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    Cannot boot from USB flash drive

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by coolguy, Oct 22, 2009.

  1. coolguy

    coolguy Notebook Prophet

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    I copied the Window 7 Pro 64-bit installation files using the standard procedure for preparing the USB drive for booting. I had enabled "external drive booting" in BIOS and changed the boot order to "USB flash drive" first.
    Still my Vaio FZ doesn't boot from the USB. It continues to show the dual boot screen and then boots into the OS. I am using a Sony USB flash drive.
    Can anyone shed some light on this issue?
     
    coolguy, Oct 22, 2009
    #1
  2. BrandonSi

    BrandonSi Notebook Savant

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    My guess, there's no boot sector on your USB flash drive.
     
    BrandonSi, Oct 22, 2009
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  3. Thibault

    Thibault Banned

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    Well you either incorrectly made your USB drive bootable or aren't booting from a USB drive (from the BIOS).
    What "standard" procedure did you use to prepare the USB drive for booting?
    And you are certain that your BIOS is set to boot from the USB flash drive?
     
    Thibault, Oct 22, 2009
    #3
  4. coolguy

    coolguy Notebook Prophet

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    The standard procedure like opening the cmd prompt as admin
    and typing the following:

    diskpart
    list disk
    select disk #
    clean
    create partiton primary
    active
    format fs=FAT32 quick
    assign
    exit
    I am sure that my BIOS is set to boot from USB flash drive.
     
    coolguy, Oct 22, 2009
    #4
  5. coolguy

    coolguy Notebook Prophet

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    Do you know how to add it? Most of the online guides just show dragging the install files into the USB drive. Anyway I will search for it.
     
    coolguy, Oct 22, 2009
    #5
  6. surfasb

    surfasb Titles Shmm-itles

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    Make sure it isn't your Windows 7 x64 source. Try booting the USB drive with a different installation, like Ubuntu.
     
    surfasb, Oct 22, 2009
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  7. DarkSilver

    DarkSilver MSI Afterburner

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    You need to put the bootsector into your USB Flash Drive. Then, only it is bootable.
    32bit OSes only can create 32bit bootsector into the USB Flash Drive.
    While 64bit OSes allow 32bit and 64bit bootsector.
    Kindly follow coolguy's guide(LOL himself?).
    Long and detail guide below,
     
    DarkSilver, Oct 22, 2009
    #7
  8. coolguy

    coolguy Notebook Prophet

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    Thanks for all the replies. I will try them.
     
    coolguy, Oct 22, 2009
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  9. coolguy

    coolguy Notebook Prophet

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    Tried booting Ubuntu. A screen keeps saying "Remove other media, Press any key to restart" and goes to dual boot screen after removing the flash drive. So there is something wrong with my flash drive.
     
    coolguy, Oct 22, 2009
    #9
  10. surfasb

    surfasb Titles Shmm-itles

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    Glad that is solved. It was unlike you had a bad source of files.
     
    surfasb, Oct 22, 2009
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  11. coolguy

    coolguy Notebook Prophet

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    Thanks and repped. Worked like a baby.
     
    coolguy, Oct 22, 2009
    #11