How to change Windows 10, 11 startup disk to USB memory

How to change Windows 10 startup disk to USB memory using BIOS (UEFI)

If you want to repair your computer when Windows won't start due to a hard disk failure, you will need to create a system repair disk and boot your computer from that startup disk.

Normally, your computer's SATA-connected hard disk or SSD will probably be your first boot disk. In this case, no matter how many times you restart your computer, Windows will not start and cannot be repaired.
This article explains how to boot your computer from a system repair disk that you previously created on a USB flash drive.

This article is an example of a Toshiba notebook computer. The method for starting up the BIOS (UEFI) may differ depending on the manufacturer, so please check the manufacturer's manual or website.

• When the manufacturer's logo appears, press the F2 key or "Delete" key repeatedly to start the BIOS (UEFI)
  
• Use your mouse or arrow keys to go to Advanced and double-click Change Boot Order.
  
• Select the USB Memory, click "Move Up" to bring it to the top, and double-click "OK".
  
• Press the F10 key or use the arrow keys to move to "Exit" in the left pane, double-click "Exit Saving Changes" and click "Yes"
  
• Boot disk starts from USB memory

In this method, if the USB memory is permanently inserted, the first thing you do is look at the USB memory.
There will be a slight delay in Windows startup as it will always check to see if there is a USB memory.If you don't like delays, please follow the steps below to temporarily change the Windows 10 or 11 startup disk to a USB memory. .

How to temporarily change Windows 10, 11 startup disk to USB memory

• When the manufacturer's logo appears, press the F12 key repeatedly.
• Double-click the USB memory
  
• Boot disk starts from USB memory

How to change the startup disk in Windows 10 and 11 to boot from SSD

If your computer becomes slow or won't start, you may need to replace the hard disk.Clone to SSDIf you replace it but it still does not start, you may need to change the startup disk in the BIOS (UEFI).
I don't think it's necessary to change the BIOS (UEFI) settings if the only drives are the hard disk and DVD drive, like in a previous laptop, but if you have multiple disks, such as in a desktop computer, you need to change the BIOS (UEFI). is.

Boot up BIOS (UEFI)

If you are using a homemade desktop computer, press the "Delete" key repeatedly when the motherboard manufacturer's logo appears.
If your computer is manufactured by a manufacturer, press the "F2" key repeatedly when the manufacturer's logo appears.
This will take you to the BIOS (UEFI) screen.
This time I will explain using an image of Asrock's motherboard.

Change the boot disk

When the BIOS (UEFI) screen appears, click "Boot".
For older computers and motherboards, there may be an item called "Boot Sequence Change" under "Advanced".

In the case of Asrock's motherboard, there are four startup disks to choose from, so double-clicking "Boot Option #1" will open a small red window and allow you to select the startup disk.

When changing the type of bootable disc

When setting in BIOS (UEFI), it is necessary to determine the priority order for each type of startup disk.
For example, storage is often divided into hard disks and SSDs, optical drives such as CD/DVD drives, USB memory and external hard disks connected to USB, etc.

This is an image that determines the priority of storage items. You need to select the cloned SSD here.

Setting the recommended boot order for Windows 10 and 11 in BIOS (UEFI)

Windows started with 95, and as of February 2022, Windows 11 has been released.
In the meantime, the computer situation has evolved, and the priority order of boot disks has also changed significantly.
Recently, SSDs have become available at low prices, and more and more cheap notebook computers are equipped with SSDs.
We will compare the old circumstances with the current circumstances and explain the recommended starting order.

The boot order of old computers and the reason

A long time ago, the boot order of computers in the BIOS (UEFI) settings was as follows.

1. CD/DVD drive
2. hard disk
3. The following is a floppy etc.

The reason for this is that if there was a problem and I needed to recover, I would do so from the included DVD. As a manual recovery method, insert the DVD into the DVD drive and reboot. It was written as such.

However, with modern computers, recovery can be done from the hard disk or SSD rather than the DVD, so booting from the CD/DVD drive is not recommended. Additionally, some modern computers do not come with optical drives (CD/DVD drives). In the past, the only way to install printer drivers was to load them from a CD or DVD, but now they are downloaded from websites on the Internet. The most popular method is to not use CDs or DVDs because you can get the latest drivers.

Recommended boot order for Windows 10 and 11 in 2022

Therefore, the recommended starting order these days is as follows.

1. SSD or hard disk
2. USB memory etc.
3. CD/DVD drive

How to check the startup drive in Windows 10 and 11

Almost 100% of the startup drives of Windows computers running around the world are the C drive.
However, I occasionally see computers that use a boot drive other than the C drive for security reasons and other reasons. Here's how to find out which drive is your boot drive.

• Launch Explorer (folder mark)
• Click "This PC" in the left pane
• The boot drive is the one marked with Windows.

In this image, the orthodox C drive has a Windows mark. Of course, you can start Windows from another drive, or you can change the startup drive from C drive to another drive.

How to check if the boot drive is SSD in Windows 10 and 11

If you just bought a new computer and want to find out whether it's booting from the SSD or the hard disk, or if you cloned the hard disk to the SSD, you might want to check whether it's booting from the SSD properly. . In such a case, here is how to check whether the drive is an SSD in Windows 10 or 11.

There are two ways.

• Check with task manager
• Find out by optimizing your drive

How to check with task manager

Launch Task Manager.
In Windows 10, right-click the taskbar and a small window will pop up, so double-click "Task Manager".

In Windows 11, right-click the Windows mark on the taskbar. A small window will pop up, so double-click on "Task Manager".

When Task Manager starts up, click on the "Performance" tab.
Each disk is labeled "HDD," "SSD," "USB," and "Removable," so you can tell which disk is which type of drive.

*In older versions of Windows 10 (confirmed on 1709), Task Manager does not seem to know what type each disk is, as shown in the image. If you are using an older version, please check the next section on optimizing your drive.

How to check by defragmenting the drive

For Windows 10, type drive in Cortana (magnifying glass mark) on the taskbar.
For Windows 11, click the magnifying glass mark to open a small window.
If you enter "drive" in the magnifying glass field at the top of the small window, you will find "Defragment and Optimize Drive" and click "Open".

You can tell the type of drive by looking at the media type as ``Solid State Drive'' or ``Hard Disk Drive.''

How to change startup disk on MAC

If you install Windows on a MAC using Boot Camp, etc., you will need to change the startup disk when using the MAC and when using Windows.
When using Windows on a MACParallels DesktopYou need to use an app called.

The method to change the startup disk on MAC is as follows.

How to change the startup disk at startup

• When you hear a clicking sound, hold down the Option key and wait for a while.
• A screen will appear to select a startup disk such as Mac OS or Windows Boot Camp, so double-click the desired disk.

How to change the next boot disk on next reboot

• Double-click your startup disk in "System Environment"
• Select the disk you want to boot from and click Restart