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To boot an HP laptop from a USB drive, connect bootable media, turn on the laptop, press Esc repeatedly, then press F9 to open Boot Device Options and select the USB drive. This one-time selection is usually the simplest choice for installing an operating system, running recovery media, or starting diagnostics. HP notes that menus and available options vary by model.
Use the one-time USB boot menu
- Shut down the laptop and connect the prepared bootable USB drive.
- Turn on the laptop and immediately press Esc repeatedly until the Startup Menu appears. HP also documents repeatedly pressing F9 immediately after power-on to open the Boot Menu on some systems.
- From the Startup Menu, press F9 to open Boot Device Options.
- Select the USB device. It may be identified by its name or by a USB or UEFI label, depending on the model and media.
If the laptop starts Windows instead, shut it down and try again, pressing Esc as soon as you turn it on. HP’s USB boot instructions describe the boot-menu process and note that startup screens can vary.
Make sure the USB drive is bootable
A blank flash drive—or one that only contains copied installation files—is not necessarily bootable. Create the USB using the instructions for the operating system, recovery tool, or diagnostic software you intend to run. HP’s Secure Boot guidance specifies GPT formatting for its described bootable USB setup when Secure Boot is enabled; follow the media creator’s and laptop model’s requirements rather than assuming one format works for every image.
Connect the drive before powering on, then check F9 for it. HP describes USB storage as one of the device types a computer can boot from, but the specific drive and its compatibility determine whether it appears and starts.
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Choose between a one-time boot and a persistent boot order
| Option | What it does | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| F9 one-time selection | Chooses a boot device for the current startup. | Best for a one-off installation, recovery, or diagnostic session. |
| BIOS boot order | Changes the order in which firmware tries devices on future starts. | Use when you need repeated USB starts; restore your preferred order afterward if appropriate. |
For a persistent change on the documented HP notebook procedure, press Esc during startup, then F10 to enter BIOS Setup. Look under System Configuration for Boot Options. HP lists settings such as USB Boot and UEFI Boot Order; supported models may also show Legacy Support and Legacy Boot Order. Names and locations differ across models. See HP’s notebook BIOS information and boot-order guidance.
Check BitLocker before changing firmware settings
Have access to your BitLocker recovery key before changing boot order or other firmware settings. HP warns that changing boot order might prompt for the key. If you cannot retrieve it when needed, you could be unable to unlock the encrypted Windows installation.
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Understand UEFI, Legacy Support, and Secure Boot
Boot mode is a compatibility choice between the firmware and the USB media, not a general-purpose troubleshooting switch. Start with the laptop’s current settings and media creator’s instructions. Windows 11 does not support Legacy BIOS mode, and HP says newer computers released after 2020 no longer support the older Legacy mode. Some systems therefore will not show a Legacy option at all.
Do not disable Secure Boot or change Legacy settings simply because a USB device is missing. Those changes can affect security and startup or recovery behavior, and the correct options depend on the exact model and boot media. Consult the model-specific HP instructions before changing them.
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If the USB drive does not appear or will not start
- Confirm the media is bootable. Recreate it using the operating system or utility’s official instructions; copying files alone may not create boot media.
- Connect it before startup. Shut down, plug the drive in, power on, and use the Startup Menu and F9.
- Check BIOS Setup for USB Boot. Press Esc, then F10, and look under System Configuration > Boot Options. If your model offers a USB Boot setting, check its status without changing unrelated options.
- Match the media to the supported boot mode. Verify that the media format and UEFI/security settings are compatible with the laptop and the tool you created.
- Use model-specific guidance. HP’s Startup Menu and BIOS options vary by system, so check the support page for your exact laptop if the labels or choices differ.
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