HELP REQUESTED: Cannot Get HP dv7 Laptop to Boot from USB

[EvilBellyLint]

Greetings all,

(originally posted at: ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1738599
- however, issue remains unresolved)



Brief Overview:

• Prepared brand new Sandisk 4GB USB stick for use as Ubuntu Live USB distro
• Used Unetbootin to install the downloaded Ubuntu Minimal iso - went smoothly.
• Entered BIOS setup - arranged boot order so laptop would boot from USB first.
• Regardless of what I've attempt (and I've attempted a LOT) HP dv7 still refuses
  to boot from the USB distro.

What I've Already Troubleshot:

1. Suspected Sandisk USB stick contained U3 code, preventing it from booting:

> Downloaded Sandisk's U3 Removal Tool to solve issue. Eventually discovered
this particular USB stick is not embedded with U3 code.

2. Rebooted & tapped F9 to call up Boot Manager. Sandisk USB is listed as a boot
option, so that's not the issue.

3. Used Windows Command Line to reformat USB stick a 2nd time -- just in case:

> DISKPART > LIST DISK > SELECT DISK 0 > CLEAN
> CREATE PRIMARY PARTITION
> LIST PARTITION > SELECT PARTITION 1 > ACTIVE
> FORMAT FS=FAT32
> ASSIGN

4. Repeated entire Unetbootin procedure -- again, installed distro without error.

5. Repeated Step 2 - HP dv7 laptop STILL claims no bootable device found.

6. Repeated Step 3 - this time formatting as FAT16. Did not help.


ADDENDUM:

7. Also tried the above steps, plugging the USB stick into each of the available
USB ports on the laptop, to no avail...


(One Ubuntu forum member with an HP dv-# laptop had posted in the above
referenced thread that he was successful booting from a USB stick, using the
same procedures.)



HELP?



EBL