Already recorded bootable USB stickbut don't know how to boot from a USB flash drive? There is nothing complicated here. Booting Windows from a USB flash drive is very simple, and all you need to do is go into the BIOS and change one setting.
If you have not yet recorded a licensed digital copy of Windows, I recommend reading -?
If you just plug the USB stick into your PC or laptop and restart it, installing Windows will not start. After all, for this you need to enable booting from a USB flash drive in BIOS.
This is not difficult to do. But there is one nuance here. The fact is that download windows from a USB stick on PCs and laptops is carried out in different ways. First, it depends on the BIOS manufacturers. And, secondly, from the laptop brand (Asus, Acer, Samsung, Lenovo, HP, etc.).
However, booting from a USB flash drive into the BIOS follows the same principle. Yes, the BIOS menu will always be different, and this can cause difficulties. But below we will consider a few examples so that you understand how to install a boot from a USB flash drive, and can independently navigate the BIOS menu (in case you have another option).
So, let's begin. To enter the BIOS, you must immediately press a certain button on the keyboard when you turn on your computer or laptop. Which one? You can find out when loading on the screen.
You can find out that you have entered the BIOS by seeing the corresponding menu in front of you. The following options are usually found:
If the BIOS did not load, then wait until the PC or laptop is turned on, restart it and try again by pressing another key.
In this case, the "Boot" item was selected, and then "Boot Device Priority" (ie, the priority of starting devices). As a result, a menu like this will open:
As you can see, they are different, but in each case there are lines we need - First (1st), Second (2nd) and Third (3rd) Boot Device. This shows which device is booted first, which is the second and the third in turn. As a rule, the first is always hDD (HDD), and then the drive (CR-ROM).
When you connect the USB flash drive, the USB-HDD item will also appear. And in order to configure booting from a flash drive, you must select the option - USB-HDD in the First Boot Device item. Example:
Next, you must save the changes, otherwise you will have to repeat everything from the beginning. Which button to save? This information is written at the bottom of the screen. For example, in the screenshot above: F10 - "Save", ESC - "Exit". We save the changes and exit the BIOS. Congratulations, the BIOS setup for booting from a USB flash drive is complete.
The computer (or laptop) will automatically reboot, after which the following line will appear:
Press any button - and it starts windows installation.
If you have a UEFI BIOS (i.e. you recently bought a new PC or laptop), then booting Windows from a USB flash drive is as easy as shelling pears.
Go to BIOS and you will see something like this menu:
To configure the boot of a flash drive into UEFI, we are interested in the "Boot Priority" item. Drag the USB device icon to the top of the list (to be the first) and exit (the exit button in the upper right corner). When exiting, the system will ask you whether to save the changes. Agree, after which the PC or laptop will reboot, and Windows will start loading from the USB flash drive.
By the way: it doesn't matter at all what kind of image you have on your USB flash drive - Windows 7, 8, 10 or XP. It doesn't affect anything. Booting the OS from the flash drive will start in any case (of course, provided that it is recorded correctly).
And finally, one more very important point. When unpacking windows files will complete - the computer will restart.
After that, you need to go to BIOS again and return the previous device startup priority. That is, put the hard disk drive (HDD) first, and the USB flash drive last. This shouldn't be a problem, because you already know how to boot from a USB flash drive, right?
Basically, you don't have to. In this case, when a black screen appears, NOTHING do not press.
Otherwise, the Windows installation will boot again and you will install the operating system again.
But when Windows is installed, you still need to go to BIOS and return the previous device startup priority. Otherwise, the computer (or laptop) will first of all always load data from the USB flash drive (provided that it is connected).
CD / DVD discs are outdated today. They were replaced by USB drives.
The need to boot from a USB flash drive can arise when solving many problems:
- installing a new operating system;
- running in Live Cd mode;
- to cure your computer from viruses and malware;
- to fix errors that occur when loading the operating system;
- pre-installation of additional drivers;
- scanning hard disk for the presence of problem sectors;
- starting the operating system installed on the USB flash drive.
On many systems, the default boot from USB stick disabled. Because of this, a user who wants to use a bootable USB flash drive may have problems changing the settings.
Features of booting from a USB flash drive
The order in which devices are selected to start is determined by the settings of Bios, a built-in firmware designed to provide the operating system with access to the device API.
To boot the system from a USB flash drive, you need to go to Bios and change the startup order, or use a special boot menu. However, this is not always easy to do, as the versions and types of firmware may differ from one to another. motherboardsoh.
If you need to boot from USB or any other storage device, you need to follow these steps:
- insert a disc or flash drive;
- turn on the computer or restart it;
- enter Bios or Boot menu and select a USB device;
- if there are several connected devices, the system will automatically offer you a list to select the one you need.
Most modern motherboards work through a technology called UEFI. This is not just a more convenient graphical interface for the Bios firmware, but a new software with wider possibilities and flexible settings.
Uefi motherboards have a lot of new features like:
- monitor temperature different devices and in this regard, increase or decrease the speed of the fans;
- adjust the frequency of overclocking of the central and graphic processor on those motherboards where it is provided by the developer;
- work with many Bios settings from special software under the Windows operating system.
Video: select boot device in BIOS
Asrock H77M-ITX motherboard
The easiest way to boot the system from a flash drive is to use Boot Menu (boot menu). For every modern motherboard there is such an opportunity. To find out which combination or key you can do this, most often it is enough to read the system messages. As a last resort, you need to refer to the board documentation.
Asrock H77M-ITX allows you to select the launch option using the "F11" button. On the first try, you may not be able to get into the menu, so you need to press the key several times. If unsuccessful, just restart your computer and try again.
As a result, you should see a blue-blue background with Asrock UEFI setup utility... In the menu "Please select boot device" you need to select required device For loading.
To configure the startup order of devices in the BIOS of the Asrock H77M-ITX motherboard, you must perform the following steps:
After restarting your computer, you should see the start of the launch from the USB flash drive.
Motherboard ASUS P8H77-I
Find yourself in BIOS on computers with a motherboard aSUS board P8H77-I can be exactly the same as described in the previous section, using the keys "Del" or "F2"... The menu for selecting devices for loading can be accessed using the "F8" button.
The firmware interface is very different from previous version... But the names of the various settings menus are almost identical.
To simplify the actions, there is a primary configuration mode and an additional one. In the function of the initial setup, that is, in the main window, in which you find yourself when loading Bios, there is an option to select the startup priority. In the USB picture it is indicated as with uefi.
If, after restarting the system, the boot from the USB flash drive does not start, you must go to the "Advanced mode". This can be done using the "Advanced" button or by pressing the "F7" key.
Photo: advanced setting mode UEFI Bios on ASUS P8H77-I
To set the priority, follow these steps:
Photo: Enabling Full Initialization Support for USB Devices
Photo: menu "Hard disk boot order"
Photo: rechecking priority after changes in hard drive boot lists
The computer will reboot, after which it should start from USB. If this does not happen, try changing the port and repeat the operation.
How to boot from a bootable USB stick into Award Bios
Newer motherboards that work with uefi are much easier to set up. However, the need to boot from a USB flash drive may arise on older systems as well. Settings for use bootable USB drive may differ slightly, although the principle of operation discussed earlier is the same.
One of the most famous versions of Bios is the Award. There is no way to call the menu to select the startup priority. Therefore, we immediately proceed to setting up the BIOS.
In order to boot the system from a USB flash drive on a computer with a motherboard running Award, you need to do the following:
If the launch from the required drive was not performed, there is one more parameter to check: the USB controller must be enabled in the Integrated Peripherals menu.
Photo: checking the activation of the controller
AMI BIOS
This firmware management system is more modern, so there is already a menu for selecting the startup sequence. It is activated with the "F11" button. You can get into the BIOS setup using the "Del" or "F2" buttons.
To select a boot priority, you must:
Phoenix-Award Bios
Phoenix-Award Bios is quite rare, and its firmware is a little unusual. There is support for displaying the menu quick choice boot drive, it is called with the "F11" key.
Interestingly, you will not find a USB-HDD in the Phoenix-Award menu. But other gadgets connected in this way are provided for the choice, for example Zip, CDROM and Floppy. To start from a flash drive, select Hard Disk, and then the required USB-HDD will appear in the list.
As for priority management through Bios, this is done almost identically to AMI.
The difference is that the following options must be selected in the Boot menu:
- using the "+" and "-" keys, change the order. The first should be the Removable Device;
- by activating the Removable Device and pressing the "Enter" button, select the flash drive from the drop-down list.
Photo: Removable Device first in the startup sequence list
The ability to boot the system from a USB flash drive is given by almost any Bios microsystem. Knowing the key combinations and the necessary menu items, you can quickly change the startup priorities.
More modern motherboards with uefi give you a lot more control over your system. If necessary, you can run different operating systems from different flash drives to manage any software.
Microsoft has been developing and improving operating systems for a long time, but so far not a single distribution kit has officially appeared that could fully work with external device on any computer. No matter how hard you try to protect your computer from damage or virus infection, sometimes critical situations occur when the installed operating system can no longer function normally and stably, and you need your files and information that remained in the working folders along with the OS. That's why the emergency boot disks, or Windows PE, were created.
Good to know!
In order to load such an operating system from an external storage medium, you must first perform the following steps:
- Make the device bootable by assigning boot sectors to it;
- Pre-download and correctly port Windows PE to a removable device;
- If necessary, add drivers to the image (this is especially true for SATA drivers).
It should be remembered that the speed of the operating system, which is loaded from an external device, is much slower. This is due to the fact that the speed is limited by the speed of the device itself, as well as the frequency of the bus through which the signal goes from / to the device. If you run the OS from USB devices, the speed drops by about ten times (The average speed of loading information from a USB flash drive is 10 MB / s, the average speed of a SATA HDD is 100-120 MB / s).
How does the process of loading and starting the PE OS work?
After pressing the power button of the computer, the devices are polled, after which their readiness is checked, and an attempt to boot begins according to the priority list, which is stored in bIOS settings... First of all, the boot sectors are read, in which the addresses are stored where the bootloader is located for windows startup PE. After that in rAM The preinstalled system image starts loading. It is worth noting that all files and settings that occur in the process of working with the OS on the next start will be lost.
How to customize the boot process of Windows PE from a USB flash drive?
There are currently two types of BIOS. Old typical and simple, which is similar to MSDOS and contains only menu items that can only be navigated with the keyboard. New - UEFI, it differs significantly in both appearanceand in terms of functionality. In UEFI, you can control and select all settings using your mouse and keyboard.
Organizing Boot to UEFI
If possible, you can simply drag the mouse pointer to the first place desired device, thus changing the boot order. The classic download method also works:
- Put Boot from USB first or the name of your flash drive.
- Start your computer.
Organization of loading in a typical BIOS
- Connect the USB device before starting the computer.
- Go to the BIOS menu in the section "Boot Device Priority" (Buttons Del, F2, F12).
- Put Boot from USB in the first place (sometimes it is defined as USB HDD, or you need to put a USB flash drive in the settings of the priority hard drive) or the name of your flash drive.
- Save your changes before exiting.
- Start your computer.
Alternative download method
This method is used if you can go separately to the bootloader menu, explicitly specifying the boot device.
You have a bootable DVD or USB flash drive, now you need to make sure that the computer can boot from them.
There are 2 ways to boot your computer from a DVD or USB flash drive:
- Selecting a device in the boot menu
- Change boot priority in BIOS
Each method has pros and cons.
If you need, for example, to install Windows, then it is more convenient to choose the first method. And if you constantly work with boot disksthen more convenient way second.
Features of choosing a device in the boot menu
- On older computers (motherboards) the function is missing. In this case, you will have to change the priority in the BIOS.
- When you select a device in the menu, the computer boots from this device 1 time. This is convenient when installing Windows - you do not need to return the boot from the HDD after the first reboot.
Features of changing the priority in BIOS
- Works on both new and old computers.
- The priority is constantly changing, i.e. valid until the next change, and not one download as is the case with the menu. This is not very convenient when installing Windows from a USB flash drive, you have to return the boot from the HDD after the first reboot.
How do I enter the boot menu or BIOS?
There is no universal button for entering boot menu nor to enter BIOS. It all depends on the manufacturer of the computer (motherboard), they are all different - the keys are also different. Most the right way find the right key - read the instructions from the computer (motherboard). For some of the most common boards - the keys are listed below.
There is only one time when you need to press these keys - during self-testing immediately after turning on the computer (English - Power-On Self-Test or POST). If you do not go into details, POST lasts from turning on the computer until the operating system starts loading (the appearance of a logo or OS selection menu). The POST pass looks like this:
The screen displays a prompt: Press DEL to run Setupwhich means - press DEL to enter BIOS Setup... DEL is the most common key, but there are many others - more on that below.
During POST, a graphical splash screen may appear with the name of the manufacturer of the computer or motherboard.
Boot menu keys and quick instructions
As noted above, each manufacturer has its own key to enter the boot menu. Here is a small list of the most common ones:
The boot menu looks like this:
You just have to select the desired device from the list. If everything is done correctly, the disk or flash drive is written correctly, the download / installation should start.
BIOS keys and a quick guide to changing the boot priority
To enter BIOS Setup, use the key corresponding to the manufacturer of the computer or motherboard, here is a small list of them:
Acer (Aspire, Altos, Extensa, Ferrari, Power, Veriton, TravelMate): | F2 or Del |
Acer (old models): | F1 or Ctrl+Alt+Esc |
F2 or Del |
|
Compaq (Deskpro, Portable, Presario, Prolinea, Systempro): | |
Compaq (old models): | F1, F2, F10, or Del |
Dell (Dimension, Inspiron, Latitude, OptiPlex, Precision, Vostro, XPS): | |
Dell (old and rare models): | Ctrl+Alt+Enter or Fn+Esc or Fn+F1 or Del or Reset twice |
ECS (Elitegroup) | Delor F1 |
eMachines (eMonster, eTower, eOne, S-Series, T-Series): | Tab or Del |
eMachines (some older models): | |
Fujitsu (Amilo, DeskPower, Esprimo, LifeBook, Tablet): | |
Hewlett-Parkard (HP Alternative, Tablet PC): | F2 or Esc or F10 or F12 |
Hewlett-Parkard (OmniBook, Pavilion, Tablet, TouchSmart, Vectra): | |
Lenovo (3000 Series, IdeaPad, ThinkCentre, ThinkPad, ThinkStation): | F1 or F2 |
Lenovo (old models): | Ctrl+Alt+F3, Ctrl+Alt+Ins or Fn+F1 |
MSI (Micro-Star) | |
F2, F10 or Del |
|
Sony (VAIO, PCG-Series, VGN-Series): | F1, F2 or F3 |
Toshiba (Portege, Satellite, Tecra): | F1 or Esc |
You will find less common hotkeys for entering BIOS.
In addition to the fact that there are several major BIOS manufacturers (AMI, Phoenix - Award), also computer (motherboard) manufacturers modify the BIOS for specific model... As a result, you cannot create universal instruction even by changing one function (boot priority), there will be differences on each computer. You can only roughly show how this is done, and look for exact instructions in the documentation for your computer (motherboard).
To navigate the BIOS and change settings, use the arrows on the keyboard, the Enter and + \- .
AMI
Move the arrows to the tab Boot, go to Boot Device Priority:
In the following figure, we see that the boot is sequentially performed: from the floppy drive (Floppy Drive), hard disk (Hard Drive), and the third device is not used (Disabled).
If we want to boot from a DVD, we need to change the priorities so that the first device is the DVD drive. Use the arrows to switch to the first device ( 1st Boot Device), press Enter and select in the menu that appears CDROM... With a flash drive, everything is the same.
Push F10 and confirm the exit with saving (Save and Exit) by choosing .
Phoenix-Award
We enter Advanced BIOS Features:
If we want to boot from a DVD, we need to change the priorities so that the first device is the DVD drive.
Use the arrows to switch to the first device ( First Boot Device), change to CDROM... With a flash drive, everything is the same.
Push F10 and confirm the exit with saving (Save and Exit).
Do you know other keys or want to clarify? Comments are open!
Enjoy your use!
If you needed to install Windows 7 from a USB flash drive via BIOS, then our article will be a great helper for you.
Installing a new operating system on a computer is enough frequent problem, which may arise due to the slightest malfunction of the system or the actions of an inept PC user.
This issue also became relevant in connection with the statement by the official representatives of the Windows company about the suspension technical support operating system XP.
To date, almost all users have completely switched to the so-called seven.
Our step-by-step guide will help you quickly and easily bring your computer back to life.
Preparing your computer for reinstalling Windows
Before you start working on new software, you need to properly prepare your PC. First you need to remember which important information stored on your computer and save it to your portable storage device.
Particular attention should be paid to local disk C, it is on it that the largest amount of information is stored. Almost all users store their media files (photos, videos) in the My Documents folder or directly on the desktop.
These files are often located on disk along with the already installed OS. You can also use free space on another local disk to save information.
Very important before reinstalling Windows check if there is a driver on the PC for network card.
If you install new system via USB, and then it turns out that there are no drivers for the network card in the distribution kit, then you will not be able to configure the drivers and the Internet connection.
For your own confidence, it is better to once again make sure that there are drivers. Also, be sure to check if you have drivers for your sound card, audio card, video card, etc.
Preparing a flash card for software installation
To install an operating system from a flash drive, we recommend that you adhere to the following rules:
- The minimum size of a flash drive must be 4 GB. This is the amount of space required to store all important components and files;
- Mandatory preparation of the Windows 7 distribution kit for recording and saving its image (* iso format);
- Selection of the program for creating a disk image.
Advice! One of best utilities UltralSO is considered to create a disk image. Latest version located on the developer's site
Install and run the utility on the PC, and then select the previously selected disk image in it. Step-by-step instruction using the program will help you quickly understand all the intricacies.
- Running
2. Now you see the main working window
3. Go to recording the hard disk image
4. Now you need to connect the flash memory and enable formatting. When the process of formatting the flash drive is over, you can start recording.
5. At the end of the recording, there will be Windows in the space of your flash drive, with which you will reinstall.
Comment! To create a USB flash drive for installing the system through the BIOS, you can use the toolsWindows.
Configuring Bios to work with a bootable USB flash drive
One connection installation flash drive to a PC to install a new software a little, preliminary configuration of the computer is required so that it starts to boot from it when it is turned on.
All settings are done in BIOS. Any laptop, computer has a BIOS that stores important settings, including, it remembers in what order devices should be loaded. It is this setting that we now need for further fruitful work.
To start Bios, you need to hold down or press a certain key on the keyboard at the moment the computer is turned on.
You can find out which key we need from the information on the monitor. Typically, these keys are Esc, Delete, F2. If you entered Bios, then one of the following screens will appear in front of you:
If the login attempt fails, restart the computer again and try to start BIOS again. To make it easier for you, we have placed a table with the main options enable Bios.
Keyboard shortcuts to enterBIOS depending on the manufacturerBIOS
Basic keyboard shortcuts for launchBIOS depending on laptop and computer manufacturers
After you get into BIOS, you need to find the option that is responsible for loading devices. It is usually found in the menu and has the word BOOT in its name. Other options are not excluded, you may even have to look.
Here are some examples:
As a rule, the choice of the main device for loading occurs by pressing the arrows on the keyboard, although sometimes there are other control methods. If you can't figure it out on your own, then refer to the help that glows in the BIOS.
In our case, in the role of the first boot device USB-HDD stands out (there may be another name). After selecting it, you need to exit BIOS with saving all settings using the Save and Exit Setup item.
After this step, the computer should restart and we will move on to the main stage for which we are here.
Install Windows 7 using a bootable USB flash drive
If everything was correctly recorded on the space of the flash drive, and the correct settings were made in BIOS, then you will see the following message in front of you on the monitor screen, which says that you should press any key to activate the download.
If there is no such inscription, then you will have to check your actions. To do this, go to BIOS and make sure that the boot settings from the USB flash drive have been saved. If there are no errors in BIOS, then most likely you failed to create a bootable USB flash drive and you need to repeat the whole process again.
If there is an inscription, then congratulations, your installation Windows new version via BIOS started. Some installation images in addition to the operating system itself, they also contain various additional programs, then you will have to select the desired item from the menu.
It should also be said that some disks perform most of the settings described below by default. This is not worth worrying about, as all settings can be changed after the software installation process is complete.
A welcome screen appears in front of you, on which you select the desired data. After the setting is made, you should click on the "Next" button, and then "Install".
In a new window, conditions appear before us license agreement, which you, of course, read very carefully, and then agree by ticking in a specially designated window and pressing the "Next" button.
Final stage of installation
In the new window, you will have to choose what type of installation we need. We need a complete type. Next, you will have to work a little with the disk on which space will be recorded a new version software.
To do this, select the required disk partition in the menu and click on the "Disk settings" button, after which we start formatting.
We have already described how this is done above. Here you just need to change from USB-HDD to your disk name. This is a very easy action and shouldn't give you any trouble.
When the reboot is complete, Windows installation will continue.
- We enter names for the computer, laptop and for users.
- Setting a password, if necessary.
- Enter the name license keyif there is one (you can skip this step).
- Choice of security settings ("Recommended parameters").
- We set the date and time.
- We carry out the network configuration.
Thanks to these simple steps, you can install Windows 7 via BIOS using a USB flash drive.
