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Booting from a CD with a Legacy Boot Configuration

Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2022 6:21 pm
by rockedge

rev. 220226

If you are booting from a CD and your computer is any of these it will probably be using the MBR (legacy) boot configuration.

  • made before 2007

  • came with Windows XP or 7

  • CPU is a single core

NOTE: booting from a CD is slow, you'll need to be patient

You will need to set the computer to boot from the CD first (boot priority). During boot most computers will show a hotkey to press to enter the Bios/Setup. You can also check the internet for your make and model to find the hotkey.

  • boot the computer

  • when the hotkey screen is displayed start pressing the key repeatedly

The Bios/Setup should open, unfortunately, there is no "standard menu". Use the keyboard arrow keys, enter and any hotkeys shown on the screen to navigate and select items. Look for an entry called "Boot options" and then "Boot order" or something similar. Set the CD as first in the boot order.

Some newer computers will also show a "Boot Menu" hotkey during boot, you can use this instead to
select the CD.

If the computer is running MS Windows:

  • boot Windows

  • do normal shutdown

  • do not use hibernation

  • reboot using the CD

Need more help? Join the forum and post your questions in Beginners Help.