Ultimate Guide on How to Set BIOS to Boot from the USB Drive (Include All Major Brands of PC)

/ Posted by Ruby Johnson to Windows Tips

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Have to boot it from a USB flash drive to troubleshoot your PC? Setting computer boot from USB is not so easy for home users since every Windows PC is different. Don't worry. Here we have an ultimate guide on how to set BIOS to boot from the USB Drive applying to Dell, Asus8, Lenovo, Sony, HP, Acer, Toshiba, Samsung, Hasee, etc.
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Part 1: An Overview of How to Set BIOS to Boot from the USB Drive for All Brands of PC

Here is an overview guide about how to set BIOS to boot from the USB Drive.

  • Step 1: Insert USB flash drive to computer.
  • Step 2: Power on or restart computer. When vendor logo appears on screen, press Boot Option Key (click for details) repeatedly until Boot Option Menu appears. You can find the Boot Option Key for your computer from the following table.
  • Step 3: When Boot Menu appears, choose USB drive to boot your computer. Tips: Boot Menu may show your USB drive as USB HDD or other name. You can try again to get the right one.

Note: Pre-installed Windows 10/8.1/8 computers must first disable UEFI Secure Boot in BIOS.

Boot Option Key for Major Brands of PC (Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, Compaq, and others.)

Note:

  • 1. The "Boot Menu" column shows the known boot option keys for various computer manufacturers.
  • 2. The "BIOS/UEFI Key" column shows which key can be used to enter the BIOS/UEFI setup menus in order to change the boot device sequence.

Manufacturer Type Models Boot Menu Boot Once BIOS/UEFI Key Change Priority
Acer     Esc, F12, F9   Del, F2  
netbook Aspire One zg5, zg8 F12   F2  
netbook Aspire Timeline F12   F2  
netbook Aspire v3, v5, v7 F12 The "F12 Boot Menu" must be enabled in BIOS. It is disabled by default. F2  
Manufacturer Type Models Boot Menu Boot Once BIOS/UEFI Key Change Priority
Asus desktop   F8   F9  
laptop VivoBook f200ca, f202e, q200e, s200e, s400ca, s500ca, u38n, v500ca, v550ca, v551, x200ca, x202e, x550ca, z202e Esc   Delete  
laptop N550JV, N750JV, N550LF, Rog g750jh, Rog g750jw, Rog g750jx Esc Disable "Fast Boot" and "Secure Boot Control" in order to boot from MBR formatted media. F2  
laptop Zenbook Infinity ux301, Infinity ux301la, Prime ux31a, Prime ux32vd, R509C, Taichi 21, Touch u500vz, Transformer Book TX300 Esc Disable "Fast Boot" and "Secure Boot Control" in order to boot from MBR formatted media. F2  
notebook k25f, k35e, k34u, k35u, k43u, k46cb, k52f, k53e, k55a, k60ij, k70ab, k72f, k73e, k73s, k84l, k93sm, k93sv, k95vb, k501, k601, R503C, x32a, x35u, x54c, x61g, x64c, x64v, x75a, x83v, x83vb, x90, x93sv, x95gl, x101ch, x102ba, x200ca, x202e, x301a, x401a, x401u, x501a, x502c, x750ja F8   F8  
netbook Eee PC 1015, 1025c Esc   F2 Boot Tab, Boot Device Priority, 1st Boot Device, Removable Device, F10
Manufacturer Type Models Boot Menu Boot Once BIOS/UEFI Key Change Priority
Dell desktop Dimension, Inspiron, Latitude, Optiplex F12 Select "USB Flash Drive". F2  
desktop Alienware Aurora, Inspiron One 20, Inspiron 23 Touch, Inspiron 620, 630, 650, 660s, Inspiron 3000, X51, XPS 8300, XPS 8500, XPS 8700, XPS 18 Touch, XPS 27 Touch F12 Select "USB Flash Drive". F2  
desktop Inspiron One 2020, 2305, 2320, 2330 All-In-One F12 Select "USB Flash Drive". F2
laptop Inspiron 11 3000 series touch, 14z Ultrabook, 14 7000 series touch, 15z Ultrabook touch, 15 7000 series touch, 17 7000 series touch F12 Select "USB Storage Device" F2 Settings->General->Boot Sequence->"USB Storage Device", then up arrow, [Apply]--[Exit]
laptop Inspiron 14R non-touch, 15 non-touch, 15R non-touch, 17 non-touch, 17R non-touch F12 Select "USB Storage Device" from boot menu. F2 Settings->General->Boot Sequence->"USB Storage Device", then up arrow, [Apply]--[Exit]
laptop Inspiron 14R non-touch, 15 non-touch, 15R non-touch, 17 non-touch, 17R non-touch F12 Select "USB Storage Device" from boot menu. F2  
laptop Latitude c400, c600, c640, d610, d620, d630, d830, e5520, e6320, e6400, e6410, e6420, e6430, e6500, e6520, 6430u Ultrabook, x300 F12 Select "USB Storage Device" from boot menu. F2  
laptop Precision m3800, m4400, m4700, m4800, m6500, m6600, m6700, m6800 F12 Select "USB Storage Device" from boot menu. F2  
laptop Alienware 14, Alienware 17, Alienware 18, XPS 11 2-in-1, XPS 12 2-in-1, XPS 13, XPS 14 Ultrabook, XPS 15 Touch F12 Select "USB Storage Device" from boot menu. F2  
Manufacturer Type Models Boot Menu Boot Once BIOS/UEFI Key Change Priority
HP generic   Esc, F9   Esc, F10, F1  
desktop Pavilion Media Center a1477c Esc   Esc BIOS "Advanced" tab, Boot Order, Move "USB Device" before "Hard Drive"
desktop Pavilion 23 All In One Esc Select boot media from the menu. F10 UEFI/BIOS "Advanced" tab, Boot Order, Move "USB Device" before "Hard Drive". For non-UEFI media, disable secure boot and enable legacy support.
desktop Pavilion Elite e9000, e9120y, e9150t, e9220y, e9280t Esc, F9   F10  
desktop Pavilion g6 and g7, Pavilion HPE PC, h8-1287c, Pavilion PC, p6 2317c, Pavilion PC, p7 1297cb, TouchSmart 520 PC Esc Then F9 for "Boot Menu" Esc F10, Storage tab, Boot Order, Legacy Boot Sources
laptop 2000 Esc Then F9 for "Boot Menu". Select "Patriot Memory" on the Boot Option Menu. Esc Then F10, Storage tab, Boot Order, Legacy Boot Sources
notebook Pavilion g4 Esc   F10 Then F10, Storage tab, Boot Order, Legacy Boot Sources
notebook ENVY x2, m4, m4-1015dx, m4-1115dx, sleekbookm6, m6-1105dx, m6-1205dx, m6-k015dx, m6-k025dx, touchsmart m7, Envy, dv6 and dv7 PC, dv9700, Spectre 14, Spectre 13, 2000 - 2a20nr, 2a53ca, 2b16nr, 2b89wm, 2c29wm, 2d29wm Esc Then F9 for "Boot Menu" Esc Then F10, Storage tab, Boot Order, Legacy Boot Sources
notebook Probook 4520s, 4525s, 4540s, 4545s, 5220m, 5310m, 5330m, 5660b, 5670b Esc   F10 BIOS "Advanced" tab, Boot Order, Move "USB Device" before "Hard Drive"
tower Pavilion a410n Esc   F10 BIOS "Boot" tab, Boot Device Priority, Hard Drive Boot Priority, Move "USB-HDD0" up to #1 position.
Manufacturer Type Models Boot Menu Boot Once BIOS/UEFI Key Change Priority
Lenovo desktop   F12, F8, F10   F1, F2  
laptop   F12   F1, F2  
desktop Inspiron One 2020, 2305, 2320, 2330 All-In-One F12 Select "USB Flash Drive". F2  
laptop ThinkPad edge, e431, e531, e545, helix, l440, l540, s431, t440s, t540p, twist, w510, w520, w530, w540, x140, x220, x230, x240, X1 carbon F12   F1  
laptop IdeaPad s300, u110, u310 Touch, u410, u510, y500, y510, yoga 11, yoga 13, z500 Novobutton Small button on the side next to the power button. Novo button Small button on the side next to the power button.
laptop deaPad P500 F12 or Fn + F11   F2  
netbook IdeaPad S10-3, g460, g470, g475, g480, g485 F12   F2  
Manufacturer Type Models Boot Menu Boot Once BIOS/UEFI Key Change Priority
Samsung     F12, Esc      
netbook NC10, np300e5c, np300e5e, np350v5c, np355v5c, np365e5c, np550p5c Esc   F2 Boot Tab, Select "Boot Device Priority", Press Return, Up/Down to Highlight, F6/F5 to change priority.
ultrabook Series 5 Ultra, Series 7 Chronos, Series 9 Ultrabook Esc You must first disable fast boot in BIOS/UEFI to boot from a USB drive. F2 Boot Tab, Select "Boot Device Priority", Press Return, Up/Down to Highlight, F6/F5 to change priority.
laptop Ativ Book 2, 8, 9 F2 Note that you must first disable fast boot in BIOS/UEFI to boot from a USB drive or use the F2 boot menu. F10 Boot Tab, Select "Boot Device Priority", Press Return, Up/Down to Highlight, F6/F5 to change priority.
Manufacturer Type Models Boot Menu Boot Once BIOS/UEFI Key Change Priority
Sony   VAIO Duo, Pro, Flip, Tap, Fit assistbutton   assist button  
  VAIO, PCG, VGN F11   F1, F2, F3  
  VGN Esc, F10   F2 BIOS "BOOT" section, "External Device Boot" enabled
Manufacturer Type Models Boot Menu Boot Once BIOS/UEFI Key Change Priority
Toshiba laptop Kira, Kirabook 13, Ultrabook F12   F2  
laptop Qosmio g30, g35, g40, g50, Qosmio x70, x75, x500, x505, x870, x875, x880 F12   F2  
  Protege, Satellite, Tecra F12   F1, Esc  
  Equium F12   F12  
Manufacturer Type Models Boot Menu Boot Once BIOS/UEFI Key Change Priority
Compaq   Presario Esc, F9   F10 BIOS "Advanced Tab", Boot Order
eMachines     F12   Tab, Del  
Fujitsu     F12   F2  
Intel     F10      
NEC     F5   F2  
Packard Bell     F8   F1, Del  
Sharp         F2  

Part 2: Examples of Setting Computer Boot from USB Drive for Major Brands of PC

  • Example 1: Set Dell Laptop or computer boot from USB Drive.

    Insert the USB stick into a USB port and start or restart computer. When F12 = Boot Menu appears in the upper-right corner of the screen, press <F12>.

    set computer boot from USB drive

    When Boot Option Menu appears, use “↑, ↓” to choose USB stick to boot from.

    set bios to boot from usb drive

    Example 2: Set HP laptop to boot from USB flash drive

    Insert USB flash drive to computer and start or restart HP computer. When HP Logo appears on screen, press F9 to enter BOOT MENU (Boot Device Options)

    set hp boot from USB drive

    Use "↑, ↓" to choose the USB memory stick to boot from.

    set bios to boot from usb in windows 7

  • Example 3: Set Acer laptop to boot from USB flash drive

    Insert USB memory stick to Acer laptop and start or restart Acer laptop. When Acer logo appears on screen, press F12 to enter Boot Device Options.

    set acer boot from USB drive

    And use "↑, ↓" to choose USB memory stick to boot from.

    set bios to boot from usb in windows 8

  • Example 4: Set Lenovo Laptop or computer boot from USB Drive

    Insert USB Flash drive to Lenovo laptop and start or restart Acer laptop. When Lenovo logo appears on screen, press F12 to enter Boot Device Options.

    set lenovo boot from USB drive

    Find usb hdd option and choose USB memory stick to boot from.

    enable boot from usb in bios

  • Example 5: Set Sony Laptop or computer boot from USB Drive

    Insert USB memory stick to Sony laptop and start or restart Acer laptop. When Sony logo appears on screen, press ESC to enter Boot Device Options.

    set sony boot from USB drive

    Find usb hdd option and choose USB memory stick to boot from.

    enable usb boot in bios sony

  • Example 6: Set Samsung Laptop or computer boot from USB Drive

    Insert your USB stick to computer and start or restart Samsung computer. When Samsung Logo appears on screen, press F12 to enter BOOT MENU (Boot Device Options).

    set samsung boot from USB drive

    Use "↑, ↓" to choose the USB memory stick to boot from.

    enable usb boot in bios samsung

  • Example 7: Set Asus Laptop or computer boot from USB Drive

    Plug USB memory stick to computer and start or restart Asus computer. When Asus Logo appears on screen, press F8 to enter BOOT MENU (Boot Device Options).

    set asus boot from USB drive

    Use "↑, ↓" to choose the USB memory stick to boot from.

    enable usb boot in bios asus

  • Example 8: Set Toshiba Laptop or computer boot from USB Drive

    Insert USB Flash drive to computer and start or restart Toshiba computer. When Toshiba Logo appears on screen, press F12 to enter BOOT MENU (Boot Device Options).

    set toshiba boot from USB drive

    Use "↑, ↓" to choose the USB memory stick to boot from.

    enable usb boot in bios toshiba

That's all for how to set BIOS to Boot from the USB drive. The key part of this tutorial is finding the right boot menu key(s) to press. After booting from the USB drive, you can troubleshoot your PC, install a new operating system, reset lost Windows login password, etc.

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