Symptoms

When you turn on the computer, Acronis bootable environment starts up unexpectedly instead of Windows.

Acronis Startup Recovery Manager was not activated or used.

Cause

Windows boot manager is not first in the BIOS/UEFI boot order list. External disk, CD/DVD or USB thumb drive with Acronis Bootable Media/Acronis Rescue Kit is higher in that list.

Acronis does not change the boot order. The media (external disk, CD/DVD, pendrive) was unbootable or disconnected before the issue occurred. As unbootable or disconnected media, it was silently skipped during boot process and Windows was loading first. Then either a Bootable Media or Acronis Rescue Kit was created, and media with it remained connected to the computer. Because it has since become bootable, it is no longer skipped during boot process and computer starts off it instead of booting into Windows.

Solution

Enter BIOS settings and change boot order list: put Windows Boot Manager first:

1) When you turn on the computer, usually you will see the key combination to enter BIOS setup, shortly displayed on the screen.

2) Press the indicated key on the keyboard (such as Del, F1, F2, F10, Insert, Ctrl+Alt+Esc, Ctrl+Esc). The BIOS setup utility will open. 

3) Enter boot settings section and put Windows Boot Manager first in the boot priority order. If you do not see Windows Boot Manager, put the internal disk where Windows is installed, first in the list.

4) Save changes and exit BIOS setup utility. A usual shortcut key for that is F10 on keyboard.

If you have created a bootable media on a USB thumb drive or CD/DVD and plan to use it only for Acronis True Image, disconnect it from the computer and keep in a safe place.