Hello,
I've been working at this problem for a couple hours now and I think I should probably turn to someone more knowledgable for help.

I've been trying to install the newest version of ElementaryOS on my Compaq Mini netbook but my usb isn't being recognized in BIOS.

Boot Device Options only has 2 options; those being "Staples" and "Notebook Hard Drive"

In the BIOS, Floppy Boot is enabled and the boot order is USB Diskette on Key/USB Hard Drive then USB Floppy then USB CD/DVD ROM Drive then the hard drive then the network adapter.

I put ElementaryOS on my USB using unetbootin if that helps. Thanks

If USB is set to boot before the HDD, as I gather it is, then I would expect the computer to boot from the USB drive.

I would suggest test-booting the USB stick in another computer to rule out the USB stick as the culprit.

Is your pendrive from 'Staples', sometimes a BIOS will use a 'label' from a disk as the identifier, try booting from "Staples".