Is this normal behavior using the Macrium Reflect free boot media?

I am running Windows 10 home.
Recently installed macrium free latest V6 version. Previously used Acronis.
I created the rescue media on cd.
Booting from a cold boot with the cd, I can see the read/write light on the cd and hard drive activity on my tower, but all i am getting is a blinking cursor on the screen.
I read it may take a while to load, but is this normal and how long should i wait to see if it loads.
I am concerned by all the disk activity and nothing happening so I have turned off the computer and reboot normally. I would like to test the restore cd out to make sure it works.
I don't want the Recovery Boot Menu Option because I think it writes to the MBR. I had a nightmare with Acronis which by default writes to the MBR.
Acronis would load its restore media in about a minute, as will Aomei Backupper and Ashampoo backup as well as the windows 10 backup cd I burned.
So what is a normal wait time for the cd to load and is the blinking cursor normal?
Thanks.

Is it possible you need to press any key in order to boot from CD?
--- It's definitely a good idea to test your restore CD.
--- I don't know if it makes a difference but I use a DVD-RW.

In case you are interested I have auto verify turned on


I also have Verify Image turned on


I've had to use MRF only once to restore a system image backup and it performed excellently.

Thanks for the response. On cold boot I have chosen to boot from the CD. To date I have burned 3 discs. I have verified images on creation but I do not believe there is an option to verify the "create restore cd". It just burns the disc. I am using good Verbatim CD's and the restore cd fits on them with no problem.

I just don't know if Macrium takes an inordinate amount of time to boot from the cd. As noted, I only see a blinking cursor on-screen and activities lights both from the hard drive and cd burner. I've waited 3 or 4 minutes and then just turn off the computer and reboot with the disc inserted.

I was hoping someone who has previously used the restore cd can remark as to whether it may take 5 or more minutes before the macrium program loads. Maybe I am impatient, but it just seems to be doing nothing for a long time.

Turned out that my cd/dvd burner does not like the verbatim discs I used. Switched to a different brand and it's all good. BTW, it did take about 3-5 minutes of a blinking cursor on a black screen before the Macrium menu appeared. Seems strange that Macrium does not have progress messages. Thanks for the replies and help.

Thanks for letting us know your solution. I just tested my MRF rescue disc. From a cold boot, a message appears to press any key to boot from the disc. Total time to boot and idler dots was about 50 seconds and it was ready to do its job.
Edit: what cd/dvd burner do you use?

cereberus said:

Why don't you use a usb flash drive - far quicker and more reliable than a dvd?

As for me, I'll do that.

Mine takes some minutes to load the Rescue disk CD, may well be 5 mins. The fact there is a lot of disc activity is a good thing, something is happening.
You are loading up an OS, drivers and a version of Macrium, so that is not going to be swift.

As for the DVD drive. If it is the slim line type where the laser diode mechanism come out in the tray. These seem to accumulate more dust on the lens, needs a careful gentle dust as it's on a sort of floating mount.

USB/CD is a choice not a reliability issue.