Boot disk

A boot disk is a removable <a href="/facts/Computer_data_storage/wPHKFpdx">digital data storage medium</a> from which a <a href="/facts/Computer/SQe1aK05">computer</a> can load and run (<a href="/facts/Booting/j6N1kRpc">boot</a>) an <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating system</a> or utility program. The computer must have a built-in program which will load and execute a program from a boot disk meeting certain standards.
While almost all modern computers can boot from a hard drive containing the operating system and other software, they would not normally be called boot disks (because they are not removable media). Fixed drives (such as <a href="/facts/Hard_drive/kekLSGSE">hard drives</a>) that are bootable may be called boot drives. <a href="/facts/CD-ROM/JwuaYLJv">CD-ROMs</a> are the most common forms of media used, but other media, such as magnetic or paper tape drives, <a href="/facts/ZIP_drive/m7mUDXTB">ZIP drives</a>, and more recently <a href="/facts/USB_flash_drive/Jv0qmTCF">USB flash drives</a> can be used. The computer's <a href="/facts/BIOS/AYYPUogS">BIOS</a> must support booting from the device in question.
One can make one's own boot disk (typically done to prepare for when the system won't start properly).

Boot disk open-in-new

Boot disk