Booting a computer by using the Arctera System Recovery Disk

Last published : Apr 02, 2026
The Arctera System Recovery Disk lets you boot a computer that can no longer run the Windows operating system. You can create a recovery disk using Arctera System Recovery. When you boot your computer using the Arctera System Recovery Disk, a simplified version of Windows starts that runs a recovery environment. In the recovery environment, you can access the recovery features of Arctera System Recovery.
Note: Arctera System Recovery Disk requires a minimum of 1 GB of RAM to run. If your computer's video card is configured to share your computer's RAM, you might need more than 1 GB of RAM.
To boot a computer by using the Arctera System Recovery Disk
  1. If you store your recovery points on a USB device, attach the device now (for example, an external hard drive).
    Note: You should attach the device before you restart the computer. Otherwise, Arctera System Recovery Disk might not detect it.
  2. Attach the Arctera System Recovery Disk that is on a USB Device, into the media drive. If your Arctera System Recovery Disk is on a DVD, insert it into the media drive of the computer.
If a computer manufacturer installed Arctera System Recovery, the recovery environment already could be installed on your computer's hard drive. Either watch your computer monitor after the computer restarts for on-screen instructions, or refer to your manufacturer's documentation.
  1. Restart the computer.
If you cannot start the computer from the USB device or DVD, you might need to change the startup settings on your computer.
See Configuring a computer to start from a USB device or DVD.
  1. As soon as you see the prompt Press any key to boot from DVD or USB device, press a key to start Arctera System Recovery Disk.
    Note: You must watch for this prompt. It can come and go quickly. If you miss the prompt, you must restart your computer again.
  2. Read the license agreement, and then click Accept.
If you decline, you cannot start Arctera System Recovery Disk, and your computer restarts.
See Recovering a computer.