Make internal card reader readable to BIOS

Question

I have a tablet that only has one USB port and one internal microSD card reader. It runs Windows 8 but I want to install Ubuntu on it.
I've created an Ubuntu install disk using startup disk creator on my PC. I place this card in the internal reader, boot up the BIOS and… nothing. The drive isn’t showing.
How can I get the drive to show up and be bootable?
I’m thinking something along the lines of creating a partition on my boot drive in Windows, coping the files from my microSD card to the drive, and then getting that partition to show up in the BIOS as HDD2 or something.
Also, if I use a USB card reader, it shows up in the BIOS, but I have to plug my keyboard in to browse the BIOS! Argh! And I only have 1 USB port. Should I buy a USB hub? Would that work even in the BIOS?
Or, could I somehow boot the internal card reader from inside Windows using some sort of virtual drive?

Keltari · Answer

If the card reader does not show up as a boot option in BIOS, you cannot add it or boot from it.
Your idea of buying a USB hub will be the easiest solution. More than likely, you wont even need a powered hub, as keyboards, mice, and flash media require little power.
A USB hub like this one, is all you need. There are more complicated solutions, such as opening the tablet and removing the drive, but that is overkill.

Make internal card reader readable to BIOS

One Answer

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question