Unable to boot from USB

[maks1854]

I have a windows to go drive and I have some files on it, I’m able to boot into it from my older computer such as the stream, but not from the Spectre. They both have the same UEFI settings enabled. Same goes for my Linux USB. Any idea how I can fix this?

[Raj_05]

Hi @maks1854,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

To resolve the issue of your HP Spectre x360 16-inch 2-in-1 Laptop not booting from a USB drive, here are steps and considerations to troubleshoot the problem.

Confirm USB Boot Priority

• Access the BIOS/UEFI settings on the Spectre by pressing Esc or F10 during startup.
• Navigate to the Boot Options menu.
• Ensure USB Boot or Legacy Boot (if required) is enabled.
• Move the USB drive to the top of the boot priority list.

Verify Secure Boot Settings

• Disable Secure Boot in the BIOS. Sometimes Secure Boot prevents non-signed boot media (such as Linux or custom Windows To Go installations) from starting.
• If disabling Secure Boot is necessary, ensure you enable it again later for security purposes.

Check USB Compatibility

• Ensure the USB drive is formatted as FAT32. Some UEFI implementations have issues with NTFS.
• Try connecting the USB to different ports (preferably USB-A instead of USB-C, unless you are using a known bootable USB-C drive).

Use UEFI Mode

• Ensure the USB drive is created with UEFI support:
  • For Windows: Use Rufus or Media Creation Tool to create the bootable drive with the partition scheme set to GPT and the target system as UEFI (non-CSM).
  • For Linux: Use a tool like Etcher or create a live USB with UEFI compatibility.
• Avoid mixing UEFI and Legacy modes on different machines.

Test USB on Other Devices

• If the USB works on older devices in Legacy mode but not UEFI mode, it might not be UEFI-compatible. Re-create the USB with a UEFI bootloader.

[Raj_05]

Enable CSM (Compatibility Support Module)

• If the above steps fail, check if your Spectre’s BIOS supports CSM. Enabling CSM can help boot older media but may disable UEFI functionality temporarily.

Reset BIOS to Default

• If you suspect a misconfiguration, reset the BIOS to its default settings, then reconfigure for USB boot.

Update the BIOS

• Visit the HP Support website and ensure your Spectre x360 is running the latest BIOS version. Older BIOS versions might have compatibility issues with certain boot media.

Consider USB Drive Health

• Some USB drives may be incompatible due to hardware issues. Test with a different, reliable USB drive.

Troubleshoot Using Linux

• For Linux USB boot issues, verify:
  • The bootloader (GRUB or Syslinux) is installed correctly.
  • The ISO was written to the USB using a reliable tool (e.g., Rufus in DD mode, Ventoy, or Etcher).

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Alden4

HP Support 

[maks1854]

Unfortunately, I do not have the Legacy boot option in the BIOS. I updated the BIOS to latest version when it came out, and played around with the Secure Boot settings. When I changed the boot priority to USB first, it did boot into my Windows to Go drive but it keeps giving me an error and boot looping. After that, I inserted it to my older computer and it worked flawlessly, however for Linux I got an error saying There's a security violation. Again, that's not the case with my older computer (boots perfectly). Is it possible that this computer may be too new? I also want to point out i have enabled the Windows to Go boot capability, as I am running Win 11 Pro if that helps in any way. I also have created/flashed the drives with the official methods (the ones you suggested).

[Raj_05]

Hi @maks1854,

Thank you for your response, 

Here are some advanced troubleshooting steps and considerations to address the USB boot issue on your HP Spectre x360 16-inch 2-in-1 Laptop.

Refine Secure Boot and UEFI Settings

• Enable Secure Boot for Trusted Media: Some distributions of Linux support Secure Boot with signed bootloaders. Confirm if your Linux ISO has this support (e.g., Ubuntu with signed GRUB).
• Custom Secure Boot Keys: If Secure Boot is causing issues, try setting up custom Secure Boot keys in the BIOS. This can allow signed boot media while maintaining security.

Analyze the Bootloader Compatibility

• Ensure that the bootable media for both Windows and Linux has a properly configured EFI bootloader.
• For Windows To Go:
  • Recreate the drive using tools like Rufus and verify the configuration matches UEFI (GPT partition scheme).
• For Linux:
  • Use grub-efi instead of grub-pc.
  • Check the .efi files under /boot/efi.

Check BIOS Features for USB Boot Issues

• F12 Temporary Boot Menu: Use the F12 key during boot (if supported by your laptop) to manually select the USB drive without relying on the boot order.
• Fast Boot: Disable Fast Boot in BIOS to ensure all devices are initialized during boot.

Partition and ISO Specific Adjustments

• Partition Alignment for USB: Ensure the USB drive is correctly partitioned:
  • Single FAT32 partition for Linux or multi-partition setup (UEFI bootloader and data).
• Media Creation Mode:
  • Use DD mode in Rufus for Linux distributions to avoid filesystem-related issues.
  • Use official Microsoft tools or Rufus for Windows.

USB Drive-specific Checks

• Test Different USB Drives: Some USB drives have firmware or compatibility issues.
• Check USB Drive Formatting Tools: Use alternative tools like Ventoy or BalenaEtcher.

Debugging Boot Issues

• For Linux errors like "Security Violation," try booting with nomodeset or noapic kernel parameters.
• For Windows errors on Windows To Go, check the Event Viewer logs from another PC to diagnose issues with the installation.

[Raj_05]

Hardware Checks

• Inspect USB Ports: Test all USB ports on your laptop (USB-A and USB-C).
• Docking Stations or Hubs: Avoid using external hubs during boot unless specifically required.

Rebuild USB with Advanced Tools

• Use Ventoy to create a multiboot USB. It simplifies booting with both UEFI and Legacy modes and avoids rewriting the drive for each ISO.

Try a Network Boot (PXE)

• If USB booting continues to fail, consider booting via PXE (Preboot Execution Environment) for network installation.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Alden4

HP Support 

[maks1854]

All of my USB ports are indeed functional, and drives have been checked to ensure their integrity. I am not using any docking stations or adapters. Although How can I do a network boot with a USB drive?