MultiBoot
Document Part Number: 405530-001
January 2006
Contents
1 Default boot device order
2 Enabling boot devices in
Computer Setup
3 Boot order change considerations
4 MultiBoot preferences
Setting a new default boot order in Computer Setup . . . . 4–2
Dynamically choosing a boot device using
the f9 prompt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–2
Setting a MultiBoot Express prompt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–3
Entering MultiBoot Express preferences. . . . . . . . . . 4–3
MultiBoot ii
Default boot device order
As the computer starts, the system attempts to boot from enabled
boot devices. The MultiBoot utility, which is enabled by
controls the order in which the system selects a boot device. Boot
devices can include optical drives, diskette drives, a network
interface card (NIC), hard drives, or USB devices. Boot devices
contain bootable media or files that the computer needs to start
and operate properly.
Some boot devices must be enabled in Computer Setup before
✎
they can be included in
refer to “Enabling boot devices in Computer Setup.”
By default, when more than one boot device is installed in the
system, the computer selects the boot device by searching
enabled boot devices and drive bay locations in a predetermined
order. By default, the boot order is
■ MultiBay (select models only) or optical drive
the boot order. For more information,
1
default,
■ USB CD-ROM
■ USB diskette drive
■ internal hard drive
■ USB hard drive
■ network controller
MultiBoot 1–1
Default boot device order
You can change the order in which the computer searches for a
boot device by changing the boot order in Computer Setup. You
can also press
displayed in the lower-left corner of
computer starts up. Pressing
current boot devices and allows you to select a boot device. Or,
you can use MultiBoot Express to set the computer to prompt you
for a boot location each time the computer is turned on or
restarted.
If MultiBoot is disabled, the computer uses a fixed boot order that
consists of first searching for a drive A boot device. If none is
found, the computer looks for a drive C boot device. Drive A boot
devices include optical drives and diskette drives. Drive C boot
devices include optical drives and hard drives.
The NIC does not have an assigned drive letter.
An optical drive (such as a CD-ROM drive) can boot either as
✎
drive A or drive C, depending on the format of the boot CD.
The following list describes the default boot order in which
letters A and C are assigned when MultiBoot is disabled.
drive
(The actual order varies by configuration.)
f9 while the “F9 = Boot device menu” message is
the screen when the
f9 displays a menu that shows the
■ Default boot order for drive A boot devices:
1. Optical drive in an optional docking device or in an
optional external MultiBay that contains a disc
formatted
2. Optical drive in the internal MultiBay (select models
only)
3. Diskette drive in an optional docking device or in an
optional external MultiBay.
1–2 MultiBoot
as drive A.
that contains a disc formatted as drive A.
Default boot device order
■ Default boot order for drive C boot devices:
1. Optical drive in an optional docking device or in an
optional external MultiBay that contains a disc
formatted
2. Optical drive in the internal MultiBay (select models
only)
3. Hard drive in the computer hard drive bay.
4. Hard drive in an optional docking device or in an
optional
Because no drive letter is associated with the NIC, changing
✎
the boot order of a NIC does not affect the drive letters of the
other devices.
as drive C.
that contains a disc formatted as drive C.
external MultiBay.
MultiBoot 1–3
2
Enabling boot devices in
Computer Setup
The computer will boot to a USB device or a NIC device only if
the device has first been enabled in Computer Setup.
To enable a USB device or a NIC device as a boot device:
1. Open Computer Setup by turning on or restarting the
computer, and then pressing
Based Setup” message is displayed in the lower-left corner
the screen.
of
2. To enable bootable media in USB drives or in drives inserted
into an optional docking device (select models only), use the
arrow keys to select System Configuration > Device
Configurations, and then press
select Enable in the USB legacy support field.
The USB Port option in System Configuration > Port
✎
Options must be enabled in order to use USB legacy
support.
f10 while the “F10 = ROM
enter. Use the arrow keys to
– or –
To enable a NIC device, use the arrow keys to select System
Configuration > Boot Options, and then press
arrow keys to select Enable in the Internal network adapter
boot field.
MultiBoot 2–1
enter. Use the
Enabling boot devices in Computer Setup
3. To save your preferences and exit Computer Setup, use the
arrow keys to select File > Save changes and exit. Then
follow the instructions on the screen.
Your preferences go into effect when the computer restarts.
To connect a NIC to a Preboot eXecution Environment (PXE)
✎
or Remote Program Load (RPL) server without using
MultiBoot, quickly press
message appears in the lower-right corner of the screen (select
models only).
f12 when the “Network Service Boot”
2–2 MultiBoot
3
Boot order change
considerations
Before changing the boot order, consider the following:
■ When the computer restarts after the boot order has been
changed, the computer attempts to start using the new boot
order.
■ If there is more than one type of boot device, the computer
attempts to boot using the first of each type of boot device
(except for optical devices). For example, if the computer is
connected to an optional docking device (select models only)
that contains a hard drive, this hard drive will be shown in
boot order as a USB hard drive. If the system attempts to
the
boot from this USB hard drive and fails, it will not attempt
boot to the hard drive in the hard drive bay. Instead, it will
to
try to boot to the next type of device in the boot order.
However, if there are 2 optical devices, and the first optical
device does not boot (either because it does not contain media
or the media is not a boot disc), the system will try to boot to
the second optical device.
MultiBoot 3–1
Boot order change considerations
■ Changing the boot order also changes the logical drive
designations. For example, if you start up from a CD-ROM
drive with a disc formatted as drive C, that CD-ROM drive
becomes drive C and the hard drive in the hard drive bay
becomes drive D.
■ The computer will boot from a NIC device only if the
has first been enabled in the Device security menu
device
Computer Setup. Booting from a NIC does not affect
of
logical drive designations because no drive letter is associated
with the
■ Drives in an optional docking device (select models only)
are
NIC.
treated like external USB devices in the boot order.
3–2 MultiBoot
4
MultiBoot preferences
Using MultiBoot, you can
■ Set a new default boot order that the computer uses each time
it is turned on, by changing the boot order in Computer Setup.
■ Dynamically choose the boot device by pressing f9 while the
= Boot device menu” message is displayed in the
“F9
lower-left corner of
■ Use MultiBoot Express to set variable boot orders. This
feature prompts you for a boot device each time the computer
is turned on or restarted.
the screen when the computer starts up.
MultiBoot 4–1
MultiBoot preferences
Setting a new default boot order in Computer Setup
To set a boot device order that the computer uses each time it is
turned on or restarted:
1. Open Computer Setup by turning on or restarting the
computer, and then pressing
Based Setup” message is displayed in the lower-left corner
the screen.
of
2. Use the arrow keys to select System Configuration > Boot
Options, and then press
3. Use the arrow keys to select Enable in the MultiBoot field.
4. Use the arrow keys to select the boot order that you prefer in
the Boot Order fields.
5. To save your preferences and exit Computer Setup, use the
arrow keys to select File > Save Changes and Exit. Then
follow the instructions on the screen.
Your preferences go into effect when the computer restarts.
f10 while the “F10 = ROM
enter.
Dynamically choosing a boot device using the f9 prompt
To dynamically choose a boot device for the current start up
sequence:
1. Open the Select Boot Device menu by turning on or restarting
the computer, and then pressing
device menu” message is displayed in the lower-left corner
the screen.
of
2. Use the arrow keys to select a boot device, and then press
enter.
Your preferences go into effect immediately.
4–2 MultiBoot
f9 while the “F9 = Boot
MultiBoot preferences
Setting a MultiBoot Express prompt
To set the computer to display the MultiBoot startup location
menu each time the computer is started or restarted:
1. Open Computer Setup by turning on or restarting the
computer, and then pressing
Based Setup” message is displayed in the lower-left corner
the screen.
of
2. Use the arrow keys to select System Configuration > Boot
Options, and then press
3. In the Express Boot Popup Delay (Sec) field, select the
length of time in seconds that you want the computer to
display the startup location menu before it defaults to the
current MultiBoot setting (when 0 is selected, the Express
Boot startup location menu is not displayed).
4. To save your preferences and exit Computer Setup, use the
arrow keys to select File > Save changes and exit. Then
follow the instructions on the screen.
Your preferences go into effect when the computer restarts.
f10 while the “F10 = ROM
enter.
Entering MultiBoot Express preferences
When the Express Boot menu is displayed during startup:
■ To specify a boot device from the Express Boot menu, select
your preference within the allotted time, and then press
■ To prevent the computer from defaulting to the current
MultiBoot setting, press any key before the allotted time
expires. The computer will not start until you select a boot
device and press
■ To allow the computer to start according to the current
enter.
MultiBoot settings, wait for the allotted time to expire.
MultiBoot 4–3
enter.
© Copyright 2006 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The
only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express
warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing
herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall
not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.
MultiBoot
First Edition January 2006
Document Part Number: 405530-001
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