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Startup Options - Choose a Default OS to Run at Startup in Windows 8

Startup Options - Choose a Default OS to Run

at Startup in Windows 8
1.

20 Apr 2012#1

Startup Options - Choose a Default OS to Run at Startup in Windows 8

How to Choose a Default Operating System to Run at Startup in Windows 8

Published by
Brink

20 Apr 2012

Startup Options - Choose a Default OS to Run at Startup in Windows 8

Published by

Brink

Administrator

Join Date: Jul 2009

Posts: 21,927

How to Choose a Default Operating System

to Run at Startup in Windows 8
Information
If you have more than one operating system installed along with Windows 8 for a
dual or multi boot system, then this will show you how to choose a default OS to
run at startup automatically.
By default, the choosen default OS will always run at startup automatically after the
default 30 seconds timeout period expires unless you choose another listed OS
within the 30 seconds to have that OS run at startup instead.

OPTION ONE

To Choose a Default OS in Startup Options

at Boot
NOTE: Any user can do this option at boot.

1. Boot to the Startup Options screen.

2. Click on Change defaults or choose other options at the bottom. (see
screenshot below)

3. Click on Choose a default operating system. (see screenshot below)

NOTE: This will also show you what your current default OS is.

4. Select (click on) a listed OS that you want to be the new default OS to run at
startup automatically. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You will also see what your current default OS is at the top.

5. Verify that this is the default OS you want, and click on the back arrow at the top
left corner. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If the default OS shown is not what you wanted, then repeat step 3 above.

6. You are finished, click on the OS that you want to run at startup for just this time.
(see screenshot below)

OPTION TWO
To Choose a Default OS in Startup and
Recovery
NOTE: You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option.

1. Do either step 2 or 3 below for how you would like to open System.
2. Open the Power Users Task Menu, and click on System. (see screenshot below)

A) Go to step 4 below.
OR

3. Open the Control Panel (icons view) and click on the System icon.
A) Go to step 4 below.

4. In the left pane, click on the Advanced system settings link. (see screenshot
below)

5. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes, and close the System window above.
6. In the Advanced tab, click on the Settings button under Startup and Recovery.
(see screenshot below)

7. Under System Startup, select a OS from the drop down menu that you want to
be the default OS to run at startup automatically, then click on OK. (see screenshots
below)

8. Click on OK. (see screenshot below step 6)

OPTION THREE
To Choose a Default OS in System
Configuration (msconfig)
NOTE: You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option.

1. From the Start screen, start typing msconfig and press Enter when finished.
NOTE: You could also press Windows+R to open the Run dialog, type msconfig,
and click on OK.

2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

3. In the Boot tab, select (highlight) a listed OS that you want to be the new default
OS to run at startup automatically, click on the Set as default button, and click
on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: The current default OS will have Default OS to the right of the listed OS.

4. When ready, click on the Restart button to apply. (see screenshot below)
WARNING: This will restart the computer immediately. Be sure to save and close
anything open that you do not want to lose first.

OPTION FOUR

To Choose a Default OS in a Command

Prompt with BCDEDIT
NOTE: You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do this option.

1. Open a elevated command prompt or a command prompt at boot.

2. In the command prompt, type bcdedit and press enter. (see screenshot below)
Note
This will let you see what the default OS is under the Windows Boot
Manager section, and to see the description (name) and identifier of the operating
system(s) listed in Windows Boot Manager under the Windows Boot
Loader section(s). For example, Windows 7 Ultimate(description) as {08ea7340743c-11e1-a16b-000c29ebef34} (identifier).

3. In the elevated command prompt, type the command below for a listed OS that
you want to be the default OS to start, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
bcdedit /default {identifier}
For example: If I wanted to change the default OS to start from Windows 7
Ultimate (description) as {current}(identifier) to Windows 7
Ultimate (description) as {08ea7340-743c-11e1-a16b-

000c29ebef34} (identifier), I would type this below and press Enter.

bcdedit /default {08ea7340-743c-11e1-a16b-000c29ebef34}

4. When finished, close the command prompt.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials
o How to Change Time to Wait before Default OS
Runs Automatically at Startup in Windows 8
o How to Change the Default Operating System to
Start in Windows 7 and Vista
o How to Delete an Operating System Listed in
Windows Boot Manager
o How to Create a Windows 8 VHD at Boot to Dual
Boot with Windows 7 or Vista
o How to Do a Dual Boot Installation with Windows
8 and Windows 7 or Vista
o How to Delete "Windows 8" in your Dual Boot
with Windows 7 or Vista
o How to Delete "Windows 7" in your Dual Boot
with Windows 8
o How to Enable or Disable the New Windows 8
Startup Options Boot Menu
o How to Add "Safe Mode" to Windows Boot
Manager in Windows 8
o How to Enable or Disable "GUI Boot" in Windows
o How to Load SATA Driver During Windows 8

Setup

21 Apr 2012#1

whs
Senior Member
Germany/Florida
Posts : 4,515
Vista and Win7

Great tut Shawn. That is even easier than with EasyBCD. And very useful if you have Win7
and Win8 because then you can chose Win7 as default to avoid the act of the UEFI boot.

My System Specs

21 Apr 2012#2

Brink
Administrator
Posts : 21,927
64-bit Windows 10

Thank you Wolfgang. I also find that using the Advanced

Startup shortcut or option (option two) while in Windows 8 makes it real easy to switch to
say Windows 7 without the usual double full restarts.

My System Specs

26 Dec 2012#3

rhumbaventi
Junior Member
Posts : 6
Windows 8 and Windows 7

Hi Brink. Is there any way to do this, to another person's computer's hard disk? Like his

dual boot is failing to boot up from Windows 8, and can I take out his hard disk, and edit his
hard disk so that when it gets pop back in to his computer, it boots from Windows 7
instead?

My System Specs

26 Dec 2012#4

Brink
Administrator
Posts : 21,927
64-bit Windows 10

Hello rhumbaventi,
Not that I'm aware of, but he can boot to Windows 7 and set it has the default OS instead if
able.
Default Operating System - Change Default Boot OS - Windows 7 Forums

My System Specs

26 Dec 2012#5

rhumbaventi
Junior Member
Posts : 6
Windows 8 and Windows 7

Hi Brink. Actually the 'he' is me myself. And I can't boot into Windows 7 cause I have a
booting up problem.
http://www.eightforums.com/installat...-new-post.html
Anyway, thanks for the advise and suggestion.

My System Specs

26 Dec 2012#6

Brink
Administrator
Posts : 21,927
64-bit Windows 10

Sorry about that.

My System Specs

Startup Options - Choose a Default OS to Run at

Startup in Windows 8
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