Bootable drive not detected in Bios

JuergenLandes

Dear all,

I just bought a brand new Swift 1.

It didn't come with a proper operating system, all I have is an UEFI shell.

So, first things first, I need to install an OS.

On my windows machine, I downloaded an Ubuntu ISO file and used Rufus on it to create a bootable USB drive.

On the new Swift 1, I managed to enter the BIOS.

I enabled the Network Boot F12.

(Following the instructions @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3MW4wAG7Pw).

Even after many rebooting attempts, the USB drive does NOT show up in the list of boot options.

There's always just one option.

(Unlike in the instructions video @ 9:20, there's is just one option on my Swift 1 -- and it's not the USB option.)

Typing the command ``map'' shows that the USB drive is recognized by the Swift 1 machine.

Using the shell, I managed to navigate to the USB drive and browse directories and sub-directories.

To me, that suggests that there's something wrong with the BIOS. Please, help.

My problem seems to be very similar to the problems reported in an older thread:
https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/536923/bootable-drive-not-detected-in-bios 

No solution is mentioned in this thread. It just died.

@Acer-Tommy :

Your colleague, Samuel, suggested to tag the user aphanic. I didn't manage to this user nor Samuel-Acer, they may have left this board.

All help greatly appreciated,

Edited the content to hide personal information

StevenGen

JuergenLandes said:

Dear all,

I just bought a brand new Swift 1.

It didn't come with a proper operating system, all I have is an UEFI shell.

So, first things first, I need to install an OS.

On my windows machine, I downloaded an Ubuntu ISO file and used Rufus on it to create a bootable USB drive.

On the new Swift 1, I managed to enter the BIOS.

I enabled the Network Boot F12.

(Following the instructions @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3MW4wAG7Pw).

Even after many rebooting attempts, the USB drive does NOT show up in the list of boot options.

There's always just one option.

(Unlike in the instructions video @ 9:20, there's is just one option on my Swift 1 -- and it's not the USB option.)

Typing the command ``map'' shows that the USB drive is recognized by the Swift 1 machine.

Using the shell, I managed to navigate to the USB drive and browse directories and sub-directories.

To me, that suggests that there's something wrong with the BIOS. Please, help.

My problem seems to be very similar to the problems reported in an older thread:
https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/536923/bootable-drive-not-detected-in-bios 

No solution is mentioned in this thread. It just died.

@Acer-Tommy :

Your colleague, Samuel, suggested to tag the user aphanic. I didn't manage to this user nor Samuel-Acer, they may have left this board.

All help greatly appreciated,

Edited the content to hide personal information

What type of computer did you use to "On my windows machine, I downloaded an Ubuntu ISO file and used Rufus" did that "windows machine" have a GPT/UEFI BIOS or an MBT/Legacy BIOS? As doing a Win-10 or an Ubuntu ISO installation file on an MBT/Legacy BIOS computer will not boot or the USB be compatible/recognised on a GPT/UEFI BIOS computer, you need to do a USB installation file to be specifically compatible to a GPT/UEFI BIOS like for your new Swift 1, simple.

aboka

thik i read one similar issue, and it say changing the SATA Mode might help. but im jus not sure. gluck

JuergenLandes

Dear all,

many thanks for your suggestions, I still don't manage the BIOS to display, let alone boot, the USB drive as a bootable option.

There are two further choice points at which I'm unsure what to do.

Rufus offers a binary choice between:
A) Iso Image Mode (Recommended)

and

DD Image mode.

The BIOS boot menu offers a choice between an

1) enabled

and

2) disabled

Secure Boot.

I've played around with, as far as I can tell, all four possible combinations.

I did not notice any difference.

@StevenGen: I don't what I'm doing wrong, this shouldn't be so hard.

I did try your suggestion (much appreciated).

Rufus offered me two choices of Partition scheme/UEFI:

I tried them both.

Judging from your comment, I assume that you would recommend to use the GPT setting on the left.

Neither of them worked.

@aboka : I hope I don't have to resort to such measures. This SHOULD not be so hard.

Can someone, maybe, recommend a different tool for formatting the USB drive?

Is there an easier to install distro?

All help greatly appreciated,

Edited the content to hide personal information

StevenGen

JuergenLandes said:

Dear all,

many thanks for your suggestions, I still don't manage the BIOS to display, let alone boot, the USB drive as a bootable option.

There are two further choice points at which I'm unsure what to do.

Rufus offers a binary choice between:
A) Iso Image Mode (Recommended)

and

DD Image mode.

The BIOS boot menu offers a choice between an

1) enabled

and

2) disabled

Secure Boot.

I've played around with, as far as I can tell, all four possible combinations.

I did not notice any difference.

@StevenGen: I don't what I'm doing wrong, this shouldn't be so hard.

I did try your suggestion (much appreciated).

Rufus offered me two choices of Partition scheme/UEFI:

I tried them both.

Judging from your comment, I assume that you would recommend to use the GPT setting on the left.

Neither of them worked.

@aboka : I hope I don't have to resort to such measures. This SHOULD not be so hard.

Can someone, maybe, recommend a different tool for formatting the USB drive?

Is there an easier to install distro?

All help greatly appreciated,

Juergen

Juergen, not being able to get into the bios by pressing F2 is very strange? Could be your Keyboard (click on this link for some guides) as it could be your keyboard keys are not working? Also, try to take out the CMOS battery and leave it out for at least 1 hour or more, then reinstall it and try to see if you can get into bios by pressing  F2? Also, you still haven't told us what the exact Acer Aspire 3 model number your laptop is? As this is important in as far as bios is concerned. 

Anyway, see these two guides (one for Win-10 Installation Guide and one for setting up Rufus bootable USB in UEFI mode with a .ISO file) the first is titled "Creating Windows 10 UEFI Bootable Drive With the Media Creation Tool" which should be your first "Operating System" and then install "Ubuntu ISO" as a "Dual Boot" and secondary system.

Or the second is "How to Create Windows 10 UEFI (or Ubuntu) bootable USB With Rufus" these settings should work 100%: How to Install Windows 10 Using UEFI Bootable USB How to Install Windows 10 Using UEFI Bootable USB (addictivetips.com)

Good luck and hope this helps.

JuergenLandes

Dear all,

I still haven't managed to solve the problem.

Here it is in more detail.

I bought a new Acer Swift SF114-33 (serial number and model number are shown below).

It came without a proper operating system.

I would like to install some Linux distribution, such as Ubuntu.

I already own a laptop running Windows 10, which I want to use for formatting a bootable USB drive using Rufus.

I manage to enter the BIOS of the Acer Swift.

I manage to change BIOS settings.

For whatever reason, the Swift does not recognize the USB key as a bootable device.

I'm documenting my struggles in pictures. Hopefully, someone with more experience than me can work out the problem.

1) On my Windows 10 machine, I format the USB key.

2) Run Rufus (using the recommended ISO Image option).

3) Click Finish in Rufus.

4) Safely eject the USB key.

5) I start the Swift and enter the BIOS -- enabling network boot and the F12 boot menu save and exit.

6) I plug in the USB key, save and exit.

7) I restart the Swift and enter the BIOS  -- the Boot Mode does not give USB boot as an option.

8) To double check, the security tab of the BIOS does correctly display the USB key and its contents.

9) To double check, the shell does also correctly display the USB key and its contents.

Here are the relevant screen shots for Steps 1 -- 4:

Pictures documenting how the Swift looks to me:

Specs of the Swift:

Somewhat out of focus, Network boot and F12 Boot Menu are enabled.

The boot mode

I plug in the USB key and restart

Step 6 is complete.

Step 7, restart and returning to the BIOS, there is NO USB booting option! The USB key (orange) is connected to the Swift.

Finally, here's evidence that the USB key is properly connected to the Swift:

 @StevenGen : I do manage to enter the BIOS of the Swift. The buttons are all working fine -- as far as I can tell.

My problem is that I don't manage to boot from the USB drive. I just don't know why......

All help much appreciated,

Edited the content to hide personal and sensitive information

JuergenLandes

Dear all,

it's now working!!

Next thing I tried was a different Linux distribution and a different tool to create the bootable USB drive.

For whatever reason I decided to use the DD mode.

Back to my Swift, I managed to get the BIOS to display the USB key as a boot option.
So, I restarted and booted from it.

Unfortunately, I got an error message, my magic number was invalid.

Browsing some message boards (reddit and others), I found comments indicating that there might be something wrong with my USB key and/or Rufus.

This morning, I got myself a different USB key -- and it all worked.

I again used Rufus to formate the USB flash drive (Linux Mint, Iso image and the GPT formatting option).
The BIOS did display the USB booting option.

I booted from the flash drive and was eventually greeted by a welcome screen.

I've already managed to connect to the Internet and am currently installing the OS.

Hurray!!!!!!!!!

Many thanks to everyone.

Lessons to be learned:
Users aren't always smart, but also not always at fault.

The BIOS is rarely at fault.

Go look for problems, where they most likely originate.