By default, computers usually start or boot from the hard drive, since this is where the operating system we want to access is located. However, on special occasions, we may not want our computer to boot from other devices or media, such as from a USB memory or from a DVD. This is usually necessary when our Windows operating system crashes and needs to be repaired or even if we want to install Windows from scratch.
Boot any computer from a USB stick
Well, this has a relatively simple solution, since the BIOS or UEFI of your computer allows you to configure the order of the boot media of your computer. In this way we can replace the first boot device, which would be the hard drive of your computer, with a USB device. This way when a bootable USB stick is plugged into your computer and your computer reboots, instead of loading the operating system from the hard drive, the bootable USB will start.
Well, here we show you step by step how to enable your computer to boot from a USB memory instead of the hard drive with the current operating system:
Start any computer from a USB stick.
The first thing we will have to do is connect our Bootable USB memory to our computer through the USB port. Once this is done, to access the BIOS or UEFI of our computer we will have to restart our computer either from the operating system or by using the physical Power On/Off button on your computer.
You will have to pay a lot of attention when the computer turns on, because when the screen showing the logo of the manufacturer of your computer is displayed, you will have to check which key you have to press to access BIOS, UEFI or Settings of your computer. Normally the key you must press to access the BIOS is usually shown in one of the corners of the black screen with the logo of your manufacturer.
Immediately after knowing the key to press, which is usually F8 or F12, you must press it repeatedly until the BIOS is accessed. If the operating system starts instead of accessing the BIOS, you will have to turn off the computer again to repeat the process. Remember that you must press the corresponding key repeatedly and very quickly. You should not hold down the key, otherwise you will not access the BIOS. The key must be pressed during the black screen with your manufacturer's logo.
Once you are inside the BIOS or UEFI, you must use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move between the options displayed and press the Enter key to select it. Specifically, we must select the Boot option . Once inside you will find the Hard Disk Drives option.
Boot any PC from a USB flash drive
Once inside Har Disk Drives you will see how the boot media that are currently available are displayed. At least 2 should appear: The hard drive and the USB memory. However, if you have a DVD or CD reader, it may also appear. Surely in the list, the first option is the Hard Disk, so we will have to select it using the arrows and pressing Enter.
This will show us a kind of pop-up window in which we must select the USB option. To do this, scroll through the options with the up arrow and down arrow keys.
Once selected, you will see how the USB is shown first. Therefore, now we only have to go to the Save & Exit option. Depending on the version you have, this function must be selected using the arrows and Enter or by pressing a key as is the case in our images: F10
Now, our computer will automatically restart and when it boots, it will do so from the USB stick connected to our computer. On the other hand, if we disconnect the USB stick and start our computer again, since the BIOS does not find any connected USB stick, it will automatically jump to the second boot medium, which in this case will be the hard drive. This means that the operating system installed on the hard drive will start.
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