»Computer Tweaks » Boot Your Computer from USB Drive
For all sorts of reasons, you may need to force your computer to boot from a USB flash drive instead of starting normally. To achieve this, you have to change some settings in two or three seconds while booting up your computer. And it may have some differences in operating depending on different computer mainboard and brands. Following this article will set out the details of how to boot your computer from a USB drive.
Step 1: Insert a bootable USB flash/pen/key drive into your computer.
Step 2: Start or restart your computer. When the vendor logo appears, immediately and repeatedly press the Boot Menu key (mostly F12/ESC), until Boot Menu appears.
Note: You can find the Boot Menu Key by the vendor from the table at the end of the article.
Step 3: On the Boot Menu highlight the USB-HDD or other by ↓ or ↑ key. Hit Enter to confirm. Then your computer will boot from the USB drive.
Tips: The USB boot device name of your computer may be different from the one above.
Similarly, you need to the first connect a bootable USB drive to your computer.
Then start or restart your computer and immediately press and hold the BIOS key until UEFI BIOS Utility displays.
Tips: The BIOS Keys vary for different computer vendors and brands. The most common is F12, DEL, F11, F1, F9 or other.
Click here to find BIOS Key for your computer.1. Boot computer from USB drive in UEFI BIOS Utility - EZ Mode.
Step 1: Start your computer and immediately press and hold BIOS key (DEL/F2) until entering UEFI BIOS Utility. Generally, EZ Mode will be displayed on most mainboards, and then click Boot Menu or press F8 to open the Boot Menu as shown in the following picture.
Step 2: After that, a Boot Menu window will be displayed.
Step 3: Select a USB flash drive used to boot with your mouse or keyboard.
2. Boot computer from USB drive in UEFI BIOS Utility - Advanced Mode.
Step 1: In the interface of EZ Mode, click Advanced Mode or press F7 to open the Advanced Mode.
Step 2: After entering Advanced Mode, click Bootselect Boot menu.
Step 3: The Boot menu will be displayed after that.
Step 4: Select a USB flash drive used to boot with your mouse or keyboard.
| Computer Manufacturer | Type | Model | Boot Menu Key | BIOS Key |
| HP SERIES | ||||
| HP | generic | Esc, F9 | Esc, F10, F1 | |
| HP | desktop | Media Center, Pavilion 23 All In One, Pavilion g6 and g7 | Esc | F10 |
| HP | desktop | Pavilion HPE PC, h8-1287c, Pavilion PC, p6 2317c, Pavilion PC, p7 1297cb, TouchSmart 520 PC | Esc | Esc F10 |
| HP | laptop | 2000 | Esc | Esc |
| HP | notebook | Pavilion | Esc | F10 |
| HP | notebook | ENVY dv6 and dv7 PC | Esc | Esc |
| ACER SERIES | ||||
| ACER | netbook | AspireOne, Aspire Timeline, Aspire v3, v5, v7 | F12 | F2 |
| DELL SERIES | ||||
| DELL | desktop | Dimension, Inspiron, Latitude,Inspiron One 2020, 2305, 2320, 2330 All-In-One | F12 | F2 |
| DELL | laptop | Inspiron, Precision | F12 | F2 |
| ASUS SERIES | ||||
| ASUS | desktop | F8 | F9 | |
| ASUS | laptop | Esc | F2, F9 | |
| ASUS | laptop | R503C | F8 | F2, DEL |
| ASUS | netbook | Eee PC 1025c | Esc | F2 |
| LENOVO SERIES | ||||
| LENOVO | desktop | F12, F8, F10 | F1, F2 | |
| LENOVO | laptop | F12 | F1, F2 | |
| SAMSUNG SERIES | ||||
| SAMSUNG | Esc | F2 | ||
| SONY SERIES | ||||
| SONY | VAIO, PCG, VGN | F11, ASSIST | F1, F2, F3 | |
| SONY | VGN Esc | F10, ASSIST | F2 | |
| TOSHIBA SERIES | ||||
| TOSHIBA | Protege, Satellite, Tecra | F12 | F1, Esc | |
| TOSHIBA | Equium F12 | F12 | F12 | |
| MOTHERBOARDS | ||||
| ASUS | F8 | Del | ||
| GIGABYTE | F12 | Del | ||
| MSI | F11 | Del | ||
| INTEL | F10 | F2 | ||
| ASROCK | F11 | F2, Del | ||
| OTHER MANUFACTURERS | ||||
| XIAOMI | Notebook | MI Notebook Air | Fn +F2 (Choose Boot Menu) | Fn +F2 (Choose BIOS Setup) |
| PANASONIC | Toughbook | F2 (go to the exit and then choose boot order) | F2, Del | |
| GATEWAY | F11, Esc, F10 | F2, Del | ||
| HUAWEI | Matebook | F2 | F12 |
