How to Boot from USB on an HP Laptop in Windows 11/10 [Step-by-Step Guide]

Updated by

Tracy King 

Written by

Cici 

Updated on May 11, 2024

HP laptops are highly favored by individuals and businesses alike. Occasionally, due to system failures or upgrades, there comes a need to reinstall a fresh Windows operating system. Traditionally, this process involves booting the laptop using a CD/DVD. However, it's worth noting that newer HP notebook models no longer come with a CD/DVD ROM.

The sole option for HP laptop users is to boot the computer via USB. The tools available will provide comprehensive guidance on booting Windows from a USB drive on an HP laptop.

Here are some simple steps for booting from USB on an HP laptop:

Read on for more details on how to boot from USB on an HP laptop.

Preparing to Boot from USB on an HP Laptop

To boot your PC from a USB drive and install Windows on an HP laptop, here's what you gotta do: 1. **Get the Windows ISO**: Head over to the official Microsoft site and download the Windows version you want, like Windows 10, in ISO format. 2. **Make a bootable USB**: You'll need a USB flash drive with at least 8 GB. Use something like Microsoft's Media Creation Tool or Rufus to make it bootable with that ISO file. 3. **Fire up USB boot in BIOS**: Restart your HP laptop, and when it starts up, hit the right key to get into BIOS (usually F10 or F2, but it could be different depending on the model). Go to the "Boot" or "Startup" menu, and move USB devices to the top of the boot order. 4. **Save and bounce outta BIOS**: After setting the USB as the primary boot device, save the changes and exit BIOS. Your laptop should now try booting from the USB. 5. **Kick off the installation**: If everything's good, you'll see the Windows installation screen. Just follow the prompts to install Windows, choose the drive you want it on, and finish any setup tasks. Don't forget to back up your important stuff beforehand, 'cause this process will wipe your hard drive clean.

1️⃣ Download the ISO file for Windows: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download

2️⃣ Prepare at least 16GB of free space on the USB and format it as FAT32.

3️⃣Create a Bootable USB Drive

There are several ways to make a bootable USB, and which method you choose will depend on your specific circumstances:

Here are the translations for the provided languages: 1.
• If you simply wish to run the operating system on an HP laptop and work with it, you can utilize the Windows installation tool or third-party software to create a bootable USB. This can be done with or without an ISO file. - How to Create a Bootable USB
2.
• If you need to boot from USB to fix system crashes or boot errors, I highly recommend using tools like Partition Master to burn ISO files to USB and install Windows, or use this tool to access the Win-PE environment.

tools Partition Master is a tool specifically designed for HP to create Windows bootable USB drives. It offers the functionality of burning ISO images and streamlines the process of creating bootable USBs with its integrated tools. It allows the USB drive to boot Windows installation files or the system of a Windows PC.

The tool provides simple and user-friendly ways, so you don't have to worry about the complexity even if you're a beginner. Here's how you can create a bootable Windows USB using ISO files:

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant and go to the Bootable Media section. Click "Burn ISO" and click "Next".

Step 2. Select the ISO image that you've downloaded on your computer and click "Open".

Step 3. Click "Next" and choose the target USB drive as the destination, then click "Burn" to perform the task.

Aside from burning ISO to USB on Windows, Partition Master also provides numerous powerful features. If you're interested, you can explore them by clicking on the button below:

Additionally, Windows also provides some other free ISO burners. If you're using Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise or Windows 10 Education/Enterprise/Pro, you can utilize the built-in Windows tool - Windows To Go to burn USB:

Further reading: Burn ISO to USB on Windows 10

Once you've finished burning the ISO file, you can use the burned USB on your HP laptop to boot your computer. Read on to learn how to get HP to boot from USB.

Read Also:

What Is Sony VAIO Boot Menu? How to Boot Sony VAIO from USB?

Do you own a Sony laptop? This guide will explain the Sony VAIO boot menu and the Sony BIOS key. After reading it, you can easily boot your Sony VAIO from a USB drive.

How to Boot from USB on an HP Laptop

This part will provide two methods to boot from USB on an HP laptop:

Guide 1. Boot from USB via Boot Menu Key

Guide 2: Boot from USB via BIOS

Upon understanding how to boot Windows from a USB on an HP laptop, let's proceed with a detailed step-by-step guide:

Guide 1. Boot from USB via Boot Menu Key

To boot Windows from the USB drive you've created, you'll need to enter the BIOS setup and set the USB as the primary boot device. For HP users, HP offers access keys for the HP Boot Menu. To boot your HP device from USB, familiarize yourself with the HP boot keys and then proceed with these steps:

Step 1. Restart the computer and press F9 or Esc to access the boot menu.

Step 2. Press F9 to access the BIOS boot options.

Step 3. Move the bootable USB to the first option and make the change.

Guide 2: Boot from USB via BIOS

Furthermore, HP laptops come with HP BIOS keys. "Press ESC for BIOS" will appear in the bottom left corner of your screen every time you turn on your computer, with ESC being the BIOS key.

Step 1. Turn the computer back on and press the BIOS key (F10) repeatedly until you see the BIOS setup screen.

Step 2. Use the arrow keys to move from Main to Boot and select the USB drive.

Step 3. Save the changes and restart the HP computer.

If you find this passage helpful for booting a Windows HP laptop, please click the button below to share it with others in need.

Bonus Tip: Fix HP Laptop Not Booting from Bootable USB

Burning a Windows ISO file to a USB using tools like Partition Master and then booting from it on an HP laptop isn't complicated. However, occasionally you may encounter an issue where the HP laptop doesn't show the option to boot from USB in the BIOS. What could be the reason? This section offers some additional insights:

Reasons for a bootable USB not appearing in BIOS:

Here are the translations of the languages you provided in English:
• Disk connection issues
• Driver issues
• Boot order error
• Outdated BIOS

You can find the corresponding solution according to the possible causes.

Solutions to fix HP USB not showing in BIOS:

Fix 1: Disconnect and Reconnect the USB

If it's a USB connectivity issue, try disconnecting and reconnecting it.

Fix 2: Change USB 3.0 Configuration

Most BIOS systems come with USB 2.0 drivers, whereas USB 3.0 drivers are typically only available after the operating system has booted up. If the issue affects both USB 2.0 and 3.0, you need to set up USB 3.0 to function automatically:

Step 1. In the System Utilities screen, select System Configuration > BIOS/Platform Configuration (RBSU) > System Options > USB Options > USB 3.0 Mode, and then press Enter.

Step 2. Press Enter after selecting the Auto USB 3.0 Mode option.

Fix 3: Configure Boot Sequence

Windows 10 might encounter out-of-order issues under UEFI or Legacy BIOS. Please disable the Fastboot and Secure Boot features:

Step 1. Use the HP boot menu and press and hold F10.

Step 2. In Boot Options, make sure Fast Boot and Secure Boot are disabled or unchecked.

Step 3. Under Boot Mode, select USB as the first boot option.

Fix 4: Update the BIOS

An outdated BIOS could also be the reason why HP is unable to boot from a USB drive. Consequently, you can resolve the unbootable USB issue by updating the BIOS. We have prepared a comprehensive article guide for this purpose. Please click on the link below to access it:

Detailed Reading: How to Update BIOS in Windows 10

To learn how to boot other models from USB, click the link below for details.

How to Boot Raspberry Pi From USB [Step-by-Step Guide]

This article explains how to modify the Raspberry Pi bootloader to boot from a USB storage device. Keep reading for detailed instructions on booting Raspberry Pi from USB.

Conclusion

This article offers step-by-step guidance on how to boot your HP laptop from a USB drive: it explains how to use the tool Partition Master to burn a Windows ISO file onto a USB and create a bootable USB drive. It also familiarizes you with the HP boot menu and BIOS keys, enabling you to easily initiate the HP boot process from the USB. Furthermore, if the bootable USB you've created does not appear in the BIOS, the guide provides swift solutions to that issue!

There will be some other topics related to this one coming up next. Keep reading.

How to Boot from USB on HP Laptop FAQs

This section provides some commonly asked questions and related information on how to boot from a USB on an HP laptop. Hopefully, it will be helpful to you.

1. Which key is used to boot from USB on an HP computer?

The HP boot menu offers several options, such as F9 for altering the BIOS boot order and F10 to access the BIOS and boot from a USB device.

< strong >2. Why won't my HP laptop boot from USB on Windows 10?< /strong >

Several reasons can prevent HP laptops from booting from a USB drive: USB connectivity issues, UEFI/EFI configuration settings, problems with the USB file system, and issues with the BIOS setup.

3. How to resolve the issue of HP boot USB not displaying?

You can resolve the HP USB not showing error for the following possible causes, respectively:

Translate these phrases into English:
• Update BIOS
• Change BIOS settings
• Modify the USB configuration
• Recreate the USB boot drive using professional tools