Can't BOOT from USB. Legacy or UEFI? Settings? Inspiron 15 5000.

Question

We would sincerely appreciate your help, as we need the laptop this Sunday to open our shop. Unfortunately both DELL and Windows support are closed this weekend!

On a working DELL Laptop:
1) I have formatted the 16GB USB into FAT32.
2) Installed the Windows 10 ISO image onto the USB, through Dell OS Recovery Tool.
Now the USB is divided into 2 partitions. One is called DELLRESTORE and has some files on it.

On a BROKEN Dell Laptop:
(Windows crashed after going to a prepatch/pre update version. Blue screen on starting up)
1) I have plugged the USB into the broken laptop.
2) Started the laptop -> hit F12 -> accessed the One time Boot MENU.
3) CRUCIAL question. How should the settings be setup? I've gone through a number of online articles and each case seems to be different!
a. 'Boot mode is set to: UEFI'?
b. 'Secure Boot: OFF'?
c. 'PTT is OFF'?
4) Which BOOT option do we need: UEFI or LEGACY? The Menu list shows both LEGACY Boot and UEFI.
5) Other Options -> BIOS Setup. What is the correct setup? Due to multiple tutorials, I might have changed too much:
a. General -> Boot Sequence: LEGACY or UEFI?
b. General -> Advanced Boot Options: ENABLE or DISABLE Legacy Option ROMs?
c. Security -> PTT Security: PTT on?
d. Secure Boot -> Secure Boot Enable: ENABLE or DISABLE?

* Now, when I restart -> hit F12 -> Legacy Boot shows USB Storage Device Option (only when the USB is plugged in). I select this, but it shows: 'Selected boot device failed. Press any key to reboot the system'.

We would sincerely appreciate your kind help!

jphughan · Answer

If you’re trying to boot Dell recovery media, then go into your BIOS and use the “Reset to Defaults” function. I’ve never understood why people think it takes all sorts of BIOS configuration changes to boot Windows-based recovery media on a system already set up to boot Windows, and as you say you can end up having changed so much that you don’t even know what to do anymore. The default configuration should set UEFI boot and Secure Boot to enabled, both of which are appropriate for using recent versions of Windows, including Windows USB recovery media.

Also consider just getting regular Windows 10 installation media directly from Microsoft. It will come with the latest version right away and not have any extra Dell stuff in it. Then you can use Dell Update to get drivers.

Olainen · Answer

Do you have the Windows ISO?
Download rufus ( https://rufus.ie/) and use it to write the ISO to the USB stick. Make sure it's GPT and NTFS filesystem in rufus. should be default (since it's NFTS you must disable secure boot in bios).
In BIOS - select UEFI, disable legacy/CSM, and also disable secure boot. You can enable secure boot after installation. Boot from USB (F12) and install.

Clintlgm · Answer

As mentioned already reset BIOS to Default

If you want to go the Dell Recovery way https://www.dell.com/support/article/en-us/sln297920/reset-or-reinstall-windows-10-on-your-dell-computer?lang=en

The easiest way is to get your Windows install and create your USB Install media using MCT Media Creation Tool. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Media Creation tool.jpg

Have the tool create your USB Install media. You do not need any other software to accomplish this Read the options and follow the instruction to Create your USB Media this will format your USB Thumb drive so don't have any other files on it. or you'll lose them.

Boot F12 and select UEFI USB

rgoutham112 · Answer

Thanks a lot. Your answer makes more sense and it worked for me.

Inspiron

Can't BOOT from USB. Legacy or UEFI? Settings? Inspiron 15 5000.

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