Booting TS7320 from USB

[Mike7505]

I have been trying to boot a TS7320 into DOS, from a USB key, to do some disk imaging.

If I plug the USB stick in one of the ports at the back, it is recognised and appears in the F9 boot menu, and does actually boot OK.

But first I had been trying it in one of the USB ports on the left of the screen.  These are marked with a stylised "SS" as well as the usual USB logo.  The same USB key is NOT recognised by F9 boot menu when plugged in either of these ports.

Can someone please explain what "SS" signifies and in what way these ports are different from those on the back ?

TIA Mike.

[erico · Accepted solution]

SS stands for super speed and is a designation for USB 3.0 ports. The two ports on the side of your PC are USB 3.0.

The USB ports at the rear of your TouchSmart PC are USB 2.0.  As you have noticed, you have better luck with them when using a USB 2.0 thumbdrive.

My ASUS Crosshair has usb 3.0 ports at the rear.  I only use the USB 3.0 thumbdrives in them to take advantage of the phenomonal data transfer rates for saving downloads.

You may find this illustrated parts & service map interesting. 

[Mike7505]

"super speed"  - ah yes, should have guessed !

Yes, have already created the recovery disk set, thanks, but worth mentioning.

I like to have my own images as well as the factory one, however, for speedy recovery including my apps, less bloatware etc.

Also, awesome parts map, thanks.  Wish every vendor would provide this level of detail.

Next comes updates: firmware, Win7, HP support assistant etc.  Rip out bloat like Norton. Then on to the real challenge: unreliable network (both wired & wireless ! ) ...

Thanks for the prompt assistance.