Boot from USB: Bypass BIOS Restrictions

Overcoming BIOS Limitations: Booting from USB

Frequently, a bootable USB flash drive is a go-to solution for resolving computer issues. However, some PC BIOS settings may not include an option to initiate booting from a USB device.

Older boot menus, designed before USB drives were widely adopted, often lack this functionality. Fortunately, a solution exists to bypass this limitation.

The freeware utility, PLoP Boot Manager, addresses this problem. It provides an image that can be written to a CD or floppy disk, enabling booting from a diverse range of devices, including USB drives.

Creating a PLoP Bootable CD

PLoP is distributed as a zip archive containing several files. To create a bootable CD, you'll need either the 'plpbt.iso' or 'plpbtnoemul.iso' file from within the archive.

Generally, both disc images will function correctly on most computers. However, the readme file included with PLoP Boot Manager suggests 'plpbtnoemul.iso' offers broader compatibility.

Burn either 'plpbtnoemul.iso' or 'plpbt.iso' to a CD and proceed to the "Booting PLoP Boot Manager" section.

Creating a PLoP Bootable Floppy Disk

If your computer retains a floppy drive, the contents of the 'plpbt.img' image file, found within PLoP's zip file, can be transferred to a floppy disk.

This process requires a freeware utility known as RawWrite for Windows.

Select your floppy drive from the drop-down menu within RawWrite. Then, click the "..." button to browse and select the 'plpbt.img' file. Finally, press the Write button to transfer PLoP Boot Manager to your floppy disk.

Initiating PLoP Boot Manager

To boot from PLoP, ensure your CD or floppy drive is prioritized over your hard drive in the boot order within your BIOS settings.

This is often the default configuration, particularly with floppy disks.

If the CD or floppy drive isn't set as the primary boot device, you must access your BIOS's boot menu or setup menu. The specific steps vary depending on your BIOS version; consult your motherboard or laptop manual for detailed instructions.

Typically, key prompts appear during startup, indicating the keys to access these menus.

Press Escape to access the Boot Menu. Since we previously created a CD with PLoP Boot Manager, select the CD-ROM Drive option and press Enter.

If your BIOS lacks a Boot Menu, you'll need to enter the Setup menu and modify the boot order. Prioritize the floppy disk or CD-ROM Drive over the hard drive. This setting is usually located within the "Boot" or "Advanced" section of the Setup menu.

Upon successful configuration, PLoP Boot Manager will load, presenting a selection of boot options.

Highlight "USB" and press Enter.

PLoP will then begin loading from the USB drive.

This allows you to boot from the USB drive, even if your BIOS doesn't natively support it. In this example, the USB drive contains an Ubuntu Live CD!

While somewhat advanced, this method provides a workaround for booting from USB on systems with older BIOS versions. Of course, if your BIOS doesn't support USB booting, it may be time for an update.

Download PLoP Boot Manager

Download RawWrite for Windows