Windows 10 USB not detected

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  1. Posts : 5
    Windows 10
       #1

    Windows 10 USB not detected


    I bought Windows 10 Full Version (USB stick) recently but my BIOS does not recognise the usb stick. I tried booting my own usb drive loaded with windows 8 (using Rufus) but even that was not detected. My motherboard is Gigabyte GA-H61M-S1 Rev 2.2. I have a UEFI Bios interface but when I check BIOS version from System Information (msinfo32) it show "Legacy BIOS". I have previously used bootable usb sticks to install windows but this time my pc seems blind to any and all usb drives.
    I have gone through the motherboard manual and a couple hundred forum posts to solve the issue but most of the answers mention BIOS settings that I don't have. I'm currently running windows 10 (upgraded version) but I desperately want a clean installation using the newly purchased Windows.

    I am very cofused about UEFI and it's relation with windows 10. I am at my wit's end. HELP please!!!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 42,737
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    Hello, as regards booting from a USB device, it seems Gigabyte MBOs have a bad reputation.

    see:
    ChromaSoft: Solving the dreaded Gigabyte "Won't boot from USB" problem
    which suggests sthg you might try.

    Also this:
    Enable USB Boot in Gigabyte Motherboard - blackMORE Ops

    As to whether you need to even worry about UEFI, it depends what firmware you have on your MBO. If it does not include UEFI, and is pre-UEFI- i.e. older- then of course you can't use UEFI.

    Perhaps you can look up your exact MBO type and version.
    It should also be apparent as to whether UEFI is present by going into your BIOS and looking - and you have your motherboard manual, so that should tell you.

    This article is quite clear.
    10 things you should know about UEFI - TechRepublic
      My Computers


  3. Arc
    Posts : 1,626
    Microsoft Windows 10 Home
       #3

    সুরজিৎ, Try the Boot menu Key. It should be F12.
    Windows 10 USB not detected-1.jpg

    Attach the USB stick to the computer and restart. While restarting, press and hold F12 (that should be your Boot Menu) during the POST screen. You will see a list of all possible locations from where the computer can boot. That is the Boot Menu. Like this image:
    Windows 10 USB not detected-sata-ssd-boot-menu.jpg


    If possible, take a camera snap of the Boot Menu and upload it here. That will give some answers to your question.

    Also, Boot into the BIOS. Go to BIOS Features. Expand Boot Mode Selection. Like this image:
    Windows 10 USB not detected-boot-mode.jpg


    Take a camera snap and let us see it.

    Hopefully the answers to your questions will be available after seeing these two image.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 5
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Thank you, dalchina. I shall read those articles right now.

    Dear Arc, what a surprise. You bengali? I am uploading the screenies. Hope it helps!

    Windows 10 USB not detected-img_20160523_211738.jpgWindows 10 USB not detected-img_20160523_211915.jpgWindows 10 USB not detected-img_20160523_211936.jpg

    N. B. - dalchina, I just finished reading the articles and I tried plugging in the usb during POST but it didn't help!
    Last edited by surojitghosh; 23 May 2016 at 11:20.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #5

    I would try F7 in Bios setup - optimized default settings. Also make sure you are plugging the USB into a black USB 2.0 port and not a blue USB 3.0 port. Finally - I would not waste the retail product key that came with the Microsoft USB flash drive on a computer that already has a digital entitlement to Windows 10. When asked for a product key, click "I don't have a product key", "skip" or "do this later." Let Windows 10 activate itself with your already saved digital entitlement and save the retail product key for another computer after the free upgrade period ends.

    If all else fails - it looks like the DVD drive is detected as a boot option by the Bios - burn a DVD by copying the files from the USB flash drive to a DVD - it should boot the DVD in UEFI mode then.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 5
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    NavyLCDR said:
    I would try F7 in Bios setup - optimized default settings. Also make sure you are plugging the USB into a black USB 2.0 port and not a blue USB 3.0 port. Finally - I would not waste the retail product key that came with the Microsoft USB flash drive on a computer that already has a digital entitlement to Windows 10. When asked for a product key, click "I don't have a product key", "skip" or "do this later." Let Windows 10 activate itself with your already saved digital entitlement and save the retail product key for another computer after the free upgrade period ends.
    I am running on Optimized Defaults having tried every boot setting imaginable. The USB is plugged into a 2.0 port (front USB, the last time I tried). And, I'm not on "free upgrade". I have Windows 10 Pro running because I upgraded from a genuine Windows 7 installation. It's not about the key. I just want to load a fresh windows. You are quite right, I might save the key for some later use.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #7

    I would get the least expensive 2 GB or larger USB 2.0 flash drive you can find. Format it as FAT32. Download Kyhi's recovery drive:
    Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums

    Mount the ISO, and copy the files from that to the USB flash drive. See if your computer will recognize and boot from that. If it will, then insert the Windows 10 USB flash drive and you can run setup.exe from it from within file explorer on Kyhi's recovery drive.

    Other alternatives - as I mentioned, DVD booting. You can actually do the same thing with Kyhi's recovery drive - burn a DVD from the ISO of his recovery drive, boot the computer from the DVD, then insert the Windows 10 flash drive and run setup.exe from file explorer.

    You can create a small partition (8 GB if the Windows 10 flash drive is both 32 and 64-bit or 5 GB if it is single 64-bit) at the end of your hard drive, but it has to be a primary partition. Copy the files from the Windows 10 USB flash drive to the partition. Then in custom boot options you should have an UEFI entry for Windows setup from the new partition and you can run it from there.

    I could not get my old computer (that I gave to my father-in-law) to boot from a USB stick no matter what I tried, even though Bios said it was supposed to be able to. I want to say that was a Gigabyte motherboard as well.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 9
    Windows 10
       #8

    Windows 10 USB not detected-gigabyte-os-type.jpg

    Windows 10 USB not detected-gigabyte-windows-8-features.png

    Select the following settings (marked with red color) in the Gigabyte UEFI BIOS if you want to install Windows 8/10 in UEFI mode.

    OS Type or Windows 8/10 Features (look at the screenshots above)
    Allows you to select the operating system to be installed.
    - Other OS (Default)
    - Windows 8/10
    - Windows 8/10 WHQL

    CSM Support
    Enables or disables UEFI CSM (Compatibility Support Module) to support a legacy PC boot process.
    - Always or Enabled - Enables UEFI CSM. (Default)
    - Never or Disabled - Disables UEFI CSM and supports UEFI BIOS boot process only.
    This item is configurable only when OS Type or Windows 8/10 Features is set to Windows 8/10 or Windows 8/10 WHQL.

    Secure Boot
    Enables or disables Secure Boot function.
    - Enabled - Enables Secure Boot.
    - Disabled - Disables Secure Boot.
    This item is configurable only when OS Type or Windows 8/10 Features is set to Windows 8/10 or Windows 8/10 WHQL.

    Secure Boot Mode
    Define the Secure Boot mode.
    - Standard
    - Custom
    This item is configurable only when OS Type or Windows 8/10 Features is set to Windows 8/10 or Windows 8/10 WHQL.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 5
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Hello hotkey,

    I just tried your way. This is how my settings were before I followed your instructions.

    Windows 10 USB not detected-img_20160524_005202.jpg

    Windows 10 USB not detected-img_20160524_005231.jpg

    Then, I changed the settings.

    Windows 10 USB not detected-img_20160524_005219.jpg

    And this was the result.

    Windows 10 USB not detected-img_20160524_005254.jpg
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 9
    Windows 10
       #10

    surojitghosh said:
    And this was the result.

    Windows 10 USB not detected-img_20160524_005254.jpg
    You need to have a Windows 8/10 64-bit USB flash drive that is compatible with UEFI mode. As long as it is FAT32 formatted it should be UEFI bootable.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:31.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums