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How to start booting from a flash drive in BIOS. Installing windows from flash drive via bios

Surely you have noticed that now in many articles on fixing various errors in Windows or restoring it, it is almost always recommended to use a bootable USB flash drive with operating system installation files or from a LiveCD. And only then they remember the use of the installation CD.

In principle, this is not surprising, since DVD drives have already faded into the background, and CD / DVD discs naturally followed them. For example, when assembling a new computer, few people additionally buy and install a DVD drive, by the way, in many PCs that are sold already assembled, the drive is also not installed. Well, I generally keep quiet about modern laptops or netbooks, in most models the drive has disappeared for a long time.

Just in this instruction, several examples of how to set the boot from a USB flash drive in different BIOS versions will be considered. In this article, you can find examples for both the earliest BIOS versions and some modern UEFI versions from various manufacturers.

The procedure for installing boot from a USB flash drive in BIOS

Installing a boot from a USB flash drive in different BIOS versions may differ slightly, but in principle the algorithm itself is the same for everyone.

We write down or with;
We connect the prepared usb-drive to the computer. If you are going to install Windows, I recommend connecting the drive to USB 2.0, that is, to the ports that are colored black (blue is USB3.0). So, sometimes the system may refuse to start the installation due to the lack of drivers for the USB3.0 to which the device was connected;
We turn on or restart the computer and enter the BIOS using the keys " Del" or " F2". If not one of these keys does not work, you can find options that can help you here;
In BIOS, open the “Boot” section, where in the list of boot devices we move the USB flash drive to the first place;
By pressing the "F10" key and saving the changed parameters, we try to boot from the device we connected;

In general terms, it looks something like this. Well, now let's specifically go through each BIOS version.

Booting from USB to Pheonix AwardBIOS

AwardBIOS is a rather old version of BIOS, and today it is very rare to come across, but it still happens sometimes.

So, having entered the BIOS, we need to go to the "" tab.

Initially, the hard drive will be in the first positions, or if you have several of them, then all hard drives will be displayed first and only then the connected usb device. Here you need to use the key " + » move the flash drive to the very first line.

Then we return to the previous menu by using the " Esc” and in the parameter “ Firs Boot Device» choose value « USB-HDD". (By the way, some versions of this BIOS may not have such a line, so you can try to select either USB-FDD or USB-CDROM).

Well, in the parameter " SecondBootdevice » expose « hard disk».

By pressing F10, save the settings and restart the computer.

Booting from a flash drive in another version of Pheonix AwardBIOS

Also, there are several more versions of Pheonix AwardBIOS, in which the principle of installing a boot from a USB flash drive is similar, but the menu itself is slightly different.

We'll start by checking if the USB controller itself is enabled:

Installing boot from usb flash drive:

By the way, I want to draw your attention to the fact that in this BIOS version there may be several more options for installing boot from a USB flash drive, for example:

In some cases, it is enough just in the “Boot” section to select “USB-HDD” as the first device from which the computer will boot.
Sometimes a flash drive can be found not in the hard drive settings, but in the "Removable Drives" subsection;

How to set boot from usb drive in AMI BIOS

AMIBIOS is another BIOS version that is often found on not the most recent mats. boards. In general, if once in the BIOS, its appearance will be the same as in the screenshot below, then to install the USB flash drive as a boot device, you need to follow these steps:

In this BIOS version, also, a flash drive can be found not only in " Removable Drives", but also in "", so be careful.

We set the boot from a USB flash drive in the UEFI BIOS Gigabyte

Now, let's move on to more modern types of BIOS, which can be found on later models of motherboards from various manufacturers.

Well, right now we will start with the UEFI BIOS on the Gigabyte motherboard.

So, going into the BIOS using all the same keys " Delete", " F2" or " Esc", Go to the tab" BIOS Features". Here you can see that booting from a flash drive will initially be available only in UEFI mode.

Well, since this option will not work for most, because the usual Legacy mode is more priority, we need to change the ego. To do this, go to the line " Hard Drive BBS Priorities.

IN " Boot Option #1"We set instead of a hard disk, a bootable USB flash drive, respectively, in" Boot Option #2”, the HDD must be installed.

After that, in the previous menu you can select a USB flash drive as a boot device, but without the UEFI prefix.

There is another boot option, which, it seems to me, is much easier to use, but its trick is that it serves as a one-time boot from a usb drive, that is, the next time you reboot, you will again have to choose to boot from it in the same way.

In order to use it, you need to move to the tab " Save & Exit" and in " Boot Override»Select the required device to boot the computer.

The beauty of this option is that it does not require any additional changes in the BIOS settings, and later you simply do not have to bother with resetting the boot settings to their original position. By the way, this option is very similar to the same Boot menu, although in this case we will have to go directly into the BIOS.

Booting from a flash drive on ASUS motherboards

In BIOS on ASUS motherboards, there are also several options for starting a computer from a bootable USB flash drive with Windows.

On more modern motherboards, the principle is the same. Below I will show an example on the same ASUS.

After entering the BIOS, on the initial screen, we again need to use the mouse to move the priority device to the very top. Up because this menu moved to the right side and became vertical.

You can also use the boot menu, as I showed in the previous example.

Going into " AdvancedMode( F7)' and going to the tab ' Boot", you can change the download priority manually in the " Boot Option Priorities ».

Or just select the desired device to start downloading from it in the " Boot Override", which is still in the same "Boot" tab.

Booting from a flash drive in BIOS on an MSI motherboard

With regards to the motherboard in MSI, here we can set the boot from a USB flash drive in two ways.

In general, I hope that you will find an option that suits you, and that you will be able to set boot from a USB flash drive in your BIOS without any problems.

How to set boot from a flash drive in old and modern versions of BIOS

In the last article, we talked about . And now I will tell you how to configure the computer's BIOS to install Windows from a disk or flash drive.

1. What is BIOS and UEFI

Each motherboard has a special program for booting the computer and configuring the parameters of various devices. This program is flashed (programmed) into a special chip on the motherboard and is therefore called firmware.

In the past, all motherboards had a firmware called the BIOS, which had a simple graphical interface with white letters on a blue background and was limited in functionality. For example, in the BIOS it was impossible to use a mouse, select a language, and there were no graphic elements (pictures) due to the limited size of the BIOS memory chip. Also, motherboards with BIOS did not support disks larger than 2 TB due to the limitations of the old disk layout system (MBR).

Now many motherboards have a new type of firmware called UEFI, which features an improved graphical interface using a beautiful background, drawn buttons, the ability to select a language (including Russian) and some improvements. For example, support for a new type of disk partitions (GPT), which allows the use of hard drives larger than 2 TB.

You can find out what type of firmware your motherboard has in its manual, on the website of the motherboard or laptop manufacturer, and also visually when entering the Setup program. The Setup program is also programmed into the motherboard and is used to change the BIOS or UEFI settings.

2. How to enter BIOS Setup

To enter the Setup program, immediately after turning on the computer, hold down the "Delete" button on the keyboard. On some motherboards and laptops, the F2, F10, or Esc keys are used for this. Which button to press can be read in the messages that appear immediately after turning on the computer.

In text form

Graphically

If you do not have time to read, then press the "Pause" button on your keyboard to pause the download. You can continue downloading by pressing any key. If you press the key assigned to enter Setup, you will immediately be taken to the motherboard setup program.

Classic BIOS

UEFI Interface

3. Basics of work in Setup

3.1. Control keys

The Setup program is a set of various parameters grouped on separate tabs, depending on the purpose. On the right or at the bottom there will be a description of the keys with which all actions are performed.

To navigate between tabs, the right and left arrows on the keyboard are usually used. To navigate between lines within one tab, use the "down", "up" arrows.

To change the values, use the arrows to navigate to the required field, press the "Enter" key, and then use the arrows to select a new value from the drop-down menu. The "+", "-" or "Page Up", "Page Down" keys can also be used for this.

To go back one level or to the previous page, press the Esc key. The "Esc" key on one of the main tabs will mean exiting the BIOS without saving the settings, which will need to be confirmed or refused to exit.

In the UEFI Setup program, you can perform all actions using the mouse.

3.2. Saving settings

This is a very important point. After making all the necessary settings, go to the “Exit” tab, select the “Exit and Save Changes” item with the arrows (“Exit and Save Changes”, the word order may be different), press “Enter” and confirm saving the settings by selecting the “OK” arrows or "Yes" and again "Enter".

You can save the settings much easier and faster by pressing the "F10" key on the keyboard and confirming your decision. This key works in many versions of BIOS, UEFI and is often indicated in tooltips (bottom or right).

3.3. Cancel settings

If you accidentally changed something or are not sure about the correctness of the settings made, then go to the “Exit” tab and select “Exit and Discard Changes” (“Exit and Discard Changes”) or press the “Esc” key until the message about exiting without change the settings and confirm the action ("OK" or "Yes").

3.4. Restore settings

To restore all settings to optimal defaults, go to the Exit tab and select Load Setup Default. After that, you can immediately change other settings or simply exit the BIOS while saving the settings ("Exit and Save Changes" or "F10").

4. Download options

Insert the boot disk or flash drive into the computer where you plan to install Windows. Now, in order to start installing Windows, you need to configure the BIOS (or UEFI) using the Setup program to boot from a disk or flash drive. You can also use the special boot menu of the motherboard (Boot Menu) for this. The latter option is simpler and more convenient, but we will consider both methods.

5. BIOS setup

5.1. Change download priority

Click the "Boot" or "Download" tab.

Install your DVD drive or flash drive first in boot device order.

If you will install Windows from a disk, then the first item is to select a device such as "ATAPI CD-ROM", a name indicating the manufacturer or model of the drive. For example, "CDROM:PM-HL-DT-STDVD-RAM GH22NP" (this is an "LG" DVD drive).

If you plan to install Windows from a flash drive, then first choose something like "Removable Dev." or the name of the flash drive with the manufacturer. For example, "USB: Patriot Memory" (this is a "PATRIOT" flash drive).
Transcend JetFlash 790 8Gb

The second should be the hard drive, which is designated as "Hard Drive", "HDD" or the interface to which it is connected, the manufacturer and model of the disk. For example, "SATA:3M-SAMSUNG HD502HJ" (this is a 500 GB Samsung hard drive with a SATA interface).

Please note that in the "Boot" section there may be other items responsible for boot priority, such as "Hard Disk Drives" or "Removable Device Priority".

They also need to check that the DVD drive or flash drive is in the first place.

If you have two hard drives, then the one on which you are installing the system should be higher. But in this case, I recommend disconnecting one of the disks in order to avoid confusion and possible errors in the installation of the system. It can be connected after installation.

In the Setup program with the UEFI interface, everything is done in the same way. Look for the "Boot" or "Download" section, find your DVD drive or USB flash drive there and raise it to the very top of the boot priority. Plus, you can use the mouse for this, which is easier and more convenient.

5.2. SATA controller mode

In principle, this is not so important, but many people are interested in this issue, so I decided to clarify it a bit. SATA drives can work in compatibility mode with older IDE drives and in the more modern AHCI mode. AHCI gives a small performance boost to a hard drive with multiple simultaneous accesses to it. This mode of disk operation occurs mainly on servers and is practically useless for an ordinary home computer.

When setting up the BIOS, it is possible to select the operating mode of the SATA controller.

These settings may be in different places and have slightly different names, but the principle is the same everywhere. You are offered IDE compatibility mode or the new AHCI mode.

In general, IDE compatibility mode is recommended for Windows XP, because it does not natively have SATA drivers and simply will not see the hard drive, which will not allow you to install Windows. Drivers can be built into the Windows installation distribution, but this does not make sense, since it will not affect the speed of work, but it can add problems.

There is an easier and more convenient way to boot from a DVD or flash drive for both BIOS and UEFI - boot using the "Boot Menu" ("Boot Menu").

The boot menu can be accessed using the F8, F10, F11, F12, or Esc keys. You can often see them in the tooltips on the computer's initial boot screen. You can also find this information from the instructions, on the website of the manufacturer of the motherboard or laptop, by searching the Internet or by typing.

Immediately after turning on the computer, hold down the "Boot Menu" call key until the boot device selection menu appears.

Use the up and down arrows to navigate to the DVD drive or flash drive and press Enter.
Sandisk Cruzer

The advantages of this method are obvious - you don’t need to dig into the BIOS, you don’t need to return the BIOS settings later (although this is not always necessary), and it’s enough to call this menu only once, since after starting Windows installation it will no longer be required. Also, using the "Boot Menu" does not change the BIOS or UEFI settings.

7. Download problems

Friends, due to the fact that many had problems with loading when installing Windows and some wrote about it in the comments, I decided to make a separate section where I collected the methods I knew to solve these problems.

If the computer stops loading at the very beginning and asks you to press F1, after which it enters the BIOS, then you most likely either have a dead battery on the motherboard (time may be lost), problems with the processor cooler (it failed, was not connected there) or a hard drive (errors in SMART).
If the message “Reboot and Select proper Boot device or Insert Boot Media in selected Boot device and press a key” appears when you turn on the PC, this means that the boot area on the disk or flash drive was not found or is damaged. Try to boot from the installation disk or flash drive using the Boot Menu (section 6 of the article), if it doesn’t help, make the bootable media again using the Windows USB / DVD Download Tool utility.
If, after restarting the computer, the installation of Windows starts from the beginning, then remove the boot disk or USB flash drive and restart the computer, the installation should continue from the hard drive.
Disconnect all unnecessary USB devices from the computer (flash drive, 3G modem, smartphone, printer). You only need to leave the mouse, keyboard, DVD or USB flash drive from which you are installing Windows.
If you have several hard drives, then disconnect all drives from the motherboard, except for the one on which Windows will be installed.
Reset BIOS settings to default (described in this article).
If the installer does not see the disk or the error 0x0000007B appears at the end, change the SATA controller mode in the BIOS from AHCI to IDE or vice versa.
If at each boot the computer or laptop itself enters the BIOS or opens the boot menu, then set the Boot Pop Menu option in the BIOS to Disable (if any).
Disable Fast Boot in the Advanced section of the BIOS, and in the Boot section, set the Launch CSM option to Enable (if any).
In the Boot section in the BIOS, change the boot mode from EFI (UEFI) to Legacy (if available).
Set the Secure Boot option in the BIOS to Disable (if available).
Select the version of Windows you are installing in the BIOS (if available).
If you have a laptop, one version of Windows is installed, but the other is not, and the advice on setting up the BIOS did not help you, then contact the manufacturer's support or forum. A BIOS update can also help, after which additional options may appear in it (p. 8-12).
If possible, from a DVD, as there are many different problems with flash drives.
Make from .
Insert the flash drive into the USB 2.0 connector on the back of the computer (motherboard) or the USB 2.0 connector of the laptop. Booting from USB 3.0 does not always work.
Try to use the Boot Menu, as described in paragraph 6 of this article. This method is simpler, more reliable than setting the boot priority in the BIOS and you can determine whether the computer sees your USB flash drive.
An underscore on a black screen indicates that the computer freezes when accessing a flash drive or hard drive. If the download goes further without a flash drive, then it's definitely in it.
If the computer does not see the flash drive or does not want to boot from it, use a DVD or other flash drive to install.
If this is not possible, then change the type of flash drive from "removable media" to "hard disk" using the "BootIt Next Generation" utility, format it with the "HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool" utility, and make it bootable again using "Windows USB / DVD Download Tool". You can download all these utilities below in the "Links" section.
If the problem occurs after selecting the Windows installation partition, then use the advice on setting up the BIOS (p. 7-12). Delete old partitions from the disk during installation, or do it using the Acronis Disk Director boot disk.
If the installer reports that it cannot install Windows to disk, then try to execute or vice versa.

I remind you that the F10 key is used to exit the BIOS while saving the settings.

8. Links

In the following articles, we will look at how to install , and .

Sandisk Cruzer
Transcend JetFlash 790 8Gb
Sandisk Cruzer

All the best!

One of the most common user questions when installing Windows: "why can't the computer (BIOS) see my flash drive?". Naturally, I repeatedly answered it, and more than once gave my recommendations on the blog. Now I decided to collect all of them together in this one article.

I must say right away that the computer (laptop) "sees" your bootable USB flash drive (on how to create it correctly) - you need to configure the BIOS (UEFI) accordingly. If this is not done, then no matter how much you fight, nothing will come of it ...

In the article I will show, using the example of several BIOS versions (UEFI), how to do this correctly. I think the note will be very useful for those who do not reinstall the system so often.

Perhaps the article should start not with the BIOS settings, but with how to enter it 👀... This is also far from being so obvious and simple for an inexperienced user.

In general, it all comes down (usually) to the fact that immediately after turning on the computer / laptop, while only the first logo appeared at boot, press special. key (preferably several times). If you pressed the correct key, you will see the coveted BIOS settings window.

Most common buttons to enter the BIOS: F2, Esc, Del. If you have a laptop, then it is possible that you need to press them together with the Fn button (ie, for example, Fn + F2). It depends on the keyboard settings in the same BIOS...

The main difficulty is that there is no single key to enter the BIOS! Each manufacturer may have their own specials. keys (sometimes, these are whole combinations of 3-4 buttons!).

Below I will give several options on how to enter the BIOS and give links to articles where you can find out these treasured keys.

Option number 1

If you have Windows 8/10 installed on your computer, you can not guess at all with the buttons, but enter the BIOS from the OS interface. This is done quite simply, see the instructions, the link to which is given below.

To help!

How to enter UEFI (BIOS) from the Windows 8, 10 interface (without using special keys F2, Del, etc.) -

Option number 2

To find out the key to enter the BIOS, you can use the documentation (which came with your device upon purchase), or special. tables and specifications (of which there are plenty on the Internet).

I also have several tables and instructions posted on my blog, maybe you can learn something there.

Instructions!

1) how to enter BIOS or UEFI (instruction) -

2) tables with buttons to enter the BIOS / Boot Menu for different PC manufacturers -

Option number 3

Pay attention to the first screen that appears immediately after restarting the computer (to see the first screen - just restart the computer, not turn it on ...).

If you do not have time to see the "first" screen (or read the information on it) - press the key Pause (break).

If you manage to do this, the screen will "freeze" and wait for your next click (ie, you can read and view everything).

The screenshot below shows the AMI BIOS welcome screen: F2 or Del- these are the buttons to enter the BIOS settings (in English: to run Setup).

AMI BIOS: F2 key - enter BIOS settings.

Option 4

Some laptops have special buttons to enter the BIOS (they are usually small in size, and are located either next to the power button or next to the power socket).

You need to press them with a pen (or pencil) when the laptop is turned off. After clicking on it, the device will turn on and you will be presented with a boot menu (from which you can go to the BIOS).

Boot menu / Lenovo (as an example)

Basics of work

Note: for those who are already more or less familiar with BIOS management, this section of the article can be skipped.

Control keys, change settings

In the BIOS, you will have to manage and set settings without using the mouse (This scares many novice users. By the way, UEFI supports the Russian language and the mouse).

In fact, even in Windows (where the mouse works) - many actions are much faster to do using the keyboard!

Control buttons, for the most part, are the same everywhere. (although there is a difference, but usually it is not significant). One more detail: on the right or at the bottom in the BIOS there is a hint: it indicates all the main control keys (see photo below).

Control keys (AMI BIOS)

Main keys:

F1 - call help (help);
Arrows ← and → - select the settings section (for example, Boot, Advanced, etc.);
Arrows ↓ and - select a specific parameter in the desired section;
+ and - - change the setting (increase/decrease);
F10 - Save BIOS settings and exit (you can press it while in any BIOS section);
ESC - exit;
Enter - set (approve) the selected parameter / or open a parameter or section for further configuration (in general, one of the most basic keys).

In general, knowing these ten buttons, you can easily change all BIOS settings.

Saving settings

You can change any settings in the BIOS, but they will only take effect after you change them. save and reboot the device (by the way, the computer / laptop restarts automatically after exiting the BIOS).

Press a key F10- in most BIOS versions, it means to save the settings and reboot the device;
Go to section exit and click on Save Changes and Exit(save settings and exit, an example is shown in the screenshot below - arrows 1 and 2).

By the way, you can exit the BIOS without saving the settings - to do this, select in the section exit option Discard Changes and Exit (discard settings and exit / don't save settings, exit).

You can also exit the BIOS by simply restarting the computer. (although it's not recommended to do this once again...).

Reset settings to optimal

If you changed any settings in the BIOS and the computer stopped booting (or, for example, the sound disappeared) - well, or you just decided to return everything as it was - then know that the BIOS has a special reset function. Those. this function will return all settings to default (i.e. will do everything by default, as it was when buying).

There are two ways to reset settings:

press the button F9(although it does not work in all BIOS versions);
go to section exit, then click on Load BIOS Defaults(see screenshot below).

Reset settings to default - AMI BIOS

By the way, after loading the default settings, you need to save them by pressing F10 (about this - see a little higher in the article).

In various versions of the BIOS, the name of the item for resetting the settings may differ slightly. For example, the screenshot below shows the section exit for a Dell laptop - here you need to click on Restore Defaults and then save settings - Save Changes and Reset. After rebooting the device, it will work with default settings.

Reset settings to default // Dell laptop // Restore Defaults

BIOS setup for booting from a USB flash drive / disk

Let's move on to the most important thing. I will consider the BIOS settings using the example of one of the most popular BIOS versions - AMI BIOS And Award BIOS(in principle, the main thing is to understand the meaning - everything is done in the same way everywhere, there is a slight difference in the menu designation).

AMI BIOS

First you need to go to the section Advanced(extended, see arrow 1 on the screenshot below), then you need to open the section USB Configuration. Then check that all USB ports are enabled (i.e. that the inscription next to them is on Enabled)!

Check USB ports - are they enabled?

1st Boot Device - CD / DVD ... (means that the first boot device from which the PC tries to boot is a CD / DVD drive. If there is no boot / installation disk in it, the computer will try to boot from the 2nd Boot Device);
2nd Boot Device - SATA: 5M-WDC WD5000(the hard disk of the computer. Windows is installed on it, therefore, it will boot up if there is no disk in the CD / DVD drive).

Naturally, with such a boot queue, the computer will not boot from a USB flash drive!

How it was and how it should be to boot from a USB flash drive // AMI BIOS

In order for the BIOS to see your flash drive, you need to change the boot queue to the following:

USB: Generic USB SD;
CD/DVD: 6M-TSST;
SATA: 5M-WDC WD5000.

In this case, the BIOS will first check the USB flash drive inserted into the USB port, then the CD / DVD drive, and then boot from the hard drive. In most cases, the best option.

Award BIOS

In principle, it is configured in the same way, a slight difference in the designation of the menu. And so, after entering the BIOS, I recommend immediately opening the partition Standard CMOS Features.

In this section, check if USB ports (devices) are enabled. Just check that opposite the lines where "USB" is mentioned is everywhere (example in the screenshot below).

USB ports: do they work? Work!

First Boot Device (first boot device) - USB-HDD (The best choice for booting from a flash drive is USB-HDD. In exceptional cases, if the BIOS suddenly does not see your flash drive, try USB-FDD) ;
Second Boot Device (second boot device) - Hard Disk (hard disk).

Laptop BIOS setup

It is performed in the same way as for a computer. True, there may be some "serious" differences in individual models, but in general everything is identical.

In laptops, to configure the boot, there is a separate BOOT section. By opening it, all download options are available to you.

I will give a universal version of the parameters, which is most often used (using Dell Inspiron 3000 series as an example):

Secure Boot - (secure boot mode is disabled. Only new versions of Windows 8, 10 support it, and many have several operating systems, or use 7-ku ...);
- (fast loading - in most cases, it doesn't speed up much...)
1st Boot Priority - the first boot device (USB-drive);
2nd Boot Priority - the second boot device (hard drive).

In many other laptop models, the BIOS setup is done in the same way, the menus and settings are similar or the same.

A few words about UEFI

Modern computers and laptops use UEFI instead of BIOS. It is a more extended and advanced version of the BIOS: for example, you can work with the mouse in it, there is often Russification of the menu, etc. As part of this article, I will say that in terms of editing the Boot partition, everything is the same here ...

For example, the photo below shows the main UEFI window on an Asus laptop, which is displayed immediately after entering it. In order to open the extended menu and find the Boot section - pay attention to the bottom of the window: you need to press the key F7 (or just press F8- and immediately start downloading from a USB flash drive).

In the advanced settings in the Boot section, everything is done in the same way as in the "regular" BIOS: you need a flash drive (in my case "jetFlashTranscend 16 GB") just move to the first place, and then save the settings (key F10) .

Booting from a flash drive / disk using the Boot Menu

Why set up and change the boot queue in the BIOS when you can boot from a flash drive by pressing one button?

We are talking about Boot Menu - boot menu, translated into Russian. If you call this menu, then you can choose where to boot your computer / laptop: from a hard disk, from a CD / DVD, from a flash drive, from an SD card, etc.

The button for calling the Boot Menu is usually indicated on the first screen that you see after turning it on. An example in the photo below:

F2 or Del - enter the BIOS settings;
F11 - call Boot Menu.

By calling the Boot Menu, you will see all the devices from which you can boot. An example in the photo below: you can boot from a hard drive, flash drive and CD / DVD drive.

Why the BIOS does not boot from a USB flash drive / disk

1) Disabled USB controller in BIOS

Almost all BIOS versions have an option to disable USB ports. Of course, if they are disabled, then you will not be able to boot from a USB drive. Check if they are enabled (or reset the settings to default) - a little higher in the article, I gave how this is done.

2) The bootable flash drive is written incorrectly

Often it can be written incorrectly due to incorrect program settings. (in which you recorded it), or a "broken" ISO image with the system. I recommend reading this article:

3) After rebooting the computer, the installation starts again

Quite often the following situation occurs. You inserted a USB flash drive, the computer booted up from it and the installation began, then it rebooted, and the installation began again. And so in a circle...

In this case, just remove the flash drive and restart your computer. It will boot from the hard drive (where the installation files from the flash drive have already been copied)- and the installation will continue (rather than start over).

4) USB 3.0 and USB 2.0

Now on modern PCs / laptops there are several types of USB ports: USB 3.0 (USB 3.1) and USB 2.0 (USB 3.0 - marked in blue). "Old" Windows operating systems do not support USB 3.0, so in cases where the flash drive is "invisible", I recommend trying to install the OS from a USB 2.0 port.

Case in point: USB 2.0 and USB3.0

5) USB-HDD, USB-FDD, etc.

In the BIOS, when setting the boot order, you usually need to select a USB-HDD, but in some cases the BIOS does not see the USB flash drive. In this case, try changing the USB-HDD to USB-FDD.

6) Error "Reboot and Select proper Boot device or Insert Boot Media in selected Boot device and press a key"

It often occurs if you have connected, for example, a disk (floppy disk) to a computer that does not have boot records. Simply remove and disconnect all media other than the one from which you intend to install (for example, USB flash drives).

Instruction! Solution for "reboot and select proper..." error -

7) Disconnect all add-ons from the computer. equipment

It is also recommended to disconnect the second monitor, printers, scanners, etc. from the computer. The fact is that when installing Windows - this can create additional problems. For example, I had a case where Windows misidentified the default monitor and was "sending" the image to another monitor that was turned off (and I observed a "black" screen...).

8) Enable Legacy Mode

In the Boot section, you need to change the boot mode from EFI (UEFI) to Legacy (if any). I made a recommendation about this above. The fact is that not all Windows OS support the "new" chip (besides, you need to correctly burn the USB flash drive for this installation mode).

9) Turn off Secure Boot

In the BIOS, in the Boot section (usually) there is a Secure Boot option - also disable it, set it to Disable / Off (if any).

10) Enable Launch CSM (if available (usually the Boot partition))

In the BIOS, under the Boot section, change the Launch CSM mode to Enable (if available).

There are only a few problems that beginners face. And one of them is the BIOS setup for installing Windows from a USB flash drive. This is the first step that starts everything, and this is where almost everyone stumbles.

The problem is that there are different BIOS versions. And, having studied the instructions on how to enable booting from a USB flash drive in the BIOS, a beginner may still not be able to cope. And all because he simply has the wrong BIOS version, there is no such line as in the screenshot and, accordingly, nothing happens.

It doesn't matter what brand of laptop or computer you have. The version of the operating system (Windows 10, 8, 7 or XP) also does not play a role. Only the BIOS version matters. And the easiest way to find out about it is by running it.

How to enter BIOS settings

Before entering the BIOS settings, you need to insert a bootable USB flash drive with the installation image into the USB port. At the same time, the main thing here is to write it down correctly. Otherwise it just won't load.

After that, restart your PC or laptop and constantly click the Delete or F2 button until the BIOS window opens. The button may differ depending on the brand of laptop or motherboard on the computer, so see the hint on the first black screen.

Then the BIOS is configured.

Award BIOS setup

How to understand that you have an Award BIOS? From the screenshot below:

If you have the same blue screen, then this is an Award. Most often this option is found on the PC.

Management in BIOS is carried out only using the keyboard - arrows and corresponding buttons (their list is usually indicated at the bottom of the screen).

Before setting the BIOS to boot from USB, you need to check that it is enabled (otherwise the USB flash drive simply will not be displayed). For this:

The instruction is as follows:

In the screenshot above, the HDD is in 1st place, and the USB flash drive is in 2nd place. It needs to be lifted up. As you can see from the prompts at the bottom of the screen, you can set the boot priority in BIOS using the + and - (plus and minus) buttons. Select the USB flash drive and press the plus sign - it should move to the first line. Then press Esc to go back.

Then highlight the item "First Boot Device", press Enter and select "USB-HDD". Press the Esc button again. To exit the BIOS, click the F10 button and then Esc (Save and Exit).

AMI BIOS Setup

AMI BIOS looks like this:

And most often it is found on laptops. Again, you first need to make sure that the USB controller is enabled. For this:

Now let's look at how to boot a USB flash drive through BIOS on a laptop:

Sometimes, in order to change the device boot priority (put the USB flash drive in first place), you need to press other buttons. It can be not only + and - (plus / minus), but also F6 / F7, etc. Focus on the tips where it says what a particular button does (this little instruction is always either on the right or at the bottom).

Phoenix-Award BIOS Setup

The Phoenix Award looks like this:

This is a rare (or rather, old) version, but for the full picture, let's look at the Phoenix-Award BIOS through the BIOS.

First, go to the "Peripherals" tab and check that the first two items are set to "Enabled". If necessary, expose the desired.

After that, go to the "Exit" tab (in the top menu) and select the "Save & Exit" line to exit the BIOS.

UEFI BIOS setup

The UEFI BIOS is a new and improved version of the old BIOS. It has a user-friendly interface, so setting up the BIOS for installing Windows is very simple here.

All you need to do is find the USB device icon, use the mouse to move it to the 1st position, and then click the “Exit” item (in the right corner) with the mouse. And don't forget to save your settings!

In this simple way, booting from a USB flash drive through the UEFI BIOS is carried out. Undoubtedly, this method is the simplest and most understandable. Actually, it was for this that a new graphical interface was developed.

When the PC or laptop reboots for the first time during the Windows installation process, you need to go into the BIOS again and restore the previous settings. That is, put the HDD-drive in the first place, and lower the flash drive to the second or third.

Or when a black screen appears after the reboot with the line "Press any key ..." ("Press any button") - do nothing.

Otherwise, Windows will start installing from the very beginning. And you can go around in circles for hours.

Once again: during the installation process after the first reboot, either go to the BIOS and return all the previous settings, or simply do not press anything. Alternatively, you can also simply pull the USB flash drive out of the USB port (but only when the PC or laptop reboots).

If you needed to install Windows 7 from a USB flash drive via BIOS, then our article will be a great help to you.

Installing a new operating system on a computer is a fairly common problem that can occur 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 of official representatives of the Windows company about the suspension of technical support for the XP operating system.

To date, almost all users have completely switched to the so-called seven.

Our step-by-step instructions will help you quickly and easily bring your computer back to life.

Preparing your computer to reinstall Windows

Before you start working on new software, you need to properly prepare your PC. First you need to remember what important information is stored on the computer and save it to a portable storage device.

Particular attention should be paid to the local drive 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 the disk along with the already installed OS. You can also use the free space of another local drive to save information.

It is very important to check if there are drivers for the network card on the PC before reinstalling Windows.

If you install a new system via USB, and then it turns out that the distribution does not have drivers for the network card, 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 the drivers are available. Also, be sure to check if you have drivers for your sound card, audio card, video card, etc.

Preparing a flash drive for software installation

To install the operating system from a flash drive, we recommend that you adhere to the following rules:

The minimum size of the flash drive must be 4 GB. This is the amount of space required to save all important components and files;
Mandatory preparation of the Windows 7 distribution kit for recording and saving its image (*iso format);
Choosing a program to create a disk image.

Advice! One of the best disk imaging utilities is UltralSO. The latest version is on the developer's site

Install and run the utility on the PC, and then select the pre-selected disk image in it. Step-by-step instructions for using the program will help you quickly understand all the intricacies.

launch

2. Now the main working window opens in front of you

3. Proceed 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 completed, you can start recording.

5. At the end of the recording, there will be Windows on the space of your flash drive, with the help of which you will reinstall.

Comment! To create a flash drive to install the system through the BIOS, you can use the toolsWindows.

Configuring Bios to work with a bootable USB flash drive

It is not enough just to connect the installation flash drive to a PC to install new software; you must first configure the computer so that it starts booting from it when it is turned on.

All settings are made in BIOS. Any laptop or computer has a BIOS that stores important settings, including the order in which devices should boot. It is this setting that we now need for further fruitful work.

To start the BIOS, you must hold or press a certain key on the keyboard when you turn on the computer.

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 the BIOS again. To make it easier for you, we have posted a table with the main options for enabling Bios.

Keyboard shortcuts to enterBIOS depending on manufacturerBIOS

Basic keyboard shortcuts for launchingBIOS depending on laptop and computer manufacturers

After you get into BIOS, you need to find the option that is responsible for loading devices. Usually it is in the menu and the word BOOT is present 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 ways to control it. If you can’t figure it out on your own, then refer to the help that glows in the BIOS.

In our case, the USB-HDD (there may be another name) acts as the first boot device. After selecting it, you must exit the 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.

Installing Windows 7 using a bootable flash drive

If everything was correctly written to the space of the flash drive, and the correct settings were made in the BIOS, then you will see the following message on the monitor screen in front of you, 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 from USB flash drive setting is saved. If there are no errors in the BIOS, then most likely you were unable 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 of a new version of Windows through the BIOS has begun. Some installation images, in addition to the operating system itself, also contain various additional programs, then you will have to select the required item from the menu.

It is also worth saying that some of the disks by default perform most of the settings described below. You should not worry about this, since all settings can be changed after the software installation process is completed.

A welcome screen appears in front of you, on which you select the desired data. After the configuration is done, you should click on the "Next" button, and then "Install".

In a new window, the terms of the license agreement appear in front of us, which you, of course, read very carefully, and then agree by checking the box in the designated box and clicking the "Next" button.

The final stage of installation

In the new window, you will have to choose which type of installation we want. We need a complete type. Next, you will have to work a little with the disk, on the space of which the new version of the software will be written.

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 the name of your drive. This is a very easy action that should not cause you any difficulties.

Once the reboot is complete, Windows Setup will continue.