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Booting Directly to USB

Updated: 27 May 2010 | 1 comment
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This issue has been solved. See solution.

I want to be able to skip the foolish step of having to press F12, or changing the boot order in order to select "Boot to USB". I would like to be able to make my USB Key when plugged in and starting up the PC boot directly into the Ghost program to be able to image the PCs. We are looking at having to image around 200-400 PCs a month so skipping this step would save just a little bit of time.

Here is the autoexec.bat file that i'm using...

@echo off
SET TZ=GHO+05:00
prompt $p$g
\net\netbind.com
if exist MOUSE.COM MOUSE.COM
echo Loading...
CD \GHOST
GHOST.EXE -clone,mode=restore,src=@mcssi,dst=2 -sure -forceusb

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ianatkin's picture
23
Nov
2009
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Hi, I'm afraid that for ANY

Hi,

I'm afraid that for ANY device to boot, the BIOS must be configured to have it in its boot order. If you computers are not preconfigured at the factory to put USB boot first, then you'll either have to manually change the boot order (permanent change) or select the one-time boot menu (temporary change).

Personally, I wouldn't advocate putting USB boot as a permanent feature in the BIOS boot order. I don't see anything wrong with selecting the one-time menu you mention -its fairly light touch. And afterall you've got to go to the effort of shoving the USB stick in the slot anyway.

If you are after zero-touch deployment, you should really be looking at PXE booting.


Ian Atkin, Senior Developer for the ICT Support Team, Oxford University, UK

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