[MinnowBoard] BIOS/UEFI/Firmware settings hotkey?

[Neill Kapron]

So after some examination, Intel has included the simple BDS in
MinnowBoardPkg/Bds/ instead of the full BDS in
IntelFrameworkModulePkg/Universal/BdsDxe/

It would appear that the keys that are enabled are '+', '-', 'Esc' and 'e'.

I would assume + or - draws a short boot device selection menu.

'+'  Selects the boot device earlier in the list,
'-' Selects the boot device later in the list,
'Esc' and 'e' leave the list and clear the display, booting from the
currently selected boot device.

I think it would be possible to build a firmware image that enables the
more useful setup menu, but I do not have a minnowboard yet to test on.

Hopefully this helps,
Neill



On Wed, Apr 23, 2014 at 3:40 PM, Neill Kapron <nkapron at gmail.com> wrote:

> Dave,
>
> You are incorrect. There is still support for graphical setup browsers in
> UEFI. Any modern UEFI-based PC motherboard is a great example of this. In
> fact, most native UEFI browsers are much nicer than legacy bios
> implementations.  (Decent graphics and mouse support.)
>
> I'm looking through the source tree now, and have identified that Intel
> has left code for boot device management and configuration in the tree- see
> the comment below from /IntelFrameworkModulePkg/Universal/BdsDxe/FrontPage.c
>
>
>     //
>     // If gCallbackKey is greater than 1 and less or equal to 5,
>     // it will launch configuration utilities.
>     // 2 = set language
>     // 3 = boot manager
>     // 4 = device manager
>     // 5 = boot maintenance manager
>     //
>
> I do not have a minnowboard to test on, and they may have neutered it
> somewhere, but am looking for the hotkeys currently.
>
> Thanks,
> Neill
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Apr 23, 2014 at 3:18 PM, David Anders <danders at circuitco.com>wrote:
>
>> Jack,
>>
>>
>> On 04/23/2014 03:59 PM, Jack Black wrote:
>>
>>> Other Intel developer boards I've used had both the UEFI shell and a
>>> settings page, where when you would type "exit" from the shell, it
>>> would drop you to the setting UI where you could do things like change
>>> UEFI secure boot keys, change boot order, etc. I take it then that the
>>> minnow firmware lacks this? (I know it lacks secure boot, but I'm
>>> wondering if it completely lacks a firmware setup options screen...)
>>>
>>
>> what you are referring to is called "Legacy BIOS". Legcy BIOS options can
>> be included as part of the UEFI build however based on the minnowboard
>> being targeted more at embedded application space, the decision was made
>> not to include Legacy BIOS functionality.
>>
>> most "PCs" current do include the Legacy BIOS functionality, but going
>> forward most new x86 based designs will only include the core UEFI support
>> without Legacy BIOS...
>>
>> Dave
>>
>>
>>  JB
>>>
>>> On Wed, Apr 23, 2014 at 4:22 PM, David Anders <danders at circuitco.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> JB,
>>>>
>>>> UEFI works very differently that what traditional BIOS features most
>>>> people
>>>> are familiar with.
>>>>
>>>> as you boot, you can stop the boot process and drop into a UEFI shell.
>>>> this
>>>> shell is very similar to a minimal DOS implementation
>>>>
>>>> https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/efi-shells-and-scripting
>>>>
>>>> you can view/edit settings from there...
>>>>
>>>> Dave
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 04/23/2014 03:19 PM, Jack Black wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> (just called it BIOS to help future googlers ;))
>>>>>
>>>>> Is there a way to get into the UEFI settings on a stock minnowboard? I
>>>>> mashed esc and F9-F12 to no avail. I would like to see what options
>>>>> are exposed, and also boot from a USB CD for installation to a HD.
>>>>>
>>>>> Much appreciated,
>>>>> JB
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>> http://lists.elinux.org/mailman/listinfo/elinux-minnowboard
>>>>>
>>>>
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