BOOT from USB

Some of the earlier Dell systems had problems when trying to boot from a USB drive.  Have you tried plugging in the USB drive and then bring up the Boot Menu by pressing F12 to see if the drive is listed as a boot device?  If your not seeing the F2 - F12 prompt at boot up then go into the BIOS Setup and enable the POST Hotkey option.  If that doesn't work then make sure the USB Emulation option listed under the Integrated Devices is turned On and try again. 

Is that no to I cannot use the Dell supplied CD with XP to load onto the USB disk, or no to both?  Is there a BIOS update that allows the 2400 to recognize USB boot devices?

Zaphod55,

You're already using the latest and last BIOS version released for your model.  If you're unable to get the system to boot to your USB hard drive then it isn't going to work. The older Dells were like that.  There is no other BIOS version that is going to enable that feature.

Thanks for your reply.  I understand and will simply move on..:smileysad:

Hi,

From what I have read here .....

• Not all Dell PCs (especially the older ones) support booting from USB
• Even if the bios claims to be able to boot from USB it may not actually do it
• No patches/upgrades are available

Have I got this right???

Captain Clinac,

Yep, right it is.   Some of the older systems wouldn't boot to USB at all.  While later vintage models could boot from a USB flash drive, but not a USB hard drive.  Are you having a problem with a specific model?

It is a Dell Dimension 2400.  The BIOS level is A05.

Thanks for that.

GX270 - A06

GX280 - A03

And I suspect a few other models. Both of these claim to boot from USB and both claim there is no OS on the stick.

I suspected I had not done the stick right but now I know better. The stick does boot on a HP somethingorother.

Like Zaphod, "I shall move on".

Thanks all for your comments.

Dave.

Captain Clinac,

I'm assuming that you are trying to boot using the F12 boot menu with the memory stick and it isn't working.  With the GX270 model there is an option in the BIOS Setup under the Integrated Devices menu for USB Emulation.  I would check to see that this option is enabled.  I don't see a similiar option for the GX280.

The GX260s were the first optiplexes to support USB booting so GX270s and GX280s definitely support it. Not 100% sure if it applies to USB hard disks.

You are correct.

And yes I have tried the USB emulation option too.

Thanks