Computer will not boot with USB-hardrive

  • Thread starter Thread starter SpookiePower
  • Start date Start date
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SpookiePower

My desktop computer will not boot when I have my
Maxtor OneTouch 4 plugged in the USB. If I connect the
hardrive after the computer have started up, it works just fine.
if I connect the harddrive to my laptop it works perfect.

I have found out the I might have something to do with
my BIOS/USB settings, but can't seem to fix this problem.
I thought about getting another USB-hardrive, but do you
think that I will get the same problem with another
USB-hardrive ?
 
SpookiePower said:
My desktop computer will not boot when I have my
Maxtor OneTouch 4 plugged in the USB. If I connect the
hardrive after the computer have started up, it works just fine.
if I connect the harddrive to my laptop it works perfect.

I have found out the I might have something to do with
my BIOS/USB settings, but can't seem to fix this problem.
I thought about getting another USB-hardrive, but do you
think that I will get the same problem with another
USB-hardrive ?
Click to expand...

My bet is the drive is not the issue. Just my 2cents
 
SpookiePower said:
My desktop computer will not boot when I have my
Maxtor OneTouch 4 plugged in the USB. If I connect the
hardrive after the computer have started up, it works just fine.
if I connect the harddrive to my laptop it works perfect.

I have found out the I might have something to do with
my BIOS/USB settings, but can't seem to fix this problem.
I thought about getting another USB-hardrive, but do you
think that I will get the same problem with another
USB-hardrive ?
Click to expand...

Try plugging an externally powered USB hub between your computer and the USB
drive and see if the computer will boot properly with everything plugged in.
I have seen a situation where an externally powered USB drive would cause
this problem since the USB interface side on that drive was still expecting
to use the 5 volts from the computer and not drive's own power supply, what
a bad design.

If things boot properly with a externally powered USB hub between the drive
and the computer then I suspect your power supply's 5 volt side is not
handling the full load properly during a boot.

As for possible BIOS problems, if you post your motherboard model others
might be able to indicate a more specific fix or work around.
 
Yes its related to your BIOS. Your PC is trying to boot from your USB drive.
So changing your USB drive is unlikely to make a difference.

In theory there should be an option in your BIOS to control what you boot
from and you should be able to disable it there. However, I have a PC with
the same problem and whatever I change in the BIOS it makes no difference.
So I've stuck a label on the PC to remind me that if it doesn't boot then I
need to pull out the USB drive. Sucks as a solution but it works if you
can't disable it in the BIOS.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I think that it is the only solution. I will make a label
too :)
 
I don't know about the OP's case, but for me this happens after the POST and
before Windows starts to load. So when I've seen it I'm sure its a BIOS
issue.

Sadly whilst my BIOS has options that look hopeful (such as boot device and
order - and I'll look for "legacy/USB virtualization" next time I reboot) it
doesn't make any difference to the problem - so I'm assuming its an issue
with the BIOS (hence my workaround of sticking a label to remind me why it
might not be booting and to unplug the USB disk). I suppose if it is a BIOS
problem (as I'm sure it is for me) then that implies that a BIOS update
might fix it. Whilst I've never had it go wrong on me I'm reluctant to do a
BIOS upgrade in case it does go wrong, so I'd rather live with the issue
than try an upgrade. (If it weren't the office server that this affects then
I might give it a go, but the consequences of it going pear shaped are just
too horrible to think about.)
Click to expand...

Me? I am not OS experted, don't know much about BIOS (especially newer
generation), and never tried to boot from USB device to know much or any
about it.

*BUT* I have read some USB device mention it has a special feature is
letting to boot from it. And since I don't see all USB devices mention they
are bootable, so I guess not all has bootable capable. But I may be wrong.
 
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