USB stick won't show up in bootmenu

[Shredder-]

So, Im trying to install windows 7 on a partion. When I hold down the option key during boot the USB drive(s) wont show, yet they work fine in disk utility and are shown in finder. What should I do?

[simsaladimbamba]

What exactly is on that USB flash memory thumb drive and how did you create it?

"How to maximise your MacRumors troubleshooting experience" created by mad jew in 2006

[Beecker]

Is there a Bootable iso on the flash drive?

[Shredder-]

Originally Posted by Beecker

Is there a Bootable iso on the flash drive?

Yes, I went through Bootcamp assistance - dragged my "Windows7Ultimate.iso" file to the field and installed it, followed by a "successful installation"

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Originally Posted by simsaladimbamba

What exactly is on that USB flash memory thumb drive and how did you create it?

"How to maximise your MacRumors troubleshooting experience" created by mad jew in 2006

The USB Drive is completely blank - I just formatted it through FAT-32.

[Beecker]

Originally Posted by Shredder-

Yes, I went through Bootcamp assistance - dragged my "Windows7Ultimate.iso" file to the field and installed it, followed by a "successful installation"

The format of the UBS drive is FAT 32 I take it or something other then NTFS?

[Shredder-]

Originally Posted by Beecker

The format of the UBS drive is FAT 32 I take it or something other then NTFS?

Yes it is FAT 32

[LeeM]

doesnt bootcamp do it all for you? when i did it i made the usb stick, clicked next or whatever and it restarted and booted into the windows install menu. didnt have to select a boot drive or anything

[Macman45]

It could just be a poor quality or dying stick...Can you try another one?

[Shredder-]

Originally Posted by LeeM

doesnt bootcamp do it all for you? when i did it i made the usb stick, clicked next or whatever and it restarted and booted into the windows install menu. didnt have to select a boot drive or anything

Do explain.

It could just be a poor quality or dying stick...Can you try another one?

Ive tried two different sticks, one of them is brand new. Neither works. My 2TB HDD works though - but its formatted in MAC Journal and wont work for PC, cant really bother to format that one and lose all data as Ive got a good 300 GB worth of material on it

[duervo]

You shouldn't need to hold the option key down during boot to boot off the USB key.

Bootcamp Assistant should have already set that drive as the next boot device.

When you hold the option key down, it's bypassing anything that Bootcamp Assistant did for you.

You may need to re-do the Bootcamp Assistant from the start, but first I would try just booting the system without doing any option key.

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/boo...tall-setup.pdf

[Shredder-]

Originally Posted by duervo

You shouldn't need to hold the option key down during boot to boot off the USB key.

Bootcamp Assistant should have already set that drive as the next boot device.

When you hold the option key down, it's bypassing anything that Bootcamp Assistant did for you.

You may need to re-do the Bootcamp Assistant from the start, but first I would try just booting the system without doing any option key.

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/boo...tall-setup.pdf

I just tried this and it actually starts booting, though I get a black screen with a white message saying "No bootable device -- insert boot disk and press any key"
Just like this guide; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgWBY6IezQA

He suggests trying a different USB Drive, which I have - I bought a brand new one just for making this boot possible, still no success