How to Boot a PC or Mac from a CD or DVD

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

This wikiHow article will teach you how to start your computer from a CD or DVD rather than from the computer's internal hard drive. The process is a little different depending on whether you're using a Windows PC or a Mac. Booting from a disc can be helpful if you're trying to install a different operating system on your computer or having trouble booting into the standard operating system.

Things You Should Know

  • If you're using a Windows PC, you may need to boot into the BIOS first to make sure you can boot from CD or DVD.
  • If your PC or Mac doesn't have a CD or DVD drive, you can connect an external drive.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using a Windows PC

PDF download Download Article
  1. To do so, place the disc logo side-up in your computer's CD or DVD-ROM tray.
  2. Before you can boot from a CD or DVD, make sure the computer's boot sequence is set to boot from a removable disc before the hard drive. To get started, you'll have to boot into your PC's BIOS . There are two ways to do this:
    • The first option is to reboot your computer and immediately press the setup key repeatedly until you've reached the BIOS. This key is usually F2 , Del , F10 , or F1 . If you're not sure, Google your PC model and "BIOS setup key."
    • Windows 10: Press Windows key + i , go to Update & Security > Recovery , and click Restart Now under "Advanced Startup."
    • Windows 11: Press Windows key + i , go to System > Recovery , and click Restart Now under "Advanced Startup.
    • Once you're at the blue Advanced Options screen, click UEFI Firmware Settings and then click Restart .
    Advertisement
  3. You'll use the arrow keys to select it.
    • The Boot tab may instead say Boot Options , depending on your computer's manufacturer.
  4. To do so, press the ↓ arrow until this option has a box around it.
    • This may be called DVD-ROM or Optical Drive.
  5. This will place it at the top of the boot options list.
    • You may have to press a different key as indicated by the key legend on the far-right side of the BIOS screen.
  6. You should see a key prompt (e.g., F10 ) at the bottom of the screen that correlates to "Save and Exit"; pressing it will restart your computer, using the CD drive as a reboot point.
    • You may have to press ↵ Enter to confirm the changes.
    7. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using a Mac

PDF download Download Article
  1. To do so, slide the disc logo side-up into the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM slot on your Mac. The CD must have a version of Mac OS on it to qualify as a boot option.
    • Some Macs don't have CD slots. If your Mac doesn't have a CD slot, you'll need to purchase an external CD drive.
  2. It's in the upper-left corner of the screen.
  3. This option is at the bottom of the Apple menu.
  4. Doing so will cause your Mac to begin restarting.
  5. You'll need to hold down ⌘ Command as soon as your Mac begins restarting, and keep holding it until the Startup Manager window appears.
  6. It will typically say something like "Mac OS X Install DVD" below it. Clicking this icon selects it.
  7. Doing so will prompt your Mac to boot from the CD drive.
    8. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    I can't remember my password to boot my Toshiba laptop. What can I do?
    Community Answer
    If you have Windows, boot your computer and immediately press on the F8 key repeatedly until your computer displays the boot menu. Choose Safe Mode using the arrow keys and press Enter. On the home screen, click on Administrator. Click on the Start menu in the bottom left corner, go in the Control Panel, then in User Accounts you can change any user passwords easily.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 8 Helpful 11
  • Question
    How do I reboot and select the proper boot device?
    Community Answer
    For most computers, when you turn them on, the boot options are displayed. They could be F1,F2,F3,F4, etc., and there should be an option to boot from hard drive, CD, etc.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 6 Helpful 12
  • Question
    My computer won't open in that condition. How can I boot my computer system?
    Sujan Shrestha
    Community Answer
    Enter the bios by pressing the F2 key, and select the first boot.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 10 Helpful 8
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Figure Out Why a Computer Won't Boot
      How to
      Fix a PC Which Won't Boot
      How to
      Change Computer BIOS Settings on a Windows PC: Guide
      How to
      Troubleshoot Computer Startup Problems
      6 Easy Ways to Use Shortcut Keys to Shut Down a Windows PC
      5 Quick Ways to Change Your Desktop Wallpaper on Windows
      How to
      Check Your Mouse DPI on Windows & Mac
      How to
      Bring an Off Screen Window Back on Windows
      6 Simple Ways to Create a .ZIP File from Files or Folders
      How to
      Copy and Paste on Any Device
      4 Easy Ways to Paste Text Using Keyboard Shortcuts
      How to
      Automatically Shut Down Your Computer at a Specified Time
      How to
      Change a File Extension
      3 Easy Ways to Merge Objects in Blender: Step-by-Step
      Advertisement

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Insert the CD.
      2. Click the Start menu.
      3. Click the Power icon.
      4. Click Restart .
      5. Press either the Del or F2 key when the PC restarts.
      6. Go to the BIOS Boot tab.
      7. Set your CDROM drive as the primary boot drive.
      8. Save and reboot.

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,009,219 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement