BIOS and UEFI Configuration

Question

Answer

What is BIOS/UEFI?

Low-level firmware that initializes hardware before the OS loads

How do you typically access BIOS/UEFI on startup?

By pressing a specific key or combination

What hypervisors allow BIOS access on virtual machines?

Hyper-V

Does VirtualBox support virtual BIOS configuration?

No

What can you search for to find online BIOS practice tools?

UEFI BIOS Simulator

What Windows feature can block BIOS access by preventing full shutdowns?

Windows Fast Startup

How can you bypass Fast Startup to shut down fully?

Hold Shift while clicking Restart

Where in Windows settings can you find Advanced Startup options?

Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced Startup > Restart Now

What tool can temporarily disable Fast Startup?

MSConfig (System Configuration)

What can force a full restart if Fast Startup is blocking BIOS access?

Interrupting the boot process three times in a row

What can incorrect BIOS/UEFI changes cause?

System instability or failure to boot

What should you do before modifying BIOS settings?

Document the changes

What kind of BIOS changes should be avoided without care?

Random changes

What should you do before making BIOS changes for safety?

Backup the current BIOS configuration

What does BIOS control regarding hardware visibility?

Whether hardware is visible to the OS

What happens if hardware is disabled in BIOS?

The OS will not detect it

What does boot order configuration determine?

The sequence in which storage devices are checked for an OS

Where would you typically set boot order?

Startup > Primary Boot Sequence

Why might security teams disable USB storage in BIOS?

To prevent unauthorized data transfers or malware infections

What real-world example illustrates USB security concerns?

The U.S. Department of Defense banned USB drives in 2008 after a malware incident

Where is USB configuration typically found in BIOS?

Devices > USB Setup

What does BIOS use to adjust fan speeds?

Temperature sensors

What are common BIOS cooling profile options?

"Best Performance

What is Secure Boot?

A UEFI feature that verifies digital signatures of the OS

What does Secure Boot require from the OS?

A valid digital signature

What does a User Password (Boot Password) do?

Prevents system boot without the correct password

What does a Supervisor Password (BIOS Password) do?

Restricts access to BIOS settings to prevent unauthorized changes

How can you reset BIOS passwords if lost?

Via motherboard jumpers (e.g. CLRTC) or removing the CMOS battery on older systems

Where is BIOS firmware stored?

Flash memory on the motherboard

What did older systems use to store BIOS configuration?

CMOS

What do modern systems use to store BIOS configuration?

Non-volatile flash memory

What does BIOS temperature monitoring show?

Real-time temperature readings for CPU

What is hardware-assisted virtualization called on Intel and AMD systems?

Intel VT or AMD-V

Where is virtualization support typically enabled in BIOS?

Advanced > CPU Setup