Making sure that your bootable media can be used when needed

To maximize the chances of your computer's recovery, you must test that your computer can boot from the bootable media. In addition, you must check that the bootable media recognizes all of your computer's devices, such as the hard drives, mouse, keyboard, and network adapter.

If you purchased a boxed version of the product that has a bootable CD and you did not update Acronis True Image 2021, you can test this CD. Otherwise, please create a new bootable media. Refer to Creating Acronis bootable media for details.

To test the bootable media

If you use external drives for storing your backups, you must attach the drives before booting from the bootable CD. Otherwise, the program might not detect them.

1. Configure your computer to enable booting from the bootable media. Then, make your bootable media device (CD-ROM/DVD-ROM or USB drive) the first boot device. Refer to Arranging boot order in BIOS for details.
2. If you have a bootable CD, press any key to start booting from the CD, when you see the "Press any key to boot from CD" prompt. If you do not press a key within five seconds, you will need to restart the computer.
3. After the boot menu appears, choose Acronis True Image 2021.

   If your wireless mouse does not work, try replacing it with a wired one. The same recommendation applies to the keyboard.

   If you do not have a spare mouse or keyboard, contact Acronis Support. They will build a custom bootable CD that will have drivers for the models of your mouse and keyboard. Please be aware that finding the appropriate drivers and making the custom bootable CD may take some time. Furthermore, this may be impossible for some models.

   

4. When the program starts, we recommend that you try recovering some files from your backup. A test recovery allows you to make sure that your bootable CD can be used for recovery. In addition, you can make sure that the program detects all of the hard drives you have in your system.

   If you have a spare hard drive, we strongly recommend that you try a test recovery of your system partition to this hard drive.

How to test recovery, as well as check the drives and network adapter

1. If you have file backups, start Recovery Wizard by clicking Recovery -> File Recovery on the toolbar.

   If you have only disk and partition backup, Recovery Wizard also starts and the recovery procedure is similar. In such a case, you need to select Recover chosen files and folders at the Recovery Method step.

2. Select a backup at the Archive location step, and then click Next.

   

3. When recovering files with the bootable CD, you are able to select only a new location for the files to be recovered. Therefore, just click Next at the Location selection step.
4. After the Destination window opens, check that all of your drives are shown under My Computer.

   If you store your backups on the network, verify that you can access the network.

   If no computers are visible on the network, but the Computers Near Me icon is found under My Computer, specify the network settings manually. To do this, open the window available at Tools & Utilities ® Options ® Network adapters.

   If the Computers Near Me icon is not available under My Computer, there may be problems either with your network card or with the card driver provided with Acronis True Image 2021.

   

5. Select the destination for the files, and then click Next.
6. Select several files for recovery by selecting their check boxes and then click Next.

   

7. Click Proceed on the Summary window to start recovery.
8. After the recovery finishes, exit the standalone Acronis True Image 2021.

Now, you can be reasonably sure that your bootable CD will help you when you need it.