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How to Boot a Computer from a USB Drive

Lucas Watson
Lucas Watson

Updated:

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.

2 ways to Boot your computer from a USB drive


  • Way 1: Boot your computer from a USB drive via Boot Menu.
  • Way 2: Set your computer to boot from a USB drive with UEFI BIOS Utility.
  • Way 1: Boot your computer from USB drive via Boot Menu.

    Video Guide to boot from USB drive:

    Step by step guide to boot your computer from 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.

    Boot Menu

    Tips: The USB boot device name of your computer may be different from the one above.

    Way 2: Set your computer to boot from a USB drive with UEFI BIOS Utility.

    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.

    Open Boot Menu

    Step 2: After that, a Boot Menu window will be displayed.

    Boot Menu window

    Step 3: Select a USB flash drive used to boot with your mouse or keyboard.

    Select USB drive

    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.

    Advanced Mode

    Step 2: After entering Advanced Mode, click Bootselect Boot menu.

    Open Boot Menu

    Step 3: The Boot menu will be displayed after that.

    Boot menu

    Step 4: Select a USB flash drive used to boot with your mouse or keyboard.

    Select USB flash drive

    Hot Keys for Boot Menu and BIOS Settings:

    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