Solved Confusing WHQL BIOS setting on GIGABYTE mainboards

Giga Hawk

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I am installing Windows 8 and the Gigabyte mainboard gives three options regarding the OS

Which one to choose??

BIOS said:
Windows 8 Features
  • Other OS
  • Windows 8
  • Windows 8 WHQL
140126100840.png
140126100854.png

Obviously it is one of the Windows 8 options. Both will unlock a few new settings like the Compatibility Support Module (CSM) or (not visible on the screenshot) Secure Boot. But the new options are exactly the same if WHQL is chosen or not.

The manual very helpful and I am being sarcastic here.
[QUOTE="Gigabyte GA B85M-HD3 Manual]OS Type
Allows you to select the operating system to be installed. (Default: Other OS)[/QUOTE]

So, which to chose and why and what do they do?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64 (6.3.9600)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion Ultrabook 14-b083eg
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i3-3217U
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3 (2 x 4 GB modules)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel® HD Graphics 4000
    Sound Card
    IDT High-Definition (HD) Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    35.5 cm (14") HD BrightView LED-backlit (1366 x 768)
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Kingston SSDNow V300 120 - SV300S37A120G (Firmware 505ABBF1)
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 1000
    Internet Speed
    Broadband
    Browser
    Microsoft Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    avast! Free Antivirus 2014
    Other Info
    System BIOS Version F.1B (Aug 23, 2013)
From what the attachment show, I would say the Windows 8 setting would be for the Windows 8 Secure Boot only, or may be considered as Windows 8 UEFI only. In this mode, Windows 7 would not be allowed, Secure Boot Certified OSes, such as Windows 8 or Ubuntu 13.04 would. You can test by booting to a Windows 7 Install DVD in the UEFI configuration. It may allow the boot up to a point (possibly the 4 colors coming together) but should throw an error message or put you back into the bios setup if Windows 8 secure boot is active.

Windows 8 WQHL is probably restricted to a UEFI boot but will allow Windows 7 or other Non-secure boot OSes in UEFI mode.

The other is for other OSes and may be needed for Legacy (MBR) systems.

The important thing to watch is the CSM. If it is disabled, you are in Windows 8 Secure Boot. If it is enabled, you will be able to boot Windows 7.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Grown
    CPU
    i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8Z77 -v Pro, Z87-Expert
    Memory
    16 G
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX 680 Classified (2)
    Hard Drives
    Kingston SSD 240 GB
Thanks. Will try and report results. Meanwhile I installed with CSM: OFF, Secure Boot: ON, still both Win 8 and Win 8 WHQL are available to do that. WHQL points to driver signing.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64 (6.3.9600)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion Ultrabook 14-b083eg
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i3-3217U
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3 (2 x 4 GB modules)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel® HD Graphics 4000
    Sound Card
    IDT High-Definition (HD) Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    35.5 cm (14") HD BrightView LED-backlit (1366 x 768)
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Kingston SSDNow V300 120 - SV300S37A120G (Firmware 505ABBF1)
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 1000
    Internet Speed
    Broadband
    Browser
    Microsoft Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    avast! Free Antivirus 2014
    Other Info
    System BIOS Version F.1B (Aug 23, 2013)
This mystery has been resolved by Gigabyte support.

Dear Mr. xxx,
Thank you for emailing GIGABYTE.
We are delighted with your interest in our products.
The "Windows 8 WHQL" Setting is only for Systemintegrators to run a full Microsoft WHQL test.
Please don´t use this for normal operation.

Kind regards
GIGABYTE-Team Germany
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64 (6.3.9600)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion Ultrabook 14-b083eg
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i3-3217U
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3 (2 x 4 GB modules)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel® HD Graphics 4000
    Sound Card
    IDT High-Definition (HD) Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    35.5 cm (14") HD BrightView LED-backlit (1366 x 768)
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Kingston SSDNow V300 120 - SV300S37A120G (Firmware 505ABBF1)
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 1000
    Internet Speed
    Broadband
    Browser
    Microsoft Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    avast! Free Antivirus 2014
    Other Info
    System BIOS Version F.1B (Aug 23, 2013)
I chose windows 8 WHQL and now I can't load my BIOS screen, please help me fix this.
Have you tried to instruct Windows 8 to enter the BIOS?(Settings\Change PC Settings\Update and Recovery\Recovery\AdvancedStartup\Restart Now
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64 (6.3.9600)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion Ultrabook 14-b083eg
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i3-3217U
    Memory
    8 GB DDR3 (2 x 4 GB modules)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel® HD Graphics 4000
    Sound Card
    IDT High-Definition (HD) Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    35.5 cm (14") HD BrightView LED-backlit (1366 x 768)
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Kingston SSDNow V300 120 - SV300S37A120G (Firmware 505ABBF1)
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 1000
    Internet Speed
    Broadband
    Browser
    Microsoft Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    avast! Free Antivirus 2014
    Other Info
    System BIOS Version F.1B (Aug 23, 2013)
I chose windows 8 WHQL and now I can't load my BIOS screen, please help me fix this.
Have you tried to instruct Windows 8 to enter the BIOS?(Settings\Change PC Settings\Update and Recovery\Recovery\AdvancedStartup\Restart Now

Almost two months ago, I'm betting he figured it out.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
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