Windows USB Install disc is still in startup manager

Question

Level 1

40 points

Windows USB Install disc is still in startup manager

Hello, My son was helping me update my boot camp partition to Windows 10. We were having issues so he created a USB Install Stick and did a clean install which actually worked okay. He went back home and took his stick with him to use on his computer but it is still showing up on my Mac's startup manager screen. I have been unable to find an answer as to how to make it go away. I am not having any problems, as far as I can tell anyway, but would just like it gone. I did have two recovery partitions showing on this Air before after one of my Mac OS updates but that seemed to clear up after some time or another OS X update. I have had them all since Lion and now have Yosemite.

MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10.4), 13 inch, Mid 2011, 1.8GHz i7

Posted on Aug 4, 2015 10:53 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Aug 4, 2015 10:59 AM in response to Gary Stein

Have you tried rebooting?

Try resetting NVRAM, the directions are at How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

Reply

Answer 2

Gary Stein Author

Level 1

40 points

Aug 4, 2015 11:15 AM in response to Allan Eckert

Hello Allan, Yes I have tried resetting NVRAM and have rebooted several times with no difference, even tried a different user account. I looked for a preference file I could delete but could not find anything that looked appropriate.

Reply

Answer 3

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Aug 4, 2015 11:23 AM in response to Gary Stein

Try a SMC Reset - Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support .

If the USB icon is shown in Apple Bootmanager (Alt key after Power up), SMC Reset should clear it.

If the USB icon is shown on the Desktop, the eject was done improperly and the icon is just left as a place holder. You can rebuild the Finder pLIst, if necessary..

Reply

Answer 4

Gary Stein Author

Level 1

40 points

Aug 4, 2015 11:49 AM in response to Loner T

Hello Loner T, Thanks for the suggestion as I had not tried that. I just did though but that pesky USB Stick is still at the startup manager screen. I even clicked on it hoping for an option but just got the black screen with the blinking little line at the top right. I let it go for several minutes and shut down with the power button.

Reply

Answer 5

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Aug 4, 2015 11:55 AM in response to Gary Stein

1. Is it possible to post a screen shot or a photograph?

2. If this shows up on Apple Bootmanager, it should also show up in OSX on the Desktop and Finder.

3. Can you check the OSX About This Mac -> System Report and click on USB and see what are the devices reported?

Reply

Answer 6

Gary Stein Author

Level 1

40 points

Aug 4, 2015 12:57 PM in response to Loner T

Hi again Loner T,

This is my startup manager screen.

This is my desktop.

This is my finder view.

This is my USB Device Tree.

Reply

Answer 7

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Aug 4, 2015 1:02 PM in response to Gary Stein

What is "Nifty Mini-Drive"? Looks like an SD Card.

Reply

Answer 8

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Aug 4, 2015 1:12 PM in response to Gary Stein

Try this - highlight the USB, and press Alt+Eject. Does it disappear?

Reply

Answer 9

Gary Stein Author

Level 1

40 points

Aug 4, 2015 2:00 PM in response to Loner T

The Nifty Mini-Drive is an micro-SD card holder which fits flush with the Air, kind of a nifty gizmo. I will try your advice as soon as I restart.

Reply

Answer 10

Gary Stein Author

Level 1

40 points

Aug 4, 2015 2:08 PM in response to Loner T

I restarted only to find that my Air has no eject key. I can't seem to trigger any right click menu either so could not try that.

Reply

Answer 11

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Aug 4, 2015 2:13 PM in response to Gary Stein

You can try with an external USB or BT keyboard.

Reply

Answer 12

Gary Stein Author

Level 1

40 points

Aug 4, 2015 2:34 PM in response to Loner T

I dug out an old wired keyboard and tried that but it did not work. I ended up booting from that USB Stick icon resulting in the black screen with a "missing operating system_" message. I tried to input various letters but it would not accept anything and I had to shut down with the power button.

Reply

Answer 13

Loner T

Level 9

59,471 points

Aug 4, 2015 2:38 PM in response to Gary Stein

Do you have any USB or TB hubs or external devices connected to the Mac? Did your son setup any external network boots?

Reply

Answer 14

Gary Stein Author

Level 1

40 points

Aug 4, 2015 2:44 PM in response to Loner T

No, there is nothing hooked up and we don't have any network drives except the time capsule. The Nifty Mini-drive SD card reader/writer and a thunderbolt ethernet adapter are the only devices hooked up and bluetooth is turned off. He did make me another USB install stick because he wanted to keep the one he made first.

Reply