Windows 7: Windows does not boot when USB stick/flash disk drive is plugged in

Hi,

I am the happy owner of a Windows 7 computer, which functions as sort of a home entertainment and storage machine. Recently I started encrypting all of the data drives with BitLocker to prevent an eventual thief from gaining access to our personal files. As my motherboard doesn't have a TPM chip, I wanted to encrypt the system drive and start it up using a BitLocker key on a USB disk. Unfortunately, when I perform the BitLocker Encryption Check nothing happens (the computer does not detect the USB disk at boot, starts normally and does not begin encryption) or it halts with a blank screen, forcing me to shut it down physically, remove the USB disk and start it up again (at which point it boots normally).



The BIOS settings are the same in both scenarios aside from one thing. In the first scenario, the boot order is HDD, FLOPPY, CD-ROM and in the second scenario it is HDD, USB-FDD, CD-ROM. In the first scenario, it seems like the computer does not see the USB disk at boot and thus just skips the BitLocker check. In the second scenario, the USB disk is detected but causes the booting to halt.

USB Keyboard Support and USB Legacy Storage Detect (or whatever it is called) are both enabled in BIOS. The USB disk (a small 2 gb stick) is formatted in FAT.

I suppose, that if I can get Windows 7 to start while the USB disk is plugged in, I can get BitLocker to work. Any suggestions?

In order to use a USB stick in Win 7 Bitlocker for booting without TPM,

Go Here

It sounds like the PC is trying to boot from the USB which can happen if there are any boot files on the USB.

You will need to re-run Bitlocker for the USB stick to work.

Lucky

I dont really understand your answer. I have followed the guidelines on that page, but in step 9, either the computer reboots like nothing was going on (i.e. no step 10 dialogue) or halts with blank screen.

I have performed a full (not quick) FAT format of the USB stick.

I seem to recall an Update that was related to Windows 7 not booting with a some flash drives inserted. I had the issue several months back.
I'll see if I can find the exact update for you. I believe it may have been an 'optional' update

Regards,
Thorn

That would be great.

Aside from a full format, what else can fix potential boot problems with the USB disk? I think it has been used as a boot disk at some point. Can there be some sort of boot sector problem .. or?

If the USB drive has previously been used as a boot drive, it would be best to format the drive.