Booting from a USB or a CD Drive? Here’s how to do it.

Operating a PC is easy but what if you want to upgrade the operating system? What do you do then? In order to install new operating system in your PC, you can either boot it from the disc or use a flash drive to do the same function.

If you press the Power button of the computer it boots the internal hard drive where your operating system i.e. Windows is stored. But at times, you need to boot it into something different.

If you want to reinstall Windows, boot it from the Windows installation disc. If there is a problem with the operating system, you use a rescue disc.  But what if we tell you that a boot is possible from a CD or a USB drive?  Sounds exciting? Here’s what you have to do :

For a Windows PC

Every Windows PC is different from each other- different in versions and operating compatibility- but once we know what we are looking for its easier to find. To boot from a CD or USB drive:

1. Restart the system that you are working on and wait till a pop up on screen appears. At times there will be a pop up with an option “Press F12 to choose a boot device”. Press the key now.
2. It will take a moment for an option to appear. There will be a popup menu with a list of options; select the option for CD or USB drive and press Enter. You can also manually set the computer setting to “check always” for a bootable device. This will run the CD or the USB device if you have already inserted it and booting will begin. If you haven’t it will run through the regular operating system. To set this, follow the instructions below :   

1. Restart the system and wait till screen appears. When you boot, a screen will appear with a message “Press DEL to enter set up”, or something familiar. Press the key on the keyboard and wait till the set up begins.
2. You should now be able to see a new pop-up screen, which is your  BIOS. This is where you will select a low level system setting. Look through the options carefully; you will find an option “Boot called” or “Boot Order”. Select this option or the one similar to it. Do not select anything else. 

3. From the menu, select the computer disc drive and press Enter. If you are booting through a USB drive, select USB – HDD and then press Enter. You might use the Page Up and Page Down keys on the keyboard for selection.
4. Now you can save the changes and exit the BIOS. Select the option “EXIT” on the main menu.
5. Your computer will now reboot. Make sure your CD or USB is still connected to the system. It might prompt an instruction “press any key to boot CD/DVD”; please feel free to do so.

      Now, follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows.