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Pc won't boot from USB?

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  • 10-10-2016 4:51pm
    #1
    MrDiyFan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 193 ✭✭


    Hi. I have a Dell dimension 9200 about 10 years old running Windows 8.1.
    I have USB as the first boot device in the bios and I've also tried selecting USB boot from the f12 boot menu but it returns a 'selected boot device not available 'error.
    I've tried a couple of USB boot sticks, acronis true image usb boot and another one.
    Any ideas thanks?


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    #2
    Lu Tze
    Registered Users Posts: 3,495 ✭✭✭Lu Tze


    MrDiyFan wrote: »
    Hi. I have a Dell dimension 9200 about 10 years old running Windows 8.1.
    I have USB as the first boot device in the bios and I've also tried selecting USB boot from the f12 boot menu but it returns a 'selected boot device not available 'error.
    I've tried a couple of USB boot sticks, acronis true image usb boot and another one.
    Any ideas thanks?
    Have you tried different USB ports?


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    #3
    MrDiyFan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 193 ✭✭MrDiyFan


    Yes, front and back
    I believed it worked before for me at some stage


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    #4
    ED E
    Registered Users Posts: 36,167 ✭✭✭✭ED E


    Use a small (4 or 8GB) stick and try Rufus.


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    #5
    MrDiyFan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 193 ✭✭MrDiyFan


    i tried rufus with a couple of bootable isos,different sticks and ports

    no luck.it seems like it's not recognising usb during boot


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    #6
    ItHurtsWhenIP
    Registered Users Posts: 2,025 ✭✭✭ItHurtsWhenIP


    If it's not formatted as FAT32, try doing so.


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    #7
    MrDiyFan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 193 ✭✭MrDiyFan


    I think it is


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    #8
    bonzodog2
    Registered Users Posts: 6,220 ✭✭✭bonzodog2


    I'd agree with <= *GB FAT32 stick, plugged into integrated USB. A machine I have won't boot off a USB stick, but will boot from a SSD disk in a USB enclosure.


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    #9
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    I recall that these old Dells were sometimes awkward to boot from USB. The drive has to be partitioned and formatted a certain way.

    My memory is a bit hazy but from what I can recall, if I used Disk Management to partition it and mark it active, it wouldn't boot; but if I used DOS FDISK it would.


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    #10
    MrDiyFan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 193 ✭✭MrDiyFan


    Karsini wrote: »
    I recall that these old Dells were sometimes awkward to boot from USB. The drive has to be partitioned and formatted a certain way.

    My memory is a bit hazy but from what I can recall, if I used Disk Management to partition it and mark it active, it wouldn't boot; but if I used DOS FDISK it would.

    thanks ,i definitely had it working before
    i'm going to use CDs for now


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    #11
    Gazzmonkey
    Registered Users Posts: 816 ✭✭✭Gazzmonkey


    MrDiyFan wrote: »
    Hi. I have a Dell dimension 9200 about 10 years old running Windows 8.1.
    I have USB as the first boot device in the bios and I've also tried selecting USB boot from the f12 boot menu but it returns a 'selected boot device not available 'error.
    I've tried a couple of USB boot sticks, acronis true image usb boot and another one.
    Any ideas thanks?

    Hi, you need to format it as boot up disk... not as mass storage device with NTFS or FAT32

    I use 'Macrium Reflect' to do this as it's super fast and can also create system images if needed.

    Good luck creating your rescue media ;)


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