Edu-IT Posted August 25, 2009 Posted August 25, 2009 We've got some machines here where some pick up the USB boot device in the BIOS and some don't. Same BIOS version and to my knowledge it's exactly the same hardware. Any ideas? It's somewhat frustrating.
mac_shinobi Posted August 25, 2009 Posted August 25, 2009 I normally tend to ensure that any usb items are enabled in the bios ie usb mouse, usb keyboard etc and also alter the boot device priority etc
rad Posted August 25, 2009 Posted August 25, 2009 We've got some machines here where some pick up the USB boot device in the BIOS and some don't. Same BIOS version and to my knowledge it's exactly the same hardware. Any ideas? It's somewhat frustrating. If I am right you are doing the RM CC4 upgrade. What PC's are you having issues with? You need to change the USB boot option from Floppy/All REmovable to Auto. This helped our ones and yes the BIOS settings were different in the same room as they had been shipped by RM. There is a CC3 to CC4 program you can run as a last resort that kicks the rebuilds in. It however is a lot slower than sticking in the CD or USB as we found out last night/this morning.
Edu-IT Posted August 25, 2009 Author Posted August 25, 2009 Problem is I can't see the device in the boot menu, nor can I see Auto. Only a floppy and HDD.
rad Posted August 25, 2009 Posted August 25, 2009 Which model of RM PC is this? The F Series RM machines (cream ones) dont give the option for USB Flash drive boot, only way round it is the CC3 to CC4 package.
bossman Posted August 25, 2009 Posted August 25, 2009 Edu-IT: You can use a USB floppy emulator such as the netac USB pen drive: You can buy them direct from Netac or from RM and the good news is they work very well indeed. 1
Edu-IT Posted August 25, 2009 Author Posted August 25, 2009 (edited) These are not RM machines. Features USB 2.0 Hi-speed access rate 1.44MB USB-FDD switch Hot Plug and Play via USB port No external power supply required Support BIOS booting as USB ZIP, FDD & USB HDD Extra reliability powered by Ultra-Stable Technology No driver installation required except Windows 98SE 67mm(L) x 19mm(W) x 9.5mm(H)Thanks Bossman. Edited August 25, 2009 by Edu-IT
steve Posted August 25, 2009 Posted August 25, 2009 We've had the same issues in the past, the only way we can get around it is to turn off PC completely and try different USB ports. No magic fix I'm afraid
Edu-IT Posted September 1, 2009 Author Posted September 1, 2009 Edu-IT: You can use a USB floppy emulator such as the netac USB pen drive: You can buy them direct from Netac or from RM and the good news is they work very well indeed. *Swears under breath* Work very well? Not for me! I've plugged it in the USB, told it to be a FDD but it's still trying to boot from the internal FDD. I must be being thick as it can't possibly be that difficult to get these to boot. Any help appreciated. Top floor window is looking promising for these machines.
webman Posted September 1, 2009 Posted September 1, 2009 Which motherboard? Have you disabled the Floppy option in the BIOS to perhaps "hide" the internal FDD? Do you have an option to press F12 for boot menu and try all the options on there?
Edu-IT Posted September 1, 2009 Author Posted September 1, 2009 Which motherboard? Have you disabled the Floppy option in the BIOS to perhaps "hide" the internal FDD? Do you have an option to press F12 for boot menu and try all the options on there? With the FDD device disabled in BIOS I can't then change the Boot Priority, nor does it boot from the USB FDD (emulated) of its own accord. There is no F12 menu.
bossman Posted September 1, 2009 Posted September 1, 2009 @Edu-IT: The BIOS has to be able to detect a usb device in the first instance if this is not happening then you have: 1. A problem with the motherboard detecting USB devices at boot time. 2. A problem with the USB ports on that motherboard. Which Motherboard is it and have you updated the BIOS by flashing it to a version that supports USB boot detection support? The problem we had was that the Motherboard detected the USB at boot time but automatically recognised it as a mass storage device an therefore assigned it a letter as with a HDD, as we are a RM CC3 site it needed to assign it as A: for the build process to be able to write back to the floppy disk. The netac USB device emulates a floppy drive and therefore solved our problem. It should work on any BIOS motherboard which detects the USB in the boot process.
Edu-IT Posted September 1, 2009 Author Posted September 1, 2009 I am not too sure how to flash the BIOS can you advise?
Edu-IT Posted September 1, 2009 Author Posted September 1, 2009 It's an American Systems Bios version 02.54 if that helps.
Edu-IT Posted September 2, 2009 Author Posted September 2, 2009 Sorted with a BIOS flash! Thanks a lot for the help.
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