Boot from USB on HP Laptop | Everything You Need to Know

Previously, people would load the operating system (OS) onto CDs or DVDs and then boot it up on new computers. However, with the advent of USB drives, booting the Windows OS has become more convenient, rendering traditional methods obsolete. Nowadays, you can easily boot your HP laptop using a USB drive. Let's delve into this guide from tools to learn how to boot from a USB on an HP laptop and promptly start the new operating system.

What Does It Mean When an HP Laptop Boots from USB?

Over time, older laptops tend to lose their performance due to various factors, and users often desire to upgrade to a newer operating system.

A new operating system (OS) enhances the overall computer experience by providing efficient programs and algorithms. The HP laptop boot USB employs a bootable USB drive, which contains the software for the new OS specifically designed for installation on your HP laptop. This USB allows you to boot up your laptop and install the updated system seamlessly.

Why Do We Need to Boot HP Laptop from USB?

As we farewell the era of using discs/CDs/DVDs to install new software on computers, the convenience of using a USB drive simplifies the process significantly. Some users even prefer to have a portable USB for easy access to Windows instead of carrying the entire laptop. All you need to do is create an ISO image of your operating system and transfer it onto a USB drive. Then, you can either use it as a regular portable USB or a bootable USB drive.

How to Boot from HP Laptop USB on Windows 10/11

You can initiate BIOS setup in two methods, after which you'll proceed with the steps to boot from a USB drive on an HP laptop using system configuration. Let's delve into the detailed steps for each method: Method 1: Accessing BIOS through the Startup Screen 1. Restart your HP laptop. 2. As the laptop powers on, repeatedly press the "F10" key to enter the BIOS setup. This key may vary depending on the model, so if "F10" doesn't work, try "F2" or "Esc." 3. Once inside the BIOS, navigate to the "Boot" menu using the arrow keys. 4. Look for the "Boot Options" or "Boot Order" setting and select it. 5. Find "USB Device" or "USB HDD" in the list and use the arrow keys to move it to the top of the list. 6. Press "F10" to save the changes and exit the BIOS. The laptop will now attempt to boot from the USB drive. Method 2: Using the Boot Menu 1. Restart your HP laptop. 2. Press the "Esc" key repeatedly as the laptop starts up to display the Startup Menu. 3. From the Startup Menu, select "Boot Device Options" or "Boot Order" using the arrow keys. 4. Choose "USB Device" or "USB HDD" from the list that appears, then press "Enter." 5. The laptop will now boot from the USB drive. Ensure that your USB drive contains a bootable image, such as a Windows installation or a Linux distribution, before attempting to boot from it.

1. 1. From Settings
2. 2. Using System Configuration

1. From the Settings

In the past, the conventional approach was to use keyboard shortcuts to access the BIOS setup to boot computers from USB drives. However, nowadays, it's less common for regular users to enter BIOS settings manually. Instead, you can boot your laptop using a USB drive with the new software directly from the settings. Here's a step-by-step guide: 1. Insert the USB drive containing the software into your laptop's USB port. 2. Restart your laptop while holding down the appropriate key to enter the Boot Menu. This key varies depending on the laptop manufacturer; it could be F12, F9, F10, or another function key, or sometimes the Esc key. 3. Upon seeing the Boot Menu, use the arrow keys to navigate and select the USB drive as the primary boot device. 4. Press Enter to confirm your selection and begin the boot process from the USB drive. 5. The laptop will now load the software from the USB drive. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed with the installation or any other intended action. 6. Once done, remember to change the boot order back to your normal boot device (e.g., hard drive) in the BIOS settings to avoid accidentally booting from USB in the future. Note: If your laptop doesn't show the Boot Menu or if the process differs, consult your laptop's user manual or manufacturer's website for specific instructions.

Step 1. Use the search function or press Windows key + I to open the Windows Settings.

Step 2. Navigate to the Update & Security tab, and within the window, scroll down to locate the Update & Security section.

Step 3. Select Recovery > Restart Now.

The "Restart Now" button enables you to restart the PC for configuration or restoration purposes. Upon rebooting, a specialized menu will appear with options such as "Use a device," "Continue," "Turn off your PC," or "Troubleshoot."

Step 4. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware settings.

This action accesses the BIOS settings on your Windows computer.

Step 5. Confirm the restart.

Boot Device Not Found on HP Laptop? How to Resolve?

If you encounter an error message on your HP laptop, stating 'Boot device not found HP laptop,' follow this article for solutions to fix the issue.

2. Using System Configuration

To start up an HP laptop using a USB drive, you'll need to modify some system configurations in the BIOS settings to prioritize the USB device. This will ensure that the computer boots from the USB instead of the system's operating system. Here's how to proceed after accessing the BIOS setup using the appropriate settings or BIOS keys: 1. **Restart your HP laptop**: First, turn off your laptop and then press and hold the power button until it completely shuts down. Now, press and hold the power button again to turn it on. 2. **Enter BIOS Setup**: As the laptop starts booting, quickly press the designated BIOS key. This key is usually F10, F2, F12, or Del, but it may vary depending on your laptop model. Keep an eye on the screen for instructions during the initial startup process. 3. **Navigate the BIOS menu**: Use the arrow keys (Up, Down, Left, Right) to browse through the menu options. 4. **Find the Boot Options**: Look for a section labeled "Boot," "Startup," or "Boot Order." This is where you will manage the boot priority. 5. **Change Boot Priority**: Select "Boot Order" and use the arrow keys to move the USB drive to the top of the list. This ensures that the laptop will attempt to boot from the USB first. 6. **Save and Exit**: Once the changes are made, navigate to the "Exit" or "Save & Exit" option and confirm your choice to save the new settings and exit the BIOS. The laptop will now restart. 7. **Boot from USB**: If everything is set correctly, your HP laptop should boot from the USB drive. If not, double-check that the USB is properly inserted and the boot settings are saved. Remember to restore your original boot settings once you've finished with the USB, as constantly booting from a USB can slow down your system.

Step 1. Turn on your PC and press the ESC key (Escape) repeatedly to access the startup menu.

Step 2. In the Startup menu, press F10 to access the BIOS setup utility.

Step 3. Use the arrow keys to navigate through the options and select System Configuration > Boot options.

Step 4. Now, use the arrow keys and the Enter button to set USB boot to Enabled.

Remember: On many computers, the BIOS settings have USB boot options listed as USB or Removable Devices. In some cases, you might find it under the Hard Drive category. Therefore, explore the options available for your specific computer and enable it accordingly.

Step 5. Next, we need to prioritize the USB Hard Disk as the first boot device. Use the F5 and F6 keys to move it to the top of the UEFI Boot Order list.

Step 6. Select Legacy Support and disable it.

Step 7. Navigate to the Exit section > Exit Saving Changes > Press Enter to select Yes.

Step 8. Connect the USB to the USB port, and promptly press the ESC (Escape Key) once per second to access the Startup menu again.

Step 9. Select F9 (Device Boot Options) > USB Flash Drive > Enter. Now, follow the on-screen instructions to boot from a USB HP laptop.

HP Laptop Not Booting From USB on Windows 10/11

In most scenarios, the process of booting an HP laptop from a USB drive is successful if all the necessary requirements are met. However, occasionally, the issue of the HP laptop not booting might arise. Alternatively, you might encounter a situation where the USB drive does not appear in the boot menu. This could result from various issues, such as faulty disk connections, incorrect boot order, driver problems, or outdated BIOS settings. Let's explore the solutions to resolve these issues.

1. 1. Reconnect the USB
2. 2. Change USB Configuration
3. 3. Configure the Boot Sequence
4. 4. Reset the Boot Sequence

1. Reconnect the USB

Disconnect the USB connection from the system and then reconnect it. Sometimes establishing a new connection can resolve the issue, and you can try booting from the USB HP with the updated software again.

2. Change USB Configuration

Newer generations of computers often come equipped with both USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports, which can sometimes lead to driver issues. As most BIOS systems are designed to support USB 2.0, they might have difficulty loading the operating system with USB 3.0 drivers. To resolve this problem, you can set the USB 3.0 to automatically switch to USB 2.0 compatibility mode. To accomplish this, follow these steps: 1. Restart your computer and enter the BIOS setup by pressing the designated key (usually F2, F10, or Del) during the startup process. 2. Navigate to the "Advanced" or "Chipset" settings menu in the BIOS. 3. Look for an option related to USB configuration, such as "USB Configuration," "Onboard Devices," or "USB 3.0 Control." 4. Within the USB configuration, find the setting for "USB 3.0 Mode" or "USB 3.0 Compatibility." 5. Change the setting to "Auto," "Enabled," or "Legacy Support," depending on the available options. This will ensure that your computer recognizes the USB drive in USB 2.0 mode. 6. Save the changes and exit the BIOS. Your computer will now restart with the adjusted USB settings. 7. Insert your USB drive with the operating system installation and proceed with the setup as usual. By doing this, you should be able to avoid any driver issues related to USB 3.0 compatibility while still benefiting from the USB 3.0 port for other high-speed data transfers.

Step 1. Access the System Utility options. Then proceed to Configuration > BIOS/Platform Configuration (RBSU) > System Options > USB Options > USB 3.0 Mode > Enter.

Step 2. Choose the Auto option for USB 3.0 and press Enter. This ensures that your PC functions at USB 2.0 speed during the pre-boot environment, allowing you to smoothly boot the HP laptop from the USB drive while starting up.

Step 3. Press F10 to save the changes and restart the USB drive to boot the PC with the updated software.

3. Configure the Boot Order

The BIOS configuration can become slightly intricate if you're using a Windows 10 computer. The Fast Boot and Secure Boot options might interfere with the process, so it's recommended to disable them. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1. Turn on or restart your laptop and promptly press the HP boot menu key ESC to access the startup menu.

Step 2. Press F10 to access the BIOS setup from the given options.

Step 3. Next, go to Advanced > Boot Options. After that, disable or uncheck both Fast Boot and Secure Boot from the available settings.

Step 4. Scroll down to Boot mode, and select the Legacy options. Then, use the F5 and F6 keys to move the "USB hard drive" to the top as the first boot option in the UEFI Boot Order.

Step 5. Click the save button, confirm the changes by clicking Yes, and then restart your computer.

Step 6. Turn off the computer completely once. Hold down the power button for a few seconds to do this. After a short while, attempt to boot the HP laptop from the USB drive again.

4. Reset the Boot Order

Instead of altering the boot sequence, you can reset the entire boot order to its default settings to check if your HP laptop can boot from the USB. Here are the steps to reset the boot order to default: 1. Restart your HP laptop. 2. As it starts up, press the appropriate key to enter the BIOS setup. This key is usually displayed on the screen during the initial boot process and is commonly F10, F2, or Del, but it may vary depending on your model. 3. Once in the BIOS menu, navigate to the "Boot" or "Startup" section. Use the arrow keys to move around and the Enter key to select options. 4. Locate an option named "Load Default Settings," "Load Optimal Defaults," "Restore Factory Defaults," or something similar. Select it and confirm your choice when prompted. 5. A warning message might appear, asking if you're sure about resetting the settings. Confirm your decision by selecting "Yes" or "OK." 6. The BIOS will now load the default settings, which typically prioritize booting from the hard drive first. 7. Save the changes and exit the BIOS by selecting "Save and Exit" or a similar option. Press Enter to confirm your choice. 8. Your laptop will restart with the default boot order. Check if it can now detect and boot from the USB drive. Remember that resetting the boot order to default will undo any customizations you previously made. If your USB still doesn't boot, ensure that it's properly inserted and has a bootable operating system installed.

Step 1. Turn on or restart your laptop and promptly press the HP boot menu key ESC to access the startup menu.

Step 2. Press F10 to enter the BIOS setup from the four options provided.

Step 3. Navigate to File > Apply Defaults and Exit. This action will restore the computer BIOS to default settings and close the Setup window automatically.

The last resort you can attempt is to update the firmware drivers and modify the BIOS settings on your computer if you're encountering issues with your HP laptop not booting from a USB on Windows 10 or 11.

Pro Tip: How to Create a Backup of Your HP Laptop for Data Security

Well, boot processes can be quite unpredictable at times, making it challenging even for experienced users to execute everything smoothly. Therefore, it's essential to create a backup of your data or the previous state for data security. The best tool to back up your crucial data and ensure data safety on any laptop is Todo Backup, an excellent backup software.

In fact, Todo Backup Home is a professional tool for swift and secure data backup. It provides system backup, disk/partition backup, file backup, and other advanced backup features. The straightforward backup management combined with improved efficiency enables you to schedule backups automatically at regular intervals. Additionally, it offers the benefit of cloning with a bootable disk.

There are some key features of Todo Backup:

• Award-winning automatic backup solutions for every scenario.
• Trustworthy cloning software for system upgrades, backups, and disk replication.
• Effective and secure backup for disks, operating systems, and files.
• The basic plan provides multi-path and cloud storage up to 250GB.

In summary, this third-party software boasts robust capabilities, enabling users to back up disks, partitions, or files, as well as backup SD cards or other external drives. Highly recommended, it is advised to select this software as your backup tool to ensure the safety of your data on your HP laptop.

Conclusion

To boot from USB on an HP laptop, you simply need to access the BIOS settings and alter the preferences for booting from a USB drive. This involves modifying the boot options, loading the software onto the USB drive, and then using it to boot your HP laptop. Hence, it's recommended that you utilize the tools Todo Backup Home to assist you in resolving this issue.

If you're interested in learning more about the boot, you might find these two articles helpful:

Frequently Asked Questions About Booting from USB on an HP Laptop

Here are some relevant questions about booting from a USB on an HP laptop. If you have similar inquiries, hopefully, this will assist you.

1. Which key do I press to boot from USB on an HP computer?

You can boot from USB on an HP computer using two key combinations, which denote two methods to access the boot options for USB booting.

• The ESC or F9 keys (the HP boot menu key) immediately following the restart.
• The F10 key (the BIOS key) repeatedly after the restart until the BIOS setup screen appears.

2. How Can I Access the Boot Device Selection Menu on My HP Laptop?

Firstly, access the BIOS setup by using the HP boot menu (press ESC) or the BIOS key (F10). Next, proceed to System Configuration and then Boot Options to alter the boot device order.

3. How do I enable USB boot on UEFI?

Step 1. Ensure that your device is powered off.

Step 2. You need to insert the bootable USB drive you created into the computer you want to boot.

Step 3. Use the UEFI menu to turn on your computer and boot from the USB drive. The device should start up in Factory OS.