I don't know if I can secure boot I am stuck(PC)
Ok, I waited a few days before I started looking into secure boot myself. I have seen other peoples' issues trying to get it to work. I have read about them not being able to boot their PC anymore, having take parts out and back in like the MB battery to even get the PC to boot again, they got the secure boot to work but still can't play, and others aren't able to even get secure boot because their hardware is older.
I am not really tech savvy. I really just know the parts of the PC and can put it together. I have not done a PC build in 15 years. So this PC I have used for the past 5-6 years was a build from NZXT, and I found that it does not have Secure Boot enabled.
So as I started looking into the steps to enabling secure boot. I found out I have the UEFI for BIOS, so I thought that is good. However, I found out that I don't have the TPM on or enabled. And I need 2.0 for this secure boot to work for 2042. So when I checked if I have TPM, that window tells me I don't have a compatible TPM. So as I looked further into the steps on turning on TPM I need to check my manufacturer page to do it. I have no idea what manufacturer page I need to look at to enable the TPM. My motherboard is a Gigabyte Z590 Auorus Elite, processor is an 11th Gen Intel i5-11400F, graphics is MSI Nvidia GeForce 3070 Ti, both SSD are Samsung, and I have a HDD from Western Digital. I don't have DELL, Lenovo, HP, or Asus, anywhere on my PC to my knowledge. The only thing on the list is MSI but that's just for graphics card, and I don't know if that is the option I need to select.
I then checked the next steps to see what I would do after enabling the TPM. It said I have to check my windows disks (I'm assuming hard drives), if it is MBR or GPT. And if it isn't the right one, it looks like I would have to change it with command prompts or something. Which I have no idea if I should mess with that or not.
Seriously, I am not trying to be difficult or like "woe is me, I can't do it because it is too hard (when it isn't hard)", or "oh, I see change, I'm not going to change". But this stuff is really foreign to me I really don't know a lot about this stuff, and I really don't know how NZXT did all their setups to get my PC working and don't want to undo their work to find out I needed those settings for my PC to work. Plus I don't know if the NZXT cam or my antivirus is seen as malware to the secure boot. I don't know professionals or who to ask to do all this, plus I don't know how much I need to know about this PC to help the professional to understand and do it correctly.
IF, I am going to try and figure out the TPM thing, which manufacturer page will I need to look at to enable TPM.
Personally, this really bothers me that I can't play this game right now because I honestly enjoy it. Played it since beta, and even pre-ordered the ultimate edition. It's not the best battlefield title, but I find it's really fun. Knowing EA over the many years of playing, this will probably become the norm for their titles requiring Secure boot and it won't change. Because it sounds like secure boot will help mitigate the hacking/cheating. So in the distant future I guess I need to make sure I build my own PC again, or ask the builders to make sure it is secure boot with the TPM enabled.
BIG sorry for wall of text. I honestly have no idea how to proceed with secure boot. In the meantime I found I can still play though cloud gaming on game pass ultimate. It's okay, I can play my EA profile, but I don't have access to the battlefield coins I have on my account through this method. I hope you all have a great weekend!
Enabling Secure Boot on Gigabyte Z590 Motherboard: Complete Guide
Secure Boot is an important security feature that ensures your system only boots with trusted software. For Gigabyte Z590 motherboard users, enabling Secure Boot requires several preparatory steps and careful configuration in the BIOS. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process.
Prerequisites for Enabling Secure Boot
Before enabling Secure Boot on your Gigabyte Z590 motherboard, you need to ensure several system requirements are met:
- UEFI Mode: Your system must be running in UEFI mode, not Legacy BIOS mode 7
- GPT Partition Style: Your boot drive must use GPT (GUID Partition Table) rather than MBR (Master Boot Record) 7 14
- Updated BIOS: Ensure you have the latest BIOS version installed for your motherboard 12
- TPM 2.0 Enabled: Windows 11 requires TPM 2.0 (though Secure Boot itself doesn't require it) 16
Step 1: Check Current Secure Boot Status
Before making any changes, verify your current Secure Boot status:
- Press Win + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter
- In System Information, look for:
- Secure Boot State (should show "Off" initially)
- BIOS Mode (must say "UEFI") 7
Step 2: Verify Disk Partition Style
Secure Boot requires GPT partition style:
- Press Win + X and select Disk Management
- Right-click your boot disk > Properties > Volumes tab
- Check "Partition style" - must be "GUID Partition Table (GPT)" 7
If your disk is MBR, you'll need to convert it to GPT before proceeding. Backup your data first as this process may erase your disk.
Step 3: Enter BIOS Setup
- Restart your computer
- During startup, repeatedly press the Delete key to enter BIOS 16
- Press F2 to switch to Advanced Mode if needed 16
Step 4: Disable Compatibility Support Module (CSM)
Secure Boot cannot be enabled while CSM is active:
- Navigate to the BIOS tab
- Find CSM Support (may be under Boot options)
- Set CSM Support to Disabled 7 12
- Save changes and exit (F10)
- Re-enter BIOS to continue configuration 12
Step 5: Enable TPM 2.0 (Optional for Windows 11)
For Intel processors on Z590:
- Navigate to Settings > Miscellaneous or Peripherals
- Find Intel Platform Trust Technology (PTT)
- Set to Enabled 16
- Save changes (F10)
Step 6: Enable Secure Boot
Now you can enable Secure Boot:
- Navigate to the BIOS tab
- Find Secure Boot option (may be under Security tab)
- Set Secure Boot to Enabled 7
- If prompted about Platform Keys (PK), select Install Default Secure Boot Keys 12
- Save changes and exit (F10)
Note: Some systems may require you to first set Secure Boot Mode to "Custom", restore factory keys, then switch back to "Standard" mode 14
Step 7: Verify Secure Boot is Active
After rebooting:
Troubleshooting Tips
If you encounter issues:
- Black screen on boot: Likely indicates your disk is still MBR - convert to GPT 14
- Secure Boot option greyed out: Ensure CSM is completely disabled 12
- Error about Platform Keys: Install default Secure Boot keys 12
- Windows won't boot: You may need to disable Secure Boot temporarily to access recovery options
Important Notes
- Enabling Secure Boot is not strictly required for Windows 11 installation (the system just needs to support it) 14
- Some older operating systems or hardware may not work with Secure Boot enabled
- Certain games (like Valorant) require Secure Boot for their anti-cheat systems 14
By following these steps carefully, you should successfully enable Secure Boot on your Gigabyte Z590 motherboard, adding an important layer of security to your system.
