If you've ever been faced with the dread of a PC that just won't turn on anymore, you could really benefit from the use of a rescue CD. For decades, these powerful tools have been the best friend of IT tinkerers and OS installers. But, what exactly is a rescue CD, and how does one work? This guide will teach you what a rescue CD is, what it does, and why you should have one at all times.

So, What Is a Rescue CD?

A rescue CD is exactly what it sounds like: a CD that you use to rescue your PC when it's in trouble. Of course, these days, with so many PCs not featuring a disk drive, a rescue CD can actually be put onto a USB drive to make it easier to use too. However, "rescue USB" just doesn't have the same ring.

The main function of a rescue CD is to fix errors with your PC, especially when your PC is so broken that it won't even boot anymore. Typically, these CDs are designed so that you can boot them like an operating system. The CDs can also feature various software tools to fix problems, such as a hard drive scanner or boot repair program.

ImgBurn Burning Rescue CD

How Does a Rescue CD Work?

Most rescue CDs work by getting the user to boot their computer directly from the disk. When you're starting a PC, you're typically given the option to press a function key, often F11 or F12, and choose a device to boot from instead of your hard drive. With the rescue CD inserted into your disk drive or rescue USB in your USB port, you can select the device in question and boot into the disk itself. You'll then be given access to the CD's provided recovery software.

Why You Need a Rescue CD, Now

If you've been using your laptop or PC for decades and have lived without a rescue CD, you probably think you don't need one. The truth is that having a rescue CD ready and usable is vital to keeping your hardware up and running. This is especially true if you only have access to a single computer at any given time.

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Often, especially if you're upgrading or changing your PC, you can accidentally break the software. One of the easiest ways to make sure you'll still have access to all of your important files is to have a rescue CD on hand. Without one, if a critical error stops your PC from booting, you'll need to find someone else with a working machine to create a recovery disk, or you'll struggle to get your PC fixed.

Rather than playing with fire, it's a much safer bet to create a USB or CD recovery tool now, before you need it.

How to Create a Rescue CD or USB

ISO2USB Creating a bootable disk

If you're convinced and want to create your own rescue CD, you're in luck. The steps to getting your own recovery disk up and running are pretty simple, though the steps are slightly different depending on if you want to create a CD or USB drive. Either way, you're going to need to choose a recovery CD to download, and we've got a guide on the best available rescue CDs.

CD Method

Download the ISO file of the disk you want to use. You'll then also need to download a tool for burning ISO files if you don't have one. We recommend ImgBurn, as the application is not only free but has been tested by thousands of people since it was first created back in 2005.

Once you've downloaded and installed the program, open your ISO image in ImgBurn. With a blank disk in your CD drive, click the big burn symbol, and the program will begin making your rescue CD. Once it's done, the tray may open and close itself and begin testing that the CD has been created successfully.

Related: How to Recover Your PC Using an Android Device

USB Method

This method requires a different program called ISO2USB. Just like ImgBurn, this program is freeware, so you won't have to pay a license fee to use it. With the program installed, open your ISO file in the program and ensure that your USB drive is plugged into the PC. Next, select your drive from the drop-down list, give it a label, make sure you have the bootable checkbox marked, and then hit Burn. This will create your USB recovery disk.

Harness the Power of the Rescue CD

With this guide firmly lodged in your mind, you should now have no trouble making a rescue CD. More than that, you'll know why you need one in the first place. Now you should be able to avoid costly purchases when it comes to repairing your PC in the future.