Can't boot from USB to run SpinRite

[Akin]

Greetings all!

So, I can't run SpinRite because I can't get my computer to boot from USB.

I have a Republic of Gamers Maximus XI Hero (with wi-fi) motherboard, and I just can't figure out how to enable the option to boot from a USB drive.

Does anyone know what the secret is? My googling hasn't been up to the task...

Thanks!

 

[ColbyBouma]

If BitLocker is enabled, back up your key. Enable CSM and disable Secure Boot.

https://forums.grc.com/threads/how-to-boot-and-run-spinrite-6-x-on-csm-capable-uefi-machines.968/

 

[Akin]

If BitLocker is enabled, back up your key. Enable CSM and disable Secure Boot.

https://forums.grc.com/threads/how-to-boot-and-run-spinrite-6-x-on-csm-capable-uefi-machines.968/

It’s not.

 

[miquelfire]

According to this manual (Which might be the version without WIFI) on page 85, it seems you need to enable "Launch CSM", and then set "Boot Device Control" to "UEFI and Legacy OPROM", and the storage devices to "UEFI driver first" or "Legacy only" (I would try the "UEFI driver first" option first here to see if you can boot in a way that allows you to boot Windows in UEFI even when you're done SpinRite just by removing the USB drive)

I happen to have the same motherboard, but the iKVM device I have hooked up to it seems broken for some reason, and I don't feel like dragging a monitor and keyboard to a cramped space to get to the BOIS myself to test.

 

[PHolder]

It’s not.

Colby meant that as three separate instructions.

1. Skip this step if BitLocker is not enabled, otherwise backup your BitLocker key.
2. Disable Secure Backup.
3. Enable the CSM.

Your PC should then be able to do a legacy boot. If you can't find the option for step 3, then it's possible your motherboard will never be able to do a legacy boot as that feature was removed from most motherboards starting around 2020 or so. In that case, you're out of luck with USB booting and may need to try other options (another machine, running in a virtual machine, waiting for SpinRite 7.x).

 

[Philip]

Greetings all!

So, I can't run SpinRite because I can't get my computer to boot from USB.

I have a Republic of Gamers Maximus XI Hero (with wi-fi) motherboard, and I just can't figure out how to enable the option to boot from a USB drive.

Does anyone know what the secret is? My googling hasn't been up to the task...

Thanks!

It's not unknown that you have to set an Administrator password in the UEFI before it'll admit to being CSM-capable. That said, it didn't seem to work with an ASUS netbook-class device that I'd quite like to try Linux on before it goes to the tip.

 

[Akin]

According to this manual (Which might be the version without WIFI) on page 85, it seems you need to enable "Launch CSM", and then set "Boot Device Control" to "UEFI and Legacy OPROM", and the storage devices to "UEFI driver first" or "Legacy only" (I would try the "UEFI driver first" option first here to see if you can boot in a way that allows you to boot Windows in UEFI even when you're done SpinRite just by removing the USB drive)

I happen to have the same motherboard, but the iKVM device I have hooked up to it seems broken for some reason, and I don't feel like dragging a monitor and keyboard to a cramped space to get to the BOIS myself to test.

LAUNCH CSM is already set to ENABLE, BOOT DEVICE CONTROL is already set to UEFI AND LEGACY OPROM, and BOOT FROM STORAGE DEVICE is set to UEFI ONLY. I’ll change it to LEGACY ONLY and see if that makes a difference.

 

[Akin]

LAUNCH CSM is already set to ENABLE, BOOT DEVICE CONTROL is already set to UEFI AND LEGACY OPROM, and BOOT FROM STORAGE DEVICE is set to UEFI ONLY. I’ll change it to LEGACY ONLY and see if that makes a difference.

Nope. Still booted to Windows.

 

[Akin]

Colby meant that as three separate instructions.

1. Skip this step if BitLocker is not enabled, otherwise backup your BitLocker key.
2. Disable Secure Backup.
3. Enable the CSM.

Your PC should then be able to do a legacy boot. If you can't find the option for step 3, then it's possible your motherboard will never be able to do a legacy boot as that feature was removed from most motherboards starting around 2020 or so. In that case, you're out of luck with USB booting and may need to try other options (another machine, running in a virtual machine, waiting for SpinRite 7.x).

SECURE BOOT is set to ENABLED and there’s no button to turn it off.

 

[PHolder]

SECURE BOOT is set to ENABLED and there’s no button to turn it off.

This may help? https://www.asus.com/ca-en/support/faq/1049829/ It appears you need to set it to "Other OS" which is akin to turning it off. You NEED to turn it off, because the SpinRite USB cannot secure boot because secure boot implies booting into Windows (more or less.)

 

[Akin]

Apologies to all, I did a bad job with my initial post.

I've tried to work this before, and I did all the obvious things, but hit a brick wall eventually

This may help? https://www.asus.com/ca-en/support/faq/1049829/ It appears you need to set it to "Other OS" which is akin to turning it off. You NEED to turn it off, because the SpinRite USB cannot secure boot because secure boot implies booting into Windows (more or less.)

It's already set to OTHER OS.

:-/

 

[PHolder]

work this before

It sounds like maybe your motherboard won't do legacy boot, although it seems odd to offer CSM and not allow it. You could try https://www.grc.com/bootable.htm on a different USB to get a "second opinion"... on the off chance that your SpinRite USB somehow wasn't made correctly.