Troubleshooting Issues with Bootable Pendrives: Causes and Solutions

Have you encountered a situation where you have a bootable pendrive, but your computer fails to boot from it, while the same pendrive works perfectly on another computer? This article aims to help you identify the problem and guide you through the process of creating or troubleshooting a bootable pendrive. Whether you're using a USB drive or an SD card, these steps can be adapted accordingly.

Common Causes and Troubleshooting

There are several reasons why a bootable pendrive might not work in your specific computer:

Incorrect formatting or creation of the bootable drive. Issues with the BIOS settings. Device drivers or system compatibility problems.

Let's dive deeper into these issues and how to address them.

Troubleshooting: The Problem in Your Computer

If you're experiencing difficulties booting from a pendrive, it might be due to the following steps being overlooked during the creation or setup process:

Ensure the bit architecture of the USB drive matches the system's requirements. Verify the BIOS type (UEFI or BIOS) and configure the Boot Order in your BIOS settings. Check if the bootable drive is indeed bootable and test it on another computer.

Steps to Create a Bootable Pendrive Successfully

Before you begin, make sure you have the necessary tools and information. Follow these steps to create a bootable USB drive:

Before You Start

Identify the bit architecture of your system (32-bit or 64-bit). Determine if your system uses UEFI or BIOS. Choose the appropriate partition type (GPT for UEFI, MBR for older BIOS systems). Download the correct version of the OS image (ISO file) that matches the bit architecture of your system.

Creating the Bootable Drive

Download and install the appropriate software such as Rufus or Balena Etcher. Select the drive (pendrive or SD card) where you want to create the bootable drive. Point the software to the location of the OS image (ISO file). Choose the correct partition scheme and file system settings. Click on the 'Start' button to begin the process. This might take some time, depending on the size of the drive and the speed of your device. Once the process is complete, your USB drive should be bootable and ready to use.

Checking BIOS Settings and Boot Order

Ensure your BIOS is set to UEFI or Legacy mode according to your USB drive's requirements. Configure the boot order in your BIOS to prioritize the USB drive as the first boot device.

Additional Tips for Troubleshooting

If you still encounter issues, here are some additional tips:

Check the physical connection of the USB drive. Ensure all drivers are up to date. Try using another USB port on your computer. Re-attempt the process of creating a bootable USB drive to ensure no errors occurred.

These steps should help you resolve any issues with bootable pendrives and ensure that your USB drive works correctly on your computer.