Can't Boot From USB

[Sikntired]

Here are my System Specs:

Snapshot created on: 20260413_1109
System:
  Kernel: 6.1.0-44-amd64 [6.1.164-1] arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-44-amd64 root=UUID=<filter> ro quiet splash
    init=/lib/systemd/systemd
  Desktop: Xfce v: 4.20.0 tk: Gtk v: 3.24.38 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm v: 4.20.0 vt: 7
    dm: LightDM v: 1.32.0 Distro: MX-23.6_x64 Libretto Jan 12  2025 base: Debian GNU/Linux 12
    (bookworm)
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: Dell product: Inspiron 545 v: 00 serial: <superuser required> Chassis:
    type: 3 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: Dell model: 0N826N v: A03 serial: <superuser required> BIOS: Dell v: A12 date: 11/17/2009
CPU:
  Info: model: Pentium E5400 bits: 64 type: MCP arch: Penryn level: v1 built: 2008
    process: Intel 45nm family: 6 model-id: 0x17 (23) stepping: 0xA (10) microcode: 0xA0B
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 2 smt: <unsupported> cache: L1: 128 KiB desc: d-2x32 KiB; i-2x32 KiB
    L2: 2 MiB desc: 1x2 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1386 high: 1556 min/max: 1200/2700 scaling: driver: acpi-cpufreq
    governor: ondemand cores: 1: 1556 2: 1217 bogomips: 10772
  Flags: ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 ssse3 vmx
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: indirect_target_selection status: Not affected
  Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: VMX disabled
  Type: l1tf mitigation: PTE Inversion; VMX: conditional cache flushes, SMT disabled
  Type: mds status: Vulnerable: Clear CPU buffers attempted, no microcode; SMT disabled
  Type: meltdown mitigation: PTI
  Type: mmio_stale_data status: Unknown: No mitigations
  Type: reg_file_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: retbleed status: Not affected
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow status: Not affected
  Type: spec_store_bypass status: Vulnerable
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Retpolines; STIBP: disabled; RSB filling; PBRSB-eIBRS: Not
    affected; BHI: Not affected
  Type: srbds status: Not affected
  Type: tsa status: Not affected
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
  Type: vmscape status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel 82G33/G31 Express Integrated Graphics vendor: Dell driver: i915 v: kernel
    arch: Gen-4 process: Intel 65n built: 2006-07 ports: active: VGA-1 empty: none bus-ID: 00:02.0
    chip-ID: 8086:29c2 class-ID: 0300
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 compositor: xfwm v: 4.20.0 driver: X: loaded: intel
    dri: i915 gpu: i915 display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1366x768 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 362x204mm (14.25x8.03") s-diag: 416mm (16.36")
  Monitor-1: VGA-1 mapped: VGA1 model: Dell IN1910N serial: <filter> built: 2009 res: 1366x768
    hz: 60 dpi: 85 gamma: 1.2 size: 410x230mm (16.14x9.06") diag: 470mm (18.5") ratio: 16:9 modes:
    max: 1366x768 min: 720x400
  API: OpenGL v: 2.1 Mesa 22.3.6 renderer: i915 (: G33) direct-render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 82801I HD Audio vendor: Dell driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
    chip-ID: 8086:293e class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.1.0-44-amd64 status: kernel-api tools: alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.0.0 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse status: active
    2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 4: pw-jack type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL810xE PCI Express Fast Ethernet vendor: Dell driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie:
    gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: ce00 bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8136 class-ID: 0200
  IF: eth0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 931.51 GiB used: 63.58 GiB (6.8%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Western Digital model: WD10EZEX-00BN5A0 size: 931.51 GiB
    block-size: physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B speed: 3.0 Gb/s type: HDD rpm: 7200 serial: <filter>
    rev: 1A01 scheme: MBR
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 100 GiB size: 97.87 GiB (97.87%) used: 63.58 GiB (65.0%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/sda4 maj-min: 8:4
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 15 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default)
  ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 2 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2 file: /swap/swap
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 40.0 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (RPM): cpu: 813 mobo: 1137
Repos:
  Packages: pm: dpkg pkgs: 2261 libs: 1111 tools: apt,apt-get,aptitude,nala,synaptic pm: rpm
    pkgs: 0 pm: flatpak pkgs: 0
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm-updates main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
    2: deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security/ bookworm-security main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64] https://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mx.list
    1: deb http://mirror.math.princeton.edu/pub/mxlinux/mx/repo/ bookworm main non-free
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.sources
    1: deb https://dl.google.com/linux/chrome-stable/deb/ stable main
Info:
  Processes: 200 Uptime: 16m wakeups: 0 Memory: 5.78 GiB used: 2.88 GiB (49.9%) Init: systemd
  v: 252 target: graphical (5) default: graphical tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 12.2.0 alt: 12
  Client: shell wrapper v: 5.2.15-release inxi: 3.3.26
Boot Mode: BIOS (legacy, CSM, MBR)

I have gone into "Boot Configuration" and changed the boot order to "Removable" which is Usb, then CD Rom and Hard Disk. However when I go to "Boot Options" the system does not recognized the plugged-in Usb. I tried this several times with just re-starting and even with completely shutting down the system. I have a MX Linux 25.1 installed on the Usb using Balena-Etcher which completed successfully and verified. I am trying to do an in-place upgrade from MX 23.6 (fluxbox) to MX 25.1 Xfce. I don't understand why the usb is not recognized as I have not had any problems doing so in the past. I do have Windows installed on another partition but doubt this has any bearing. I am at a loss. I really Like MX and the array of tools and am eager to try out MX 25.1 as suggested by a member who thought it would be better for a noob like me. Any ideas?

 

[APTI]

This is a dell, Have you tried hitting the F12 key at the very beginning of system start before any OS loading attempts? this is the key to choose your boot device. You have to hit it like you are trying to get into the BIOS. Which is the next thing. check your BIOS and make sure that the boot key option is enabled. some BIOS disable it by default. To get into BIOS the F2 key is used. You have to repeatedly tap this in the first 5 to 10 seconds after hitting the power. Once you get to the boot menu you can choose your USB drive and all should be good

 

[Sikntired]

This is a dell, Have you tried hitting the F12 key at the very beginning of system start before any OS loading attempts? this is the key to choose your boot device. You have to hit it like you are trying to get into the BIOS. Which is the next thing. check your BIOS and make sure that the boot key option is enabled. some BIOS disable it by default. To get into BIOS the F2 key is used. You have to repeatedly tap this in the first 5 to 10 seconds after hitting the power. Once you get to the boot menu you can choose your USB drive and all should be good

Yes, I am familiar with the F2 and F12 commands. F2 is the Boot Configuration which I changed to boot from Usb. The F12 command gets you into setup and boot first as I alluded to in my initial post. I restart the computer and tap repeatedly F12 whilst the usb is inserted it does not show up as an option. The options presented are; Hard Disk, CDROM, Utility partition and diagnostic. I have booted from Usb's before with no problem. I checked the usb and it lights up when it is inserted in either of the two slots that I have. It shows up in file manager as well. I might add that this is the first time I have attempted to boot from a usb using MX 23.6. I migrated from Windows where I never experienced this problem. So, I'm at a loss as to why. Drivers??

 

[bob466]

I wish I had a dollar for every time they say I can't boot to the Flash Drive.

I was going to suggest Ventoy but you have to boot to that too.

 

[APTI]

Yes, I am familiar with the F2 and F12 commands. F2 is the Boot Configuration which I changed to boot from Usb. The F12 command gets you into setup and boot first as I alluded to in my initial post. I restart the computer and tap repeatedly F12 whilst the usb is inserted it does not show up as an option. The options presented are; Hard Disk, CDROM, Utility partition and diagnostic. I have booted from Usb's before with no problem. I checked the usb and it lights up when it is inserted in either of the two slots that I have. It shows up in file manager as well. I might add that this is the first time I have attempted to boot from a usb using MX 23.6. I migrated from Windows where I never experienced this problem. So, I'm at a loss as to why. Drivers??

it is in the boot up. drivers do not play a part in that. The support for booting off of usb is wholly in the BIOS. has to be built into the chipset. No different than booting from hard drive or dvd/cdrom.
Your system is fairly old and boot from USB is limited. you may need to change something in the BIOS

If USB doesn’t show up​

Go into BIOS setup:

1. Press F2 at startup.
2. Navigate to Boot Sequence.
3. Make sure:
   • USB Storage is enabled
   • It’s placed above the hard drive in priority
4. Save and exit.

---

which you already did. but look around the bios and make sure USB is shown as bootable.

Common gotchas (important for this model)​

• USB must be MBR + BIOS bootable
  • GPT-only drives will NOT boot on this system.
• Format should typically be:
  • FAT32 (most compatible)
  • NTFS can work depending on bootloader
• Tools like:
  • Rufus → set:
    • Partition scheme: MBR
    • Target system: BIOS (or UEFI-CSM)

another issue you may run into is drives over 64GB may not recognize for boot on this model. You may need a smaller USB drive to do what you want. Your BIOS is up to date but you can not boot UEFI it has to be legacy boot for the USB to work on that model. that means MBR not GPT

 

[Alexzee]

Etcher has been problematic for a while and I would recommend that you try Ventoy.

Ventoy

Ventoy is an open source tool to create bootable USB drive for ISO files. With ventoy, you don't need to format the disk again and again, you just need to copy the iso file to the USB drive and boot it.

www.ventoy.net

Your Dell is approx 17 years old. Here's the specs in the link below. I agree, MX Linux is a good choice.

Dell Inspiron 545 review: Dell Inspiron 545

Dell Inspiron 545

www.cnet.com

Try another usb thumb drive if you have another around.

 

[GatorsFan]

What version of Balena-Etcher are you using? 2.1.4 is the current version - You should not have to change the boot sequence using the F2 and go into the BIOS just the F12 key is sufficient but you may need to check the bios to see it is set to Legacy and not UEFI or else that old of a machine will not boot as @APTI has stated

 

[Mike-BTU]

Etcher has been problematic for a while and I would recommend that you try Ventoy.

I have NEVER had a problem with Ventoy. Neither have I read about anyone else complaining about Ventoy.

But, I constantly come across complaints about Etcher and Balena!

Just Use Ventoy.

 

[Sikntired]

I am responding to all of you using MX 25.1 "Infinity". I've finally got it installed and want to thank all of you for your interest and helpful suggestions. I created a USB Live and downloaded to USB and changed Mode from Full-featured to Image Mode. Restarted and option to boot from USB appeared and Voila!! So this topic can be closed and labeled as Solved.