BIOS boot order

So I am running windows 8, Acer aspire v3-551-x489 laptop. I recently started using a MyBook external storage/hard drive, to backup my files using windows file history. Whenever I boot my laptop with mybook plugged in to the usb port, it won't boot. It will be stuck on the acer screen until I unplug it and restart.

I go into BIOS(F2) and go to the boot menu because I want to change the boot order. However it lists like 7 items on the boot list, starting with Windows Boot Manager. There is also HDDO,USB FDD,USB HDD etc. Which one of them is my hard drive and which one is the mybook external hard drive, because I want to change the boot order so my hard drive boots before the Mybook device.

Thank you!

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Lucas2014

Windows Boot Manager -> Windows 8
HDD0 -> Hard Disk Drive
USB FDD -> Disk Drive Floop
USB HDD -> USB Storage - Pendrive - External HD Etc

kevinshen18

Weird. I clearly remember USB HDD is below HDDO. How is it that whenever I have Mybook external storage plugged in it boots on that?

Lucas2014

If not mistaken should tar except boot order him commence

kevinshen18

Sorry, what do you mean?

CK_WD

Hi kevinshen18,

I'm sorry you're facing such an issue. Below you can find a link to the WD Community, which could explain why this is happening and how to fix it. Basically, there are two possible causes: a BIOS setting that's preventing the start up, or similar to your idea, the My Book is seen as a possible boot drive. Scrolling down the page you can find possible solutions.

http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3701/~/computer-freezes-when-it-restarts-with-a-wd-my-book

As you will see at the bottom of the page, if nothing works, then you'd better plug out your WD My Book before starting your PC so that it wouldn't freeze on start up.

I hope this helps,
best of luck!

CK_WD

kevinshen18

Thanks! If I do forget to unplug it and the computer restarts, would it be lethal to hard shutdown and then unplug it. This is a nuisance especially for windows updates restarts.

CK_WD

Hi again kevinshen18,

a hard shutdown is sometimes necessary when there's nothing else you could do. Some people are using it all the time without a complaint, others start having problems after the second time; it mostly depends on your build. Negative outcomes could be damaging sectors on your HDD, corrupting the MBR (Master boot record); if power is lost during a data writing process then it could cause corruption of functions. But using the hard shutdown option must be in very rare cases exactly because it's unpredictable in its effect.

When this happens (a sudden restart or a hard shutdown) while your My Book is still connected to the PC it affects it like unplugging an external device from the USB without first clicking on "Safely remove hardware". The WD My Book is connected via an AC adapter to the power socket so in these cases a sudden power outage doesn't apply.

As for the Windows updates, usually they come with a message to either update now or later, so you should have time to react and decide if you firstly want to unplug the external device.