Boot from Media: USB, CD, or Recovery Drive

Booting from media lets you install Windows, repair startup, recover files, clone disks, or manage partitions when the installed system cannot start.

Understand the problem

The boot media must match the computer firmware mode and file system. A UEFI-only computer may not boot older Legacy media, and Secure Boot may block some tools.

• Confirm the disk, partition, file system, Windows version, boot mode, or update state before making changes.
• Back up or recover important files before conversion, deletion, formatting, cleanup, reimage, or boot repair.
• For boot-related work, check BIOS or UEFI mode, boot order, system partition status, and recovery media first.

Use Windows built-in tools

Use the firmware boot menu when possible.

1. Connect the bootable USB, CD, or recovery drive.
2. Restart and press the boot menu key for the device brand.
3. Select the USB or optical drive under the correct UEFI or Legacy entry.
4. If it fails, check Secure Boot, boot mode, and media creation method.
5. After repair, restore the internal disk as the first boot device.

Use Qiling tools for guided steps

Qiling Disk Master

Create reliable bootable media for repair, backup, clone, and partition tasks.

• Free Download
• Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7, 100% Secure

Function. Create bootable media for offline repair

Step 1. Prepare an empty USB drive and connect it to a working computer. Back up the USB because it may be formatted.

Step 2. Open Qiling Disk Master and choose Create Bootable Media. This helps when normal Windows startup or repair access is unavailable.

Step 3. Select the USB boot device option and choose the correct USB drive by capacity and drive letter.

Step 4. Click Proceed and wait until creation finishes. Use the USB for starting a computer outside the installed Windows system.

Check the result

Confirm the computer reaches the boot media environment and can see the internal disk before running repair or recovery operations.

Related Articles

• Create Bootable Disk
  Create bootable media for Windows repair, backup, or recovery tasks.
• Windows 11 Boot from USB
  Boot Windows 11 computers from USB installation or recovery media.

Is this information helpful?   Yes   No

This information is not relevant.

This information is not easy to understand.

This information is not deep enough.

What can we do to improve this information? (Optional)

Refresh Please enter the verification code!