It happens that the BIOS does not see bootable USB flash drive. This can happen on any personal computer with absolutely any operating system, be it Windows XP, G7 or G8. What to do if BIOS This is a very popular question among all users. In addition, any owner has encountered such a problem at least once in his life. personal computer or laptop. Some people in such a situation immediately contact service centers. And some even go to the store where they bought the flash drive, indignant and complaining that it doesn’t work.
Of course, it may also be that the whole issue is really a faulty device. But sometimes BOIS does not see the flash drive for a number of other reasons. And even if everything was fine before, the problems that have arisen now can be caused by various malfunctions that simply “accumulated” in the system. Or the flash drive may not have enough power for your system unit. Or... Below are the most popular reasons why problems arise with identifying flash drives and other USB devices, as well as ways to solve these problems.
Why doesn't BIOS recognize removable media?
When you connect a device via a USB port, it automatic detection, and Device Manager reports that new media is connected. In some cases, it also asks you to install drivers or updates. But sometimes the BIOS does not see the bootable USB flash drive or cannot synchronize its operation. What to do in this case? There are several most likely causes and solutions to this problem.
USB controller: setup
BIOS is part operating system, which is where problems with a flash drive lie in most cases. Where exactly is the problem? The most obvious reason why the BIOS - USB controller is not working correctly or is simply disabled. How to deal with the problem? Turn it on! To do this, in the Award BIOS section, find the Integrated Peripherals subsection, and then go to the second menu item - Advinced (where there will be advanced BIOS settings). Then we find the USB Configuration category, go into it, press Enter and pay attention to the inscription that appears opposite the USB parameters. Disabled and Enabled may light up there. If the controller is in a disabled state, then you need to turn it on using the pointer buttons. To save the changed settings, be sure to press F10.
If the controller is connected, but the BIOS does not see the flash drive, you can try it on another port of the system unit. This one may be faulty or incorrectly configured, which is preventing it from functioning.
Sometimes none of the ports can detect the flash drive. In this case, the USB controller itself makes sense. This problem especially often occurs after a reinstallation or rollback of the operating system, when some of the necessary data may be lost or the settings are reset to “default”. Therefore, re-downloading all latest versions drivers can solve the problem with the flash drive.
Compatibility issues
The vast majority of modern peripheral devices only supports USB versions 2.0., which, of course, will not be recognized on computers whose interface is configured for 1.1. In this case, to solve the problem you just need to install the supporting software, which, as a rule, always comes with the device - on the same disk with drivers or separately. Sometimes required applications can be downloaded from the official websites of USB drive manufacturers.
System file INFCACHE.1 - the root of all evil
If you have tried all the above methods, but the problem has not disappeared, then you can try another, but more drastic method. Just remove it from your computer system file INFCACHE.1. You can find it in root directory WINDOWS, on hard drive C or wherever your operating system is installed. The full path to this file looks like this: WINDOWS:system32DriveStore. You can also find it through a search or using If after deleting this file the problem disappeared, then all the problems were related to cache memory corruption. The next time you turn on your computer, the INFCACHE.1 file will be restored by itself.
Is it still a matter of BIOS?
Instructions for setting up this part of the system software will help cope with problems with a flash drive in some cases. For example, if, as mentioned above, the problem is a disabled USB controller. Correct setting BIOS is a simple matter, but important. Almost any user can cope with this, even with little experience working with a personal computer.
So, in order to get into the parameters, you need to press the F2 key (in some cases DELETE) at the moment when it loads BIOS system. Next you need to go to the Advanced tab, where you can manage advanced features, select the Integrated Peripherals section and press Enter. By performing these simple manipulations, you can see if the controller is working, as well as other means that affect the functioning of the ports and the automatic detection of connected USB devices.
BIOS does not see other devices connected via the port
If the computer cannot detect not only the flash drive, but also other external media and devices connected via USB (for example, a printer, speakers, camera or phone), then this case requires special and radical measures.
Remove the casing (protective side plates) from the computer. As a rule, they are either bolted to the case or fastened with “latches”, then we connect a flash drive or other device directly to the USB port on the motherboard. In most cases, this may be enough for the BIOS to see the device. But if this does not happen, then you can try installing the appropriate driver package for correct operation and eliminating incompatibility problems. If this doesn’t help, there is still a way out!
Other reasons why the BIOS does not see a flash drive and other USB devices
It often happens that many different devices are connected to the computer, requiring a large amount of energy. For example, a scanner or powerful sound system. And just these two connected devices may be enough to cause a power shortage when connecting even such an economical medium as a flash drive. What can we say about trying to connect a camera to the computer in order to reset or view photos on big screen. In this case, the BIOS does not see the flash drive (or other device) due to too low level electricity that can be spent on this port. In other words, the device may need more power than the USB connector can provide. As a result, it simply does not have enough power to turn on and function.
In order to eliminate this problem, you need to find out the USB controller of your personal computer. You can clarify this in the “Device Manager” on the “Properties” tab in the “Power” column. USB 2.0 devices typically require 500 mA, while newer 3.0 devices consume 900 mA. Based on this, it can be assumed that sometimes, in order to connect a device, you first need to disconnect one or even several previously connected but unused devices. this moment devices. If you charge your phone or player from a computer, and the flash drive is not detected at the same time, then you should try disconnecting the charging cord for a while. In 90% of cases, this will be enough for the BIOS to see the connected device.
Or maybe the flash drive is to blame?
Have you tried everything but nothing helps? Then there is a possibility that the problem is with the device itself. You can read reviews about your flash drive. BIOS may not be the reason why it is not detected if you come across a device with a factory defect, for example. It's also possible that this model requires some special manipulations or the presence of a USB-HUB for correct operation. There can be many options, so you should explore everything existing methods defining the problem.
Conclusion
If you identify a problem due to which the BIOS does not see the flash drive, and its solution is unsuccessful, then, of course, you should contact service center. But before that, simply disable the power management function of the USB controller from the operating system. To do this, go to the “Device Manager”, find the “Universal Serial Bus Controllers” tab, select the “USB Root Hub” subsection and double-click the “Power Management” window, uncheck the corresponding box and click “OK” to save the changes. And we repeat this procedure for each USB hub. Perhaps this is what will save you from going to the service center.
Quite often, when working on a computer, it becomes necessary to use a bootable USB flash drive. The average user, as a rule, uses it to install the OS and run any programs from DOS.
Due to the prevalence bootable flash drives many users have problems with them. A frequently encountered difficulty is that . This entails the inaccessibility of its functionality to the user.
You may find it useful:
Hardware faults
The problem of the absence of a bootable flash drive in the BIOS occurs when certain hardware malfunctions of the computer or flash drive occur. When faced with this problem, you need to check:
- Flash drive performance;
- The computer's USB port and card reader or extension cord are in good working order if the flash drive is connected through it.
If the flash drive is equipped with an indicator light, but it does not blink when connected, this may indicate a hardware malfunction. Errors at the hardware level of a flash drive are diagnosed using specialized software(eg Victoria).
Victoria HDD is an excellent program for diagnosing drive failures
Troubleshooting hardware problems is often difficult to accomplish. In some cases, it is easier, faster and cheaper to simply replace the equipment. If the BIOS does not see the bootable USB flash drive due to hardware faults, it can help:
- Using another flash drive and/or another USB port;
- Connecting a flash drive to a computer directly without using adapters;
- Using the rear panel USB port;
- Connecting the USB port to power if it is not connected to it.
If the above methods for solving the problem do not lead to positive result, the fault is software related.
Software problems
Due to problems at the software level, most situations arise with the absence of a bootable flash drive in the BIOS. Its software malfunctions almost always arise due to incorrect creation of the bootable USB flash drive.
User inattention during the process of creating a bootable drive, errors in the operating system and BIOS microcode - all this leads to various software problems with the flash drive. In particular, the BIOS does not see the bootable USB flash drive. This problem can be solved in the following ways:
- By re-creating a bootable flash drive with strict adherence to the instructions and/or using special software for this. So, if a bootable USB flash drive is created manually, you need to format it to the FAT32 file system;
- Eliminating problems with the operating system or BIOS microcode by updating, reinstalling or flashing them;
- By enabling the USB controller option in the BIOS settings. To do this, you need to find the “USB Controller” function and move it to the “Enabled” position.
Sometimes there are quite unpleasant situations when the operating system crashes. And to restore you need the original disk. If you don’t have one available, you can write the image to a regular flash drive. But here's the problem - what to do when the BIOS does not allow booting from a flash drive? Many users simply do not know what to do and are lost in this matter. Let's try to dot all the i's.
How to enable it in BIOS using the simplest method?
To set these parameters, you must first decide how exactly you will enter the BIOS. The most common way is to use the Del, F2, F12, etc. keys.
However, on the same laptops Sony Vaio access is carried out using a special ASSIST button located on the keyboard panel. On some laptops, the BIOS can only be accessed by calling the primary boot menu using the Esc key.
How can I set the BIOS to boot from a flash drive? Yes, very simple. After calling the I/O system, you need to go to the boot section. Here you need to find the boot priority line, which may have different names, depending on the developer and manufacturer of the BIOS (Boot Device Priority, Boot Sequence, etc.). In any case, something like this will be present. But that's not the point.
What to do if the BIOS does not allow booting from a flash drive?
It also happens that the bootable flash drive is not recognized by the primary I/O system. With what it can be connected? There are usually several reasons for this:
- incorrectly recorded image or installation distribution;
- damage to the USB drive itself.
To make sure that all the steps for booting from a flash drive are completed correctly, there are several steps you need to take. For now, let’s leave the question of how to enable booting from a flash drive in the BIOS in the background, and move on to pressing problems.
Checking in Device Manager
Let's start with the last point. When checking the device itself for its functionality, there can be two options: either it is faulty itself, or the accompanying driver responsible for recognizing the flash drive by the operating system is missing or incorrectly installed.
In case of malfunctions everything is clear. The device will simply have to be replaced. But what to do when it is in working condition (at least detected on another computer or laptop)? We need to check its functionality. And to do this, in the simplest version, you just need to insert it into the appropriate USB 2.0/3.0 port, and then call the standard “Device Manager” through the “Control Panel” or use the devmgmt command in the “Run” menu bar (Win + R).
Let's assume that after inserting it into the port, it may either not be displayed in the manager or be displayed with a yellow icon on which it is present. In the second case, everything is simple: you need to install or re-install the driver. It may very well be that the system itself does not find suitable driver, although it should do it automatically. But this mostly applies to non-standard devices. Flash drives like Transcend are usually recognized immediately.
If the device is not displayed in the corresponding manager, there may also be two reasons: either the corresponding universal USB controller driver is not installed, or the port itself is faulty. Again, you should install the driver (the controller is indicated yellow or is not in the manager at all), or try to plug the flash drive into a different port. It is worth considering that if a device is designed exclusively for data transfer with USB 3.0 support, it will not be detected when connected to a standard 2.0 port.
Formatting USB device partitions
Let’s leave aside the question of how to boot from a flash drive in the BIOS for now, and let’s move on to the procedures, without which even recording an image to install the system on the device may be in vain.
First of all, if the device has problems in operation or no action can be taken with it, you should first format it. In this case, it is not advisable to quickly clear the table of contents, but rather complete formatting. Only in this case will the file system contained on it ensure correct data transfer and reading.
This operation is performed in standard Explorer. On the device you just need to right-click and select the appropriate line from the menu. In the new window, be sure to remove the “bird” from the line quick formatting, and then activate the start of the process. Depending on the total volume, this may take a long time.
Creating a bootable distribution
If we consider the question of how to set boot from a flash drive in the BIOS even more broadly, we cannot ignore the issue of creating a boot image and transferring it to the drive. This can be done using the UltraISO utility or similar.
However, the original installer must be used as the source. Windows disk. Actually, it’s not that difficult, so there’s no point in dwelling on this in detail. And if the BIOS does not allow booting from a flash drive, in the future it all comes down to correctly transferring the image or unpacked distribution files to the drive. Here you will have to tinker a little.
Media preparation
If you use your own system tools, even after formatting with a USB device, you still need to perform a series of additional actions(assuming that the image has already been created from the original disk using the same UltraISO programs or even 7-Zip, and the flash drive is in working condition and connected to a computer or laptop).
First we call command line(cmd in the “Run” menu), always on behalf of the system administrator. In the console that appears, enter and press the enter button.
After this, use the list disk command, again, followed by pressing the Enter key, after which we look through the available disks and remember the USB device number. To accurately check the USB drive number, you can use the diskmgmt.msc command entered in the Run menu.
Now in the console you need to enter select command disk and specify the number of the disk you are looking for, separated by a space. Next, the device should be cleared of its contents using the clean command.
The next step is to create a primary boot partition. This is done using the create partition primary command followed by entering. After confirmation of a successful operation appears on the screen, use the select partition 1 command, then - active (to activate the selected partition) and finally - format fs=ntfs quick for formatting with selection If you need to create a FAT32 file system, use a similar format fs command =fat32 quick.
The next step is to assign a name to the device using the assign command (the name will be assigned automatically). Finally, enter exit and finish the job. The bootable USB device is ready to use. All that remains is to correctly transfer the distribution files to it.
Transferring data to a flash drive
On at this stage no more configuration required. We don’t yet need a BIOS to boot from a flash drive, but we will need the 7-Zip program. In the very simple version with its help you can correctly copy installation files to the media (roughly speaking, extract them from the image).
Launch the Zip utility File Manager from the standard “Explorer”, then select the installation distribution image previously created or downloaded from the Internet, specify the USB flash drive as the final device and confirm the actions by pressing the OK button. At the end of the process, the media will be completely ready for use.
Start download
Now let’s move on to the question of how to set the BIOS to boot from a flash drive directly. We reboot the system and at the initial stage press a key or key combination to enter the BIOS settings. Usually these are Del, F2, F12 (for ASUS laptops, BIOS loading from a flash drive is done this way), but other keys or combinations described above can also be used. Depending on the manufacturer of the equipment, you may first need to call up the main menu. This situation is typical for laptops like HP - booting from a flash drive (BIOS) is installed somewhat differently, although the operations themselves are very similar.
In the boot section, look for the Boot Device Priority item and look at the line 1-st Boot Device. By pressing the PgDn key, we select the desired device, after which we exit and save the parameters (as a rule, this is done using the F10 key). This is followed by a reboot, and the installation starts automatically.
However, it is not enough to know how to select boot from a flash drive in the BIOS. It is important to remember that you should call up the settings of the primary I/O system only when a USB device is connected before starting to boot your computer or laptop. Otherwise, the flash drive simply will not be detected.
How to fix problems?
Now let's look at a situation where the device seems to be working, since all the steps described above were supposedly performed correctly, but in fact there is still no boot from a flash drive in the BIOS. What to do in this case?
We use the same command line. Let's assume that the USB device in the system is designated by the letter F, and optical drive- E. Now you need to enter the command E:\Boot\bootsect.exe /nt60 F: (F is a flash drive in our case, and E is a disk drive).
Alternative method
If this does not work, enter the following one by one:
F:\Boot\bootsect.exe /nt60 F:
After this, everything will definitely work as expected.
Compatibility issues
If none of the above methods help, first you should pay attention to the state of the drivers. The best option is to use programs like Driver Booster, which can update drivers automatically.
If everything is fine with them, the reason may be that the user is trying to install a 32-bit system over a 64-bit one. In addition, the file system on the USB drive and the installation distribution may also differ in terms of bit depth. Actually, the flash drive itself may not support USB ports 3.0, in which it is included. Here you need to be very careful.
Instead of a total
That, in fact, is all that concerns how to set boot from a flash drive in the BIOS. Of course, many users may have questions about the advisability of using their own system tools for preliminary actions, because automated programs make this much faster and easier. But here I would like to note that such knowledge is extremely important, and programs in case of failures in Internet access are also not always available.
But prerequisite, as is already clear, is a disk image that is created based on the original or downloaded from the Internet. You can't go anywhere without him. It remains to add that attention should also be focused on the bit depth of the system being installed, since the 32-bit version will not install over the 64-bit version without formatting the system partition. This is only due to the fact that OS versions require 32 bits and 64-bit modifications require at least NTFS. And the flash drive itself must contain the corresponding file systems FAT or NTFS, not UDP, as is sometimes the case. As for the volume, 4 GB will be quite enough for any system, including even the tenth modification that is gaining popularity.
Even the most experienced user at some point may encounter an unpleasant moment when trying to start the system from a bootable USB flash drive (for Windows reinstallation, for example) ends in nothing, since the BIOS simply does not see the flash drive. There is a logical explanation for this phenomenon. In this manual you will find a couple of tips that will help solve the problem.
What to do if the BIOS does not see the bootable USB flash drive
First, make sure your USB port is working. Try connecting to a port on the motherboard itself. If you try to solve this problem by rewriting bootable media, but inserting it into a port that is not working in the BIOS or in principle will be of little use from your efforts, to put it mildly. If the port is working, move on to the next solution.
Most often, bootable flash drives do not appear in the BIOS or Boot Menu due to the fact that the image recorded on it does not support booting in the mode installed on the motherboard (by the user or the manufacturer). For example, an image for UEFI is recorded on a flash drive, and the motherboard operates in Legacy mode or vice versa. On many motherboards Hybrid mode is supported, which allows you to boot from both UEFI drives and Legacy. You need to go into the BIOS (UEFI) and find the desired item.
For example, on my motherboard from Gigabyte it is called BootModeSelection and allows you to select two modes at once. It is precisely because of the hybrid mode that when entering the Boot Menu, one drive is displayed twice - one Legacy and one UEFI (if an image is recorded for both systems at once), which allows you to select your preferred boot mode without overwriting the image or changing BIOS settings. On other motherboards, selecting the boot mode may be called differently. Eg, Legacy Support or Compatibility Support Mode(it may be abbreviated CSM). IN in some cases it is also called the name of the operating system, like Windows 10 / 8 for UEFI, and for Legacy Windows 7 or Other OS.
If your motherboard only supports one of the boot types, you will need to either switch the BIOS to Legacy / UEFI, or reset it. An error with the image most often occurs among users who have not figured out how to correctly write Windows to a flash drive. Many people simply copy the contents of the image to removable storage, and then try to boot from it. This method will work on a UEFI system, but will not work on Legacy. And yes, you need to copy content image, not the image itself separate file. Copying the image itself will not work even on UEFI. If the BIOS does not see the flash drive, we recommend overwriting the drive, because when you try to install Windows from a Legacy drive to UEFI system You may also need to disable Secure Boot.
It is also worth considering that on some motherboards the flash drive must be inserted into the USB port before the computer starts booting. In other words, it will not appear in the boot menu list if you insert the USB flash drive into the port after entering the same Boot Menu. Insert the drive into the port, restart the computer, go to the Boot Menu and boot from the flash drive.
If all else fails, try recording Windows on another flash drive and boot from it. Alternatively, connect the drive to a USB 2.0 port, not USB 3.0.
On older BIOSes, USB flash drives are not displayed as a separate boot menu item at all (USB-HDD does not work). In this case, you need to go into the BIOS and find the priority settings hard drives. Your flash drive with the recorded system should be displayed in the list of connected drives. Install it in the first place, save, reboot, and then in the boot menu select start from HDD. The BIOS will select the flash drive first and start booting from it, which in turn will allow you to install the system.
If all attempts are in vain, you will have to burn Windows to another type of media. If the computer you are trying to install Windows on has a DVD drive, try burning the system to a DVD and booting from it. This advice will cause ridicule for many, but if all else fails (this primarily applies to older computers), booting from a DVD should help solve the situation. You can burn the image to disk in the same Media Creation Tool, just select the target drive not as USB, but as a DVD drive.
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