Problem with boot from USB

[petrb]

Hello,
I've just purchased HP Mini 5103 and I am trying to install OpenSUSE. However when I create USB with Suse ImageWriter (or using dd_rescue), my Mini always freezes when trying to boot with this USB. When I enter BIOS, and insert USB stick, BIOS freezes, when I unplug USB stick, BIOS is live again. It seems there is some problem with reading partition of bootable USB stick which causes freeze. However is is possible to mount this USB in existing linux installation and also it is possible to boot from it on other notebooks.
Thanks for any help

[Fenix]

Late reply, but when installing the Win8 PE I had to set the sata-drive to IDE mode in order for the installer to detect the harddrive.
Have you tried using another usb stick?