Retina MBP: Unable to boot USB???

Discussion in 'MacBook Pro' started by flattyre, Jun 18, 2013.

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  1. flattyre, Jun 18, 2013
    Last edited: Jun 18, 2013

    flattyre macrumors newbie

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    Jun 18, 2013
    #1
    My 13" MBP retina, fully updated as of today is and has never been able to boot from USB. I'm talking both Linux and OS X USB drives which are no problem to boot in other machines, including some older Macs. I've tried refind without any luck. The computer simply doesn't seem to see any USB drives until booted. No problems using USB 2 / 3 devices in ML.

    I've read about people booting Linux on these Retinas using normal dd of the image to a USB key so what gives? Am I doing something wrong or some new machines just unable to boot USB?

    *I should mention the computer does boot from the SD slot.
     
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  2. flattyre, Jun 18, 2013

    flattyre thread starter macrumors newbie

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    #2
    Also, linux distros booted from the SD don't boot all the way because they can't seem to find the SD card after getting a handoff from GRUB...
     
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  3. Yahooligan, Jun 18, 2013

    Yahooligan macrumors 6502a

    Yahooligan

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    #3
    So, just to make sure, when you're trying to boot off the USB drive you're holding down the "option" key to bring up the list of devices that you can boot off of and you're not seeing the USB drive? Or are you inserting the USB drive and expecting it to automatically boot off of it without any intervention?

    I've had no problem getting my 15" rMBP to boot off of a USB memory stick via the "option" key boot menu.
     
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  4. flattyre, Jun 20, 2013

    flattyre thread starter macrumors newbie

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    #4
    That's correct. I'm holding down option and USB devices simply do not show up no matter what they are. I can boot from these USB images on other PCs and Macs. It seems like the USB ports aren't even being queried because one of my USB keys lights up whenever being accessed and it stays dead totally dead during the option-startup.

    When I hold down option with a bootable SD card inserted, it does allow me to select and boot an OS that way.
     
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  5. Yahooligan, Jun 20, 2013

    Yahooligan macrumors 6502a

    Yahooligan

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    #5
    Are you plugging the USB devices directly into the rMBP's USB ports or are you plugging them into a USB hub?
     
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  6. flattyre, Jun 20, 2013

    flattyre thread starter macrumors newbie

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    #6
    Directly into the rMBP. Both ports, no results.
     
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  7. priitv8, Jun 20, 2013

    priitv8 macrumors 68040

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    #7
    How is your USB stick partitioned / formatted?
    PS I just created myself a USB pendrive for Mavericks and my 15" rMBP has no problem with booting from USB stick. Except for extreme slowness, of course. My stick has GPT partition table and journaled HFS+ filesystem, just like a regular Mac boot drive.
     
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