It's really not "so bloody difficult" in a Dell. This is not an issue that is unique to Dell. All PCs can sometimes have issues booting from flash drives.
Let Microsoft Media Creation Tool create the installer. If you must use a downloadable ISO, let the Media Creation Tool download the ISO and then use Rufus to create the bootable flash drive from the ISO.
If you have a USB 2.0 port on that laptop, insert the flash drive there prior to attempting to boot from it. With Windows 7 installers, they would sometimes fail with USB 3.0 but work fine with USB 2.0.
With the bootable flash drive inserted, boot the laptop while repeatedly pressing F12 to enter the One Time Boot Menu and select to boot from the flash drive.
If all that doesn't work, check if the SSD is recognized in BIOS. You could also unplug AC power, disconnect the battery and hold down the power button for 30 seconds to discharge residual power. Then attach AC adapter and try again.
Your post has very little information, other than laptop model. You didn't say how you created the installer flash drive. You didn't mention whether you're using Secure Boot, Legacy BIOS or UEFI,, RAID or AHCI, MBR or GPT, etc.. If the drive is more than 2 TB, you must use GPT. I'll let others more knowledgeable comment on Secure Boot, BIOS/UEFI, etc.
The Question then is what do I need to do to get an XPS 9550 using BIOS 1.6.1 please
Google says it's from 2015, with a Skylake Intel CPU. So, if UEFI-capable ... you should see an option to update the BIOS from the (F12 on boot) UEFI Environment.
Also, if UEFI (and you have Windows installed) it should be safe to execute the BIOS installer from inside Windows. It just writes the new BIOS into the UEFI Environment work-space and it then gets installed/flashed on the next boot of the system (ends up being outside of Windows).
Rebooted F12 and still failed to recognise USB UEFI boot device
F2 reset to default settings and reboot - still failed
I considered a BIOS update but before that drastic action I changed the BIOS to allow legacy CSM boot and tried to boot from a MBR bootable installer and amazingly enough it worked.
I would have preferred a UEFI boot on this sytem but I can live with CSM.
Still dont understand why it refused to see the UEFI USB drive so I'm still a bit confused..
Hi Tesla 1856 thanks for your thoughts and comments as per my response above I did get it to work in CSM mode, not the best alternative buit it is now working and blazing fast as it should be.
I know that F12 should allow these systems to boot from UEFI sticks but it's not the first time I've run into this issue even both my systems are UEFI boot to begin with. it's a frustration with the systems I have and I want tyop swap drives. My other system a Vostro with an M.2 drive which is set to UEFI in it's native boot will not reload onto a new UEFI M.2 from USB either but will boot from an older SSD set up to UEFI boot...
filbert
4 Operator
•
1.8K Posts
0
November 1st, 2022 10:00
It's really not "so bloody difficult" in a Dell. This is not an issue that is unique to Dell. All PCs can sometimes have issues booting from flash drives.
Let Microsoft Media Creation Tool create the installer. If you must use a downloadable ISO, let the Media Creation Tool download the ISO and then use Rufus to create the bootable flash drive from the ISO.
If you have a USB 2.0 port on that laptop, insert the flash drive there prior to attempting to boot from it. With Windows 7 installers, they would sometimes fail with USB 3.0 but work fine with USB 2.0.
With the bootable flash drive inserted, boot the laptop while repeatedly pressing F12 to enter the One Time Boot Menu and select to boot from the flash drive.
If all that doesn't work, check if the SSD is recognized in BIOS. You could also unplug AC power, disconnect the battery and hold down the power button for 30 seconds to discharge residual power. Then attach AC adapter and try again.
Your post has very little information, other than laptop model. You didn't say how you created the installer flash drive. You didn't mention whether you're using Secure Boot, Legacy BIOS or UEFI,, RAID or AHCI, MBR or GPT, etc.. If the drive is more than 2 TB, you must use GPT. I'll let others more knowledgeable comment on Secure Boot, BIOS/UEFI, etc.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.4K Posts
0
November 1st, 2022 12:00
Google says it's from 2015, with a Skylake Intel CPU. So, if UEFI-capable ... you should see an option to update the BIOS from the (F12 on boot) UEFI Environment.
Also, if UEFI (and you have Windows installed) it should be safe to execute the BIOS installer from inside Windows. It just writes the new BIOS into the UEFI Environment work-space and it then gets installed/flashed on the next boot of the system (ends up being outside of Windows).
Involuto
10 Posts
0
November 3rd, 2022 05:00
Hi Filbert
you are correct in much of what you say and to clarify a few points;
1 the USB installer was created in RUFUS as UEFI bootable and has been successfully used on other systems to reinstall OS successfully.
I am installing Win 10 latest version 22H2 from this USB
On pressing F12, the USB boot option simply does not exist it is literally not available
F2 into BIOS amended as per Method 3 in this link https://recoverit.wondershare.com/usb-tips/dell-boot-from-usb.html
Rebooted F12 and still failed to recognise USB UEFI boot device
F2 reset to default settings and reboot - still failed
I considered a BIOS update but before that drastic action I changed the BIOS to allow legacy CSM boot and tried to boot from a MBR bootable installer and amazingly enough it worked.
I would have preferred a UEFI boot on this sytem but I can live with CSM.
Still dont understand why it refused to see the UEFI USB drive so I'm still a bit confused..
Involuto
10 Posts
0
November 3rd, 2022 06:00
Hi Tesla 1856 thanks for your thoughts and comments as per my response above I did get it to work in CSM mode, not the best alternative buit it is now working and blazing fast as it should be.
I know that F12 should allow these systems to boot from UEFI sticks but it's not the first time I've run into this issue even both my systems are UEFI boot to begin with. it's a frustration with the systems I have and I want tyop swap drives. My other system a Vostro with an M.2 drive which is set to UEFI in it's native boot will not reload onto a new UEFI M.2 from USB either but will boot from an older SSD set up to UEFI boot...
Suggestions please