Windows Won't Boot With USB Drives Attached

I just installed Windows 7 on my Mac mini but it won't boot into Windows automatically if there are USB drives attached. I have to hold down the option key at boot time and select the Windows partition manually for it to boot, unless I remove the USB drives first, then it will boot into Windows on its own. Does anyone know how to fix this annoying problem?

Sounds like your mini is set to boot order: boot from USB first.
On a PC you could go into BIOS and change boot order and enable/disable USB booting.
Not sure why or what is on the USB bus, type of drive and device that could also make a difference (and not be universal to the Mini)

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Windows 7 won't boot with HFS drive attached

I installed Windows 7 onto my 2011 Mac Mini. For some reason, when I try to boot Windows with my 2.5TB HFS+ external USB drive attached, I just get a black screen, I don't even see the Windows splash screen/logo.
If I remove said drive, Windows boots fine.
Also, if the drive is attached after Windows boots, when I click the Boot Camp icon and choose "Restart in Mac OS X" I get the error "Could not locate the Mac OS X boot volume". Again, if the drive is unplugged, I can use the Boot Camp icon to restart in OS X just fine.
Any idea what's going on?

maybe the 2.2TB issue afftects it, or the drive enclosure even.
And maybe if it was just 2.1TB it would work.
Even Lion had some surprises for customers with USB device drives.

IMac won't boot with external drives attached

I am using iMac 27" Late 2013 model upgraded to mavericks 10.9.4. Two external drives are always attached with it, one is segate 3.5" 2TB USB 3.0 drive and another one is 2.5" usb 2.0 drive.
when i start my imac with external drives attached it won't boot up. Stuck at plain white screen after a startup chime, not even any apple logo or any progress circle appears. And i have to detach all of my drives to make it boot.
This problem arises after upgrading to mavericks. Already tried resetting PRAM, SMC and checked Startup disk and verify disk with disk utility.

Raja,
Do a SMC reset perhaps even a couple of times and see if that helps. Also in System Preferences + Startup Disk make sure the internal HD is selected.
SMC RESET
Shut down the computer.
Unplug the computer's power cord and all peripherals.
Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds.
Release the power button.
Attach the computers power cable.
Press the power button to turn on the computer.
PRAM RESET
Shut down the computer.
Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
Turn on the computer.
Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
Release the keys.
Roger

BootCamp won't boot with USB-drive connected

Hi everyone,
since I installed my BootCamp partition I encounter a strange problem. I have an LG external DVD-drive connected via USB to my iMac. Everytime I try to boot Windows while the LG is connected the boot process just stops and gives me a white display. If I unplug the drive from the USB-Port everything works fine, and once windows is booted I can even reconnect the USB-drive and it works fine. But as you might understand always unplugging and plugging really gets to my nerves. I know of a couple friends who encounter the exact same problem, they also complain about this...
Also strange is the fact, that if I boot OSX the LG is connected and everything works fine...
Searched the forum and web, and wasn't able to find something usefull...
I hope there is somebody here who can help me...
Thanks in advance...
Legolas

I think your best bet is DiskWarrior from Alsoft, you'll need the CD to boot from if you don't have another boot drive...
http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/
Your best bet is DiskWarrior, you need the CD/DVD though.
http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/
But others that may work…
Drive Genius…
http://www.prosofteng.com/products/drive_genius.php
TechTool Pro…
http://www.micromat.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=83
BTW, you might enjoy these DiskWarrior review/recommendations...
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9645801&#9645801
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10541019#10541019
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=11918925&#11918925

W701 Won't boot with USB dongle attached

W701 with current BIOS (6KET46WW v1.12) will hang if there is a USB dongle for a Microsoft Explorer Mouse USB dongle in the upper left USB (2.0) socket on boot. Works fine if you put the USB dongle in the lower USB/eSata socket. Note that the upper socket on this 2541-W1Z is NOT a USB 3.0 port (silver, not blue). Course I don't want to put it in that socket since I like to use that for eSata... Apparently the same problem exists in the W5XX laptops as well, but I don't see a post discussing the issue on the W701.

Have you seen the thread
Hangs on boot with Logitech wireless keyboard
Yours may be a similar problem.
I'm about to get a W701 in a day or 2 and will be in the same situation. I'll check it out and report back when I can.
ThinkPad W701 25002LG, i7 2Ghz,FX 3800M, 4Gb,16GB, SSD 320GB, DVDRW, RGB WUXGA, Wacom, Col Sensor, Fingerprint reader, Mini Dock

MacBook won't boot with USB hub attached

My new MacBook stalls during the boot process when my powered, 4-port USB 2.0 hub is attached. If I unplug it from the USB port, OS X continues to successfully boot up.
Is this a known issue? The same hub works fine with my PowerBook G4.
Thanks.
MacBook 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo | iPod 5G 60GB Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Yeah, I've already tried that. Much thanks for the reply, though.
It boots fine once the hub is unplugged. I'm just too lazy to remember to unplug the thing every time I start my MacBook. And, I'm generally annoyed because it all worked okay with my PowerBook G4.
So, anyone with a MacBook that boots up fine with a USB hub connected, what kind do you have? I need a recommendation.
Thanks.

Neo 2 Platinum freezes while booting with USB HDD attached

This system freezes when a powered-on USB HDD is connected. I realize that the system is trying to boot off the USB device and have disabled all of the USB boot options in the BIOS. However, DISABLE USB HDD is not one of them! Is their any BIOS or other fix available for the problem?
Moe

After bios update , clear cmos with jumper onboard .
After that you must enter cmos setup and "Load optimized defaults" followed by save+exit
Sounds to me bios if looking for MBR on attached USB HDD ( didn't do this on my Neo2 with 1.C bios and external USB attached)
Set the normal boot order to
Floppy
Cdrom
HDD
Boot other devices :Disabled
(other boot order can mock things up)
Find "USB KB/Storage support" set to:Enable
Save+Exit
Boot with USB HDD attached and enter the submenu of "Harddisk boot priority" in cmos setup and all recognized HDD's
wether they are IDE/SATA/USB shall be listed , move your OS HDD witch host bootfiles/mbr to top with PGUP key and save+exit .

How to reset Windows 7 Administrator Password with USB Drive

The first thing we often do When we *Lose Windows 7 password* is asking a computer expert for help. However, it is only a moment for you *forgetting Windows 7 password* and it may take you several days to regain access to your system. From now on, don't worry about anything when you forgot windows 7 password. The article will give you some ideas to *reset Windows 7 password* with USB Drive.
*Section One: Reset Windows 7 password with Password reset disk.*
Most people usually only know how to create a new user with a strong password or change it. But they don't develop a habit to create a password reset disk for preventing lost password. It is a great and free gift from Microsoft. Click here to learn how to create password reset disk in windows 7 If you ready have a reset disk, please follow steps below:
Step1: Start or restart your computer, insert your USB. In the welcome interface, press ctrl+alt+delete twice, get into the classic log on box. Then type the user name that you want to use and a wrong password or leave it blank, and then press ENTER or click OK.. it will show you logon failed.
Step2: Click *Reset password*...... it will show you the Password Reset Wizard. And it enables you to create a new password for your user account. In the Password Reset Wizard dialog box, click *Next*.
Step 3: Chose the disk which you insert, click *Next*. Type a new password in the Type a new password box, and then type the password again in the Type the password again to confirm box. In the Type a new password hint box, type a hint for the password or not, and then click *Next**→**Finish*, and then try to log on to Windows XP again when use the new password you just set.
This *USB Password reset disk* only use in a certain account which you have created before, or it won't help. So it's better to create a password reset disk when you add a password to account.
*Section Two: Reset Windows 7 password with Windows Password Rescuer run from USB drive*
If you haven't created a password reset disk for your account and unfortunately you lost or forgot windows password, see bellow. I will show you step-by-step guide to do this task in several minutes with USB, without reinstalling system or losing any data.
Step 1: Prepare a 2GB USB flash drive and a computer which you can access to.
Step 2: Download Windows Password Rescuer Personal and install it to a computer which you have access.
Step 3: Run the program and burn the ISO image to the USB Flash Drive.
*NOTE:* This action will make your USB drive be formatted and all your data in it will be lost. You'd better provide one with nothing in it.
Step 4: Use the USB to reset windows 7 password. Before this step, you must set your computer boot from USB. Then start your computer, and you will enjoy the process of resetting the password, it is easy and quick. Don't worry if you have difficulty to bios setting, you can see more in the Windows Password Rescuer website.

Very interest posting. Thank you for this detailed description and useful links.
If you have more interesting stuff to share with us you are welcome.

MSI P43 won't boot with usb devices connected

My system:
MSI P43 Neo
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
NorthQ Black Magic 850 watt PSU
Corsair 4 x 2GB ram PC2-8500 1066MHz
Seagate 320 GB hd
Hitachi 1 TB hd
Samsung 1.5 TB hd
Club3D Nvidia GTX275 1,75 GB
Samsung DVD Write Master
When i try to boot i freezes at the detecting usb devices when i have a usb device connected. It does with any usb device. But when i boot up without any usb devices connected then i boot fine and i can connect the devices right after the detection of usb devices. How can that be?

Googled on "computer not booting with usb code 6b38" and found this:
Quote
****SLOW BOOT-UP in POST SCREEN****
P.S. If you see the BIOS code 6B38 in the bottom right corner of the screen, this is a indication that USB Legancy support is enabled in the BIOS. If this is enabled and you have any usb devices attached such as a external USB Hard drive, your system will take ages to go through the POST boot screens.
So disable this setting in the BIOS and the system will then boot in a matter of Seconds
From:
http://www.rebelshavenforum.com/sis-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=30;t=000250
Also try and see if a clear CMOS will help, some people suggested that from a old post from MSI forum here, saying its bios 1.3 thats bugged.
So if disabling doesnt work, perhaps down/upgrading BIOS might.

Windows won't boot with Virtualization Techonology enabled

My Windows won't boot if I enable Virtualization Technology. I've read the other forums and have tried to both disable and update the Bluetooh and Wifi drivers before enabling virtualization again but that's not working. I've also updated the Bios but that doesn't work either.
Laptop: HP Envy TouchScreen 15-j052nr
OS: Windows 8.1 (64bit)
Bios: F.63 (I've tried F.65 A)

Hi @thyPot ,
I saw your post regarding the problem with the Virtualization. If you have already tried disabling and updating the drivers then give us call for further options. You can reach HP Total Care at 1-800-474-6836 in North America or start here if you live outside of North America.
Please click “Accept as Solution ” if you feel my post solved your issue.
Click the “Kudos Thumbs Up" on the right to say “Thanks” for helping!
Thank you,
BHK6
I work on behalf of HP

IMAC won't boot with USB card reader attached

My quite new 24" iMAC won't boot if I have a USB card reader attached:
I get to the white screen with the apple logo, but it gets stuck there and the little spinning gear below the apple logo never appears (I've waited several minutes). (In all my test cases, there is no card in the card reader.)
I've tried two different card readers with the same results ("iDOTconnect" brand and a brand new Apacer unit, both are USB2.0 multi-format card readers).
The 1st one I tried via a USB hub, the second one I tried via a new hub and also directly connected to the mac (both of those hubs work fine).
Anyone have any ideas?
Regards,
Strathglass
Message was edited by: strathglass

Hello strathglass
The same thing can also happen with other connected devices such as external HD's and iPods, the Startup Manager is lost and searching for a boot volume.
1. You may be able to fix it by going to: *System Preference / Startup Disk* and select the *Mac OS X 10.5.5 on Macintosh HD* then *Click the lock to prevent further changes.*
2. Leave those devices that cause boot issues disconnected until the iMac is up and running!
3. Only sleep the iMac, and be sure to disconnect those devices be for shutting down or updates that require a restart!
As a habit, I have always ejected and disconnected all mounted USB devices (flash driver, iPods, cameras, card reader, etc.) from my hub be for sleeping, restarting or shutting down...
Dennis

Intel imac won't boot with usb powered hub attached

My intel imac has started to not boot with a powered (have tried a variety of them) attached. Just stops at the white screen. Also, after I attach the hubs (2, both powered) the computer got into spurts when it just kicks everything attached to the hubs off saying that something pulled too much power. At other times it is fine with the same set up. I've tried resetting the PRam but it didn't make any difference.
I see from other postings that this isn't too uncommon, but didn't see any fix.
Thanks

Can you determine if it is just one of the hubs? Resetting the PRAM probably didn't have anything to do with this problem but the SMC controls the power, try this reset:
SMC RESET
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
Shut down the computer.
Unplug the computer's power cord and ALL peripherals.
Wait 15 seconds.
Attach the computers power cable.
Wait another 5 seconds and press the power button to turn on the computer.
The 5 second timing is important to a successful reset.

Mac Pro won't boot if firewire drives attached

New Mac Pro (OS X 10.4.8) won't boot if my two daisy-chained LaCie hard drives are attached (firewire 800).
I can upnplug 'em and the computer cranks right up; can then plug the drive back in and everything's fine. Wazzup?
Thanks, Bob
Mac Pro 2.66 Mac OS X (10.4.8) User since Apple IIe

Similar problem with iMacG5 - if two firewire drives on bus wouldn't boot. Worked with one but erratic, also long delays opening files, finder erratic and hanging. Decided it was probably a chipset problem with the firewire bus. Since upgrading firewire enclosures problem gone away (I hope). How old are the drive enclosures. Oxford911 firewire bus has some problems with newer macs and OS. May get information on bus in "about this mac/moreinfo/firewire", or in disk utility window ("applications/utilities/disk Utility") WHEN computer is booted up with drives running.
OK, a Plug for Macpower's IceCube enclosures, bloody expensive but since I upgraded no problems. Also wiebetech.com have some cool stuff including internal SATA adaptors/cages etc.for older G5's and dual cores

My Macbook Won't boot from USB drives

Alright. Seems that ever since I've upgraded to Mountain Lion, I keep having one problem after the next. It's probably my fault, but I've been doing nothing I would think to be wrong...
Anyway. Here's a breif history. I have a Macbook pro. Before I installed Mountain Lion, I had Snow Leopard installed with Windows 7 on BootCamp. I installed Mountain Lion and made a startup USB for it as well. I used that USB as a startup drive so I could shrink my OS X installation partition on my HD so I could make a third partition since I am running out of room on my Windows Partition for games. It suceeded, I partitioned the remaining space on the drive as an ExFAT, and restarted. I tried to load up Windows, nothing would boot. I then loaded up my OS X partition just fine. No issues there. Figured something with the partition messedup the Windows install. So I decided to reinstall Windows. Nope, the Windows install USB won't boot. Okay... Maybe if I delete that extra partition I made, things will work. Nope, won't boot the Mountain Lion start up USB now. And for some stupid reason I cannot resize the partitions using the Mountain Lion startup partition on the HD.
So, what did I break that made it so only OS X will start up and no other bootable drives?

Week 2, this problem still occuring. Would be nice if this support forum actually offered support...

MBP won't boot recovery USB drive, need help

HDD failed on 15" mid2009 MacBook Pro, purchased a Seagate 1TB hybrid drive (SSHD) to replace it with. Went to boot to USB recovery drive with OS X 10.8 using option/alt on boot and would only get the folder with flashing question mark. Tried command+R also. Tried different USB ports. Tried with HDD pulled out. The USB recovery drive does work because we were able to boot to it from a different MBP, and verified the files on it with Disk Utility. Just can't get any kind of recovery options or anything on this Mac with replaced HDD. Need help. Never encountered anything like this, can't find anything like it online, and none of my coworkers can figure it out. We've all been working comps for yrs, one even an ex apple-tech. Thanks for any suggestions!!

Sorry - missed that part about having used both USB ports...
Since you've verified that the USB thumb drive works on another Mac, and that it won't boot whilst holding down the option key, I would advise taking your machine to an Apple Store or an AASP to have them diagnose your machine (which will be free). They, too, should have USB sticks that they can use to test the machine.
Good luck,
Clinton

Windows Won't Boot With USB Drives Attached

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