Laptop not booting up with external USB hard drive attached

[sirbb]

I have an Optimus IV which refuses to boot up if there is an external USB hard drive attached. The computer just displays a black screen and does one continuous beep until it is shut down. Remove the USB hard drive and it boots fine.

This appears to be a problem a lot of people have. I have read up on the problem and the remedy that has worked for the majority involves amending one or both of the following:
1. Boot sequence in the BIOS - taking anything USB-associated out of the potential boot sequence.
2. Changing the "USB Legacy Settings" in the BIOS so that nothing connected via USB (including keyboards, mice, external drives etc.) works until after the booting sequence is completed.

The problem I am having is that neither of these work because:
1. The only item in my boot sequence is my resident internal SSD with Windows on it (C drive).
2. In the BIOS there is no setting for "USB Legacy" or anything remotely like it.

Any ideas?

Many thanks!

 

[ubuysa]

It's most likely the boot order. I too have an Optimus IV and the boot order contains not just the SSD but also options for the DVD drive and USB attached devices. It sounds as though you have the USB attached device ahead of your SSD in the boot priority order. Usually you want the DVD first and then the SSD/HDD.

 

[sirbb]

Thanks for the reply but as I stated above the only item in my boot sequence [boot order] is my resident internal SSD with Windows on it (C drive). Everything else is disabled.