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How to Boot From USB?

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How to Boot From USB?

2025-06-03 09:51:50


Installing an operating system via USB drive is one of the most popular methods today, which makes it essential to understand how to configure a computer to boot from a USB device. Most modern computers allow users to select a USB boot option directly using a boot menu shortcut key. In addition to that, USB boot can also be configured through the BIOS settings. It's important to be familiar with both methods.


Many users are still unsure how to set BIOS to boot from a USB drive. The following guide will walk you through the process of enabling USB boot via BIOS.


User Notes:

There are multiple ways to configure USB boot depending on the system type:

1.Traditional Legacy BIOS setup

2.UEFI-based system setup

3.Switching a UEFI system to Legacy mode for booting

Due to the wide variety of computer models on the market, it is not possible to list all configurations. This guide covers the most common setup methods. For other systems, please refer to the respective tutorials provided by the manufacturer or community.

For UEFI systems, if your USB drive is properly configured as a UEFI bootable device, most machines do not require BIOS changes. Simply insert the USB drive and use the appropriate boot menu shortcut key to select the UEFI boot option.


[USB Boot Setup Shortcut Keys]


1.Insert the prepared bootable USB drive into your computer. As the system restarts, continuously press one of the shortcut keys—F12, F11, Esc, or F7, depending on your device.


Below is a reference table of USB boot shortcut keys for various motherboard brands and all-in-one desktop models. Simply identify your computer brand and press the corresponding key to bring up the boot menu selection screen.


2. Launching the Boot Menu, Once the boot menu appears, it typically lists entries containing "USB" or the name of your USB drive—such as Sandisk Cruzer Pop 1.26, Kingston DataTraveler G2 1.00, General UDisk 5.00, or USB HDD. These entries all represent boot options from the USB drive.


Among them, options labeled with UEFI indicate UEFI boot mode, while those without UEFI refer to Legacy boot mode. Select the appropriate USB boot option based on your system's configuration and press Enter to proceed.


Note: If you're installing Windows 8 or Windows 10 in UEFI mode, you must select the option that includes UEFI in its label.


How to Set USB Boot in BIOS on Different Motherboards


I. Enabling USB Boot on Legacy Motherboards via CMOS Settings

Insert the USB drive into the computer. Restart the system and continuously press Del, F2, F1, F10, or Esc to enter the BIOS setup interface.


If the interface appears as shown, use the ↓ (Down Arrow) key to navigate to Advanced BIOS Features, then press Enter.




Use the ↓ (Down Arrow) key to select Hard Disk Boot Priority and press Enter.




Select the USB-HDD option, then use the +/- keys, F5/F6, or PageUp/PageDown to move it to the top of the boot order. Press F10, then Enter to save and reboot. The system should now boot from the USB drive.


II. Setting USB Boot in Aptio Setup Utility BIOS

Similarly, press Del, F1, F2, or Esc repeatedly during startup to enter the BIOS. Use the → (Right Arrow) key to switch to the Boot or Startup tab, then select Hard Drive BBS Priorities and press Enter.



Select Boot Option #1 and press Enter, then choose the USB drive. If you're installing in UEFI mode, select the option that includes "UEFI", then press Enter.



Press Esc to go back, then once again choose Boot Option #1, select the USB option, and press Enter. Finally, press F10 to save changes and reboot. The system should now boot from the USB.


III. Setting USB Boot on Lenovo ThinkCentre All-in-One PCs

Insert the prepared USB boot drive. During restart, repeatedly press F12 to bring up the boot menu.


Select USB HDD and press Enter. If the installation interface doesn’t load or there’s no USB option, select Enter Setup to access the BIOS.



Use the → (Right Arrow) key to navigate to the Startup tab and choose Startup Sequence, then press Enter.

In the boot configuration screen, select USB HDD, and use the +/- keys to move it to the first position.


If USB HDD appears under Excluded from boot order, it means the BIOS has excluded the USB from the boot list.


Select USB HDD, press the F key to enable it, then press the X key to move it to the top section. Use +/- to adjust its position to the top.