Use Your Bootable USB Drive
Follow our step-by-step guide to boot from your pre-made Beamo USB drive. Select your current operating system below:
Table of Contents
Prerequisites
Beamo Bootable USB Drive
Your pre-configured Beamo bootable USB flash drive
💻 Windows Instructions
Prepare Your Computer
Make sure your computer is completely powered off, then plug in the USB flash drive.
Use a direct USB‑A port (avoid hubs/docks if possible) and disconnect other USB storage devices to avoid confusion.
Access Boot Menu or BIOS
Turn your computer on and immediately press the boot menu key for your computer manufacturer. Press the key repeatedly until the menu appears.
Common Boot Menu Keys:
- Dell: F12
- HP: F9
- Lenovo: F12
- ASUS: F8
- Acer: F12
- MSI: F11
- Gigabyte: F12
If the boot menu doesn't appear, restart and try again. Keys can vary by specific model. If the listed key doesn't work, try other common keys such as Esc, F1, F2, F10, F11, F12, or Del, or check your model's manual/support page. You may need to tap the key repeatedly right after powering on.
Alternative: Restart via Advanced startup (Windows)
Windows 11
- Open Settings.
- Go to System > Recovery.
- Under Advanced startup, click Restart now.
Windows 10
- Open Settings.
- Go to Update & Security > Recovery.
- Under Advanced startup, click Restart now.
In Advanced startup
- Select Use a device.
- Choose your USB drive (may appear as EFI USB Device, your USB brand, or UEFI: USB).
Shortcut: hold Shift while clicking Restart from the Start menu to enter Advanced startup.
If Use a device isn't shown, choose Troubleshoot → Advanced options → UEFI Firmware Settings → Restart, then select the USB from the firmware boot menu.
Select the USB Drive
From the boot menu, choose your Beamo USB drive. On UEFI systems look for entries starting with UEFI: and prefer those over legacy options.
If the USB drive doesn't appear in the list, enter BIOS/UEFI and ensure USB boot is enabled and the drive is listed before the internal disk in the boot order.
Troubleshooting Tips
- If the system boots your normal OS, fully shut down (Shift + Shut down in Windows), then try again.
- Try a different USB port; USB 2.0 ports can be more reliable for booting on older hardware.
- Disable Fast Boot or Secure Boot in BIOS if the USB is ignored.
- For very old PCs, enabling Legacy / CSM mode may be required.
- If your keyboard isn't detected at boot, use a wired USB keyboard.
Need additional help? Visit the support page for further support methods.
🍎 MacOS Instructions
Prepare Your Mac
Make sure your Mac is completely shut down, then plug in the USB flash drive.
Ensure the USB drive is firmly connected to an available USB port and that the Mac is connected to power if it's a laptop. Avoid hubs/docks if possible.
Enter Startup Options
Turn your Mac on and hold the appropriate key until startup options appear.
- Intel Macs: Press and hold the Option (⌥) key immediately after pressing the power button.
- Apple Silicon Macs: Press and hold the power button until “Loading startup options…” appears.
Allow External Boot (if required)
Some newer Macs require a security policy change before booting from external media.
Apple Silicon
- Select the gear icon labelled Options.
- Choose Security Policy.
- Enable "Allow booting from external or removable media".
Intel Macs (T2 chip)
- From macOS Recovery, open Startup Security Utility.
- Under External Boot, enable "Allow booting from external media".
Select Boot Drive
When the Startup Manager shows available drives:
- Select your Beamo USB drive (usually labelled EFI Boot or similar).
- Use the arrow keys or pointer to highlight the drive, then press Return/Enter or double-click it.
Troubleshooting Tips
- If you only see your internal drive, shut down, reconnect the USB, and try again. Use a different port or a wired keyboard if needed.
- Try a different USB port or reset NVRAM/PRAM (hold Option + Command + P + R at startup).
- If a security warning appears, review your security policy settings from the previous step.
Need additional help? Visit the support page for further support methods.
🐧 Linux Instructions
Prepare Your Computer
Make sure your computer is completely powered off, then plug in the USB flash drive.
Ensure the USB drive is firmly connected to an available USB port and remove any other external drives.
Access Boot Menu or BIOS
Turn your computer on and immediately press the boot menu key for your computer manufacturer. Tap the key repeatedly until the menu appears.
Common Boot Menu Keys:
- Dell: F12
- HP: F9
- Lenovo: F12
- ASUS: F8
- Acer: F12
- MSI: F11
- Gigabyte: F12
- System76: Esc
If the first attempt doesn't work, restart and try again. Keys can vary by specific model. If the listed key doesn't work, try other common keys such as Esc, F1, F2, F10, F11, F12, or Del, or check your model's manual/support page. Tap the key repeatedly immediately after powering on.
Select the USB Drive
Choose your Beamo USB drive from the list of bootable devices. Prefer entries labeled UEFI: for modern systems.
If the USB drive is missing, check the BIOS/UEFI settings to ensure USB boot is enabled and that the drive is listed in the boot order.
Complete Boot Process
Follow any on-screen prompts from the operating system. When given a choice, select UEFI boot rather than legacy boot.
For Kali Linux USB drives, disabling "Secure Boot" in your computer's BIOS/UEFI settings is required. For other distributions, disabling "Secure Boot" may help if you encounter boot issues.
Troubleshooting Tips
- Try different USB ports, especially a USB 2.0 port on older hardware.
- Some systems need Legacy / CSM mode enabled when UEFI boot fails.
- If you reach a black screen, select any safe graphics option offered by the OS, or test the USB on another computer.
Need additional help? Visit the support page for further support methods.
Still Need Help?
Our expert support team is available 24/7 to assist you with any questions or issues