Efi Architecture; Volume Name; Directories And Descriptions; How Bios Launches Efi Applications - HP 2730p - EliteBook - Core 2 Duo 1.86 GHz Manuallines

EFI architecture

Caution
- The EFI partition is not protected and can therefore be deleted.
- Backing up the computer using the Windows® Vista®
Complete PC Backup does not back up the EFI partition.
For these reasons, HP recommends that you do not place
additional data on the EFI partition. Because the partition is not
backed up, corruption or failure of the partition will result in loss
of all data on the partition, plus loss of EFI functionality.

Volume name

The volume name is HP_TOOLS.

Directories and descriptions

The EFI partition file and folder structure are similar to the Windows file and folder structure. EFI
application installation should follow the rules established by this white paper.
HP EFI application SoftPaqs unbundle into the C:\swsetup directory. The EFI software installation then
searches for the FAT32 partition labeled HP_TOOLS and installs itself into the following directory:
:\Hewlett-Packard\softwarename
For example, Quicklook.efi and its digital signature are placed in the following directory:
:\Hewlett-Packard\Quicklook\quicklook.efi
If the EFI application installation does not find a partition named HP_TOOLS, the installation fails and
an error message is displayed.

How BIOS launches EFI applications

The launch algorithm of the EFI BIOS application enumerates all FAT32 partitions and launches only
the first instance of the application. The application search algorithm searches only the volume
labeled HP_TOOLS for the predetermined name and path of the application.
When an EFI application is launched, it has as much control of the system resources as the BIOS
does. Because EFI applications reside on the public hard drive partition which is easily accessible and
therefore insecure, BIOS launches only EFI applications signed by HP.
Caution
To reduce security vulnerability, execute only HP-signed EFI
applications.

For HP-signed EFI applications

All HP EFI applications contain two files stored on the EFI partition under the same subdirectory as the
EFI application: filename.efi and filename.sig.
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