How do I boot live Mageia, before my system boots win 8.1. ?

[Kirsty]

Hello,

Yes I did:

first boot option: 'removeable device' and secure boot on
and
first boot option: 'removeable device' and secure boot off

Both boots bring me directly to Win 8.1. execpt when I push F12, then I come to a menu that gives me the choice to
boot up using 'windows boot manager'.

That particular menu does not give me the chance to use a grub.

I'm thinking perhaps my MultiSystem USB is not formatted for win8.1. It is formatted using FAT 32.

b.r.

Kirsty

[doktor5000]

If you don't use an EFI-compatible bootloader, then you have to disable secureboot, and enable legacy/CSM boot.

You could try to add some (U)EFI-enabled distro live media to your usb drive to check that. maybe Fedora.
You should also check the really good docs by Adam Williamson: https://www.happyassassin.net/2014/02/0 ... k-writers/ and https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Unified_ ... _Interface

Totally apart from, you should probably not try to start with some multiboot setup, but get one image directly onto the usb drive, and first try to get that to boot.

[benmc]

Hi Kirsty

at the top of page 2 of your bios is " launch csm : never " change that to something more useful - always or on ?
set secure boot to " off " , as you have,
1st boot : remove-able media, as you have

let us know if this is successful.

regards

Benmc