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Cannot Boot Surface from USB Bootable Disk, How Should I Do

Lucas Watson
Lucas Watson

Updated:

Now Surface tablet is very popular for its powerful features that it not only can be used as tablet but also laptop. Meanwhile, when you cannot boot Surface from USB bootable disk, that is so annoying. You feel disappointed because you can't find a solution. But, don't lose heart. We are able to show two methods to help you out one by one.

How to boot Surface from USB bootable disk in two methods:

Method 1: Boot it from USB bootable disk when Surface is on.

Here are the steps:

Step 1: Plug the USB bootable disk into the USB port on Surface Pro 3.

Connect USB disk to surface

Step 2: Slide your hand to the right, select Settings.

Tap on settings

Step 3: Select Change PC settings.

Select change PC settings

Step 4: Select Update and recovery under PC settings.

Choose update and recovery

Step 5: Select Recovery, and then tap on Restart now button below Advance startup.

Tap recovery and restart now

Step 6: Select Use a device on the Choose an option screen.

Click on use a device

Step 7: Tap on Advanced options on the Troubleshoot screen or select the USB Drive directly.

Step 8: Select the name of your USB drive on the Advance options screen.

Step 9: Your Surface will boot from the USB drive you choose.

Method 2: Boot it from USB bootable disk when Surface is off.

Here are what you need to do:

Step 1: Power off (turn off) your Surface.

Step 2: Attach your USB bootable disk to the USB port.

Step 3: Press and hold the volume down (-) button on the top of Surface Pro 3.

Step 4: Press and release the power button on the top of Surface Pro 3.

Press volume down and power button

Step 5: When the Surface logo appears on the screen, release the volume down (-) button.

Surface logo

Step 6: At this point, the Surface will boot from the USB device.

Tips: The method to boot Surface from USB drive is very different from the method to boot normal computer (desktop and laptop) from USB that need to set on BIOS settings. But, Surface Pro 3 needs to use UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface), not BIOS.