Can't Get HP EliteBook 8460p and HP Probook 4540s to boot from USB (Error 3f0)

[KylerD]

Hello, I recently decided to reformat my HP EliteBook 8460p's SSD and reinstall Windows 7 Ultimate (64 Bit). Upon trying this, the SSD was wiped and when I tried to boot the install USB created with microsoft's windows 7 usb download tool, i get error 3F0. Trying everything i could find online i couldn't get the computer to boot from the USB, instead only getting error 3f0 regardless of if the SSD was in or not. I am unable to try a DVD as the Elitebook's DVD drive is broken.

Thinking my Elitebook bit the dust after 7 years of service, i bought a ProBook 4540s from someone on craigslist with Windows 10 (64 Bit) on a 750GB HDD. Attempting to install windows 7 from a USB onto an SSD gives me the same result as the EliteBook. However, if i put the HDD with windows 10 on it back into the ProBook, it loads windows 10 regardless if i ask the machine to boot into USB or not.

I've tried making sure secure boot is off, changing the boot order, and even trying different USB devices and SSD's. Although nothing seems to stop me from getting error 3F0 on both machines when trying to boot from USB to install windows on an SSD.

I'm now down $250 for buying the ProBook and both laptops seem to acknowlege the USB devices, but refuse to boot from them and instead going straight for the HDD/SSD, giving me an error if an ssd is in.

I would really like some help as i need windows 7 for software that isn't yet supported on windows 10. Thanks!

[KylerD · Accepted solution]

I just solved it, but i'm going to put the answer here for future reference in case someone comes along this post looking for a solution. The flash drives i had been using were all sandisk flash drives. Once i made a bootable USB using a PNY drive, the laptops accepted booting off of them and now have their proper installations.