Windows 8 boot into UEFI firmware settings missing

If you installed Windows 8 the U/EFI way you should be able to access UEFI options.

To check if you boot UEFI way - when in Windows run on admin command prompt:

bcdedit

output lists bootmgr and loader/s.

for example:

    Windows Boot Loader
 =========================

identifier              {current}
device                  partition=C:
path                    \Windows\system32\winload.efi
description             Windows 8

If path ends in .efi - you boot U/EFI way

else path ends in .exe - you boot BIOS way.


To install Windows 8 the UEFI way you have to boot installation media (USB/DVD) the UEFI way.

UEFI firmware usually allows BIOS booting (over CSM) and UEFI booting for DVD/USB.

Destination disk for installation must be a GPT style disk.

When converting a MBR disk to GPT disk (usually) existing partitions are lost.