How To Secure Boot Vanguard

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Of course! Here is a lengthy, step-by-step guide on how to enable Secure Boot for Vanguard, complete with headings, styling, and FAQs.

How to Secure Boot Vanguard: A Comprehensive Step-by-Step Guide

Hey there, fellow gamer! Have you ever tried to launch Valorant, only to be met with that dreaded "This version of Vanguard requires Secure Boot to be enabled" error (VAN9001 or VAN9003)? It can be frustrating, but don't worry, you're not alone. This is a common issue, especially for those who have recently updated to Windows 11 or are running older systems. The good news is that enabling Secure Boot is a straightforward process, and this guide will walk you through it from start to finish. Let's get your game up and running!

Step 1: Check Your System's Current Status

Before you dive into your BIOS, let's see what your current settings are. We'll check the status of both Secure Boot and TPM 2.0, as Vanguard often requires both to be enabled.

Check Secure Boot State:
1. Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type msinfo32 and press Enter. This will open the System Information window.
3. In the left-hand panel, select System Summary.
4. On the right, find the entries for "BIOS Mode" and "Secure Boot State".
  - If the BIOS Mode is UEFI and the Secure Boot State is On, you're all set! You don't need to do anything else.
  - If the BIOS Mode is Legacy or CSM, you'll need to convert your disk to GPT and enable UEFI mode. We'll cover that in a later step.
  - If the Secure Boot State is Off, you need to enable it in your BIOS/UEFI settings.
  - If it says Unsupported, your hardware may not support Secure Boot.
Check TPM 2.0 Status:
1. Press the Windows Key + R again.
2. Type tpm.msc and press Enter.
3. A new window will pop up. Look at the Status section.
  - If it says "The TPM is ready for use" and the Specification Version is 2.0, you're good to go.
  - If it says "Compatible TPM cannot be found" or shows a different version, you'll need to enable it in your BIOS.

Engaging question: Did you find that your Secure Boot was off? Don't worry, let's move on to the next step to fix it!

Step 2: Enter the BIOS/UEFI Settings

To enable Secure Boot, you need to access your computer's BIOS or UEFI firmware. This is a special menu that loads before Windows.

Restart your PC.
- As soon as your PC starts to boot, you need to press a specific key to enter the BIOS. This key varies depending on your motherboard or PC manufacturer.
- Common keys include F2, F10, F12, Delete, or Esc.
- You can often see a message on the screen during the boot process that says something like "Press F2 to enter BIOS."
- If you miss it, just restart and try again!
Alternative Method via Windows:
- If you're having trouble catching the right key, you can enter the BIOS from within Windows.
- Go to Settings > Update & Security (on Windows 10) or System > Recovery (on Windows 11).
- Under "Advanced startup," click Restart now.
- After your PC restarts to the blue screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart. This will take you directly to your BIOS.

Step 3: Switch Boot Mode to UEFI (if required)

Secure Boot is a feature that only works in UEFI mode, not in the older Legacy or CSM (Compatibility Support Module) mode. If your BIOS Mode was "Legacy" in Step 1, you need to change it.

In your BIOS menu, navigate to the Boot or Boot Configuration tab.
Look for an option like "Boot Mode," "CSM," or "Legacy Support."
Set the boot mode to UEFI instead of Legacy or CSM.
Important Note: Changing this setting might prevent your Windows installation from booting if your disk is formatted as MBR. You will need to convert it to GPT. You can check this in Disk Management (Windows Key + X, then select Disk Management). Right-click your C: drive, go to Properties > Volumes, and check the Partition style. If it's MBR, you will need to convert it using the mbr2gpt tool (search online for a detailed guide on this as it requires command line usage and can be risky).

Step 4: Enable Secure Boot and TPM 2.0

This is the main event! Now we'll enable the features that Vanguard needs.

Navigate to the Security or Boot tab in your BIOS.
Look for the "Secure Boot" option. It might be in a submenu like "Secure Boot Configuration."
Change the setting from Disabled to Enabled.
You may need to set "OS Type" to "Windows UEFI mode" if that option is available.
Find and Enable TPM: In the same Security or Advanced settings, look for an option related to TPM (Trusted Platform Module), PTT (Intel Platform Trust Technology), or fTPM (AMD CPU fTPM).
Enable this option. It might be labeled as "Security Device Support" or similar.

Step 5: Save and Exit

Once you've made the necessary changes, you need to save them and restart your computer.

Find the Save and Exit option in your BIOS menu. It is often a key, like F10.
Confirm that you want to save the changes and exit.
Your PC will restart.
Let Windows boot up normally. It might take a little longer than usual as it recognizes the new settings.

Step 6: Verify and Play!

After your computer restarts, you can do a final check and then launch Valorant.

Repeat the steps from Step 1 to check the Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 status. You should now see "On" for Secure Boot State and "The TPM is ready for use" for TPM.
If everything looks good, launch Valorant!
The error message should be gone, and you'll be able to play the game without any issues.

Important Troubleshooting Tips

BIOS Layouts Vary: Keep in mind that every motherboard manufacturer has a different BIOS interface (e.g., ASUS, Dell, HP, MSI, Gigabyte). The names of menus and options might differ. If you can't find a specific setting, consult your motherboard's manual or do a quick online search for your specific model.
Reset Secure Boot Keys: If enabling Secure Boot doesn't work, you might need to reset the Secure Boot keys. In the BIOS, look for an option like "Key Management" or "Restore Factory Keys" under the Secure Boot settings.
Update Your BIOS: An outdated BIOS might not support Secure Boot or TPM 2.0. Visit your motherboard manufacturer's website and download the latest BIOS firmware. Be extremely careful when updating your BIOS, as a power outage during the process can brick your motherboard.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How to check if my PC supports Secure Boot?

You can check this by opening the System Information window (msinfo32) and looking at the "Secure Boot State" and "BIOS Mode" entries. If it says "Unsupported" for Secure Boot, your hardware may not support it.

How to access BIOS on my computer?

Restart your computer and repeatedly press the BIOS key (usually F2, F10, F12, or Delete) as it starts up. The key is often displayed on the boot screen.

How to enable UEFI mode in BIOS?

In your BIOS settings, find the "Boot" or "Boot Configuration" section and change the "Boot Mode" from Legacy or CSM to UEFI.

How to convert my disk from MBR to GPT?

You can use the mbr2gpt command-line tool. Note: This is an advanced procedure that requires caution. It's recommended to back up your data first. Open an administrative command prompt and run the commands mbr2gpt /validate /disk:0 /allowFullOS and then mbr2gpt /convert /disk:0 /allowFullOS.

How to check if TPM 2.0 is enabled?

Open the Run dialog (Win + R), type tpm.msc, and press Enter. The status window will show you if TPM is ready for use and its version.

How to fix the "VAN9001" error in Valorant?

The VAN9001 error is almost always caused by Secure Boot being disabled. Follow the steps in this guide to enable Secure Boot and UEFI mode in your BIOS.

How to update my motherboard's BIOS?

Visit your motherboard manufacturer's website, find your specific model, download the latest BIOS update, and follow their instructions carefully.

How to enable TPM on an AMD system?

In the BIOS, look for a setting like "AMD fTPM switch" or "AMD PSP fTPM" in the Security or Advanced settings and enable it.

How to enable TPM on an Intel system?

In the BIOS, look for a setting like "Intel PTT" (Platform Trust Technology) or "Security Device Support" in the Security or Advanced settings and enable it.

How to reset Secure Boot keys?

In the Secure Boot section of your BIOS, there is usually a "Key Management" or "Reset to Default Secure Boot Keys" option. Select it to reset the keys.

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