Understanding and Enabling Secure Boot for Dell PC

Secure Boot is a critical security feature that protects the boot process against threats from malicious code such as malware and ransomware. It is firmware-dependent and requires that the computer BIOS is set to UEFI mode. This article will guide you through the steps to verify if Secure Boot is enabled on your system and how to switch from Legacy to UEFI mode if necessary. We will also cover how to enable Secure Boot on different Dell computer models.

How to Verify that Secure Boot is Enabled

To check if Secure Boot is enabled on your Windows computer, follow these steps:

1. Click the Windows Button at the bottom left of the screen or press the Windows Key.

2. In the Search Bar, type: msinfo32

3. Press Enter.

4. System Information will open, and System Summary should be selected by default.

5. On the right side of this screen, look for BIOS Mode and Secure Boot State.

6. If Secure Boot is enabled, the BIOS Mode will show “UEFI,” and Secure Boot state will show “On.”

If the BIOS Mode shows “Legacy,” you will need to switch it to UEFI mode. Before proceeding, ensure that your computer meets the Windows 11 system requirements, especially if you plan to upgrade.

Note: Switching the Boot Mode from Legacy to UEFI will make the current Windows installation unbootable and will require a reinstallation of Windows. Ensure to back up your personal data before proceeding.

Note: Dell BIOS Screens may vary by computer model. Below is a general example of how to switch to UEFI mode and enable Secure Boot.

Switching from Legacy to UEFI Mode

To switch from Legacy to UEFI mode, follow these steps:

1. Boot your computer.

2. Tap the F2 key when the Dell logo appears to enter the BIOS.

3. The following steps can vary based on your computer model:

Alienware, Inspiron, and Vostro

* Go to Boot > Change Secure Boot List Option to UEFI. * Press the F10 key to Save and Exit.

 

OptiPlex, Precision, Wyse, and XPS

* Go to General > Boot Sequence > Boot List Option – Change to UEFI. * Click Apply > click Exit – Save the Changes.

Enabling Secure Boot

Secure Boot can be enabled through the computer firmware (BIOS) with the following steps:

1. Boot your computer.

2. Tap the F2 key when the Dell logo appears to enter the BIOS.

3. The following steps can vary based on your computer model:

Alienware, Inspiron, and Vostro

* Go to Secure Boot > Change Secure Boot to Enabled. * Press the F10 key to Save and Exit.

 

OptiPlex, Precision, Wyse, and XPS

* Go to Secure Boot > Secure Boot Enable > Check Secure Boot Enable. * Click Apply > click Exit > Save the changes.

The computer will restart and boot back to the Windows desktop.

Summary

In summary, Secure Boot is an essential feature for protecting your system from malicious attacks during the boot process. Verifying and enabling Secure Boot involves checking your current BIOS mode, switching from Legacy to UEFI if necessary, and enabling Secure Boot through the BIOS settings. Following these steps will help ensure that your system is secure and ready for any upgrades, such as transitioning to Windows 11.