BIOS USB Boot Question


celerium

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Windows 11
My old computer had keyboard-only style BIOS. And in it for boot order you would specify boot order by device type (USB, CD, HD, etc). So if I booted from USB, then removed the USB it would boot from hard drive. Here's the part where it is different: if I plugged the bootable USB back in, it would boot from USB again.

My newer computer has keyboard/mouse BIOS (Z490 chipset). For boot order if I specify USB first it will boot from USB. Unplug USB it boots from SSD. Plug USB back in, it will still boot from SSD, not USB. To get it to boot from USB I have to go to BIOS and select it again.

Is there any way to set it so that it will always boot from USB first if present? Even if later that USB device is removed and it boots from SSD. Thanks!
 

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Windows 11
OS
Windows 11
My old computer had keyboard-only style BIOS. And in it for boot order you would specify boot order by device type (USB, CD, HD, etc). So if I booted from USB, then removed the USB it would boot from hard drive. Here's the part where it is different: if I plugged the bootable USB back in, it would boot from USB again.

My newer computer has keyboard/mouse BIOS (Z490 chipset). For boot order if I specify USB first it will boot from USB. Unplug USB it boots from SSD. Plug USB back in, it will still boot from SSD, not USB. To get it to boot from USB I have to go to BIOS and select it again.

Is there any way to set it so that it will always boot from USB first if present? Even if later that USB device is removed and it boots from SSD. Thanks!
There should be an option to permanently change the boot order in the Bios. Can you post a pic of the Bios boot option screen?
 

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    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
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    Manufacturer/Model
    PowerSpec B746
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    Intel Core i7-10700K
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    PowerSpec G156
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    Intel Core i5-8400 CPU @ 2.80GHz
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There should be an option to permanently change the boot order in the Bios. Can you post a pic of the Bios boot option screen?
Hi thanks for your response. My boot order screen in the BIOS is identical to the image here: https://i.pcmag.com/imagery/articles/04Z2RReyfwxx01GJFS4BqrJ-32..v1642055182.png

In my case the dropdown contains selections for my internal SSD and my external SSD (USB). Selecting the external SSD (USB) in boot option 1 will boot from the external SSD (USB). However, as soon as it is unplugged it boots to the internal SSD, and then that internal SSD will now be boot option 1. When I plug the USB back in it will still boot to internal SSD. If I go to that BIOS screen the internal SSD is now boot option 1, and the external SSD (USB) is now boot option 2.

The 'Boot Override' option at the bottom simply exits the BIOS immediately and boots from whichever option is picked. It doesn't save or change any boot order.
 

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Windows 11
OS
Windows 11
Rather than messing around with changing bios every time, I find entering the boot menu at boot is much easier. It will list all the bootable devices and I just pick the one I want. For my machine, I can hit f12 when I see the flash screen and the boot menu will open. Depending on the motherboard, whatever key brings up the boot menu varies,
 

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    Dell Optiplex 7080
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    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
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    DELL 0J37VM
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    AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
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    Built by Ghot® [May 2020]
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What are the Boot Override settings? Somewhere in the BIOS there should be an option to make the USB drive permanent. It's been awhile but I know on my old desktop there are two ways to select a boot device. One is until the next boot and the other is permanent. I would check but I'm working on a project with the desktop. Unless you really want the USB to be the first boot device I would do like @glasskuter suggested.
 

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  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2Intel Core i7-10700K16GB (8GB PC4-19200 DDR4 SDRAM x2)NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 TI
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PowerSpec B746
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-10700K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/ax
    Memory
    16GB (8GB PC4-19200 DDR4 SDRAM x2)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 TI
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    #1. LG ULTRAWIDE 34" #2. AOC Q32G2WG3 32"
    Screen Resolution
    #1. 3440 X 1440 #2. 1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    NVMe WDC WDS100T2B0C-00PXH0 1TB
    Samsung SSD 860 EVO 1TB
    PSU
    750 Watts (62.5A)
    Case
    PowerSpec/Lian Li ATX 205
    Keyboard
    Logitech K270
    Mouse
    Logitech M185
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge and Firefox
    Antivirus
    Webroot SecureAnywhere CE 26.1
  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Canary ChannelIntel Core i5-8400 CPU @ 2.80GHz16 MB DDR 4-2666
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Canary Channel
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PowerSpec G156
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8400 CPU @ 2.80GHz
    Motherboard
    AsusTeK Prime B360M-A
    Memory
    16 MB DDR 4-2666
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Speptre HDMI 75Hz
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 EVO 500GB NVMe
    Keyboard
    Logitek K270
    Mouse
    Logitek M185
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge and Edge Canary
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
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