Windows 10: BIOS does not recognise my SSD with Operating System in UEFI Mode, only Legacy / CSM

I currently want to upgrade to Windows 11. However, my computer is unable to as I have not got Secure Boot enabled. This is because I cannot boot my PC in UEFI mode, as when in UEFI mode my SSD with Windows on does not appear, i.e. the computer does not recognise my SSD in UEFI boot mode. I have read that this is because Windows was installed in Legacy mode, but Windows was installed on this PC many, many years ago so I don't know. Is there a way to make the bios recognise my SSD in UEFI mode?

:)

 

Should I change BIOS Mode to UEFI?

You boot into UEFI mode by disabling CSM mode (or possibly called legacy mode) in your UEFI settings. But, until you prepare your hard drive (or SSD) to boot in UEFI, you likely will fail to boot. To convert your HDD or SSD to boot in UEFI mode you could try this:
Convert Windows 10 from Legacy BIOS to UEFI without Data Loss

But, if you succeed in converting the HDD/SSD to GPT, and you can't change you BIOS to boot in UEFI mode, then again you will fail to boot. So, I would suggest that you really know what you are doing before you undertake changing legacy BIOS (CSM mode) booting to UEFI.

I would suggest running Ubuntu in a Virtual Machine rather than dual booting.

 

BIOS mode as Legacy or UEFI?

Windows 10 will install itself in the same mode that the installation media is booted in. If you boot the installation media in legacy BIOS (CSM) mode, then Windows 10 will create an MBR partitioned drive and install in legacy BIOS (CSM) mode. If the installation media is booted in UEFI mode, Windows 10 will create a GPT partitioned drive and install in UEFI mode.

Whether or not you want to convert your MBR install to GPT, and whether or not you want to convert your legacy BIOS (CSM) mode booting to boot in UEFI mode , or if you want to reinstall in UEFI mode is up to you. What do you hope to gain? Side note: converting the drive from MBR to GPT is not required to convert to UEFI booting. However converting to UEFI booting is required if you want to convert the drive to GPT.

What error are you getting when you try to restore your backup image, and what backup software are you using?

 

UEFI vs Legacy boot mode

Switching to UEFI bios on GPU does not enable UEFI mode if motherboard is set CSM = On. Setting CSM = Off in my experience causes Windows 7 issues, even if installed as UEFI mode with GPT partition on storage device.