How to Create a Startup Disc

A start-up disk, which is also called a boot disk, is a specialized disk that allows you to load an operating system without accessing the computer's hard drive. You may want to create a new start-up disk if you need to reinstall your operating system due to a virus infection. Depending on the type of computer media you prefer to use, you can either create a start-up disk with a standard rewritable CD or with a USB flash drive. Due to the way that the two types of devices load datak you will need to download an ISO image for a CD or a standard boot file for a USB drive.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Blank CD or USB drive

CD

1. Go one of the Resources links that provides boot disk ISO images. Click the link to access the ISO image for your specific operating system.

2. Download the ISO file to your desktop. Insert a blank rewritable CD into your computer's CD drive.

3. Click "Open a Writable CD Folder" when a new window appears, or instead close the window and open your CD burning software.

4. Click the operating system ISO boot image and drag it into the writable CD window. Click "New" and then "Open" instead if you are using a third party CD burning program. Select the ISO image from the desktop.

5. Select "Write Files to CD." Wait for the program to finish burning the ISO image to the blank CD. Leave the CD in the disk drive and restart the computer to boot the system from the start up disc.

USB Drive

6. Access one of the Resources links that contain start up disk files. Locate the boot file for your specific operating system. Click the download link for the standard boot disk instead of the ISO image version.

7. Connect the USB flash drive to your computer. Bring up the Start menu and choose "My Computer." Right-click the USB drive and choose "Format." Click "Start."

8. Transfer the downloaded boot file to the USB drive once the formatting process has finished. Leave the USB flash drive connected to your computer and then restart the operating system.

9. Wait for the manufacturer logo to appear on the screen and then press "F2" or whichever key your system uses to bring up the BIOS menu. Use the arrow keys to scroll over to the BIOS option labeled "Boot" or something similar. You may have to access the "Advanced" menu first to reach "Boot" in some systems.

10. Scroll down and highlight the option labeled "Boot Order." Press "Enter." Highlight "USB" and press "Enter" again. Tap the "F10" key or whichever key your BIOS menu uses to save the changes and restart the computer.

Tips & Warnings

• The options you need to choose to burn the ISO image to a CD will vary depending on your operating system and the program you use.
• Some computer manufacturers do not include an option in the BIOS menu to boot from a USB device. If there is no USB option in the boot order options, you will need to use a CD as a start-up disc instead.

References

• Creating a Startup Disc
• Setting up a Bootable CD
• ISO Image Explanation

Resources

• Boot Disk ISO Images
• Boot Disk Downloads