Windows laptop only boots from USB-C and not from a standard USB 

Windows laptop only boots from USB-C and not from a standard USB 

The problem that your Windows laptop boots only from USB-C and not from a standard USB (USB-A) port isn't typically a matter of updating Windows drivers, because the drivers for the USB ports aren't fully loaded until the operating system (Windows) starts.

This is a common issue, and the solution is almost certainly in your laptop's BIOS/UEFI settings, not in your Windows drivers.

The boot process happens before Windows (and its drivers) load. Your laptop's firmware (the BIOS/UEFI) decides which devices it's allowed to check for an operating system.1 In your case, it seems to be configured to allow booting from the USB-C port, but it is not properly initialising or checking the standard USB-A ports.

Here is how to fix it by changing your BIOS/UEFI settings.

1. Enter Your Laptop's BIOS/UEFI Setup

You must do this as the computer is first turning on.

1. Shut down your laptop completely.

2. Turn on your laptop and immediately and repeatedly press the setup key. This key is usually F2, F10, F12, Delete, or Escape.² The correct key is often displayed on the screen for a brief moment when the manufacturer's logo appears.

3. Common Keys by Brand:

4. Dell: F2 or F12³

5. HP: F10 or Escape (Esc)

6. Lenovo: F1 or F2 (or Enter, then F1)

7. ASUS: F2 or Delete

8. Acer: F2 or Delete

2. Find and Change the Correct Settings

Once you are in the BIOS/UEFI menu (it will look like a basic, text-based or simple graphical interface), you need to look for the following settings. The names and locations will vary by manufacturer.

• Disable "Fast Boot" or "Quick Boot"

• Location: Usually under a Boot or Advanced tab.

• Action: Set this to Disabled.

• Why: Fast Boot skips initialising some hardware (like all your USB-A ports) to speed up the boot time. Disabling it forces the laptop to check all ports.

• Enable "USB Boot Support"

• Location: Usually under Boot, Advanced, or System Configuration.

• Action: Set this to Enabled.

• Why: This is the master switch that allows the laptop to boot from any USB device.

• Enable "Legacy USB Support"

• Location: Often near the "USB Boot Support" setting.

• Action: Set this to Enabled.

• Why: This ensures that USB 2.0 and USB-A ports are recognised in the pre-boot environment, even on modern UEFI systems.

• Disable "Secure Boot"

• Location: Usually under a Security or Boot tab.

• Action: Set this to Disabled.

• Why: Secure Boot is a security feature that can prevent the laptop from booting from "untrusted" media, which often includes user-created USB drives. You can re-enable this after you are finished booting from the USB.

• Check the "Boot Order" (or "Boot Priority")

• Location: Always under the Boot tab.

• Action: Look for your USB drive in the list. It might be listed as USB-HDD, USB Storage, or by the brand name (e.g., Kingston DataTraveler). Make sure it is higher in the list than your main Windows Boot Manager or internal hard drive.

• (If necessary) Enable "CSM" or "Legacy Mode"⁴

• Location: Usually under the Boot tab.

• Action: If your bootable USB is older or was not created for a modern UEFI system, you may need to Enable the Compatibility Support Module (CSM) or switch the boot mode from UEFI to Legacy or UEFI + Legacy.

• Note: Only change this if the other steps don't work. Your Windows installation is likely in UEFI mode, so you will want to switch this back to UEFI mode for normal use.

3. Save and Exit

After making the changes, navigate to the Exit tab. Select the option for Save Changes and Exit (this is often the F10 key).⁵ Your laptop will restart and should now attempt to boot from the USB-A port.

 Windows laptop booting from USB FIX

This issue is almost certainly controlled by the BIOS/UEFI firmware settings of your laptop. You need to enter your laptop's firmware settings to check and adjust the configuration.¹

1. Access the BIOS/UEFI Settings

The first step is to enter your computer's low-level setup menu (BIOS or UEFI).²

1. Restart your laptop.³

2. Immediately and repeatedly press the BIOS Key (or Setup Key) shown on the screen, which is often one of the following: F2, F10, F12, Esc, or Del.⁴ The key varies by manufacturer (e.g., Dell often uses F2 or F12, HP uses Esc or F10, and Lenovo uses F1 or F2).⁵

2. Check/Modify BIOS Settings

Once in the BIOS/UEFI menu, look for sections related to Boot, Security, or System Configuration.⁶ The names and exact locations of these settings can vary significantly between laptop models and manufacturers.

3. Recreate Your Bootable USB

If BIOS/UEFI settings don't fix the issue, the way your bootable USB-A drive was created might be the problem.

• When using tools like the Windows Media Creation Tool or Rufus to create a bootable drive, ensure the drive is formatted with the correct Partition scheme (MBR or GPT) to match the Boot Mode (Legacy or UEFI) set in your BIOS.

• For UEFI Boot Mode (which is standard on most modern Windows laptops), use the GPT partition scheme.

• For Legacy/CSM Boot Mode, use the MBR partition scheme.

The fact that the USB-C port works suggests the issue isn't with the bootable media itself, but the USB-A ports are not being correctly initialised or recognised as bootable drives by the firmware. The BIOS/UEFI settings are the primary place to fix this.

Note: If your laptop still refuses to boot from any USB-A port after checking all BIOS settings, it might indicate a hardware issue with the USB-A controller or ports on the motherboard.