Upgraded Dell Bios no longer has boot from usb option

fusionstate · 12-27-2021, 04:24 PM

Previously I had to enter a particular string in the bios to add the USB boot option. Something like =CD/blah blah.

After a bios update from Dell, that option disappeared and I can no longer boot from anything but Winders. In the past I added a boot option as referenced above. I'll surely write it down this time.

Thank you for all assistance,

fusionstate.

System information should it be needed:

OS Name Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Version 10.0.19042 Build 19042
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name SILVERFOX-THE-D
System Manufacturer Dell Inc.
System Model Inspiron 5490 AIO
System Type x64-based PC
System SKU 0953
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-10210U CPU @ 1.60GHz, 2112 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 8 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date Dell Inc. 1.11.0, 9/29/2021
SMBIOS Version 3.2
Embedded Controller Version 255.255
BIOS Mode UEFI
BaseBoard Manufacturer Dell Inc.
BaseBoard Product 0NYCKR
BaseBoard Version A00
Platform Role Desktop
Secure Boot State Off
PCR7 Configuration Elevation Required to View
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume5
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "10.0.19041.1151"
User Name SILVERFOX-THE-D\DJfro
Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 12.0 GB
Total Physical Memory 11.8 GB
Available Physical Memory 6.46 GB
Total Virtual Memory 14.6 GB
Available Virtual Memory 8.70 GB
Page File Space 2.75 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys
Kernel DMA Protection On
Virtualization-based security Not enabled
Device Encryption Support Elevation Required to View
Hyper-V - VM Monitor Mode Extensions Yes
Hyper-V - Second Level Address Translation Extensions Yes
Hyper-V - Virtualization Enabled in Firmware Yes
Hyper-V - Data Execution Protection Yes

uteck · 12-27-2021, 04:38 PM

According to Dell the boot from USB option is still there.
https://www.dell.com/support/manuals...132&lang=en-us

fusionstate · 12-27-2021, 06:22 PM

According to Dell the boot from USB option is still there.

I've used the F12 key about 10 times trying to use that option. It disappeared after I upgraded the Bios in Sept; Using the Dell update program. Previously I was able to get to the Boot Once Menu using the F12 key. Now it's not available. In order to obtain the Boot once menu and boot from a USB, I had to enter the afore mentioned string, so the system would know to boot from either a CD or other external, USB device. I then placed that option at the top of the boot order list.

There is an option in the Bios that allows for the- Add Boot Device, or similar wording. I had clicked that, and then entered the afore mentioned string; Which is now starting to seem like a magical incantation. Should have written it down before, but I didn't. Hence the problem. If I add the USB boot option, I should get my USB to boot Linux Mint again.

fusionstate.

uteck · 12-27-2021, 06:43 PM

Some digging found a few things to try from this site : https://www.minitool.com/partition-d...-from-usb.html

In Windows, Uncheck the option Turn on fast startup (recommended). Then try booting from USB

Quote:

Alternatively, to make Dell Inspiron boot from USB drive, you can also:

Step 1: Keep your bootable USB drive connected to your Dell laptop and restart the laptop.

Step 2: When you see the Dell logo, repeatedly tap the F2 key to enter the BIOS setup.

Step 3: In the left pane, expand the POST Behavior category and select Fastboot. Then in the right pane, you will see three options for Fastboot: Minimal, Thorough, and Auto. Here, you need to select Thorough.

Step 4: Expand the System Configuration. Then:

In the left pane and select USB Configuration. In the right pane, check Enable USB Boot Support and Enable External USB Port.
In the left pane, check Thunderbolt Adapter Configuration. Then check Enable Thunderbolt Boot Support in the right pane.

Step 5: Select the General tab in the left pane. Then make sure the Enable Legacy Option ROMs and Enable UEFI Network Stack options are checked.

After that, you can restart your laptop and check whether you are able to boot Dell from your USB drive.

Another issue may be that the USB drive is not in the correct boot format. If the system is set to only boot GPG it may not show a USB in the old Bios format.

fusionstate · 12-27-2021, 07:08 PM

Thanks uteck. I'll try this and post the results.

fusionstate.

fusionstate · 12-29-2021, 06:16 PM

I did two things to resolve the issue so, I'm not sure which worked.

I recently installed, in Windows, a program- FreeFixer, or something like that. Even though the program did not appear as running, it had some sort of hold on the USB Stick. When I killed the process in Task Manager, I was able to eject the USB Stick. Up to that point, Windows indicated the file was in use by another program. I then uninstalled the file fixing program.

Originally, I had formatted the USB drive with NTFS. As I recall, I was able to boot the USB drive into LM once before. In any event, since it is possible that I hadn't made the NTFS formatted drive bootable, that would explain the failure to load. However, I'm not that inept. In any event, I used Rufus to format the drive using MBR.

Further, Both times, when I did prepare the USB drive, I used Rufus, so the problem was likely caused by the Freeware Fix program.

fusionstate.