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Booting your PC from the Image Boot Media (knowing how to get to the BIOS or the Boot Device Menu at system startup)

For the NovaBACKUP Image Boot Media (DR Boot Media) to be a boot-able device, that your PC can boot from (instead of the internal hard drive) the Image/DR Boot Disk will either need to be a CD or a USB flash drive as your form of rescue media. You will also need to know which key on your PC's keyboard to press during the start up screen to enter your "Boot Device Menu". From there you will select your optical CD drive or USB flash drive as the first drive in your boot-up sequence. This will allow your system to access the DR Boot Disk media which you will have already created, rather than attempting to boot from your hard disk. 

Note: We DO NOT recommend using a DVD disc as your Image Boot Media as a number of DVD drives experience problems when attempting to use boot-able disc media. 

We recommend testing your Image Boot Media as soon as possible after creating it to make sure that you (A.) know how to boot your computer to the media in the event of a disaster, and (B.) are familiar with what the restore environment software looks like when running off of the Image Boot Media. 

Here is a reference website which may tell you what keys will allow you to enter your Boot Device Menu: website 1.  If these keys do not work for you, ensure that you have a WIRED keyboard connected, either USB or otherwise. Wireless connected keyboards may not work for entering your Boot Menu as the keyboard may not be seen by your system BIOS.  If you still cannot locate the key to enter the Boot Device Menu or enter the BIOS setup, then you may consult your manufacturer's technical support team for them to assist or look up the manual for your exact model of computer or motherboard.  The list of computer's below are just some of the most popular computer manufacturers and is not in any way a complete list of all computer models. The results below are from website 1.  

Keys to Enter BIOS or Boot Device Menu  

  

Manufacturer  

Model 

BIOS Setup  

Boot Device Menu 

Compaq 

Most models   

F1 

ESC 

Dell 

Most models 

F2 

F12 

HP 

Most models 

F10 or F2 

ESC (or F9) 

Lenovo 

Most models 

F1 or F12 

N/A 

  

BIOS Setup and Boot Device Menu Keys (Website 2) 

  

Manufacturer 

Type 

Models 

Boot Menu 

Boot Once 

BIOS/UEFI Key 

Change Priority 

Acer 

  

  

Esc, F12, F9 

  

Del, F2 

  

Acer 

netbook 

Aspire One zg5, zg8 

F12 

  

F2 

  

Acer 

netbook 

Aspire Timeline 

F12 

  

F2 

  

Acer 

netbook 

Aspire v3, v5, v7 

F12 

The "F12 Boot Menu" must be enabled in BIOS. It is disabled by default. 

F2 

  

Manufacturer 

Type 

Models 

Boot Menu 

Boot Once 

BIOS/UEFI Key 

Change Priority 

Apple 

  

After 2006 

Option 

  

  

  

Manufacturer 

Type 

Models 

Boot Menu 

Boot Once 

BIOS/UEFI Key 

Change Priority 

Asus 

desktop 

  

F8 

  

F9 

  

Asus 

laptop 

VivoBook f200ca, f202e, q200e, s200e, s400ca, s500ca, u38n, v500ca, v550ca, v551, x200ca, x202e, x550ca, z202e 

Esc 

  

Delete 

  

Asus 

laptop 

N550JV, N750JV, N550LF, Rog g750jh, Rog g750jw, Rog g750jx 

Esc 

Disable "Fast Boot" and "Secure Boot Control" in order to boot from MBR formatted media. 

F2 

  

Asus 

laptop 

Zenbook Infinity ux301, Infinity ux301la, Prime ux31a, Prime ux32vd, R509C, Taichi 21, Touch u500vz, Transformer Book TX300 

Esc 

Disable "Fast Boot" and "Secure Boot Control" in order to boot from MBR formatted media. 

F2 

  

Asus 

notebook 

k25f, k35e, k34u, k35u, k43u, k46cb, k52f, k53e, k55a, k60ij, k70ab, k72f, k73e, k73s, k84l, k93sm, k93sv, k95vb, k501, k601, R503C, x32a, x35u, x54c, x61g, x64c, x64v, x75a, x83v, x83vb, x90, x93sv, x95gl, x101ch, x102ba, x200ca, x202e, x301a, x401a, x401u, x501a, x502c, x750ja 

F8 

  

DEL 

  

Asus 

netbook 

Eee PC 1015, 1025c 

Esc 

  

F2 

Boot Tab, Boot Device Priority, 1st Boot Device, Removable Device, F10 

Manufacturer 

Type 

Models 

Boot Menu 

Boot Once 

BIOS/UEFI Key 

Change Priority 

Compaq 

  

Presario 

Esc, F9 

  

F10 

BIOS "Advanced Tab", Boot Order 

Manufacturer 

Type 

Models 

Boot Menu 

Boot Once 

BIOS/UEFI Key 

Change Priority 

Dell 

desktop 

Dimension, Inspiron, Latitude, Optiplex 

F12 

Select "USB Flash Drive". 

F2 

  

Dell 

desktop 

Alienware Aurora, Inspiron One 20, Inspiron 23 Touch, Inspiron 620, 630, 650, 660s, Inspiron 3000, X51, XPS 8300, XPS 8500, XPS 8700, XPS 18 Touch, XPS 27 Touch 

F12 

Select "USB Flash Drive". 

F2 

  

Dell 

desktop 

Inspiron One 2020, 2305, 2320, 2330 All-In-One 

F12 

Select "USB Flash Drive". 

F2 

  

Dell 

laptop 

Inspiron 11 3000 series touch, 14z Ultrabook, 14 7000 series touch, 15z Ultrabook touch, 15 7000 series touch, 17 7000 series touch 

F12 

Select "USB Storage Device" 

F2 

Settings->General->Boot Sequence->"USB Storage Device", then up arrow, [Apply]--[Exit] 

Dell 

laptop 

Inspiron 14R non-touch, 15 non-touch, 15R non-touch, 17 non-touch, 17R non-touch 

F12 

Select "USB Storage Device" 

F2 

Settings->General->Boot Sequence->"USB Storage Device", then up arrow, [Apply]--[Exit] 

Dell 

laptop 

Latitude c400, c600, c640, d610, d620, d630, d830, e5520, e6320, e6400, e6410, e6420, e6430, e6500, e6520, 6430u Ultrabook, x300 

F12 

Select "USB Storage Device" from boot menu. 

F2 

  

Dell 

laptop 

Precision m3800, m4400, m4700, m4800, m6500, m6600, m6700, m6800 

F12 

Select "USB Storage Device" from boot menu. 

F2 

  

Dell 

laptop 

Alienware 14, Alienware 17, Alienware 18, XPS 11 2-in-1, XPS 12 2-in-1, XPS 13, XPS 14 Ultrabook, XPS 15 Touch, 

F12 

Select "USB Storage Device" from boot menu. 

F2