How Do I Enable BIOS To Boot From USB

Do you want to enable BIOS to boot from USB? Windows executes lots of PC configurations, but installing a new OS such as Windows 10 n different configurations that exist is another thing. The steps might be different depending on whether your PC has an existing Windows 10 installation on it, an older model of Windows on it, or a completely different OS (operating system) on it, such as Linux or macOS. In every case, installing Windows 10 depends on booting from a device besides your main hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD). If you want to do so, you want to access the UEFI or BIOS setup page.

In this guide, you’ll learn the basic steps that apply to some cases. Then, we’ll discuss some troubleshooting and alternate techniques, if the simple approach doesn’t work for you.

What’s the Difference between BIOS vs. UEFI?

Every PC, whether it’s an HP, DELL, Acer, or also a custom-built system, is an island unto itself before Windows 10 begins. In the 1980s, hardware vendors started working to standardize common access routines and commands for managing or organizing your BIOS Boot Options. The BIOS stands for Basic In Output System, which is a critical bit of low-level code saved in nonvolatile memory that your PC uses to manage or organize your hardware and load Windows 10 or another OS.

The latest standard known as UEFI or Universal Extensible Firmware Interface came online a decade ago and became the standard for the latest computers and devices built-in Windows 8 or later. UEFI also offers many advanced options than BIOS. As it supports features like a GUI and mouse support. It makes it simpler or easier to configure boot and hardware settings. UEFI supports current security standards required by Windows 10 and older releases. Like Secure Boot, that maintains the integrity of a PC’s state and secures harmful code from compromising your PC at boot time. After decades of PC using BIOS, viruses become more advanced, where it is even possible for harmful code to easily infect key OS code like the Master Boot Record.

Enable BIOS To Boot From USB -> Different Ways To Access BIOS Or UEFI Setup Screen

Due to various configurations or brands, and the ongoing revisions to these systems, this guide is not comprehensive. Here is a list of common tricks for booting into the UEFI or BIOS firmware interfaces.

If you want to enter into the BIOS, you want to hit a specific key or combination of keys while your PC is booting up. Usually, your window to do this is very brief—just hit the button when the splash screen with the developer logo is shown. If it looks like your PC boots very fast for you to get a chance to press the button, you might want to turn off fast startup.

Here is a list of the common commands or functions for loading the BIOS. Also note, that your BIOS screen might show a hint to highlight the exact function key for loading the firmware. Initiate your PC then proceed to strike the exact key or command to load the BIOS. After successfully loading the BIOS or UEFI, plug your USB media or connect the DVD install media.

Brand / Manufacturer	Key
Acer (Aspire, Altos, Extensa, Ferrari, Power, Veriton, TravelMate)	F2 / Delete
Acer (older models)	F1 / Ctrl + Alt + Esc
ASRock	F2 / Delete
Asus	Delete
Biostar	Delete
Chaintech	Delete
Compaq (Deskpro, Portable, Presario, Prolinea, Systempro)	F10
Compaq (older models)	F1 / F2 / F10 / Delete
Dell (Dimension, Inspiron, Latitude, OptiPlex, Precision, Vostro, XPS)	F2
Dell (older or other models)	Ctrl + Alt + Enter / Fn + Esc / Fn + F1 / Delete / Reset twice
eMachines (eMonster, eTower, eOne, S-Series, T-Series)	Tab / Delete
eMachines (older models)	F2
Foxconn	Delete
Fujitsu	F2
Gigabyte	Delete
HP (Alternative, Tablet PC)	Esc / F2 / F10 / F12
HP (OmniBook, Pavilion, Tablet, TouchSmart, Vectra)	F1
Intel	F2
Lenovo (3000 Series, IdeaPad, ThinkCentre, ThinkPad, ThinkStation)	F1 / F2
Lenovo (older models)	Ctrl + Alt + F3 / Ctrl + Alt + Ins / Fn + F1
MSI	Delete
Pegatron	F2 / F10 / Delete
Samsung	F2
Sony	F1 / F2 / F3
Toshiba	F1 / Esc

Navigating BIOS / UEFI Setup

Every BIOS or UEFI seems quite different and works quite differently. But some of them can share their basic principles for navigation. For menu-driven UEFI or BIOS interfaces, your keyboard’s arrow keys can be used to access and input menus. The configuring boot options settings are hidden in the submenus, which you will have to navigate using these keys.

On my HP computer, the option for modifying the PC boot order is under Storage > Boot Order. On my other PC, an HP Elitebook, the boot order is known as Boot Options present under the System Configuration tab, which uses a graphical interface. However, the experience varies depending on the PC you are using. Also, if they are using the same brands. Move through these interfaces simply by browsing and searching for logical labels that might suggest what you are wondering for – boot, storage, disks, etc.

Enable BIOS To Boot From USB:

How To Modify BIOS / UEFI Boot Order To Boot From A USB / CD Drive

After you’ve found the Boot Order menu, the interface will present menus showing the boot order structure. Boot order determines which devices your PC will try to boot from 1st, 2nd, etc. when you enable it.  Also, your 1st boot device is your SSD containing Windows 10 or hard disk. Also, you have your DVD, CD, or USB thumb drive, set as the 1st boot device without affecting Windows 10 loading into the main memory. After having a removable storage device then specify as your first boot device the BIOS will check if there is any removable storage as part of POST (Power On Self Test). When a DVD is detected or a USB thumb drive, a prompt appears asking you to boot from it before loading any existing OS on the local disk.

Move ahead through the options will needs using the arrow keys. If you don’t view your connected USB device listed, select the USB storage listed under Legacy sources or EFI. Also, use the down arrow key to move to the selection. However, some traditional BIOS interfaces will need to use function keys like F6 or F5 to navigate up and down the boot order. After choosing the required option, you want to confirm these modifications. Then hitting F10 will usually save them. If not, read the on-screen prompts, which will identify the required function key for storing or accepting modifications.

Booting From A CD/DVD Or USB drive

When the required option has been chosen and confirmed. It depends on the type of installation media that you are using, you might view many options. USB media will quickly boot into a Windows Boot Manager, prompting selection of the Windows 10 architecture i.e 32 or 64 bit – you would like to download/install.

If you are installing or downloading from DVD media, Windows 10 prompt appears and asks you to press any key on your keyboard to load setup.

Whenever you’ve created your bootable installation media perfectly, the on-screen prompts should guide you through the remaining process.

Enable BIOS To Boot From USB -> Troubleshooting Steps

Turning Off Fast Startup

If you are trying to load the firmware on a PC already executes Windows, this might prove complex because of the Fast Startup setting that might be turned on. Fast Startup was first introduced in Windows 8 to make Windows begin quicker after turn off by caching key pieces of OS code.

If you are facing issues loading your BIOS or UEFI or modifying your boot order, start Windows then disable Fast Startup.

Step 1:

Hit Windows key + X

Step 2:

Tap Power Options

Step 3:

Tap Choose what the power buttons do

Step 4:

Then tap the link Change settings that are currently unavailable

Step 5:

At the bottom of Shutdown settings, unmark Turn on fast startup

Boot Device Menu / Boot Override

Some PC will enable you to hit a function key that redirects to a direct menu where you can choose, which volume: SD Card, USB thumb drive, external hard disk, local disk, or optical media you want to boot from. HP or Dell systems, for example, will provide you an option to boot from USB or DVD after hitting the F12 or F9 keys respectively. You can access it when you’ve already entered the UEFI or BIOS setup screen.

Few commands for accessing the direct boot menu on famous brands:

Brand	Command
Acer	Esc / F9 / F12
Asrock	F11
Asus	Esc / F8
Compaq	Esc / F9
Dell	F12
Fujitsu	F12
Gigabyte	F12
HP	Esc / F9
Intel	F10
Lenovo	F12
MSI	F11
Packard Bell	F8
Samsung	Esc
Sony Vaio	F11
Toshiba	F12

MS Surface & Advance Windows 10 Devices

The Microsoft Surface uses its amazing interface for booting the UEFI firmware interface.

Initially, you want to access your BIOS / UEFI setup utility on your Surface.

Step 1:

Keep in mind that your Surface Pro or Surface is fully powered down.

Step 2:

Hit and hold the volume up button present on the left side of the device.

Step 3:

Hit and hold the power button for few seconds present on the top of the device.

Step 4:

Now release the power button after few seconds but still hold down on the volume button until you view BIOS UEFI.

The Surface uses a combination of touch, text-driven interface, and mouse input to change boot settings. Move down to the option Configure Alternate System Boot Order with the help of a down arrow key. Then press the Enter key, which loads a submenu. Then use the up and down arrow to choose the first boot device then press Enter.

Move down to the Exit setup menu, press Enter. Then use the right or left arrow keys to choose yes then press Enter.

How To Configure UEFI On Windows 8 /10 PCs

If your PC or device is already executing an existing model of Windows 8 or 10, you might be able to start booting from removable storage from within the OS. Just tap Start > Settings > Update & security > Recovery. Then, under Advanced startup, tap Restart now.

If the choice is unavailable, then sign out from Windows 10, then hold down the shift key. Also, tap the Power menu, then tap Restart. Then hold down the shift key then wait a while until the Recovery environment is loaded. Then select an options menu that allows you access and boot from removable media connected to the system.

If you want to access advanced boot options, then tap the Troubleshoot, then tap the UEFI Firmware Settings to make further modifications.

What About Macintosh computers?

For the last 10 years, Apple Intel-based Mac computers support Windows. Some Macs will enable you to boot from a CD by hitting and holding C on startup. Booting an OS rather than OS X or macOS from a USB drive is a little more involved. We are preparing your Mac for installing or downplaying Windows 10 using the Boot Camp wizard in macOS. After preparing your boot camp partition and install media, booting from is quite easy or simple as holding down the Option key before you hear the startup chime.

Conclusion:

Here’s all about “Enable BIOS To Boot From USB”. One of our users will learn from this is that not all PC configurations are alike, also if they are from the same brand. Hopefully, reading through this article has given you enough knowledge about the process to help you to configure your PC, or you can ask any questions if you run into an issue.

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