UEFI BIOS Utility - EZ Mode (1 Viewer)

[delia todd]

I've no idea what this was all about. I switched on my computer this morning, then went to get my breakfast ready.

After about 10-15 minutes I got back to it to be faced with this screen. It appeared to want me to use the American date system, but I couldn't change it. So in the end I "Saved" it.

Then I was on the second screen. I selected "Save and Close". A message popped up telling me I'd not made any changes? I think I clicked OK.

After which I got the normal screen and could start working.

But what was it all about? Will it come back again tomorrow? And what was I supposed to do (or could do)?

 

[njlarsen]

A google search seems to indicate this is an updated version of the BIOS that all PCs have had forever. Which brand is your PC?
Niels

 

[delia todd]

Thanks Niels.

It's a Porteus which I will have had for 3 years at the end of this month.

Have they updated it then.... or was I meant to do something? There were no instructions LOL

 

[njlarsen]

I do not see a porteus brand PC using a google search, but a linux installation with that name?
Niels

 

[delia todd]

Hmmm.... sorry... a stray "e" got in there.... Portus.

All seems to have changed now, still trying to work it out. But they appear to sell through Amazon: Amazon.co.uk

The name is on the monitor at the bottom in green letters LOL

 

[njlarsen]

A google search does not find portus, so I am not able to help with this.
Niels

 

[Mono]

The BIOS is the basic operating system that makes the computer actually work. It starts up everytime you switch the computer on. It usually works silently in the background.

The fact you saw the BIOS setup screen is unusual. Three possibilities spring to mind.
1) You accidentally pressed the special keyboard combination! If you start the computer whilst holding down a particular key combination the BIOS will go into its settings menu, you could have done this by accident.

2) The BIOS has updated and then decided to show you that it has done so.

3) The backup battery has failed. There is a small battery in the computer that lets the BIOS remember it's settings. These normally last decades but do occasionally. This is an unlikely possibility as the computer started properly and has obviously remembered its settings.

 

[delia todd]

Thanks both of you.

I've done some searching and really everything about Portus Digital I can find is old. A shame if they have gone out of business, as this computer is terrific, sturdily built and never caused me any problems. It had great reviews too.

Customer care and back-up was great!

 

[Andrew Rowlands]

No, I'm not late!

Portus Digital – The UK's leading sustainable manufacturer < ?old? Portus, before the recent 'change'? 'phone number there.

Portus not much in stock.

If a PC tries but fails to Boot up a set number of times (often 3?) then they might be set to drop the BIOS settings to defaults (time, date, basic speeds, etc.) which ordinarily would enable you to continue (less any hardware that was unresponsive during Boot) but also forcing you into minor (hit Enter or Esc a few times) or more technical (setting date/time/TZ boot drive priority/sleep settings... ) before you can use it as previously.

Cause(s) as above but also silly things like mouse/keyboard key stuck, ext. drive connected/disconnected, similar for USB drives. Windows Update causing issues requiring reboots eg. for UEFI/security reasons or because they messed something up; standard 'fixes' for non-standard settings (but you've offered those options for 5 versions of Windows!) maybe -also just plain bad luck and/or timing, perhaps a mains spike or brownout at a vital microsecond.

 

[delia todd]

No, I'm not late!

Nah.... just very late!!

It's a shame I wasn't sitting there watching it boot up. It's not happened again since fortunately. So probably a glitch.

Thanks Andy. - hope you're well.

What's all this about the canal being allowed to run dry? Horrified when I got that news!

 

[Andrew Rowlands]

Must be five days with just a couple of drizzly hours and there's hardly any water running. Yes, that threat went down like a lead balloon; what money there might be is being held back just in case. Daft ideas abound but nothing that feels workable yet.

Someone did hint that Greenlandish ice might be available soon, that might help some.

Too much water's used making cement for all those new houses, people washing their cars, others being cajoled into drinking the darn stuff 'cos it's 'healthy'.

 

[delia todd]

Yes, it;s sad. I remember when the Channel Tunnel was being built, my sister told me that the underground water was being drained for the building. It was having a serious effect on the farming community.

I hope someone comes up with a good solution, it will affect so many people and businesses, won't it.