USB Disabled

[Margo1]

Hi. I have an old HP ProDesk 600 G2 which I purchased used and I recently created a USB flash drive with wipe disk software on it.  I want the computer to boot to the USB flash drive, so after placing the USB flash into the port on my PC, I got into the BIOS screen. The UEFI Boot Order did not have a check mark next to it so I checked the box. Then I was able to work in the boot order. It has 3 options, 2 of which are disabled. One of the options is USB; however, it is disabled. I did move this option to the number one position but when it restarted, it booted into the operating system.

(The UEFI Boot Order did not have a check next to it. The Legacy Boot Order, which had a check in the box, also had these same options and 2 of them were disabled.)

How do I enable the USB so I can boot from it?

Thank you.

[Bill_To]

Hi @Margo1 

The PC should boot to the USB stick containing the disk wiping software if the USB stick is bootable, the bootloader on the USB stick is compatible, and the PC supports USB boot media.

I can only guess the USB stick may not be bootable or it may have an unsigned bootloader.

Have you tried disabling Secure Boot and enabling Legacy Support in the BIOS?

Can you boot to other compatible devices such as W10 USB installation media?

Regards

[Margo1]

Hi.

1) When I when to the BIOS, the default under the Advanced tab said "Legacy Support Enable and Secure Boot Disable. 

2) The wipe disk software stated that it was successfully burned properly to the USB flash drive. I looked at the DBAN files on the flash drive through the File Explorer.

3)I  tried booting from a SanDisk Ultra USB 3 Flash Drive, which I formatted prior to burning the DBAN due to other files being on it. 

4) When it says disabled next to USB in the boot option in BIOS, does this mean that this PC ( which is 7-8 years old) can't boot from a USB flash drive?

5) I don't know if I can boot other USB drives from this PC. I only used it as a backup and I don't have any other flash drive right now. This is the first time I am attempting to boot from a flash drive on this PC. I have booted USB drives from other  PC's successfully.

[Bill_To]

Hi @Margo1 

The DBAN download is a .ISO file. You would have to use something like Rufus to create bootable CD or USB media.

Your PC should have USB boot support.

Maybe this Site can provide additional info on how to create  Bootable USB media containing DBAN.

Regards

[Margo1]

This is the article I used as a guide to burn the DBAN to the USB flash and then to boot from it on the PC that I want to wipe. 

I placed the USB drive at the top of the boot order in the UEFI category and the Legacy category . My BIOS mode on the PC is Legacy. Near the word USB on the UEFI and Legacy is the word Disabled in parentheses and nothing I did removed the Disabled label near the USB.  I still can't boot from it.

Would it be best if I burn DBAN to another USB drive? Maybe there is a problem with the USB.

[Bill_To]

Hi @Margo1 

I don't know why USB is disabled in both the UEFI and Legacy boot menus. I have created Windows USB boot media using Rufus and have had success even when enabling Secure Boot.

Your PC should support the USB boot option.

Maybe try all front and rear USB ports and/or reset the BIOS to defaults.

Can you try the DBAN USB boot stick on a different PC that can boot to USB media?

I am out of suggestions.

Regards

[Margo1]

Can you try the DBAN USB boot stick on a different PC that can boot to USB media?

I looked at screenshots of the beginning DBAN process on Lifewire, and I don't see a way to exit so that I won't erase the data on my current PC if I check to see if the USB drive can boot on it. Is there a way to exit safely?

Also, the BIOS mode is Legacy. Would changing it to UEFI help? When I went to the boot order, I noticed that the PC boot order had both Legacy and UEFI checked.

I tried all the USB ports, and I will look into changing the BIOS defaults.

[Bill_To]

Hi @Margo1 

I usually depress the power button to shut down the PC if there is no way to exit the software.

A wipe would not happen unless you invoked this process.

Yes, try enabling Secure Boot.

Regards

[Margo1]

I will probably just Reset the computer and erase all files. I just have one more question. I notice a label on the computer that says it was downgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 7. However, when I received the computer, it was and still is Windows 10 Pro. Could the downgrading have caused the USB flash to be disabled in the boot order?

I also notice that the BIOS, which is still Legacy, was last changed in 2017.  Could this have something to do with not being able to enable the USB flash?

[Bill_To]

Hi @Margo1 

Your issue has me very confused. The PC should boot to a compatible USB boot drive.

This HP Site has the latest BIOS update for your PC. Try this W10 BIOS update for your PC to see if this fixes the problem. It appears the PC is operational since you are going to try a reset.

This PC is about 8 years old and it supported W10. It should support UEFI boot media.

Check this Site for Hiren's USB boot media instructions. I use this software when needed. It works great.

You could use Hiren's CD/USB boot media to see if you can boot to this USB stick.

Create the media using ISO2USB.exe.

Add DBAN to the USB stick.

Boot to Hiren USB media. Then run DBAN within Hiren to wipe the system drive. Or use Hiren's included disk cleaning utilities.

Regards