Fix External Drive Detection for Dual Boot on HP EliteBook

Select Language:

If you’ve recently run into issues with your HP EliteBook 840 G5 not detecting your external hard drive during startup, you’re not alone. Many users have experienced similar frustrations, especially when trying to set up a dual boot system with Windows on the internal drive and Linux on an external USB drive. In this guide, we’ll walk you through a solution to ensure your external hard drive is recognized correctly during boot.

First, let’s understand the situation. While the external USB drive works fine when selected from the F9 boot menu, it fails to show up automatically during the normal boot sequence. This often happens due to certain BIOS settings or UEFI configuration, which can sometimes prevent external drives from being detected automatically.

Here’s how you can set up your system for a smooth dual-boot experience:

1. Check Your Connections:
   Make sure your external hard drive is properly connected to your HP EliteBook. Use a different USB port if necessary, as sometimes ports can malfunction.

   ADVERTISEMENT

2. Enter the BIOS/UEFI Settings:

   • Restart your laptop.
   • As it starts, repeatedly press the F10 key to enter the BIOS setup.
   • Once you’re in the BIOS menu, use the arrow keys to navigate to the "System Configuration" tab.

3. Adjust Boot Order:

   • Look for a section called “Boot Options” or "Boot Order."
   • You want to ensure that the USB drive is prioritized over other devices. Adjust the order so that your external hard drive is listed higher than the internal drive.
   • If your external drive isn’t showing up, double-check the connections and try another USB port, then go back to this menu.

4. Enable USB Legacy Support:

   • While still in the BIOS menu, locate the option for "USB Legacy Support" and ensure it’s enabled. This allows your system to recognize USB devices before the operating system loads.

5. Configure Boot Mode:

   • Look for the “Secure Boot” option under the "Boot Options" menu and disable it temporarily. This may help in recognizing the external drive on startup.
   • Switch the boot mode to UEFI if it’s not already set. This is especially important for modern operating systems.

6. Save and Exit:

   • Once you’ve made the changes, be sure to save your settings before exiting the BIOS (usually you can do this by pressing F10).

7. Test the Boot Process:

   • After you save the changes and exit, your laptop will reboot. See if your external drive is now detected automatically during the boot process.
8. Using GRUB for Dual Boot:
   • Once the external hard drive is detected and working fine, install Linux on it using your preferred method.
   • Make sure to install GRUB as the bootloader, which will allow you to select between Windows and Linux during startup.

By following these steps, your HP EliteBook 840 G5 should be able to recognize your external hard drive during boot, thus allowing for a seamless dual-boot setup.

If you face further issues with the detection, it may be worth checking for any BIOS updates from HP’s website, as newer versions can offer improved compatibility and performance. Happy dual booting!

Add us on ChatGPT Add us on Perplexity