Tytanxamon
New Member
- Total Posts : 14
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2012/03/24 00:11:27
- Location: Minsk
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 0
I installed the motherboard EVGA z270 Classified-K in September, and it works great. But I don't understand one thing: I've got some mysterious switch on the board that's shown in the picture. The manual from the manufacturer "EVGA z270 Classified-K Motherboard, Specs and Installation Guide" on page 14 in the table, in point 29, has the record: "29. The Switch BIOS" only. There are no more references to this switch in the manual. I'll be grateful for the advice, please, explain to me what is this mysterious switch? Thanks for all of everyone's help.
Attached Image(s)
|
the_Scarlet_one
formerly Scarlet-tech
- Total Posts : 24581
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2013/11/13 02:48:57
- Location: East Coast
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 79
Re: Mysterious switch
2017/09/21 08:45:44
(permalink)
It says bios switch. So it switches between different bios options. Right below your arrow, it says Bios Switch. To the left of your circle are 3 led's labeled Bios 1, Bios 2, and Bios 3. The 3 led's are typically 3 different colors. Example would be bios one is a white led, Bios two is an amber led, and bios three is red. You would need to move the selector to see the options to know the difference. When you move the selector, you move to a different bios. You can load multiple different bios on multiple different chips, so that you can find one that works and test overclocks on a different bios. Then, if an overclock goes bad, you can move the switch, and reboot, switch to a different bios and reflash to restore original settings.
post edited by the_Scarlet_one - 2017/09/21 08:50:44
|
Cool GTX
EVGA Forum Moderator
- Total Posts : 30907
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2010/12/12 14:22:25
- Location: Folding for the Greater Good
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 122
Re: Mysterious switch
2017/09/21 09:24:34
(permalink)
+1 BIOS choice switch Great feature when Flashing the BIOS - especially if things go sideways - flip the switch, reboot
|
Tytanxamon
New Member
- Total Posts : 14
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2012/03/24 00:11:27
- Location: Minsk
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 0
Re: Mysterious switch
2017/09/21 12:07:10
(permalink)
Hi the_Scarlet_one Thanks for the answer. But I have new questions.
I've already installed the operating system - Windows 10, unfortunately. And I don't know what position I have in the switch BIOS selector. Windows 10 works sustainably. I'm afraid if I switch this selector and load another BIOS, Windows 10 will be shattered.
1. Can I switch the selector and not load the operating system by pressing F2?
2. Can I switch the selector and load another operating system, such as Linux? Regards
|
Sajin
EVGA Forum Moderator
- Total Posts : 49126
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2010/06/07 21:11:51
- Location: Texas, USA.
- Status: online
- Ribbons : 199
Re: Mysterious switch
2017/09/21 12:12:35
(permalink)
Tytanxamon Hi the_Scarlet_one Thanks for the answer. But I have new questions.
I've already installed the operating system - Windows 10, unfortunately. And I don't know what position I have in the switch BIOS selector. Windows 10 works sustainably. I'm afraid if I switch this selector and load another BIOS, Windows 10 will be shattered.
1. Can I switch the selector and not load the operating system by pressing F2?
2. Can I switch the selector and load another operating system, such as Linux? Regards
Switching bioses isn't going to break your operating systems. 1. Yes. 2. Yep.
|
BrandonS
EVGA Alumni
- Total Posts : 678
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2016/01/28 13:52:01
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 5
Re: Mysterious switch
2017/09/21 12:54:10
(permalink)
To clarify Saijin's answer, you can flip the switch and then enter BIOS, and you can load a different operating system, but unless you set a different hard drive as the default you won't be able to change OS just by choosing a different BIOS location.
|
bcavnaugh
The Crunchinator
- Total Posts : 38977
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2012/09/18 17:31:18
- Location: USA Affiliate E5L3CTGE12 Associate 9E88QK5L7811G3H
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 282
Re: Mysterious switch
2017/09/21 12:57:28
(permalink)
Maybe you could if you set the First Boot Device in each Bios for each OS?
|
the_Scarlet_one
formerly Scarlet-tech
- Total Posts : 24581
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2013/11/13 02:48:57
- Location: East Coast
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 79
Re: Mysterious switch
2017/09/21 14:42:13
(permalink)
bcavnaugh Maybe you could if you set the First Boot Device in each Bios for each OS?
That is what I am thinking. Would be a great idea honestly.
|
somethingc00l
EGC Admin
- Total Posts : 752
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2009/03/14 13:44:57
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 11
Re: Mysterious switch
2017/09/21 17:00:22
(permalink)
Socketed chip on BIOS1, nice.
|
Tytanxamon
New Member
- Total Posts : 14
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2012/03/24 00:11:27
- Location: Minsk
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 0
Re: Mysterious switch
2017/09/22 02:36:40
(permalink)
Hello, guys.
Thank you very much bcavnaugh, the_Scarlet_one, EVGAtech_BrandonS. This is my dream: switch the BIOS and it will set another First Boot Device. And I can download another operating system from a different boot device now! It is my dream. What are the problems here?
1. I will need to get under my desk every time if I want to work with another operating system. 2. I will need to open the system unit lid every time to access the BIOS switch. 3. I will need to switch the BIOS selector to the desired location each time. 4. I will need to close back this lid every time.
What is the alternative?
I can try to install another operating system (Linux) using the four existing UEFI partitions. I already tried that. Linux is very poorly installing on these four partitions. It's trying to pull to the system and set up his very heavy and bulky loader GRUB-2. They say I can discard the bulky GRUB-2 and add another boot record to the EFI system partition (with FAT32) for another operating system. But I don't know how to do that?
Guys, help me please. What would you have done?
Thanks for all of everyone's help. Regards
|
Cool GTX
EVGA Forum Moderator
- Total Posts : 30907
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2010/12/12 14:22:25
- Location: Folding for the Greater Good
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 122
Re: Mysterious switch
2017/09/22 07:12:41
(permalink)
Hard drive drawer - if you have exposed 5 1/4 inch bay in your case. Unlock (if locked) lift handle and remove - swap your boot drive Or buy a different desk and place the PC on top
|
bcavnaugh
The Crunchinator
- Total Posts : 38977
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2012/09/18 17:31:18
- Location: USA Affiliate E5L3CTGE12 Associate 9E88QK5L7811G3H
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 282
Re: Mysterious switch
2017/09/22 12:46:09
(permalink)
|
quadlatte
CLASSIFIED ULTRA Member
- Total Posts : 7191
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2006/09/14 16:52:58
- Location: Greensboro, NC
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 56
Re: Mysterious switch
2017/09/23 16:47:46
(permalink)
couple things got missed here, first the light for the bios will always be red, top is bios 1, middle is bios two and bottom is bios 3. you can set different settings in each bios but one thing to remember, if you change you drive settings in one bios than they are in your main bios you could fail to boot, for example, if you are booting from a m.2 for windows 10 with uefi and secure boot but in bios two you have m.2 disabled or are in legacy mode then windows will fail to boot. the moving the switch could work for dual booting but seems more of a pain to deal with, instead you can dual boot with win 10 and linux mint https://www.tecmint.com/install-linux-mint-18-alongside-windows-10-or-8-in-dual-boot-uefi-mode/ there are few tricks to get it to work and should be able to use the distro of your choice.
|
somethingc00l
EGC Admin
- Total Posts : 752
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2009/03/14 13:44:57
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 11
Re: Mysterious switch
2017/09/25 17:38:49
(permalink)
Tytanxamon Guys, help me please. What would you have done?
I would just use the BIOS boot selection to choose which drive to boot (on EVGA boards I think it's the ESC key). So connect Windows drive to system, install Windows, disconnect Windows drive; connect Linux drive, install Linux; connect both drives, set which one you want to be default in BIOS. When you want to switch just hit ESC when BIOS screen is up, choose alternate drive from boot menu. No bootloader tricks or switch flipping required.
|
bcavnaugh
The Crunchinator
- Total Posts : 38977
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2012/09/18 17:31:18
- Location: USA Affiliate E5L3CTGE12 Associate 9E88QK5L7811G3H
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 282
Re: Mysterious switch
2017/09/25 17:49:46
(permalink)
I set my Bios 1 for SSD 0 Bios 2 SSD 2 Bios 3 HD 4 Each with it's own OS and so far works really good. 1 is Win 10 2 is Win 7 and 3 is Ubuntu For 2 and 3 Legacy was used and UEFI for 1
|
Cordorb
SSC Member
- Total Posts : 635
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2007/03/18 22:27:50
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 2
Re: Mysterious switch
2017/09/25 19:30:30
(permalink)
Keep a list or better pictures of all BIOS setting. When it is BIOS update time you will not be able to load back BIOS setting parameter files. ( like many problem in life this one could be solved with a cricket bat )
|
bcavnaugh
The Crunchinator
- Total Posts : 38977
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2012/09/18 17:31:18
- Location: USA Affiliate E5L3CTGE12 Associate 9E88QK5L7811G3H
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 282
Re: Mysterious switch
2017/09/25 19:38:22
(permalink)
|
quadlatte
CLASSIFIED ULTRA Member
- Total Posts : 7191
- Reward points : 0
- Joined: 2006/09/14 16:52:58
- Location: Greensboro, NC
- Status: offline
- Ribbons : 56
Re: Mysterious switch
2017/09/29 21:06:03
(permalink)
we need a external bios switch
|