Disable Boot Thru 7-in-1 Media Reader?

[Guest]

Hi... I have a system that includes a 7-in-1 media reader (attached
internally as USB, I believe). If I leave a media device (such as a secure
digital card) plugged into the device before I shut down Windows, and I then
try to restart the computer, the boot will hang. Once I remove the secure
digital card I can reboot the system with no problem. Apparently the media
card reader (via USB?) has priority over the bios settings for boot-up (Raid
0 configuration (first boot device) and DVD (second boot device)).

Other than making sure that I remove all media before starting the system up
again, is there a way to prevent the system from attempting to boot through
any of the removable media devices?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Tom Porterfield]

Hi... I have a system that includes a 7-in-1 media reader (attached
internally as USB, I believe). If I leave a media device (such as a secure
digital card) plugged into the device before I shut down Windows, and I then
try to restart the computer, the boot will hang. Once I remove the secure
digital card I can reboot the system with no problem. Apparently the media
card reader (via USB?) has priority over the bios settings for boot-up (Raid
0 configuration (first boot device) and DVD (second boot device)).

Other than making sure that I remove all media before starting the system up
again, is there a way to prevent the system from attempting to boot through
any of the removable media devices?

Boot order is set in your BIOS configuration. You will need to modify
the settings there to disable this feature.
--
Tom Porterfield
MS-MVP Windows
http://support.telop.org

Please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup only.

 

[Guest]

Tom,

I had the same thoughts, but, that is not the case. As I stated in my
earlier message, the boot configuration is set to the Raid 0 array for the
first boot device, and the DVD-ROM for the second boot device. No where is
there reference to the device to which it is attempting to boot.

Any other ideas?

 

[Wislu Plethora]

-----Original Message-----
Tom,

I had the same thoughts, but, that is not the case. As I stated in my
earlier message, the boot configuration is set to the Raid 0 array for the
first boot device, and the DVD-ROM for the second boot device. No where is
there reference to the device to which it is attempting to boot.

Any other ideas?

Well, if it's not happening as a result of BIOS settings
then something else must be checking or enumerating
devices. Antivirus software, maybe?

 

[Malke]

Tom,

I had the same thoughts, but, that is not the case. As I stated in my
earlier message, the boot configuration is set to the Raid 0 array for
the first boot device, and the DVD-ROM for the second boot device. No
where is there reference to the device to which it is attempting to
boot.

Any other ideas?

And there is no reference to "removable" or "other" devices in the BIOS
boot order? Those options (which should be there) are disabled?

Malke

 

[Guest]

And there is no reference to "removable" or "other" devices in the BIOS
boot order? Those options (which should be there) are disabled?

Malke
--
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"

Hi Malke,

Thanks for your response. This whole exercise has taken up way too much
time. I guess I'm sorry I brought it up.

The reason that I didn't see any of the removable devices in bios is because
I didn't have any of the cards plugged in. When I plugged the SD card in
before going into setup, I was able to configure that card for use on
start-up.

I have several problems:

1. When I configure the bios, with that one card recognized in setup, I was
able to set the boot order in the manner I desired.

2. However, with that card recognized by bios, it appears that the card is
powered continuously. Is it not bad practice to remove the secure digital
card if the 7-in-1 card reader activity light is illuminated? Other than
using the ejection tool to stop the device (which will render it useless
until reboot), I don't see any way to "turn off" this device. Am I missing
something.

3. If the card is removed, and the system is restarted, then the hard drive
order, and boot sequence changes to a different order.... I have to
reconfigure the bios to be able to restart without the card in the reader. (I
also have to do something similar if I remove the external hard drive from
the USB port to which it is attached.)

4. I have tried several minor changes (such as choosing to disable the card
reader in the list of hard drives) in order to be able to possibly remove
power to it during start-up. No such luck.

I think I'll just make sure that I remove the card when I'm finished
removing data from it. This is too much like work.

Thank you all for your help.

Jeff

 

[Malke]

Hi Malke,

Thanks for your response. This whole exercise has taken up way too
much time. I guess I'm sorry I brought it up.

The reason that I didn't see any of the removable devices in bios is
because I didn't have any of the cards plugged in. When I plugged the
SD card in before going into setup, I was able to configure that card
for use on start-up.

I have several problems:

1. When I configure the bios, with that one card recognized in setup,
I was able to set the boot order in the manner I desired.

2. However, with that card recognized by bios, it appears that the
card is powered continuously. Is it not bad practice to remove the
secure digital card if the 7-in-1 card reader activity light is
illuminated? Other than using the ejection tool to stop the device
(which will render it useless until reboot), I don't see any way to
"turn off" this device. Am I missing something.

3. If the card is removed, and the system is restarted, then the hard
drive order, and boot sequence changes to a different order.... I have
to reconfigure the bios to be able to restart without the card in the
reader. (I also have to do something similar if I remove the external
hard drive from the USB port to which it is attached.)

4. I have tried several minor changes (such as choosing to disable the
card reader in the list of hard drives) in order to be able to
possibly remove power to it during start-up. No such luck.

I think I'll just make sure that I remove the card when I'm finished
removing data from it. This is too much like work.

Thanks for posting back with the answer. Unfortunately, since you want
to boot in what is, after all, a very non-standard way, you will have
to do the workarounds you discovered. If it is too much trouble (and I
also would find it annoying afte the second time), then you probably
don't want to do things this way.

In any case, I appreciate that you took the time to tell us what
happened.

Cheers,

Malke