USB boot guide
How to boot your PC from USB
Most PCs can start RetroLAN from the boot menu without changing the installed system. Turn the PC fully off, plug in the RetroLAN USB, turn it on, then tap the boot-menu key for your brand.
F12 is the most common one-time boot menu key.
If the F-key does nothing, hold Fn while pressing it.
Choose UEFI: USB, USB HDD, EFI USB Device, or the USB brand name.
Common boot menu keys
This list covers the keys most commonly used by each brand. Some older or unusual machines differ, so the fallback steps below are there when the first key does not work.
| PC / motherboard | Boot menu | Setup / BIOS | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dell / Alienware | F12 | F2 | Tap as soon as the Dell logo appears. |
| HP / Compaq | Esc, then F9 | Esc, then F10 | Many HPs show a startup menu first. |
| Lenovo ThinkPad | F12 | F1 | Some show an interrupt menu with Enter. |
| Lenovo IdeaPad / Yoga | F12 or Novo button | F2 or Novo button | The small Novo button is often beside power or on the side. |
| Acer | F12 | F2 | F12 boot menu may need to be enabled in BIOS on older Acer PCs. |
| ASUS laptop | Esc | F2 | Hold or tap while powering on. |
| ASUS motherboard | F8 | Del or F2 | Often used on custom desktop builds. |
| MSI laptop / motherboard | F11 | Del | Tap repeatedly right after power. |
| Gigabyte / AORUS | F12 | Del | Choose the UEFI USB entry when offered. |
| ASRock | F11 | Del or F2 | Common on custom desktop boards. |
| Intel NUC | F10 | F2 | Use the front USB port if the stick is not listed. |
| Microsoft Surface | Hold volume down, press power | Hold volume up, press power | Release volume when the Surface logo appears. |
| Framework laptop | F12 | F2 | Use Fn if function keys are in media mode. |
| Toshiba / Dynabook | F12 | F2 or Esc | Older models can vary. |
| Samsung laptop | F10 or Esc | F2 | Fast startup can make the timing tight. |
| Sony VAIO | F11 or Assist button | F2 or Assist button | Use the Assist button from full power off if present. |
| Fujitsu | F12 | F2 | Some models show a menu after Enter. |
| LG Gram | F10 | F2 | Use Fn if needed. |
| Huawei MateBook | F12 | F2 | Hold the key immediately after power. |
| Razer Blade | F12 | F1 or Del | Use the USB-C/USB-A port that works at boot. |
| Custom desktop / unknown | F8, F11, F12, or Esc | Del or F2 | Motherboard brand matters more than the case brand. |
If the USB is not listed
- Shut down completely, not just restart. Then plug in the USB and power on again.
- Try another USB port. On desktops, rear motherboard ports are often best.
- Look for UEFI: USB, USB HDD, Removable Device, or the USB stick brand name.
- Open BIOS/Setup and enable USB boot if the option exists.
- Turn off Fast Boot if the PC skips USB checks too quickly.
- If Secure Boot blocks RetroLAN, turn Secure Boot off, save, and try again.
- If the PC is very old, choose UEFI mode if available. RetroLAN is intended for 64-bit Intel/AMD PCs.
Safe booting tips
- Use the one-time boot menu when possible. It starts RetroLAN once without changing the PC's normal boot order.
- If you change BIOS settings, only change one thing at a time and save what you changed.
- When testing many laptops, keep a note of which key worked for each machine.
- Apple Silicon Macs cannot boot RetroLAN directly. Intel Macs may show the USB as EFI Boot when holding Option at startup.
- Chromebooks usually need special firmware changes and are not a normal RetroLAN target.
Still stuck?
Search the web for your exact model plus boot menu key, for example: Dell Latitude 5490 boot menu key. If you contact RetroLAN support, include the PC model, USB stick model, and a photo of the boot menu or error.