CSM stands for Compatibility Support Module, which is a component of the UEFI firmware that provides legacy BIOS compatibility by emulating a BIOS environment, allowing legacy operating systems and some option ROMs that do not support UEFI to still be used. CSM offers compatibility by emulating the BIOS services that legacy software relies on, such as interrupt handling and disk access. It provides a layer of translation between the newer UEFI firmware and the older BIOS-dependent software, ensuring that it can still be installed and run without compatibility issues.
Whether to enable or disable CSM support in BIOS depends on the specific situation. For example, some users have reported boot issues when CSM is disabled while installing Windows 10 on a new SSD or reinstalling the OS. On the other hand, some users have reported that disabling CSM is necessary to upgrade to Windows 11. In general, if you are using legacy hardware or software that relies on BIOS, you may need to enable CSM support. However, if you are using modern hardware and software that supports UEFI, you may not need CSM support and can disable it to improve system security and performance. The process for enabling or disabling CSM support varies depending on the motherboard brand, but it typically involves entering the BIOS setup menu and locating the Boot or Security tab.
