This post is a solution to the post title, not a question. I'm a new forum member that also has a thread under Member Introductions. My problem seems to have some common solutions so I hope my solution can help someone when the more common ones don't work.
I was having a problem booting to a USB pen drive to try Mint 21.2. My computer would not recognize the device regardless of trying BIOS setting changes, different burning tools and other troubleshooting methods. If interested, you can read through all the help I got, used, and appreciated, from other forum members.
I'm not new to troubleshooting technology but am new to the Linux world. After eliminating what I knew and learned more about what I didn't, things pointed to my PC. I learned there was a BIOS update that addressed certain SanDisk USB drives from being recognized by the F9 start up option. I also learned through a very helpful HP support person that Win10 systems can experience corrupt system files that prevent a PC from booting to any active partition other than the primary Win10 partition. The problem seems to be caused by Microsoft updates. No surprise to long time MS users. If you never try booting from your everyday partition there's no harm done and there's no problem, The only solution is to reinstall the OS.
Fortunately the BIOS update solved the problem. But I also had to install an Intel CPU firmware update before I could update the BIOS.
I finally got to take a look at "live" Linux for the first time. My computer system has been humming along nicely and securely for years and I maintain it. My interest in exploring an OS outside the MS world after 36 years is just beginning and I hope Linux can be an alternative.
I was having a problem booting to a USB pen drive to try Mint 21.2. My computer would not recognize the device regardless of trying BIOS setting changes, different burning tools and other troubleshooting methods. If interested, you can read through all the help I got, used, and appreciated, from other forum members.
I'm not new to troubleshooting technology but am new to the Linux world. After eliminating what I knew and learned more about what I didn't, things pointed to my PC. I learned there was a BIOS update that addressed certain SanDisk USB drives from being recognized by the F9 start up option. I also learned through a very helpful HP support person that Win10 systems can experience corrupt system files that prevent a PC from booting to any active partition other than the primary Win10 partition. The problem seems to be caused by Microsoft updates. No surprise to long time MS users. If you never try booting from your everyday partition there's no harm done and there's no problem, The only solution is to reinstall the OS.
Fortunately the BIOS update solved the problem. But I also had to install an Intel CPU firmware update before I could update the BIOS.
I finally got to take a look at "live" Linux for the first time. My computer system has been humming along nicely and securely for years and I maintain it. My interest in exploring an OS outside the MS world after 36 years is just beginning and I hope Linux can be an alternative.