c610 series/X99 chipset (stock).
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 (stock).
- Samsung 970 Evo Plus (boot SSD drive w/M.2 to PCIe adapter).
- 16GB RAM (stock).
- BIOS A14.
So I installed a Samsung 970 Evo Plus on my Alienware Area 51 R2 with an M.2 to PCIe adapter as my boot drive a long while ago. My BIOS Boot setting is set to UEFI.
My question is, should I disable Legacy OPROM? Touching the BIOS settings scares me and I just want to ask someone who has the knowledge on whether it would mess anything up with booting, my SSD boot drive, etc.
I recently had a software update brick my motherboard and I had to recover it but the software driver that caused issues is still in the Device Manager but showing as a Code 10. I am just being extra cautious.
Ever since I had to flash my BIOS with a programmer to recover it, my PC has been running insanely smooth but it boots up slower. I now see the alien and my BIOS version just as I did when I had my HDD as my boot drive. I am thinking the Legacy OPROM has something to do with that?
Vanadiel
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December 13th, 2021 03:00
The default is enabled for that setting, according to the service manual.
Page 86 Service Manual
redxps630
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December 13th, 2021 08:00
Since you are already running bios in UEFI, you are using the faster bios. The legacy option rom is just an option. having it enabled or disabled does not affect your current UEFI boot speed.
regarding subjectively slower boot, do you mean slower POST or slower loading of Windows 10? If the latter even from an ssd, it could be Windows 10 update taking some time. If the former, that the POST is taking extra long time to pass firmware test of something, one thing to try is remove as many USB devices as possible and see if it makes any difference.
Jos4
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December 13th, 2021 12:00
Thanks for getting back to me, I appreciate the help.
And yes, I mean the POST. It takes about 45 seconds. Windows 10 and all of the applications load pretty much instantly.
I will try to remove the USB devices and then test it again.
Jos4
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December 13th, 2021 12:00
You two were also in my other post - https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/Area-51-R2-what-system-firmware-I-need/m-p/8101607#M54060
Could that have anything to do with it?
Vanadiel
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December 13th, 2021 15:00
It is system firmware, which is what is loaded during the UEFI portion of the boot process to provide services to the system.
Device firmware is the other type of firmware, which is device specific and provides services to the device. This is often just referred to as BIOS.
What you have is an issue with the system firmware, and is likely the reason for the slower than normal boot process.
System firmware is done with a driver package, but it has to meet certain requirements in order to work properly. It looks to me like somehow your driver package for it is not correctly installing. Short from a complete fresh windows install, I am not sure how you could fix that.
Jos4
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December 13th, 2021 16:00
What about downgrading my BIOS A14 to A13 then getting back onto the A14 gravy train?
EDIT: Also, it is most likely the incorrect system firmware. I have no idea what it was before, unfortunately.
redxps630
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December 13th, 2021 18:00
Re: What about downgrading my BIOS A14 to A13 then getting back onto the A14?
I would not take that risk. Since you have just recovered bios I would say stay put for now unless you are willing to jump into another flashing bios trip adventure.
Jos4
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December 14th, 2021 15:00
Thank you both for the help. There definitely is an issue and I noticed it after the recent Windows update.
I found some help via Tom's Hardware and I am going to follow the instructions I was given there, which is to update my BIOS via USB, change the BIOS settings, then delete all partitions on my boot drive, create a GPT partition, then do a clean Windows install on it. I will do this in a few days when I have the time.
Thanks again!
Vanadiel
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December 14th, 2021 15:00
Just be aware that when you wipe all the partitions, you will also wipe the recovery partition and that will have an effect on the BIOS recovery option should there be an issue with BIOS corruption.
It will also affect your ability to restore the operating system in case your current operating system fails, as there's a special factory recovery partition.
If all your system does is boot up a bit slow, but everything works well, I would leave it like that.