UEFI BIOS shows USB devices that aren't really connected

[Gustas]

Hello,

I have a really weird issue with USB drives detection in my UEFI BIOS. I have created bootable Windows 8.1 installation USB, powered my PC down, inserted the USB and got into BIOS. I really want to install my new Windows using UEFI mode, but I cannot find my USB in boot device list. The UEFI BIOS shows my TOSHIBA external hard drive in boot devices list, when it isn't really connected as shown in the photo. That would not be an issue, but it also only allows me to boot into my Kingston Data Traveler 111 using the regular BIOS mode. As you can see in the photo, BIOS shows me that I can boot into my TOSHIBA external HDD using UEFI mode, when that drive isn't even connected. What is the problem? Why the drive that isn't even connected shows up in boot device list? And why I cannot see the option "UEFI: KingstonDataTraveler111", so I can install my Windows 8.1 using UEFI mode?

I tried to select that Toshiba HDD in the boot menu, but I get a black screen for a second and then it takes me back to BIOS.

I also tried changing USB support from partial initialization, to full initialization and nothing changed.

Photos:

Boot device list
Boot override list

Can you help me solve this annoying issue? I would really appreaciate that

P.S.: Sorry for my bad English, It is not my native language, so I hope you'll understand what I have written.

 

[Lutfij]

1| Can you please pass on your full system's specs inclusive of the existing OS and remaining peripherals/connected devices?

2| How did you create the bootable USB installer with Windows 8.1? Did you sue Rufus? Did you make sure to select UEFI under the drop down menu while creating the bootable USB installer?

3| Have you made sure your BIOS is up to date? Speaking of BIOS, have you tried removing the CMOS battery for +/-15 minutes before replacing it?

 

[Gustas]

1| Can you please pass on your full system's specs inclusive of the existing OS and remaining peripherals/connected devices?

2| How did you create the bootable USB installer with Windows 8.1? Did you sue Rufus? Did you make sure to select UEFI under the drop down menu while creating the bootable USB installer?

3| Have you made sure your BIOS is up to date? Speaking of BIOS, have you tried removing the CMOS battery for +/-15 minutes before replacing it?

Currently, my OS in Windows 10 x64. When I prepared for the installation, only mouse, keyboard, ASUS wi-fi antenna, speakers, LAN and the bootable USB was connected.

I created bootable USB using Windows 8.1 media creation tool by Microsoft.

I'm afraid of updating BIOS, cause even ASUS manual says it is risky. I have not tried to reset the CMOS either.

The story behind: Previuosly, I successfully installed Windows 8.1 over my Windows 10 using the same bootable USB in UEFI mode. But after some Microsoft updates, I ran into that scary issue, where after the logon, screen just goes black with only a cursor showing up. I was really afraid, so I restored my Windows 10 using Acronis True Image 2016. I booted into Acronis using their bootable USB and restored my previous Win10 installation. Maybe that left some effects in my BIOS.

Also, it is said that Windows 10 fast startup "locks down all drives" when shutting down, so maybe that could be the problem?

I don't really think that I need to upgrade my BIOS. Everything is working fine, except this issue that arised after Acronis restoration.

If I haven't provided enough info, let me know. I am still waiting for help. I think you can look up my specs by looking at my profile.

 

[Technology_2]

1| Can you please pass on your full system's specs inclusive of the existing OS and remaining peripherals/connected devices?

2| How did you create the bootable USB installer with Windows 8.1? Did you sue Rufus? Did you make sure to select UEFI under the drop down menu while creating the bootable USB installer?

3| Have you made sure your BIOS is up to date? Speaking of BIOS, have you tried removing the CMOS battery for +/-15 minutes before replacing it?

Currently, my OS in Windows 10 x64. When I prepared for the installation, only mouse, keyboard, ASUS wi-fi antenna, speakers, LAN and the bootable USB was connected.

I created bootable USB using Windows 8.1 media creation tool by Microsoft.

I'm afraid of updating BIOS, cause even ASUS manual says it is risky. I have not tried to reset the CMOS either.

The story behind: Previuosly, I successfully installed Windows 8.1 over my Windows 10 using the same bootable USB in UEFI mode. But after some Microsoft updates, I ran into that scary issue, where after the logon, screen just goes black with only a cursor showing up. I was really afraid, so I restored my Windows 10 using Acronis True Image 2016. I booted into Acronis using their bootable USB and restored my previous Win10 installation. Maybe that left some effects in my BIOS.

Also, it is said that Windows 10 fast startup "locks down all drives" when shutting down, so maybe that could be the problem?

I don't really think that I need to upgrade my BIOS. Everything is working fine, except this issue that arised after Acronis restoration.

If I haven't provided enough info, let me know. I am still waiting for help. I think you can look up my specs by looking at my profile.

Hey dude have you found the solution to this? My UEFI board is doing the same thing

 

[Gustas]

1| Can you please pass on your full system's specs inclusive of the existing OS and remaining peripherals/connected devices?

2| How did you create the bootable USB installer with Windows 8.1? Did you sue Rufus? Did you make sure to select UEFI under the drop down menu while creating the bootable USB installer?

3| Have you made sure your BIOS is up to date? Speaking of BIOS, have you tried removing the CMOS battery for +/-15 minutes before replacing it?

Currently, my OS in Windows 10 x64. When I prepared for the installation, only mouse, keyboard, ASUS wi-fi antenna, speakers, LAN and the bootable USB was connected.

I created bootable USB using Windows 8.1 media creation tool by Microsoft.

I'm afraid of updating BIOS, cause even ASUS manual says it is risky. I have not tried to reset the CMOS either.

The story behind: Previuosly, I successfully installed Windows 8.1 over my Windows 10 using the same bootable USB in UEFI mode. But after some Microsoft updates, I ran into that scary issue, where after the logon, screen just goes black with only a cursor showing up. I was really afraid, so I restored my Windows 10 using Acronis True Image 2016. I booted into Acronis using their bootable USB and restored my previous Win10 installation. Maybe that left some effects in my BIOS.

Also, it is said that Windows 10 fast startup "locks down all drives" when shutting down, so maybe that could be the problem?

I don't really think that I need to upgrade my BIOS. Everything is working fine, except this issue that arised after Acronis restoration.

If I haven't provided enough info, let me know. I am still waiting for help. I think you can look up my specs by looking at my profile.

Hey dude have you found the solution to this? My UEFI board is doing the same thing

I didn't found the exact solution, but I think you should disable fast startup (search Google, if you don't know what it is), reboot your PC and check, whether your USB shows up as a UEFI boot device. Also, you may try to "clear secure boot keys" in boot section of BIOS. And of all that doesn't, you may also search google "How to create UEFI bootable USB?", there are some pretty good tutorials and then it should work.

 

[helpstar]

reset BIOS / clrCMOS

 

[Lutfij]

Could you clarify where you found that the Fast Bootup feature locks down drives? I'm curious to now(not to poke fun at you) since I didn't know of this feature.

I asked for your full system's specs so yeah we're yet waiting on that. In fact it's possible that we could walk you though the BIOS update procedure. Back in the early days of Windows 10's launch, the black screen came about because the system/OS kept reverting to the integrated GPU as opposed to the discrete GPU. The solution to that was to remove the drivers for the iGPU using DDU.

Unfortunately with the way Windows 10 operates, you're going to have to rely on updated BIOS to ensure your system is working optimally. Before we go that far, lets see what we have to work with.

 

[Gustas]

Could you clarify where you found that the Fast Bootup feature locks down drives? I'm curious to now(not to poke fun at you) since I didn't know of this feature.

I asked for your full system's specs so yeah we're yet waiting on that. In fact it's possible that we could walk you though the BIOS update procedure. Back in the early days of Windows 10's launch, the black screen came about because the system/OS kept reverting to the integrated GPU as opposed to the discrete GPU. The solution to that was to remove the drivers for the iGPU using DDU.

Unfortunately with the way Windows 10 operates, you're going to have to rely on updated BIOS to ensure your system is working optimally. Before we go that far, lets see what we have to work with.

For some reason my issue has already solved itself. I can now succesfully boot from USB devices in UEFI mode and unconnected USB drives do not show in boot priority anymore. But anyway, my system specs are:
CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1231v3 @3.4GHz
MOBO: Asus Z97-PRO(WiFi ac)
RAM: Kingston HyperX Savage Red 1600MHZ CL9 (2 x 4 GB modules)
GPU: Asus GeForce GTX 960 Strix OC
PSU: be Quiet! Straight Power 10 500W
HDDs:
Samsung 850 Evo 120GB SSD
WD Blue 1TB @7200RPM HDD

I found that fast startup feature locks down all drives in this site, which says:

When you shut down a computer with Fast Startup enabled, Windows locks down the Windows hard disk. You won’t be able to access it from other operating systems if you have your computer configured to dual-boot. Even worse, if you boot into another OS and then access or change anything on the hard disk (or partition) that the hibernating Windows installation uses, it can cause corruption.

 

[Lutfij]

If it's this site, can you parse on a link?

With Windows 10, a motherboard's BIOS update ensures that it is operating in optimal condition. It's also been seen that with every subsequent release/update of the OS, the previous issues are ironed out. The best way to resolve issue with the OS is through either a repair install or a clean install of the OS after recreating the USB bootable installer with the latest release.

 

[Gustas]

If it's this site, can you parse on a link?

With Windows 10, a motherboard's BIOS update ensures that it is operating in optimal condition. It's also been seen that with every subsequent release/update of the OS, the previous issues are ironed out. The best way to resolve issue with the OS is through either a repair install or a clean install of the OS after recreating the USB bootable installer with the latest release.

I don't really know what you mean, but the word "this" is actually a link pointing to the site where I found the information. Just click "this" in my previous post and it should take you to the site.

 

[Lutfij]

I apologize, that link located with "this" is practically invisible to the naked eye, which is why I tag it in Bold type when I parse links within my posts/text. The link and the information therein checks out.

😉