USB drive not booting? Fixes that work
If your computer ignores the USB drive, the cause is almost always a setting rather than a fault. Work through these in order.
Quick checks
- Use a USB port directly on the computer, preferably at the back of a desktop.
- Try USB 2.0 ports if USB 3 ports are not detected.
- Press the boot menu key repeatedly right after power on. See the boot menu keys.
Firmware settings
- Move USB up in the boot order.
- Choose the UEFI entry for the drive when two are listed.
- Check Secure Boot if the system is blocked.
- Switch storage mode from RAID to AHCI if your internal drive is missing from an installer.
Windows keeps starting
Windows Fast Startup can skip the boot menu. Shut down fully by holding Shift while selecting Shut down, then try again.
Still stuck?
Message us through our eBay store with your computer model and we will help you work out the right settings. Read UEFI vs legacy BIOS for background.