Acer Nitro 5 AN 515-57 doesn't detect bootable flash drive in the bios and boot menu

Hippocrat
Hippocrat Member Posts: 8

Tinkerer

I bought a Acer Nitro 5 AN 515-57 laptop without OS and I can't install Windows from flash drive on it. No matter what I do bios doesn't detect the flash drive, there is only "Uefi Shell" in the boot menu. I have tried:

  • to disable Secure Boot, set Supervisor Password, enable Boot menu (F12) in laptop bios settings.
  • to press Ctrl+S in the Main tab of the BIOS, but instead of "SATA" option appeared "VMD Controller" option. I tried disabling it, but the flash drive is still not visible.

I tried to create a bootable flash drive:

  • using Media Creation Tool, in Fat32 and NTFS formats
  • using Windows ISO image and Rufus (v4.1.2045). Settings: GPT/UEFI (non CSM). Tried all formats - MBR and GPT, FAT32 and NTFS.
  • using Windows ISO image and UltraISO (v9.7.5.3716), but USB-HDD+ method of recording doesn't work - the program writes that the drive is "full" (though the flash drive is empty, formatted and in working condition). When I choose "RAW" method of recording the flash drive stops functioning at all.

But the flash drive is not visible in the bios and boot menu in any case. I think I've tried everything. Please help me - how do I install Windows from a flash drive on my laptop?

Best Answer

  • Hippocrat
    Hippocrat Member Posts: 8

    Tinkerer

    Answer ✓

    Finally by the end of the third day I found a solution: it helped that I created a bootable drive with the Media Creation Tool on the SSD and not on the flash drive. It is strange that the flash drives were not visible in BIOS, because on the other PC they worked. The format of flash drives was the same as on the SSD (GPT/Fat32).

Answers

  • Puraw
    Puraw ACE, Member Posts: 13,230 Trailblazer

    First try if you can boot with that USB drive on another Windows11 PC, if the drive won't boot make a new USB bootable drive: https://www.elevenforum.com/t/clean-install-windows-11.99/
    If the drive boots on another PC, try different USB ports and make sure the USB stick is inserted before you boot with F2 to BIOS.

  • Hippocrat
    Hippocrat Member Posts: 8

    Tinkerer

    I tried to do what you said. I tested the flash drive on the old PC and it boots correctly (see screenshot).

    But on the Acer laptop there is always only "Uefi Shell" option in the boot manager, nothing else. None of the USB drives can be detected on the laptop. I have tried all the USB ports on the laptop. Of course, I inserted the flash drive before turning on the laptop.


  • Puraw
    Puraw ACE, Member Posts: 13,230 Trailblazer
    edited June 2023

    Is your boot drive correctly listed on the information tab in Bios as HDD0 and not the USB drive?
    The fact you are not seeing Windows Boot mngr or Network boot could indicate that BIOS needs to be reset, try that.
    Try also changing Boot Mode to Legacy (if available) and USB ports - Enabled (if there is such an option).

    Open the laptop and locate the CMOS coin battery at the right of the main battery, take the coin battery out of the capsule and shorten the +/- contacts inside the capsule with an opened paper clip (this resets BIOS). Put the CMOS battery back, close the back of the laptop and try to boot first without the USB, maybe the Blue Screen pops up and you can try to go to Troubleshoot, if BSOD, try to reboot with the USB drive.

    You may consider bringing/sending your laptop to Acer Services in your country and ask them to reinstall/reset everything to factory defaults. Only a small service may be charged.

  • Hippocrat
    Hippocrat Member Posts: 8

    Tinkerer

    edited June 2023

    As I said earlier, no USB drives are visible in Bios. In the "Information" tab in Bios there is only HDD0 Micron (apparently, this is the SSD which came with the laptop - it's not bootable of course, because laptop was without OS).


    I can't change Boot mode to Legacy - it is gray and there is only UEFI option.


    I don't see "USB ports" option in any tab in Bios. I uploaded screenshots of all the bios tabs above in the first post.
    I don't see Windows Boot mngr - only "Uefi Shell". I

    I bought the laptop only 3 days ago and I don't want to open it up because I'm afraid of losing the warranty. Consequently, the only thing left is to return it to the store?

    [Edited the content to hide sensitive information]

  • Puraw
    Puraw ACE, Member Posts: 13,230 Trailblazer
    edited June 2023

    Yes good idea, the Micron SSD may need to be initialized as GPT. Ask the retailer or Acer Services to reset your laptop to factory defaults and load (OEM) Windows11 Home.

  • Hippocrat
    Hippocrat Member Posts: 8

    Tinkerer

    Answer ✓

    Finally by the end of the third day I found a solution: it helped that I created a bootable drive with the Media Creation Tool on the SSD and not on the flash drive. It is strange that the flash drives were not visible in BIOS, because on the other PC they worked. The format of flash drives was the same as on the SSD (GPT/Fat32).

  • Puraw
    Puraw ACE, Member Posts: 13,230 Trailblazer

    Good to hear you finally managed to boot your new laptop. I agree that USB drive failing to boot is strange, maybe because the SSD is not formatted for Windows, maybe your BIOS version with that UEFI shell boot feature. Did you use a Windows key from another Windows11 PC?

  • Hippocrat
    Hippocrat Member Posts: 8

    Tinkerer

    Yes, my key is associated with my Microsoft account.

    Can I ask you one more question about the laptop? Or should I create a new topic?
    I stress-tested my laptop in Aida64 software, and it turned out that at 100% usage of CPU and GPU at the same time, CPU starts throttling up to 3-4%, the temperature of the cores reach 85-90 degrees.


    If I load only CPU at 100% (without GPU), then situation looks better - the temperatures are about 70 degrees, no throttling.


    Is 1-4% throttling at 100% CPU+GPU usage normal for this laptop (AN 515-57/i5-11400H/3050)? Considering that I bought it just a couple of days ago. Shouldn't the cooling system be designed to prevent throttling even at 100% usage?

  • Puraw
    Puraw ACE, Member Posts: 13,230 Trailblazer

    I suggest that you start a new thread with that topic: You will get more and better response. 😉

  • Tuxhardware
    Tuxhardware Member Posts: 2 New User

    Nice you got it. I am doing a series of videos about boot on nitro 5. Anyone can watch it on Youtube.

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