📎 AI Summary:
The thread discusses issues with booting USB drives on a computer: while the drives successfully boot from USB 3.0 ports, they fail to boot from USB 2.0 ports, despite appearing as boot options. The original poster questions whether there is a fundamental difference in boot compatibility between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports, given their setup with Legacy BIOS. A responder suggests that, in theory, USB 3.0 devices should be backward compatible with USB 2.0 ports, and the problem might stem from firmware settings or hardware limitations.

pstein

Extraordinary Member
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Mar 20, 2010
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Thread Author #1
I have a problem with two bootable USB flash drives with some Tools on it.

When I plug them into an USB v3.0 port then they boot successful.
When I plug them into an USB v2.0 port on the same computer then they are NOT booting.

Yes, in the latter case they appear in BootMenu as option to be booted.
However after selection and boot start they suddenly abort booting and the booting switches silently to the hard disk based WindowsOs.

The USB v2.0 ports seem to be ok. When I boot WinOS from hard disk and plug in USB flash drives I can read and write files from/to it.
The Bootcode of the USB flash drive is a Legacy BIOS and the computer runs with Legacy BIOS.

So what could be the reason for non-booting?

Is there a booting capability difference to USB v3.0 ports?

Peter
 

Solution
In theory yes there should be no difference and USB 3 devices are backwards compatible with USB 2 ports. It could be a setting in the firmware or a limitation of your system board.

Neemobeer

Windows Forum Team
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8,995
In theory yes there should be no difference and USB 3 devices are backwards compatible with USB 2 ports. It could be a setting in the firmware or a limitation of your system board.
 

Solution