This document pertains to HP and Compaq PCs with Windows 8 and Secure Boot.
Secure Boot Configuration is a new feature of the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) in BIOS 8 that helps a computer resist attacks and infection from malware.
When your computer was manufactured, UEFI created a list of keys that identify trusted hardware, firmware, and operating system loader code. It also created a list of keys to identify known malware.
When Secure Boot is enabled, the computer blocks potential threats before they can attack or infect the computer.
For example, Secure Boot can prevent your computer from starting from illegally copied CDs or DVDs that could harm the computer. Secure Boot does not lock out valid recovery discs or Windows discs.
You may have to disable Secure Boot in order to use hardware (such as older video cards) that Secure Boot does not recognize, or to boot from a CD or DVD that is not recognized. If Secure Boot does not recognize hardware, Windows does not use the hardware when it boots up, and you may experience problems starting the computer. If Secure Boot does not recognize a video card, the computer may have a blank display. For more information, refer to the Troubleshooting section.
note:If your computer was updated to Windows 8.1 and you now have a persistent message over the desktop that states SecureBoot isn't configured correctly, Microsoft has released a download solution to remove this message. For more information, refer to Update removes the "Windows SecureBoot isn't configured correctly" watermark in Windows 8.1 (in English).Figure : SecureBoot Watermark in Windows 8.1![]()