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I am repurposing an old Alienware desktop as a home media server. The PC is based on the Shuttle FB51 motherboard. The BIOS is a Phoenix Version 6.00 PG, release date 12/16/2002. I have loaded Ubuntu 12.04 LTS on the internal hard drive.

I am using a Western Digital WD Elements 1.5 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive for media storage. When the external drive is plugged in and the PC is powered on, it freezes very early in the BIOS self-test, even before it begins the memory test. If I unplug the drive, the self-test proceeds without further problems. I can plug the USB drive back in when the self-test is complete, and Ubuntu will boot and find the external drive normally. I have checked the BIOS boot settings to ensure that no USB device is enabled as a bootable device.

I've tried several changes to the BIOS setup without finding a cure for the boot issue. Any assistance gratefully accepted.

JGB

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    WD probably has something installed on the hd, unless you formatted the hd when you bought it. Check the root of the hd and look for system/hidden files. Might be recover/backup software.
    – Logman
    Jul 5, 2012 at 16:41
  • To be clear: The BIOS POST freezes up at the point where the memory test begins. The BIOS never even gets to the point of attempting to load an OS, unless the external USB HD is unplugged. And yes, the external HD has been fully reformatted.
    – user127236
    Jul 5, 2012 at 16:47
  • have you checked the bios firmware history for known problems? upgraded to latest bios?
    – Logman
    Jul 5, 2012 at 16:54
  • I am still researching the BIOS upgrade question.
    – user127236
    Jul 5, 2012 at 16:55
  • global.shuttle.com/download/download XPC / Intel Socket 478 / SB51G They do not show the full history on the page.
    – Logman
    Jul 5, 2012 at 17:02

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
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Just turn off the "Boot from USB" option in the BIOS.

Or maybe it's listed under "BOOT ORDER". Move the internal hard drive to the top of the list.

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