Why doesn't the BIOS recognize the USB flash drive? What to do if the BIOS does not see the flash drive - instructions and solution to the problem. Why doesn't the BIOS recognize removable media?

17.11.2023

- Hello!

- Hello...

- Can you help me, I’ve been fiddling with installing Windows for an hour now and I just can’t get the BIOS to boot from a flash drive - it just doesn’t see it!!!

- Well... try to remove the invisibility cap from her.😊...

I recently had such a dialogue with one of my friends; we, of course, eliminated the problem of invisibility, but the conversation was long.

In general, this problem is most often encountered when reinstalling Windows, and sometimes solving it is far from easy. In fact, there are quite a few reasons for invisibility, but I will highlight the most basic ones in this article. After going through them, I think you can easily configure and install a new Windows...

The main reasons why the BIOS does not see the bootable USB flash drive

1) The bootable USB flash drive with Windows was written incorrectly

This is perhaps the most common reason. Many users create bootable flash drives using one scenario: they simply copy files from a Windows CD/DVD to a flash drive. At the same time, some users say that everything works...

This may be true, but it is not entirely correct. To create bootable flash drives, it is best to use special utilities (especially since there are quite a few of them!).

Example: how to properly burn a bootable USB flash drive in Rufus

1) First step: insert the flash drive into the USB port of the computer. We copy all important data from it to the hard drive (if any). After which you can format it (optional).

2) Second step: the Rufus program needs to be launched on behalf of administrator (to do this, just right-click on the executable file “rufus.exe” and select it in the context menu that appears);

3) Now let’s move on to the Rufus settings (screen below + explanations for each item):

graph "Device": select our flash drive for recording;
Under number 2 The screenshot shows a button that specifies an ISO image file with Windows OS that you intend to write to a USB flash drive (just specify it);
graph "Partition scheme": "GPT for computers with UEFI" (if you have a new PC/laptop, more details about this here: ) ;
graph "File system" : select FAT 32 (usually this is installed by default);
The last button (“Start”) is to begin the recording process.

Before recording, Rufus, by the way, will warn you that all data on the flash drive will be deleted. If you didn’t have time to save something, save it after formatting the flash drive - restoring the data will not be so easy...

That's all, a flash drive written in this way should work 100% and be visible in almost any modern BIOS version (UEFI) ...

2) Boot priority is not set in BIOS (UEFI)

In order to be able to boot from a flash drive and start installing Windows, you need to configure the BIOS/UEFI correctly (and there are always difficulties with this, especially for novice users).

First you need to enter the BIOS settings.

To help!

BIOS has boot priority(sometimes called the boot queue): for example, the floppy disk is first checked for the presence of boot records, if not, then the hard drive, then the CD drive, etc. As soon as boot records are found on some media, the computer will boot from it.

Our task: change the boot priority so that first the computer checks the boot records on the USB flash drive, and then on the hard drive.

For this purpose, there is a BOOT section in the BIOS. For example, the screenshot below illustrates the following boot priority:

CD/DVD discs;
HDD.

Naturally, with this setup - no matter how many times you insert a flash drive into the USB port - the computer will not see it!

BIOS will not recognize the flash drive

By changing the boot priority to your own - that is, putting USB first instead of the CD/DVD drive, you can boot from a flash drive (don't forget to save the settings - key F10, or Exit: Save and Exit) .

Now the BIOS will see the flash drive

Boot section - boot setup (example UEFI settings)

What else I want to note: Different BIOS versions may differ in menus, sections, and overall appearance.

The screenshot below shows the settings " Award Software Advanced BIOS Features" - in it, to boot from a flash drive, you need to opposite the item " First Boot Device" (note: first boot device)- set USB-HDD(this is a flash drive). Next, save the settings (F10 key).

In the BIOS, laptops usually always have a section BOOT. Having entered it, you also need to put the device in first place: USB Storage Device, USB-HDD, USB device, etc. (depending on your laptop model, BIOS version).

3) Secure Boot is not disabled in the BIOS (or the wrong flash drive)

Secure Boot- This is a relatively new feature that is designed to prevent unwanted software from launching when the computer is turned on. All modern laptops and computers have this option (until about 2013, it was almost never seen). Secure Boot is supported by Windows 8, 8.1, 10.

There are two solutions:

Create a UEFI flash drive, thereby not having to disable Secure Boot in the BIOS. How to create such a bootable USB flash drive is described here: ;
Disable Secure Boot in Bios and install Windows OS ( By the way, for example, Windows 7 does not support this function at all).

To disable Secure Boot, you need to enter the BIOS and open the partition BOOT (in most cases this is true, but sometimes the "Advanced" section contains this function).

As a rule, you need to change the following in BOOT (using the example of a Dell laptop):

Boot List Option: change UEFI to Legacy;
Fast Boot: Change Enabled to Disabled (i.e. turn off “fast” boot);
do not forget to change the download priority (see screenshot below).

Secure Boot enabled/disabled

4) USB 3.0 or USB 2.0

On new computers and laptops, some of the USB ports are made in the old “format” - USB 2.0, while others are in the new one - USB 3.0. When copying files to a flash drive, there is no big difference which USB to use (well, except for the data transfer speed).

But when installing Windows, the choice of USB port plays a key role! The fact is that Windows 7 does not support installation from USB 3.0! Those. If you insert a bootable USB flash drive into such a port, you will not be able to install Windows 7!

How to distinguish a USB 3.0 port from a USB 2.0 port

Everything is very simple - USB 3.0 are marked in blue (or dark blue): both plugs and ports are marked. Pay attention to the two photos below - everything is clear from them...

Note: Windows 8, 10 OS can be installed using USB 3.0 (USB 3.1) ports.

5) Is the USB port working...

Without going too far from USB ports, I would also like to dwell on this point: does the USB port even work? If you have an “old” Windows OS installed and it still “somehow” works (and in most cases it does), try booting the computer and checking the port.

I recommend paying special attention to the USB ports that are located on the front panel of the system unit, on keyboards, adapters, etc. Often, the reason lies precisely in this: for example, one of my friends could not install Windows, because he connected a bootable flash drive to the USB ports on the keyboard, and these ports started working only after Windows loaded.

USB ports on the keyboard

Therefore, simple advice: try connecting the flash drive to another USB port (preferably USB 2.0), on the back of the system unit.

6) "Beastly" collection with Windows

There is nothing special to comment on here - any assemblies can cause anything (I, of course, am exaggerating somewhat, but still...).

To help! How to download ISO image from Windows 10 OS [officially and legally] -

7) "Old"PC, does not support booting from flash drives

If you have an old computer, then it is quite possible that it may not support the boot option from USB flash drives at all. (however, in this case you won’t be able to configure the BIOS - it simply won’t have an option to select USB-Flash Drive (i.e. it will be obvious)).

If you have an old PC and want to install from a flash drive, there are several ways:

update the BIOS version to a newer one that supports booting from a flash drive (If, of course, there is such an update on the website of your equipment manufacturer. Important! Updating the BIOS may cause your PC to not work!);
use a boot manager such as Plop Boot Manager. In this case, you will first boot into this manager (by the way, it can also be burned to a CD), and then select boot from a USB device in it and continue the installation.

So, you have decided to install a new system, or use some kind of utility to work with the same system, but it must be written to a flash drive. You insert a flash drive into a USB port, and then a question arises: Why doesn't the BIOS recognize the bootable USB flash drive??

You created a bootable USB flash drive, but the BIOS does not see it. Many factors play a role here, for example, you made the bootable USB flash drive incorrectly, the BIOS needs to be reset or even updated, the program you used to create the bootable USB flash drive turned out to be damaged, and much more. Let's try to solve this problem.

What to do if BIOS does not see the bootable USB flash drive

How to make a bootable USB flash drive and how to do it correctly

First, you should make sure that the flash drive really does not work with your computer. You can check this by using the drive on another PC or laptop; if the same thing happens there, then you probably created the bootable USB flash drive incorrectly.

I would like to note that if you just threw files onto a flash drive and think that it will work, then I hasten to disappoint you. To record a distribution of a system or program, special utilities are required. I will list them now:

WinSetupFromUSB
Rufus
Windows USB/DVD Download Tool
WinToHDD
Windows To Go
Ultra ISO

And this is not all the programs, but I have listed the most basic tools. I have a review for each. For example, if you want to make a bootable USB flash drive with Windows, then use Rufus or WinSetupFromUSB. If the first one does not work and the flash drive is not visible in the BIOS, then use another one.

I will list the articles that I talk about creating a bootable USB flash drive. You probably know many of the methods.

If you have used all the specified utilities and the flash drive still does not work, make sure it is working properly, try formatting it to NTFS or FAT32, and try booting from another computer. And if this does not help, then use another flash drive.

How to set up BIOS for a bootable USB flash drive

First you need to understand whether the flash drive is not visible at all in the BIOS, that is, there is no line “USB flash drive name”, or there is a line, but when you click on this item you see nothing but a black screen.

There are two options why this happens - your flash drive is faulty or you recorded the image incorrectly, or there are problems with your BIOS, so the BIOS does not see the bootable flash drive.

The best option is to boot from a flash drive - . You can enter it using the ESC key or F8. It's different on different devices, that's why . Having opened the Boot Menu, you will see a list of devices from which you can boot - flash drives, hard drives, CD-DVDs. You'll need to find something like a Kingston 8 GB USB or similar, depending on the brand of your flash drive.

If you do not have the Boot Menu, or it is disabled, then in the BIOS on the tab Boot or Advanced you need to move your flash drive to first place. This is done using the F5 and F6 keys, but I repeat, the parameters may differ for each BIOS model, you will have to figure it out yourself, or write in the comments so that I can help you.

After you have placed the bootable USB flash drive in the first place in the BIOS, press the key F10 to save the current BIOS settings. Or on the tab Exit select the option Save Changes and Exit.

The second place after the flash drive should be the hard drive, and then other devices.

Finally, you can if none of the above helps. Follow the link and read about it. Typically the reset option is located on the Exit tab and is called Load Optimal Defaults or a little differently.

Let's summarize all of the above and say why the BIOS does not see the bootable USB flash drive:

The flash drive is faulty. Use another flash drive, or try using it on another PC.
The wrong program was selected to create a bootable USB flash drive.
The image recorded on the flash drive is damaged and needs to be replaced.
The BIOS settings are incorrect, you need to reset it.
The BIOS does not support booting from flash drives (this also happens), then the BIOS needs to be updated.

If you have such “misunderstandings” with a flash drive, then try creating a disk with Windows or the desired program. Regarding this, I would like to note that you need to be extremely careful. First, you need to find the correct firmware that fits your motherboard, if the wrong version is selected, or from a different board, then there is a high probability of failure of the entire motherboard, and you certainly don’t want that.

Every system administrator should know how boot computer from USB flash drive. Most often, this skill is needed when installing an operating system. After all, the Windows distribution does not have to be located on a CD. And, for example, it won’t even be possible to install Windows on a netbook any other way, because... it usually does not have a disk drive.

Today I will tell you how to set boot from a flash drive in the BIOS of various manufacturers. Regardless of which version you have, the procedure will be as follows:

1. We insert our bootable USB flash drive into the USB connector of the computer. It is advisable to insert it into a port located directly on the motherboard, i.e. from the back of the system unit.

2. Turn on the computer and press the key Delete(or F2) to get into the BIOS. Depending on the manufacturer and BIOS version, other keys (Esc, F1, Tab) may be used, so you need to carefully watch the prompts on the screen.

In Bios, we can navigate through tabs and lines only using the keyboard.
Next, I will describe this process in detail using the example of different BIOS versions.

Setting up Award Bios to boot from a flash drive

Award Bios:
First, let's check if the USB controller is enabled. Let's go to “Integrated Peripherals”. Use the arrow on the keyboard to move down to the “USB Controller” item. Press the “Enter” key and select “Enable” in the window that appears (also using “Enter”). Opposite “USB Controller 2.0” there should also be “Enable”.
Exit this tab by pressing “Esc”.

Then go to “Advanced BIOS Features” – “Hard Disk Boot Priority”. Now in my example the hard drive comes first, but the flash drive should be there.
We stand on the line with the name of our flash drive (Patriot Memory) and raise it to the very top using the “+” key on the keyboard.
We leave here by pressing “Esc”.

Now on the line “First Boot Device” press “Enter”. We selected “CD-ROM”, but we need to set “USB-HDD” (if suddenly loading from a flash drive does not work, come back here and try setting “USB-FDD”). Let the second device be “Hard Disk”.
Exit this tab by pressing Esc.

Now exit the BIOS, saving the changes. To do this, click “Save & Exit Setup” – press the “Y” – “Enter” key.

Setting up AMI Bios to boot from a flash drive

If, after entering Bios, you see such a screen, it means you have AMI Bios:
First, let's check if the USB controller is enabled. Go to the “Advanced” – “USB Configuration” tab.

Opposite the items “USB Function” and “USB 2.0 Controller” should be “Enabled”. If this is not the case, go to this line and press the “Enter” key. From the list that appears, select “Enabled” (also using “Enter”).
Then exit this tab by pressing “Esc”.

Go to the “Boot” – “Hard Disk Drives” tab.
Now my hard drive is in first place, but I need to put a flash drive here. We go to the first line, press “Enter” and in the window that appears, select our Patriot Memory flash drive.

It should be like this:

We leave here via “Esc”.

Select “Boot Device Priority”. Here, the first boot device must be a flash drive.
Press Esc.

Then we exit the Bios, saving all the settings made. To do this, go to “Exit” – “Exit & Save Changes” – “OK”.

Setting up Phoenix-Award Bios to boot from a flash drive

If, after entering Bios, you see such a screen, it means you have Phoenix-Award BIOS:
First, let's check if the USB controller is enabled. Go to the “Peripherals” tab – opposite the “USB Controller” and “USB 2.0 Controller” items there should be “Enabled”.
Then go to the “Advanced” tab and opposite “First Boot Device” set “USB-HDD”.

After that, exit the Bios, saving the changes. To do this, go to “Exit” – “Save & Exit Setup” – press the “Y” – “Enter” key
That's practically everything you need to know in order to boot from a flash drive. In my article, I described the process of setting up the BIOS of the most popular versions: Award And AMI. The third example presents Phoenix-Award Bios, which is much less common.
The described procedure may differ slightly in different BIOS versions. But the main thing is that you understand the principle of setting itself.

By the way, I would also like to add: in order to choose which device to boot your computer from, it is not necessary to change the settings in the BIOS. You can immediately call up a special menu after turning on the computer to select boot devices (this can be done by pressing the F8, F10, F11, F12 or Esc key). In order not to guess with the keys, look carefully at the monitor immediately after turning it on. We need to have time to see an inscription like this: “Press Esc to selest boot device.” In my case, it was necessary to press “Esc”. If on your computer BIOS UEFI, and you need to boot from a flash drive - you can check it out.

If you need reset forgotten user password using a bootable USB flash drive - how to do it.

As a rule, problems of this kind are detected when trying to boot from a specific Flash drive. If your computing device does not see the flash drive in the BIOS, then most likely you have not made the necessary changes to the basic system of the computer, or your removable storage device is simply not bootable. However, let's take a closer look at this confusing situation: “the flash drive is inserted into the PC, but does not work properly.”

Is your USB Flash drive working?

Of course, you can suffer for a long time and conduct unsuccessful experiments in the BIOS system itself, which will ultimately turn out to be a waste of your valuable time. Because the flash drive may simply be inoperable. To verify the opposite, try enlisting the help of a testing device - insert the “capricious” flash drive into another PC.

And in general, check whether the (seemingly faulty when you boot the PC) storage device is visible in the Windows environment. That is, is USB memory detected in the operating system itself? If not, then the Flash Drive needs to be repaired. Perhaps everything will be resolved after using a special software tool, for example, a proprietary flash drive recovery utility from its manufacturer.

Priority BIOS settings or what, where and how...

Insert the flash drive into the USB connector of your PC.

Restart your computer.

Enter the BIOS using the corresponding button on the keyboard (for those who don’t know how to do this -).

Depending on the version of the basic microsystem, the name of the section in which the connected flash drive is displayed may be different from the “BOOT” tab discussed below. And yet, be guided by the abbreviation “USB” when searching for the required partition in the BIOS.

Set to boot from a flash drive.

Also check if the USB hardware controller is disabled.

Save and reboot the computer.

It’s great if the USB Flash Drive is detected and the PC switches to boot mode from the flash drive. Otherwise, move on to the next section of this article.

Boot properties of USB flash drive

Let's say you want to install an operating system whose distribution is stored on a removable storage device. However, in order for a flash drive to be defined as a bootable drive, it must be configured as such. In other words, in the process of recording Windows installation files, you must use a special utility, for example, “Rufus” (to download, click here ). Only in this case the flash drive will truly become bootable.

Storage device hardware incompatibility

In some situations, the system BIOS does not see the flash drive due to the outdated interface of the memory device itself. Make sure your USB drive is not an "ancient" 1.1 drive. However, new flash drives with 3.0 technological characteristics may also not be perceived by outdated computer systems.

So, the detailed characteristics of your storage device can be found on the official technical support website - enter the model of the flash drive and read the information you are interested in. By the way, this action can help in solving problematic situations related to any malfunction of your USB device (meaning the presence of a specific recovery utility on the website).

Updating the system BIOS - as a solution to the “invisible” USB problem

Sometimes it is advisable to carry out the process of software upgrading the BIOS of a microsystem. How to do this is described in detail here. However, in modern computers this operation is performed using a fairly simple method.

Visit your motherboard's technical support site.

Download the new BIOS version(s).

Using a special flasher, flash the BIOS of your computer.

However, before you begin the albeit not difficult, but still very responsible operation of “upgrading the version of the basic PC microsystem”, carefully and in detail study the background information on the correctly implemented update process (this may be of invaluable help to you - go to ).

Bootable USB incompatibility of outdated computer systems - there is a solution!

Let's call such computers “exotic”. However, if you need to give your old computer the “boot from USB drive” properties, then follow the instructions below.

Use this link - https://www.plop.at/en/bootmanager/download.html.

After you have downloaded “Plop Boot Manager”, burn it to a CD.

Set the BIOS to prioritize booting from the optical drive.

Next, after the “Plop” work area of the utility is displayed on the screen, insert the USB drive into the appropriate connector (preferably the main one, which is located behind the PC system unit).

Select USB in the bootloader window.

Now your “old man” can use a flash drive as a boot drive.

Summing up

So, the author of this article is confident that after you have read the material in the presented article, you will certainly succeed. And yet, I would like to note one important fact: most users make mistakes only because they misunderstand the problem and resort to sometimes meaningless advice from “kind Internet GURU”. At the same time, exposing your car to the critical danger of “complete failure.” Be wise when choosing one or another solution to your computer problems and your experience will always be productive!

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